The Dark Prince's Prize

Chapter 11-1

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Isla Asteroid Base: Heron Prime

Hamade Dos strode along the polished stone floor of the corridor. The lights flickered, casting eerie shadows on the contrasting rough-rock walls. He passed by two technicians repairing an electrical panel before turning left into a small room filled with equipment.

Lesher stood when he entered and silently nodded to him. Hamade glanced at the two-headed Tiliqua, who looked up from where he was soldering a circuit board, and then he studied the slender woman standing in front of a tall cylinder. She was softly speaking to the moving mass of dark matter inside the tank.

He waited for her to finish. The dark mass strained against the glass, trying to burst through it. Hamade could see her shimmering eyes in the glass’s reflection.

“What news do you have?” she dispassionately demanded as she turned and faced him.

“None—yet, Empress,” he replied.

He kept his expression neutral as she walked over to him and stared into his eyes. Sweat glistened on his brow as intense pain spread throughout his body. It felt as if his blood was beginning to boil. The heat vanished when she looked away.

“What happened?” she asked.

He followed her when she resumed walking. She left the small, contained lab and turned left. He stepped up beside her.

“The tracking device placed on Prince Adalard’s transport malfunctioned. There was a visual report of his warship leaving Valdier airspace. The spy we have onboard the Rayon I has not reported in,” he explained.

She quickly turned around and placed her hand against his chest, over his heart. He clenched his jaw to keep from groaning when the sensation of something crawling along his flesh spread outward from her hand. She studied his expression.

“Failure will not be tolerated this time, Hamade,” she stated.

He briefly nodded, breathing a sigh of relief when she removed her hand, turned, and continued walking. He rubbed his chest and followed her into another room. The spartanly decorated room was one of the few containing a window that looked out into space.

“Until our spy reports in, there is no way to know if the other device worked,” he said.

“I’m well aware of that. I want a report the moment you locate Adalard Ha’darra,” she replied.

Hamade hesitated before he spoke. “What about Ha’ven Ha’darra?” he demanded.

The Empress turned and looked at him with a wintry glare. “Do not let sentiment impede the Order. Kejon was reckless. That is why he is dead,” she coldly stated.

Hamade bowed his head. “My apologies, Empress. I will inform you the moment I have more information,” he replied.

“See that you do,” she answered with a dismissive wave of her hand.

He kept his head bowed as he backed out of the room. The moment he was in the corridor, he breathed deeply and rolled his shoulders to ease his tension. He lifted his hand and sullenly flexed his fingers.

For years, Adalard Ha’darra had evaded every trap set and assassin sent by him. The bastard was as slippery as his two brothers. His brother, Kejon, had implemented a plan that ended in deadly failure. Since Adalard’s location was still unknown, he had to put his assassination plans on hold. The Empress also had her own plans for Adalard’s twin brother, Arrow.

“General Dos, the ship is ready,” Lesher said, pulling him back to the present.

He gave Lesher a sharp nod. “Very well. I want to know the last documented location of the Rayon I,” he snapped.

“Yes, General,” Lesher replied.