“Of course it’s another planet.”
“And Surlock is a prince.”
“Exactly.” Excoria smiled as if she was a teacher and her dumbest student had just figured out how to add one plus one.
Time to make her worry just a little. “Then since Surlock and I care deeply for each other, if you harm me in any way, he will probably hunt you down and squash you like a bug.”
Excoria’s mouth opened and closed, then her brow wrinkled in thought. Suddenly, she brightened. “I’ll have a lot of money, and I’ll make sure he never finds me.” She stood up. “I’m going to get some air and check the perimeter. You’d better not try to escape or I’ll squash you like a little bug.” She sashayed into the other room.
A few minutes later, Darcy heard a door open, then close. She might have ten minutes or so to make her escape. Thank goodness, Excoria had left her hands and feet tied in front.
As she tried to wiggle loose, Darcy realized Excoria was pretty good at tying knots. All she had accomplished so far was rubbing her wrists raw.
She began to gnaw at the ropes with her teeth, cringing at what her mother would think if she could see her, especially since she’d forced Darcy to wear ugly braces until she was fifteen. It had not been fun when the kids tagged her with the nickname “Metal Mouth.”
Her teeth were not strong enough to even gnaw a strand of the rope. Frustration filled her. She was only two miles from home, and the thought was killing her.
Was Surlock looking for her? Was he even alive? Her stomach clenched. His captors were as crazy as Excoria. Were they both doomed?
No, she wouldn’t think about the lunatics who’d taken him prisoner. Or the fact that terrorists usually killed their hostages. But if he was really a prince, would that make a difference?
She didn’t know what to think anymore and this infernal humming in her ears was driving her up a freakin’ wall! She couldn’t stand it. She struggled to her feet and began to hop toward the front door.
“Where are you going?” Excoria said behind her.
“Out of here.”
“I don’t think so.”
Darcy knew she was screwed when she heard the click of the tranquilizer gun. Ah, hell. It popped her right on the butt. Tears filled her eyes as she sank to the floor, thankful the carpet was plush. The Bishops had spared no expense. Still, it wasn’t the most comfortable landing.
Excoria strolled over, then rolled Darcy onto her back. “Think of it this way—you can take a nice long nap. You don’t have to worry about getting free. I loaded this one with a little something extra, so enjoy all the colors and pretty lights.” She laughed as she moved out of Darcy’s line of vision.
Excoria was right about one thing, Darcy didn’t feel the urge to run. No, she was just going to lie here and trip out. Her mom would be so pissed when Darcy told her Excoria had given her drugs. Darcy had never even experimented in college.
Wow, what an intense shade of blue. This was really cool. Her mouth was so dry, though, and she was getting the munchies. Maybe some chips and French onion dip and chocolate cake.
Yep, she was screwed. But the lights were pretty.
CHAPTER 28
“Don’t move or I’ll blow your brains out,” Ralph repeated, the gun aimed at Surlock’s head.
Surlock vaguely heard Ralph’s voice. The words kept repeating over and over in his head that Darcy might still be alive. If there were any kind of chance she might be …
Surlock squared his shoulders and looked Darcy’s father straight in the eye. “I may be the only one who can save her,” he told him.
The man studied him for a moment, then sighed warily. “Put the gun down, Ralph. Even if this is a trick, we have no choice but to go along with him. I want my daughter back alive. Let’s go inside.”
Ralph didn’t look happy about taking the gun off Surlock, but he did. Mr. Spencer and Surlock went inside. Ms. Abernathy was in the hall, arms crossed in front of her.
“Do you know where our girl is?” Her words were cold and hard, but Surlock noticed her bottom lip tremble.
“No, but I’ll find her, and I’ll make sure she comes home safely.”
She nodded. “I’ll put a pot of coffee on.” She looked at Surlock. “And I’ll make some fresh juice.”
“I know you’ve been staying here, but I’m not sure why,” Mr. Spencer said. “I think I need more of an explanation than what I’ve been told.” He looked at Ms. Abernathy. “We’ll be in my study. Make sure Mary isn’t disturbed. She was up most of the night and this is the first decent sleep she’s had.” His hard gaze landed on Surlock. “The doctor had to give her a shot early this morning.”
Ms. Abernathy dabbed at her eyes with the hem of her apron, then quickly left the room.
Surlock followed Darcy’s father into his office. Once he was seated behind his desk, he began firing questions so fast they all ran together.
Surlock held up his hand. “I think I need to start from the beginning and tell you everything.”
Mr. Spencer frowned, but motioned for him to take a seat. “It will be nice to hear the truth. Just make sure it is the truth.”
“I was sent here to protect Darcy,” Surlock said.
“My daughter doesn’t need protection. At least, she didn’t until you arrived.” When Surlock didn’t speak, Mr. Spencer waved his hand. “Go on, go on.”
“She was walking in the park behind your home when she saw a wolf. The wolf left, and when I stepped from behind a tree, I startled her. She held a heavy branch and acted on instinct, hitting me over the head.”
“Good for her! I made sure she took self-defense classes before she went to college. It served you right for scaring her!”
Surlock wasn’t so sure in this instance.
“Go on,” Mr. Spencer urged.
“I lost my memory and only recently did it return, but too late to protect Darcy.”
“You know who has her?”
“I do.”
“Then we should call the authorities.” He reached for the phone.
Surlock shook his head. “That’s the last thing we need.”
His hand stilled. “You can’t get her back by yourself unless you’re some kind of James Bond. Are you?”
“No.”
“One thing I don’t understand—why does my daughter need your protection?”
He hesitated. “Because of who she is.”
“You mean because she’s rich?”
“No, because of her mother and father.”
Mr. Spencer sat forward, resting his hands on his desk. “She’s adopted. If we couldn’t find out any information on her biological family, then why would I believe you could?” His eyes narrowed. “Maybe you’re in on the kidnapping and you want to make sure I deliver the money. Who are you exactly?”
Surlock rose to his full height, bowing slightly. “I am Prince Surlock Valkyir from the planet New Symtaria. We’re a race of shape-shifters. Darcy was born to a Symtarian mother and a man from Earth. Because she’s an impure, rogue Symtarians want her dead. That is why I was sent here to protect her.” He downed his head in shame. “Except I failed.”
Mr. Spencer came to his feet, his chair slamming against the wall behind him. “Now you listen to me, you fruitcake. If my daughter isn’t in this house within the next hour, I’ll have so many FBI agents crawling all over you that you’ll wish you had never heard the name Spencer.”
He wasn’t taking the news as well as Surlock had hoped.
“I can prove it,” Surlock told him.
Mr. Spencer clamped his lips together.
Surlock figured he only had a short time to actually prove his words. This might be too much information, too soon, but he didn’t have time to break it to Mr. Spencer gently. “The wolf Darcy saw was my animal guide. It lives within me.”
Chinktah, I need you.
Of course you do. I don’t know how you survived so long without me.