Royal Hearts by Ruth Ann Nordin Page B

about it. It’s something I
have to keep to myself.”
    “You don’t owe me an explanation. Your
business is your business.”
    “Thanks.” As Hathor stared out the window, he
couldn’t help wishing he was back on Raz with Ann and their
daughter.
     
    ***
     
    William watched Hathor leave and grunted. Who
did that twerp think he was to demand that William change his
plans? William had suffered for six years to get to this moment.
How could he be expected to give it all up? It was his turn to find
the love that had been denied him for so long.
    “No way am I giving up,” he whispered. “It’s
my turn to be happy. You had your turn. Now it’s mine.”
    Glancing at the phone, he decided he would
make a phone call to Ann. He would ask her on a date. It would be
their first date alone, and he would take her miniature golfing.
She loved that game, he recalled.
    “I’ll get my way this time,” he promised.
“And no one’s going to stop me.”
     
    ***
     
    Present day
    The Ivory Palace
    Planet: Olympia
     
    Second Commander Jaz breathed a sigh of
relief when she and Guard Lino climbed their last step. Her entire
body ached from their long ascent. She took a moment to stretch her
sore muscles before ringing the doorbell, which chimed an
assortment of melodies.
    “I hope they know where Queen Ann is,” Guard
Lino said as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. “I hate to think
we made this climb up here for nothing.”
    “Even if they don’t know where she is, I’m
sure they will want to help us find her,” she replied.
    The door opened, and Hephaestus greeted them
then asked, “What can I do for you?”
    “I am Second Commander Jaz and this is Guard
Lino. We traveled from Pale in search of Queen Ann from Raz. She
was supposed to come here with Hathor almost a week ago, but we
haven’t heard from her and wondered if she ever made it.”
    Hephaestus stiffened. “Come in.” He limped
aside for them to enter. “Zeus will want to talk to you right away.
Please have a seat, and I will get him for you.”
    After a moment, they chose the enormous,
plush white sofa trimmed in gold.
    Looking around the room, Jaz could see that
the gods and goddesses were used to the very best and expensive
things money could buy. The large chandelier in the middle of the
room was made of diamonds and had the image of each god and goddess
who lived in the palace carved into it.
    Since Zeus and Hera were the head god and
goddess, they were at the top of the chandelier. The other gods and
goddesses were lower, according to their rank of importance. The
rest of the room was filled with white furniture with gold trim,
and the plush carpet was white with golden images of the gods and
goddesses woven into the fabric.
    Flowers of various colors were the only
things that gave the room a sense of warmth. The rest of it seemed
more like a monument than a place to live.
    Jaz turned to Lino. “We know one thing. They
didn’t talk to Queen Ann or Hathor.”
    Zeus entered the room, followed by Hera,
Athena, Aphrodite, Ares, and Apollo. “You said Queen Ann was
supposed to come here?” Zeus asked.
    “She left Pale about five days ago and hasn’t
returned,” Jaz replied, getting to her feet. “She wanted to talk to
you about forming an alliance with us. We are expecting an attack
any day now from the clone of a former leader on our planet.”
    “Attack? As in war? Now we’re talking!” Ares
said, his eyes lit with excitement.
    Ignoring Ares, Zeus told Jaz, “Queen Ann
hasn’t been here.”
    “That’s what we were afraid of,” Jaz said.
“We have no idea what happened to her or Hathor. The last time we
saw them, they were using the Book of Spells to come here.”
    Zeus glanced at Apollo, who nodded that she
was telling the truth. “You say that there will be an attack on
Pale,” Zeus replied. “May we inquire as to the nature of this
attack and how it involves Queen Ann?”
    “Our past leader made a clone of himself
before his