Starcrossed - Bianca D'Arc Page 0,6
to say to the emperor’s offer?”
Ginny was stymied. To refuse outright could spell disaster. She didn’t want to be solely responsible for killing this peace initiative before it even began.
“I…I don’t know what to say, ma’am.”
The leader nodded as if in approval of her answer and turned to the rest of the Council. “We will take some time to go over the materials you’ve brought, Emperor Tigh. In the meantime, you and your party will remain here as guests of the Council.”
“Thank you, Leader Grey and Council members. We’re pleased to remain while we work out the details of what I hope will be a lasting peace for all our people.”
Oh, the man had a silver tongue, Ginny thought, watching him woo the ladies of the Council. A talented tongue too, she allowed, now that she’d been knocked nearly off her feet by his ardor. Under any other circumstances, Ginny would welcome a man like him with open arms, but her past and her future were colliding in the person of this very stubborn emperor, and she didn’t know where to turn or what to do.
Leader Grey dismissed the Council, drawing the special session to an end with a resounding ring of her gavel. Instantly, noise erupted from the gathered councilors and their aides, but Ginny stood rooted to the spot as the emperor turned back to her.
“Would you give me just one thing before we part?” His voice was a seductive purr that sizzled up her legs. “Give me your name, sweetheart.”
She considered him, thinking her name was little enough to give. It wasn’t like he was asking for a kidney, after all.
“Gineva Magdalena Starbridge, but my friends call me Ginny.”
An odd sort of recognition played over his handsome features. “Gineva is a beautiful name for a beautiful woman. But I’ve read about another Magdalena Starbridge in my ancestor’s journals. Maggie, they called her, although many knew her as Diva. Is she your ancestor?”
Surprised by his knowledge, Ginny nodded. “She was a spy in the Rim Wars, though that didn’t come out until well after she and her husband John were lost in the Pyramid.”
“She was also second-generation Enhanced, though I don’t know if your family was aware of it. I’ve heard the subject was taboo among humans for many years. My ancestor, Tren, knew her and thought, at one time, to marry her, but she turned out not to be the woman for him.”
“She married John Starbridge after orchestrating his escape from the Emperor Tren.”
Tigh’s smile nearly melted her bones. “Tren recorded later that he’d let them escape. He was so disappointed that she wasn’t his mate, he fell into depression for a time, but she’d promised to send other second-gen Enhanced women so that he might find his true mate. He did eventually find the woman he sought to be his empress, just as I have found you.”
“Now, wait just a minute—”
Tigh backed off, his manner appeasing. “Forgive me, but can’t you see it’s meant to be? You carry jit’suku DNA within you. I recognized you the moment I saw you. You are my mate, and you will come to realize that what I say is true in time. I’ll try to be patient, but I warn you, I never mastered the art of patience. It was one of my main failings as a novitiate.”
“You were supposed to be some kind of priest, weren’t you?” She couldn’t help her curiosity, though she probably should have gotten away from this disturbing man as quickly as she could.
Tigh nodded. “After giving the throne to my brother, Elius, I secluded myself on Zenai mountain and didn’t know about anything that occurred until after my brother died and I was called back to the palace. I would have stopped all of this if I could. What he did is inexcusable, and all jit’suku bear the shame of his actions. It is a dishonor we will carry all our days.”
“I’d like to hear more about your ways.” A deep male voice broke in from behind them, and Ginny belatedly realized her commanding officer, Commandant Michael Amber, stood behind them, listening in. They both turned their attention to him. “Perhaps you and your men will join me and my staff for dinner tonight?”
The emperor looked to her, then back at Michael. “If Captain Starbridge will be part of that company, I will most happily accept your invitation. As for my men, I know they are interested in meeting humans in friendship rather than