Free Elizabeth Raines by Their Princess Page A

him. “What’s wrong with me? What the fuck is wrong with you? ”
    Betinsa shifted her gaze between them. “Gentlemen, please…”
    Jake took a threatening step at Luka. “You’d really let her go back to Trilan all alone? For God’s sake, there are people there who want her dead!”
    “If I had my say, I wouldn’t let her do anything. She should stay here, where she belongs!” Luka took a shuddering breath before he exploded again. “I don’t want her to go back to Trilan! You brought her here for a reason, and I thought you both meant to stay! I thought we could—”
    Jake waited, but Luka never let the other shoe drop. “Could what, Luka?”
    Luka’s face had turned ruddy, and he was gesturing so hard with his hands he looked like a conductor trying to get an orchestra to respond. “Could…stay.”
    “You knew when we came here it wasn’t forever.”
    Luka shook his head.
    “Oh, you knew all right. What you didn’t want to do was believe .”
    “Damn you! Why did you have to bring her here? Why did you make me fucking fall in love with you again? Why did you make me fall in love with—” With a disgusted grunt, Luka stomped into the woods.
    “Will you follow?” Betinsa’s voice was whisper quiet.
    “Follow?” Jake snorted an acerbic laugh. “Which one? Syla or Luka?”
    “That is what you must decide,” she replied. “For I fear they are now on separate paths.”
    She was right, not that he wanted to admit it let alone consider it.
    Thanks to the death of a king on a planet light-years away from Earth, the two people he loved were now taking journeys where Jake couldn’t follow both. He was now Solomon and forced to choose one of the people he loved over the other.
    “It’s not fucking fair,” he whispered, fighting the desire to shout his anger and frustration.
    Why couldn’t Luka love Syla with the same devotion Jake did and want to follow her to the ends of the universe?
    And why couldn’t Syla give up her nearly suicidal quest to reclaim her throne and be content to live out here in this beautiful wilderness with him and Luka?
    “This must be decided quickly,” Betinsa insisted. “There are plans we must make should Syla wish to return to Trilan. I will do all I can to ensure her safety, but once she is with the rebel leaders, she will want to go after Thama. She must stop the coronations if she wishes to earn the respect of her people.”
    “You think I don’t know that?” he snapped.
    Betinsa was nothing if not always in control. For a moment, Jake thought about the beautiful blue Fraiquan woman, thinking that if she ever let loose, she’d probably be formidable. Her husbands were every bit as strong, and the three of them had not only created a family with five children, but each excelled in their careers. Betinsa was now head of the Interplanetary Drug Enforcement Agency. Drake Keller was an ambassador of great reputation, and Matt Newton was the captain of the Patrile Control Task Force, working to wipe out the trafficking of the addictive drug on many worlds.
    “Look…I need some time,” Jake finally said.
    “I am afraid that is a luxury I cannot give you,” Betinsa replied. “Which of your lovers will you follow, Jake?”
    Damned if he knew…
     
    * * * *
     
    Syla picked up her bag, slung the strap over her shoulder, and walked into the tiny kitchen. Her heart was breaking, but she lifted her chin and tried to hide her feelings from Luka. He’d made his choice, and it wasn’t her.
    He sat at the table, spinning a silver coin and then slamming it flat on the surface with his palm. Then he’d repeat the actions. He didn’t look up when she went to stand at his side.
    “I thank you,” she whispered.
    He shrugged.
    Emotions were choking her, but she ground out the words in a voice she barely recognized as her own. “Helped me, you did not need to. Your home you opened to me.”
    As I opened my heart to you…but you didn’t want it.
    Jake walked in