CALLEY (RIBUS 7 Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

and protector for so long.”
    “You are not leaving her decks forever,” he soothed. “She will return.”
    Chelan forced a smile. “You just make sure you return with her.”
    Fremma nodded. “You have my word, my Lady.”
    Chelan cast one last look around and then took a deep breath. “Let’s go.”
    *****
    The ebony fighter settled gently into the hangar deep within the Imperial Palace. Chelan pulled off her headgear just as Fremma stood and offered her his hand. Chelan accepted, and the Warlord helped her down from the craft.
    Chelan glanced around the massive flight deck, the proliferation of aircraft and weaponry nearly stealing her breath. Fremma, too, remained quiet as he inspected the area. It was obvious from the abundance of security and armaments that no one was going to penetrate the Emperor’s domain without invitation.
    Fremma tapped Chelan on the shoulder. She looked up at him, then followed his lead toward a towering set of doors. The doors parted silently and sealed themselves behind them. They started down a corridor and stopped in front of a security check.
    Chelan studied the guards, but nothing about them revealed their identity to her. Though Korba maintained his own guard, he had added a lot to his regiment, mostly for her protection. She had become quite accomplished at recognizing the men and women under the concealing shrouds, but her efforts today were so far thwarted. They were all new, she concluded, and then she turned her attention back to Fremma.
    As he finished with the security algorithms, a second set of doors opened. Chelan followed him down a much smaller corridor, noting that the guards no longer attended them. That meant she was deep within the most secure portion of the Palace, Korba’s exclusive domain.
    At the end of their journey, Fremma turned to her and smiled. “Your new home, my Lady.” And the doors separated.
    Chelan hesitated and then stepped through the threshold. Her jaw dropped at what she beheld.
    Fremma chuckled. “Look familiar?”
    “What is going on?” she uttered in astonishment. Chelan whirled around, her eyes taking it all in.
    “It is a duplicate of the RIBUS 7 Command Center. Korba thought you would appreciate its familiarity.”
    Chelan padded down the stairs and scanned over the consoles and screens. Then she turned and looked up into the vast blackness of the sleeping chambers. Skipping to the right, she entered the workout area—the cerulean blue pool, the equipment, everything as she knew it so well. Then she floated back to the Command Center.
    “—And,” Fremma said before she could speak, “there is one small difference.”
    Chelan peered off to the right of the center consoles as Fremma beckoned to her. She approached the blank wall and then jumped as hidden doors were suddenly revealed. She stepped through and looked about the palatial room, its regal elegance mesmerizing her. “What is this?” she asked in wonder.
    “The actual chambers of the Emperor and his mate,” Fremma informed her warmly. “It is the exact opposite of the starkness of the quarters in the Command Center. But you are free to choose between them according to your mood and desires. It is all yours.”
    Chelan slowly traversed the elegant room, its size colossal, its structure awe-inspiring. “Who decorated it?”
    Fremma shrugged. “Whoever it was, they were obviously under Korba’s direction.”
    Chelan was spellbound. Everything was in burgundies, cream, and seafoam green. It had an air of Victorian romance, but a masculine touch maintained. Fine furniture lined the walls and accented the central bed. A warm light filtered down from the ceiling, basking the room in a rich, sunny glow. To the right was the main opulent bath, mirrors and marble abounding.
    Chelan turned to Fremma, but then faltered. Where Fremma had stood, another solitary shroud lingered.
    “My Lady,” whispered Korba.
    Chelan flew into his arms, burying her face into his powerful