Ultimate Nyssa Glass, H. Burke [cat reading book .TXT] 📗

“You’re slightly better looking now.” She winked.

He laughed.

A crash echoed through the videophone, and Ellis started. His mouth dropped open.

“Is everything all right?” Nyssa asked.

Something blocked the picture. Shouts rang out. Nyssa breath left her in a gasp.

She leapt to the videophone. “Can you hear me? Ellis? Ellis!”

Dear Lord, please let him be okay.

The screen flickered to life again, but instead of Ellis, Blythe now sat on the other side.

Nyssa’s knees wobbled.

“Hello, young lady.” Blythe smiled. “Is my niece there? We need to talk.”

Chapter Twelve

Nyssa bit her tongue to hold in the storm of angry words that threatened to burst out. As satisfying as it might be, it wouldn’t help Ellis.

Amara came to her side, her arms crossed. “Uncle, what do you want? You have the gem. You’ve won. Go home.”

“Won?” Blythe snorted. “While you and your paramour go flying off in spite of the inconvenience you put me through? That could at best be considered a draw. You’re family, Amara, so I’ll let you off easily, and I bear no ill-will towards the thief and her crippled friend. No, they were never more than convenient tools for me.” He leaned forward, hands on top of his cane. “But Renard Azores stole from me, and I need to send a very clear message to anyone who might consider doing the same.”

“Ellis has done nothing to you! To anyone.” Nyssa’s hands shook with rage. “Where is he? What have you done to him?”

“Your friend is unharmed … for now. I didn’t realize he was involved with you, in spite of our chance encounter, but when the captain informed me that cabin 15 only housed a young cripple, I put two and two together. I know once we reach San Azula, Renard’s family won’t allow his extradition, so legal punishment is off the table … and never my preference anyway. I want to devise something much more satisfying and permanent than a prison term.”

Amara gave a whimper. Nyssa ignored her and concentrated on what little of the room she could see beyond Blythe. No Ellis.

“I’ve paid the captain handsomely for a few hours alone on the ship after the passengers disembark,” Blythe continued. “We’ll be moored far enough offshore to avoid witnesses and any interference from your family. There, Renard, you will turn yourself over to me, and in return, I will free my prisoner, unscathed, if you’re timely.”

Nyssa turned to Renard. The young man stood back, stony-faced.

“I will contact you again whenThe Juliet reaches San Azula,” Blythe continued. “As I said, I have nothing against your friend, but if Renard is too cowardly to face me, Ellis will suffer.”

The screen blinked out. Nyssa’s heart pounded against her chest. Sweat dripped down her neck, but she still shivered.

“He can’t … he can’t really expect Renard just to give himself up to … to die?” Amara stammered.

“There’s no honor in giving into his demands,” Renard said.

“There’s no honor in letting Ellis die!” Nyssa took a step towards him. “We have to save him.”

“What can we do? If I could get to my family, they might be able to send help, but Blythe will know if we try that. If he sees any sign of San Azulan authorities approachingThe Juliet, he’ll kill your friend.” Renard drew himself up. “I’m the heir to the Duchy of San Azula. I have a responsibility to survive to lead my people.”

Nyssa drew a steadying breath. “Responsibility didn’t stop you from running off on some insane impulse to steal back the Dragon’s Heart. Is that stupid piece of shiny rock more valuable than Ellis?”

Renard hesitated. “Well, from a purely monetary standpoint—”

Nyssa gave a strangled cry and swung for Renard’s stupid face. He deflected the blow, his nostrils flaring.

“Ellis is worth a thousand times more than that stupid necklace!” she shrieked. “Ellis didn’t get us into this mess because he’s not an idiot! Ellis would never hurt a fly, and you’re letting him face …” She struck again, but this time Renard didn’t flinch. Her open hand slapped his cheek.

Her palm stung. She swallowed, her whole body shaking. Renard stood, his face expressionless. She didn’t like violence. Even in her worst days on the streets, she’d usually been able to get out of fights with her wit rather than her fists. Striking out in anger, throwing the first punch, it just wasn’t her.

Instead of shame, though, cold rage quivered in her belly. She didn’t care that she'd hit Renard. She didn’t care if Renard hit her, knocked her from the air-raft and let her plummet into emptiness.

She sat down hard, her arms wrapped around herself.

Amara pushed forward. “You love him. You’re so … reserved, I hadn’t realized. Oh, Nyssa, I’m sorry.”

Nyssa closed her eyes. Turn to the Rock, Nyssa. Like Mr. C always said … oh Lord, please, please, please, not Ellis. I have no one else. I have nothing else. Give me the strength to get him out of this.

A hand touched her shoulder. She looked up as Amara held out a handkerchief. Nyssa took it and wiped her nose.

“I don’t want to give him Renard … but this is as much my fault as his. Maybe if I go back. He might accept that. I don’t think he’d kill me.”

“No! I won’t risk your life!” Renard grabbed her hand.

“That’s how she feels about Ellis.” Amara wrenched herself from him. “She’s right. This is our fault. We pushed our way into their lives and put them in danger, and I won’t let Ellis pay the price for our love. I was prepared to die for you, Renard, to give up everything important to me, to plunge a knife into my breast over your grave, if needed, but I can’t … I can’t hurt other people. Ellis is a good man. What sort of love would be complicit in letting him die?”

“That’s your uncle’s choice, not ours.” Renard scowled. “I won’t turn myself over to him, like a lamb frisking to the