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Lords
of the Var Book Two:
THE PLAYFUL PRINCE
By
Michelle M. Pillow
Dedication: To
Katie, for your
enthusiasm and
spirit.
“A
man cannot bow to a
woman and still call
himself a man.”
-
King Attor of the
Var
Chapter One
Tori
Elliot, the very
dignified scientist,
opened her mouth.
Her heart beat
furiously in her
chest, thumping so
hard it echoed in
her ears. For a
moment, no sound
left her as she kept
her eyes focused
straight ahead.
There was a dramatic
pause and all around
her was dead
silence. Suddenly,
the twentieth
century earth music
picked up and her
naked body jerked
into movement. She
belted out the tune
into her mouth
sanitizer turned
microphone with her
mirror as audience.
After a few bars,
she dropped the
mouth sanitizer and
danced and sang
around her metal
cabin. Her arms
flung through the
air, wild and
carefree, as she
slowly got dressed.
The
spaceship she was on
belonged to the
Exploratory Science
Commission. The ESC
hired out staff and
freelance scientists
to large
corporations, mostly
contracting
ecological work with
mining companies and
wealthy
environmentalist
groups. The ship had
been traveling
through deep space
for weeks, just now
reaching the outer
edge of the Y
quadrant.
Tori
didn’t really care
where they were. Her
last job, testing
mineral compounds
fourteen thousand
feet below the ice
surface of Sintaz,
had been a great
success. With the
bonus the drilling
company had given
her, she’d made
enough space credits
to support herself
in high style for at
least a couple
years. She was going
to take that money
and have a month
long spa treatment
on Quazer while she
figured out her next
move.
The
material of the
black, skintight
jumpsuit stretched
as she pushed her
arms into it. The
outfit molded to her
body, covering her
arms and legs
completely. Even
though she didn’t
technically work for
ESC, but was a
freelancer, she was
expected to dress in
uniform when
contracted through
them. They all came
with a transmitter
sewn into the
v-neckline, so the
company could find
them if anyone went
missing. There was
always a certain
amount of risk in
what she did, but
the scientific
rewards were well
worth it. Besides,
she never took
unnecessary chances.
“Dr.
Elliot.”
“Ah!
Crap!” Tori jumped.
The earth music was
automatically turned
off as the voice
invaded her privacy.
Turning to the round
cabin mirror, she
quickly smoothed
down her wild hair
and threw it over
her shoulders. She
stood, watching the
shiny surface. It
glimmered slightly,
fading into a view
screen. Her
reflection was
replaced by the
ship’s senior ESC
advisor, Dr.
Fontaine.
“Good
Morning, Dr.
Fontaine,” Tori
answered, keeping a
rigidly professional
expression. Her
heart skittered
around in her chest
from being
frightened in the
middle of her
impromptu dance
number. That was the
last thing she
wanted her
colleagues seeing.
“Is
everything all
right, Dr. Elliot?”
Fontaine asked. He
was an older man
with graying black
hair. He wore the
black jumpsuit of
the company covered
by a white lab coat.
Tori hadn’t had much
contact with him on
Sintaz, as he stayed
up on the surface
while she went below
ground with her
crew. “You look
flushed.”
“I
was logging in my
fitness hours
early.” Tori
dutifully answered.
Okay, so it was a
stretch of the
truth, but she had
worked up a sweat.
Besides, she really
hated logging in
fitness hours.
“Ah,
quite right,”
Fontaine answered,
easily dismissing
his question.
“Listen, we have a
minor situation. The
Human Intelligence
Agency is coming
aboard to commandeer
our ship. They’ve
asked that all
personnel records be
turned over to them
immediately and we
have complied. They
have assured us that
this should only
delay travel for a
few days at most.”
“What
does the HIA want
with a bunch of
scientists?” Tori
asked, mildly
concerned. “Do they
suspect something on
board?”
“I
don’t have all the
details, doctor, but
they seemed most
insistent that it’s
an intergalactic
emergency. They’ve
requested you to
head up the team.”
“Wait, what team?”
Tori demanded. Damn
it! She was on
vacation as of last
assignment’s
completion. She
wasn’t ready to take
another job so soon.
Besides, she hadn’t
signed a contract
with ESC. They
couldn’t force her
to do anything!
Keeping her voice
level, she said,
“I’m not personnel.
Why were my private
records handed over?
As of the completion
of my last mission,
I’m technically a
civilian passenger.”
“Sorry, doctor, they
had an intergalactic
warrant. We had no
choice but to give
them the
qualifications of
all onboard
scientists.”
Fontaine’s
expression gave
nothing away, but
she didn’t expect it
to.
If
the HIA wanted her
to head up a team,
she knew she’d have
to head up the team.
They might pay her,
but she wasn’t happy
about being forced
to do a job.
Technically, she’d
be given a ‘choice’,
but if she refused
they could make the
rest of her career a
nightmare. When they
were done with her,
she’d be lucky to
get work teaching
school children
scientific
categorizing on some
remote planet.
Well,
Fontaine said it was
only a few days
delay so it
shouldn’t be that
bad. They probably
had a liquid ore
tanker ship crash in
an isolated area or
some other type of
ecological disaster.
Why else would they
need her? Her
specialties were
alien biology and
geology. Remaining
professionally calm,
she stated, “Very
well, Dr. Fontaine.
Please inform me
when they arrive.
I’d like to be
briefed on my new
assignment as soon
as possible so I can
prepare.”
“Thank you, doctor,”
Fontaine said. “Your
willingness is noted
and appreciated.”
“Doctor,” Tori said,
nodding. The mirror
blipped and she was
once more alone with
her reflection.
Under her breath,
she hissed,
“Willingness my
ass!”
What
did the HIA want
with her? She didn’t
feel like working.
She needed a
break--a long,
relaxing vacation in
a place that didn’t
have artic
temperatures all
year round.
Tori
sighed, her good
humor dampened by
the turn of events.
The music started
again where it’d
left off, but she
was no longer in the
mood. Irritated, she
called, “Music off.
Bed.”
The
music turned off and
a narrow bed slid
out of the metal
wall of the cabin.
She threw herself
down on the stiff
mattress with a
thud. Groaning
heavily, she stared
at the metal ceiling
in dejection.
With
a grumble, she
turned her back on
the room, facing the
metal wall. “So much
for my time off.”
* * *
*
“This
is the planet of
Qurilixen,”
Franklin, as he told
Tori to call him,
said. He pointed to
a 3-D map floating
above the desk. The
small, transparent
red sphere rotated
slowly between them.
There weren’t many
bodies of water that
she could see, but
there was a mountain
range and plenty of
forest area. It was
quite possible the
dense forest hid
rivers and
swampland. By the
apparent height of
the trees, she’d
guess they were
surrounded by
excessive moisture.
Franklin was a
mission director
with the HIA.
According to him she
was now a temporary
HIA employee and he
was her new
temporary boss. His
shortly cropped,
dark brown hair was
trimmed to militant
perfection and he
walked with rigid
purpose. He was
young for a
director, but that
didn’t stop him from
ordering those
around him about
with confidence.
Tori
had met his kind
before--all work, no
play. Not that there
was anything wrong
with that. She was
the same way while
on the job--okay,
mostly she was.
“And
here,” Franklin
continued, his hip
perched on the edge
of the desk, as he
pointed at the
floating sphere, “is
the Var palace. This
is where we’ll land
and make contact
with my agent.”
“Excuse me, sir,”
Tori interrupted.
She looked at the
map and then at him.
“But what, exactly,
are we landing on
Qurilixen for? I
need to choose and
brief a team, pack
my supplies, work on
securing permits. In
order to do all
that, I need to know
what we’re up
against.”
“Everything you need
has already been
assembled for you,
Dr. Elliot. As for
your team, you will
command every
scientist on board
this ship for the
duration of this
mission.” Franklin
paused and Tori
instantly filled the
silence.
“But,
there are nearly a
hundred scientists
on this ship, maybe
more. You can’t mean
me to command them
all.”
“Yes,
I do,” he stated
easily, as if it was
an everyday
occurrence to be
handed a huge,
career breaking
assignment such as
this one.
Tori
swallowed. Even if
it was for only a
few days, the fact
that the HIA picked
her out of hundreds
to handle their
“intergalactic
emergency” would do
volumes for her
record, not to
mention her pay
demand. She tried
not to be nervous.
She couldn’t mess
this up--whatever it
was. She wondered
which part of her
work record had
impressed them. The
biological
categorizing on
Denat 7? The time
she was second in
command and helped
clean up the mineral
spill on Merca? Her
numerous
publications on DNA
sequencing and its
application to
modern exploratory
science?
“It’s
a simple assignment
and you’ll be
afforded with the
best equipment and
protective gear the
HIA has to offer.”
Franklin smiled at
her, but the look
hardly passed as
pleasant. “I will
offer you whatever
assistance I can.
All we ask is that
you be quick and
efficient. I want
you in and out of
there fast.
Discretion is a very
vital key in this
matter.”
Tori
hid her smile. How
discreet was sending
down a hundred
scientists to a
primitive planet?
“And
what would that
‘simple’ assignment
be?” she insisted.
“One
of our agents has
detected biological
weaponry from Ranoz.
They believe to have
found the weapon
intact. It will be
your job to test the
Var palace and
everyone who’s come
in contact with that
crate to see if they
have been
contaminated. It
will also be your
job to make sure the
situation is
contained.” Franklin
again paused and
Tori wondered if he
was doing it for
dramatic effect. It
really wasn’t
necessary. What he
said was dramatic
enough on its own.
“You’ll have the
team down with you
for one day. I
expect you to
utilize them
efficiently and get
the job done in that
time.”
Tori
nodded, already
making a chain of
command list in her
head. “Is that all?”
“No,”
Franklin continued.
“After one day the
majority of
scientists will be
coming back on
board. We’d like you
to stay behind with
a team of no more
than three. We need
you to run a scan of
the surrounding
marshland to see if
there is anything my
agent might have
missed. I estimate
it should only take
a little over a
month to test the
surrounding area.”
Tori
listened to him with
a sense of
astonishment.
“You’re joking. I
was told the
assignment was only
for a few days. I
don’t have time
for--”
“I
never joke about
something so
serious,” Franklin
answered sternly.
Tori doubted the man
joked about
anything. “And ESC
assures me you
aren’t due anywhere
else. They said you
refused to sign
another contract and
were planning to
take a vacation. I’d
say saving lives
takes precedence
over those plans,
Dr. Elliot. I took
the liberty of
canceling your hotel
room on Quazer and
all flight plans.
Refunds have been
credited to your
account, as well as
a hefty HIA advance
for doing this. I
suggest you
volunteer for the
assignment, Dr.
Elliot. If we have
to force you to do
it, you won’t get
paid.”
Tori
frowned. Those were
lovely options. Do
it and get paid, do
it and don’t get
paid. In her head
she laughed
sarcastically, but
she didn’t dare make
a sound to him.
“But
... why me?” She
asked, confused.
“I’ve never dealt
with a biological
weapons threat
before. I specialize
in chemical spills
and environ tests. I
think there has been
a mistake. Surely
there is someone
else on board more
qualified to
handle--”
“There is, but you
have unique
qualifications we
feel will help in
this particular
situation. We want
you in charge.”
Franklin stood,
looking
uncomfortable. He
reached over,
picking up an
electronic
clipboard. He pushed
a button and began
to look over her
file. “Your record
as a scientist is
impeccable and you
are qualified in the
fields we need for
this particular
assignment. Your
records state that
you are a leading
authority on
physical geography
and biogeography,
not to mention your
experience in a wide
array of
areas--atmospheric
sciences, chemistry,
oceanography,
physics, botany, and
microbiology. We
also feel your
background in bio--”
“Yes,” Tori
interrupted. “I’m
well aware of my
field of study. I
don’t really need my
educational past and
work history read
for me. What I do
need to know is what
exactly my unique
qualifications are
that would make me
the best candidate
for this job.”
Franklin cleared his
throat and set the
clipboard on the
desk. He hit the
button to draw down
the 3D map. The red
sphere disappeared.
“Director?” she
insisted when he was
quiet.
“How
much do you know
about Qurilixen?”
Franklin rubbed the
bridge of his nose.
“Not
much,” Tori
admitted. “I don’t
think I’ve even
heard it mentioned
before today.”
“Qurilixen is a
planet predominately
of males. Due to the
blue radiation of
one of their threes
suns, it’s nearly
genetically
impossible for them
to produce female
children. There are
two main races--the
Var, who we will be
in contact with, and
the Draig. Both are
monarchies.”
Franklin lifted a
paper folder off his
desk and handed it
to her. “Here, I had
intelligence put
this together for
you. Since this
planet is not part
of the intergalactic
treaty, we don’t
have much else to go
on. But, we’ve had
an agent working on
the planet for
several months and
are assured the Var
will be cooperative
in our efforts. What
we do have on them
will be in there. I
suggest you read it
over carefully.”
Tori
nodded once and
tucked the folder
under her arm.
“We
need you to get a
scientific proposal
ready to present to
the Var king and any
other officials
there might be. As I
said, they aren’t a
part of the
intergalactic
treaty. It would be
best for all
concerned if we got
permission to check
their marshes and
caves first. It
would severely
decrease the risk to
anyone poking around
down there to have
that permission.
I’ll be blunt. If we
have to do this
covertly, we will,
but the life risk
greatly increases.”
“Namely for me,” she
said.
“Yes,
doctor, namely for
you and any with
you.”
“Is
there reason to
believe this is
hostile territory?”
she asked, keeping
her voice calm,
though inside she
was tense with
nerves.
“I
honestly don’t know.
If there is, they’re
territorial
skirmishes, isolated
to the planet
itself.” Franklin
cleared his throat,
boldly meeting her
gaze. “Stay neutral
and don’t take
sides.”
“I
still don’t
understand how that
makes me qualified
for this,” Tori
said, pulling the
folder from beneath
her arm. She looked
at the cover stamped
top secret, but
didn’t open it. “I’m
not trained for
hostile territory
and know very little
about intergalactic
negotiations.
Wouldn’t you need
someone with a
political background
for this?”
“It’s
simple, Dr. Elliot.”
Franklin did his
best not to grin,
but she could see
the humor in his
eyes.
Great, now he
decides to get a
sense of humor, she
thought.
“They’re a planet of
men,” Franklin
continued. “And
you’re the youngest,
most attractive,
most qualified
female scientist we
have.”
* * *
*
Advanced scientific
study since she
could read, a
doctorate in two
scientific fields by
the time she was
twelve and several
masters in many
others since that
time, ten years of
intense on-the-job
experience,
countless brain
uploads, and here
she was reduced to
being pimped out by
the HIA because she
was a woman. If her
Galaxy Playmate
sister, ‘Sapphire’,
ever found out about
this, she’d never
hear the end of it.
It was just too
humiliating for
words.
“Oh,
this is too good,”
Tori mumbled. “They
lose some stupid
government weapon
and I’m reduced to
simpering and
flirting with a
bunch of savages so
they can make sure
they got it all
back.”
Tori
took a drink of wine
and looked down at
the contents of the
“top secret” folder
she’d been given.
Most of the
photographs were
aerial views taken
from a satellite.
There were a few
pages of specs about
the planet’s
surface, some graphs
of atmospheric
readings, and
miscellaneous notes
about the weather
and culture. All of
it was pretty basic
and made her wonder
just how intelligent
the HIA
“intelligence”
really was.
Tori
snorted, reaching
down to the floor to
empty the wine
bottle into her
glass. She was well
on her way to
getting drunk, but
didn’t care. They
weren’t arriving on
Qurilixen until the
next morning and
she’d have plenty of
time to sleep it
off.
The
Var were a race of
shape-shifting cats.
Apparently, not much
was really known
about them, but that
they were in the
process of
negotiating peace
with the Draig--their
shape-shifting
dragon neighbors.
The Qurilixian in
general were
classified as a
warrior class that
had many petty
territorial
skirmishes that
broke out every
fifteen or so years
between the rival
kingdoms.
The
best comparison
anyone could make is
that the men were
like the barbaric
warriors of medieval
earth. Both races
worshipped many gods
and favored natural
comforts to modern
technological
conveniences.
Intelligence
assumed, from the
concentrated areas
of cropland and
cow-like animal
herds to the far
north and south,
that they preferred
to raise, grow, and
cook their own food.
Tori
sighed, pushing the
papers away. None of
the information was
really helpful to
her. Unless, she was
to assume by
barbaric society,
they would be easily
swayed by batting
eyelashes and
wiggling hips. What
in the world did she
know about flirting?
She wasn’t ugly, but
she’d never be voted
Galaxy Playmate of
the year like her
bimbo of a sister
either. When
Sapphire was
learning to put on
makeup, she’d been
building model
quasars and
performing
scientific tests
while restructuring
their density.
“Medieval earth,”
she mused, kicking
the folder and
contents off her bed
with her bare foot
as she lay down.
Reaching over the
side of the bed, she
placed the wine
glass on the floor.
“Not exactly a
flattering
description--disease,
ignorance,
superstition, bad
hygiene, missing
teeth, boils,
pockmarks....”
Tori
continued mumbling
her long list, as
she closed her eyes.
The mental image she
had of the
Qurilixian people
wasn’t exactly
flattering. She was
used to dealing with
corporate business
types and other
scientists, not
superstitious
peasants. In her
mind, she decided to
recap what she
learned from the
thin file.
The
Var palace was a
magnificent
structure,
dominating the
surrounding Var city
in the valley
beneath it.
According to the
human women who had
come to live in the
palace over the
centuries, it
reminded them of the
basic structure of
the medieval castles
found long ago on
earth, with an old
Moroccan blend to
the architectural
design.
The
Var people were
skilled craftsmen
and it showed. Since
a Var man would live
for hundreds of
years, they had a
lot of time to
perfect their
skills. Inside, the
palace had
fantastically
hand-woven rugs for
the floors and beds.
The beautiful inlaid
tile walls were of
intricate
symmetrical
patterns. The tiles
showcased an
exceptional display
of colors--blue,
red, orange, gold,
green. The arched
doorways were carved
to perfection and
great detail.
But,
not only was the
palace beautiful, it
was functional. The
halls were like a
maze and it was easy
for those not
familiar with them
to get lost. The
mainframe computer
was engineered into
every room and hall,
even the center
courtyard the family
used for privacy.
Siren, the
mainframe’s
programmed name,
could answer
questions, read life
functions, open
doors, prepare
food--anything a
busy Var prince
might need. With the
right level of
security clearance,
a person could even
order Siren to
locate anyone on the
grounds or alert the
palace guards. It
was here in this
lush, cushy paradise
that the five Var
princes grew up.
The
oldest, Kirill, was
now king. He was
recently named ruler
after the death of
his father, King
Attor. Next in line
was Falke, the
Commander of the
Guards. Reid was
Commander of the
Outlands and also
had a twin brother
named....
Tori
frowned and sat up.
Looking over the
side of the bed, she
saw the paper she
was looking for and
picked it up.
Scanning her eyes
over the sheet in
the dim light, she
read, “Twin brother
named Jarek,
personality and
situation unknown.”
She
dropped the paper
and lay back down.
The twins were the
only princes with
the same mother.
Jarek was in space
so she didn’t have
to worry about him.
“Lovely culture,”
she mused, chuckling
drunkenly. “Okay,
Tori, focus. The
more facts you know,
the better prepared
you are.”
Prince Quinn, the
youngest of the Var
brothers, was the
ambassador.
Ambassadors, in her
experience, were
usually bores--ugly,
boring, tediously
pompous bores.
“Hmm,
Prince Quinn. Well,
being as I’m a
foreigner, I’ll
probably have to
deal with you,” Tori
mumbled
thoughtfully. “Let’s
just hope you have
some semblance of
manners, shall we?”
Tori
snorted, laughing to
herself. She closed
her eyes, really
close to falling
asleep. Her mind
swirled with the
pleasant numbness of
liquor.
“Mmm,
let’s just hope you
know how to bathe.”
©
copyright Michelle
M. Pillow, October
2004
This is a work of
fiction. All
characters, events,
and places are of
the author’s
imagination and not
to be confused with
fact. Any
resemblance to
living persons or
events is merely
coincidence.
REVIEWS
4
STARS!
"4
STARS! Readers will
enjoy this return to
planet Qurilixen for
the entertaining
story of a second
Var prince. Some of
the characters may
be familiar, but the
love story is not;
this is a brand-new
adventure. The main
characters are
likable, and their
romantic
misadventures are
touching and
humorous. The plot
twists will
entertain old and
new readers alike.
"—Gail Pruszkowski,
Romantic Times
"5
STARS! Michelle
Pillow has the
ability to weave her
skillfully written
words into an
extraordinary
story... With an
emotional storyline
which is sensually
stunning and adds an
intriguing mystery
to the mix, I was
held captive by
every word in this
book. LORDS OF THE
VAR: The Playful
Prince proves that
Ms. Pillow is a
premier writer of
passionate
romances."
Amelia Richard,
EcataRomance
Reviews, August 2005
"5
CUPS! Ms. Pillow
weaves love into a
tale of survival
with a generous
portion of
humor. ... written
with a style
uniquely belonging
to the author."
Candy, Coffee Time
Reviews, September
2005
"9/10, As with the
others in the
series, The Playful
Prince has been very
well written by
Michelle M Pillow,
her style,
particularly her
‘swear word’, being
rather unique. This
story occasionally
brings a smile of
happiness to your
face, and sometimes
a frown of worry,
but you will always
be engrossed in the
storyline. Ms Pillow
is definitely an
author to look out
for!" Reviewed By
Elizabeth © October
2005, Novelspot
"4
1/2 HEARTS! This is
an awesome story and
I couldn't put it
down until I
finished it. The
book is so exciting
and intriguing that
it keeps you glued
to the pages trying
to figure out what
will happen next.
The chemistry
between Quinn and
Tori is unbelievably
hot and really
intense. The love
scenes are erotic
with an animalistic
quality reader will
love. Michelle M.
Pillow is fast
making a name for
herself with her
creative and erotic
adventures. I can't
wait to see what she
comes up with next"
Angel Brewer, The
Romance Studuo May
31, 2005
Additional
Book
Information
Amazon
ASIN:B004INHXA0
Electronic
ISBN:978-1-4524-6384-1
PRINT
ISBN-13:
978-1460969205
PRINT
ISBN-10:
1460969200
Release
Date: Jan
2011
Series
The Savage King
The Playful Prince
The Bound Prince
The Rogue Prince
The Pirate Prince
Series is related to
Dragon Lords Series
Available at the following vendors
Eros Ebooks, Smashwords
Print Version
(if applicable)
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