"I need your help," Queen Margeta of Decera stated.

Romala Elito was taken aback. He hadn't heard those words from Deceran royalty for some time.

"Why? I no longer serve you."

"You're still an Elito."

Romala shot out of his chair, blue rage shone in his eyes. "Ma'am, I lost that priviledge when you hung me out to dry."

He watched the Deceran queen get up from her desk and walk over to him.

He took in every inch of her body--those curves made his insides go crazy. Ever so slowly he let his eyes travel up the blue dress that clung to her body skin tight. Then to meet creamy white skin, soft red lips and blue-silver eyes.

Those eyes got to him every time--no, it was the mystery behind them.

Her features softened as her eyes met his and before he knew it they were in an embrace and his lips tasted hers. All the walls he had built around him suddenly fell.

All he could think about was the taste of her lips and their embrace, and what might have been. Yet she had betrayed him. He stopped abruptly and kept her at arms length. "Not this time, Ma'am."

She gave a small smile and returned to her desk. He also returned to his seat only to have a bunch of Deceran notes thrown at him. "You understand this."

Flipping through the great amount of notes he made a low whistle.

"There's 10,000," the queen said.

"Twice my usual fee."

"Can you help me?"

"I will."

She let out a weary sigh. Had he mistaken her intentions?

"I want you to find the king."

Romala sat up in his seat. "So the reports are true."

She let out another weary sigh, but this time he caught that look--those blue-silver eyes couldn't hide her real intentions. This observation he kept to himself. "What about the Romlans, Zarans, Bysantis...and the Elitos?"

"Leave them to me." He nodded. "On one condition."

"What's that?"

"That my name is left off the bounty."

"I can't promise you that."

"You can for another 10,000 Decerans on the King's return."

He sat there for awhile looking at the money in his hands. Then nodded and left, knowing all the while she would betray him again.

© S Cuppari 2010, This story is from The Deceran King Book 1 of the Romala Series written by Romano Ventura and is copyrighted. It cannot be published in any other medium without written permission.