Dangerous Mating (A.L.F.A., #3)(11)

She wrapped her fingers around the handle and pulled. The bag rocked, but remained standing, dragging her backward with it. She lost her balance, but straightened before making a big scene. This time, she used both hands and stepped back, tipping the suitcase onto two wheels. She’d have to get a bag with four wheels so she wouldn’t have to tip anything. Maybe something a bit smaller, and maybe not Tweety Bird yellow.

She looked around for Sheldon, her boyfriend for the next several days. When they got inside the terminal, she’d have to make a pit stop. She really needed to pee. That last soda got her. Instead, he stood among cars parked at the back of the building, holding the rear door to a car open. She’d just have to wait until they got to the hotel to use the restroom.

Snuggled into the backseat of the small car, she watched as they left the private airport behind. The driver was bald-headed and looked jolly. He smiled back at her and said, “You Americans?”

Sheldon answered before she could. “We are. We’re with a tourist group that came in yesterday. We’re a bit late.”

“Tourists,” the man said. “We love tourists. Not many come here because we’re so interesting.” His smile got bigger. “I give you small tour. Yes, I show you.”

She looked as Sheldon. He didn’t look thrilled. That made her laugh.

The driver started the expedition right away. “Cloustien is very old country. Oldest bone found here is six hundred thousand years old.”

“What?” she asked.

“Yes, ma’am. Is true.” They drove over a bridge that looked six hundred thousand years old. She glanced out her window and could see the river through the warped and cracked wooden planks. “This river is very old, too. There are places where water goes underground and disappears. Then come out somewhere else.”

He pointed out the window. “You see there?” She leaned forward to look out Sheldon’s side. On a hill in the distance sat a castle. It was so cool. “Our prince’s family used to live there. But now it’s haunted by the old, old King Alheim. My grandmother said the old king had found a way into hell. That he go there to get riches and power beyond the human world.

“The king’s rule began to spread far. My oma talked of war and great battles where many enemy died, but few of the king’s men were even harmed. Oma said it was the devil within the king that worked sorcery to win.”

“But Cloustien is so small,” Kari said. “What happened to his rule?”

“You know what happen when make deal with the devil. No good come from it. After time, his payment was due. Old king died. Then his much younger brother returned from Rome. Oma said they never knew of the brother, but he was kind and good for the people. They liked him.”

“And the land,” she said.

He shrugged. “In time, all things change. But at night, if you watch the castle, sometimes you see old King Alheim’s ghost walking the halls and lighting rooms. They say he’s angry because of how he lost everything. Stay away from castle. Those who go in sometime never seen again.”

Kari asked, “Your royalty doesn’t live there anymore?”

“Not for long time. No electricity or water. The prince lives in town in his modern palace. Beautiful home. He talks with people of our village. Others kings, no bother with common people. We didn’t see them much.”

“Prince?” she replied.

“Yes, Prince Goddard is good man. He take care of our town. Especially when money needed. He is very generous.”

“Does the prince hold any power in the government?” she asked.

“Some. But he mainly let us decide for ourselves. He is always busy with important people. Our prince very important and educated in world goings-on.”

Sheldon perked up. “Really, what kind of important people?”

The man shrugged. “Big military men, men with own planes, royalty. That kinda thing. In fact, earlier this week, I drive around several of them. Good people, give lots of money to driver.” He turned toward her and winked.

Sheldon handed the driver a picture of Bryon Day. Shit, just glancing at his gorgeous face got her hot and bothered. “Have you seen this man?” He stared at the photo a long time, and not the road. She felt around for the seatbelt. Twisting around, she squished her bladder, reminding her she needed to go. The driver handed back the photo.

“No. Never seen him. Does he live here? American, like you?”

Sheldon didn’t reply. She looked at him and he gave her a small shake of his head. The car jolted in a U-turn and stopped in front of a building. “We are here.” The man jumped out of the car and headed toward the trunk and luggage. She let herself out and looked around. This village was like nothing she’d ever seen.

This place was old. You could almost feel the time that had passed. The streets were made of worn-down cobblestones. The buildings were smallish and sat pushed against one other. No alleys. The door to the building in front of her opened and several people walked out. One woman carried a clipboard and wore a white visor. She looked at Kari and stopped.

“Are you Kari?”

That surprised her. She glanced at Sheldon behind the car getting the bags. “Uh, yes?”

The woman laughed and waved her hand in the air. “You’re so funny, dear.” She looked at her clipboard. “Kari and Sheldon. From Virginia.”