Oh, what a fuss when the king rides by

Oh, what a fuss when the king rides

Straight through my heart

Straight through my life.

Chapter 7

When Carolyn heard a knock on her door she was surprised to see Vaako. "Siberius, Is everything alright? Was Riddick angry with you?"

"Everything is fine, Lady Riddick."

"Carolyn, please."

He nodded. "I was on my way to my own quarters and just wanted to make sure you were alright.

"Yes, thank you." Carolyn smiled.

"Starting tomorrow we will have guards assigned to you and the child"

"Thank you, Siberus, for everything" Riddick her say from down the hall where he stood watching.

"Siberus? When the hell did that Necro get a first name?" he thought with a scowl.

Sometime in the early morning Riddick quietly slipped into their quarters making his way to the bedroom where he quietly undressed down to his shirt and pants and lay next to Rhiannon watching her and her mother sleep He laid his hand gently on the girls stomach, listening to her breath. He still couldn't believe that they were alive, that they were here. He wanted to know what had happened to them when the Necro's had attacked Helion Prime. By the time he made it back to the house they were missing and they weren't with Imam. It was if they had disappeared off the face of the universe. For him it was the moment he realized he had lost everything.

The door in the outer room opening and closing caused Carolyn to stir and he could smell her fear as the voices continued to get louder. Opening her eyes she looked over at him, not in the least surprised to find him there. "I need to be able to lock the door." She said flatly her eyes meeting his.

He nodded. "To everyone but me."

She gave him a look but nodded her head in agreement.

Swinging her legs over the bed she slipped on a robe over the gown that she was wearing.

"Do you know who it is?" she asked quietly, looking back up at him.

"The Vaako's" Riddick said dryly. "You've met the husband but not the wife. If Vaako wasn't such a good soldier I'd have ran a knife through her already."

Carolyn couldn't help but chuckle at his expression and tone.

"Well, shall we find out why Mrs. Vaako decided to break in?"

Riddick smirked as he stood and waited for her, placing his hand on her lower back as they made their way into the other room.

"Look darling! There they are now!" Dame Vaako called out to her clearly irate husband. Moving towards Riddick and Carolyn she smiled and Carolyn couldn't help but think a snake was crawling over her as the woman circled them. "I wanted to be the first to greet your wife, My Lord, but Vaako insisted that we let her rest last night before properly welcoming her. So here we are with breakfast."

Carolyn snorted under her breath but wisely kept her mouth shut deciding to follow Riddick's lead. She had just survived five years with the queen of mean. This little bitch was nothing more than a snack.

Vaako finally stepped forward grabbing his wife's arm in a clearly painful fashion if the look on her face were any indication. "Lady Riddick, let me officially introduce my wife, Dame Vakko."

The woman smiled a patently insincere smile and went through the motions of a curtsey before them.

Carolyn looked down her nose at the woman even though they were of similar height and build.

Hearing a noise behind her, Carolyn turned to see a sleepy Rhiannon standing in the bedroom doorway. No doubt the woman's voice had woken her. Picking up her daughter, Carolyn's spine straightened at the look the woman was giving her.

"What a lovely creature," Dame Vaako purred as she looked the mother and child up and down. "I'm sure you don't mind us interrupting, do you dear? You're married to such an important man now," she said as she came close enough to run a hand against Riddick's bare chest looking over at Carolyn with a sly smile.

Carolyn pretended to ignore the woman as she turned her eyes to Vaako and took a step towards him extending her hand. "Siberus, it's so good to see you this morning," she said as he took her hand and gave a slight bow.

"Good morning, Carolyn. I trust you slept well?"

"Very, thank you for asking. And I have to say I'm famished. There really wasn't time to eat on the way here, was there?" she asked as he led her to the table pulling a chair out for her that she made sure was facing the door, placing Rhiannon on her lap.

With a raised eyebrow he wisely chose not to answer and pulled a chair out for his wife who was still standing beside Riddick her mouth opening and closing before finally snapping it shut.

Riddick couldn't decide if he was pissed or amused and left her standing there to take his seat beside Carolyn, taking his daughter from her and setting her upon his own lap.

Finally closing her mouth, Dame Vaako stomped over to her husband and slid into her seat.

After they were served Dame Vaako picked back up the conversation. "I have to say I was thrilled when Vaako told me that he had found and rescued you. He's told me all about you. I can't wait to introduce you to the other wives." She simpered.

"Really? I haven't heard a thing about you." Carolyn stated flatly. "However, I get the impression that you're quiet the center of attention." Riddick reached over and squeezed her shoulder in a silent warning.

"Oh no. I would never dream of doing anything that might take away attention from my darling husband."

"Please forgive my wife's enthusiasm," Lord Vakko said.

Carolyn sat quietly as Riddick played with his daughter and listened, as Dame Vaako had no problem carrying on the conversation. Refusing to let Riddick feed Rhiannon until after the Vaako's had begun eating and didn't drop dead, Carolyn turned to her food no longer paying attention to anything but her daughter and her plate.

Keeping one eye on her and one eye on his daughter, Riddick tapped his fingers on the table.