Under Different Stars

by Amy A. Bartol

  “Hand me your communicator,” he says, holding out his hand. “Tell Gibon to contact the Regent police. We have enemy infiltration at the palace gates.”

  “Yes, sir,” Hollis responds.

  Accepting the communicator, Trey barks words into it and waits a few seconds.

  “Hollis, you knob knocker, what do you want?’ Jax asks in an amused tone.

  “Give me your position,” Trey orders curtly.

  “Sir! Uhh…I didn’t know it was you—” Jax begins.

  “Position!” Trey barks again.

  “We are in route to Skye, approaching the palace main gates.”

  “Halt! Ambush ahead at palace gates! Fall back—everyone on alert!” Trey says, his jaw tense as he’s scowling at the room around him.

  “HALT!” I hear Jax yell to the occupants of the skiff through the communicator. “AMBUSH! FALL BACK, I REPEAT, FALL BACK!”

  “Do you see the enemy?” Trey asks Jax.

  “No, we’re fifty dicrons from the gates,” he replies.

  “They have squelch trackers and sanctum amps and chiggers and an E-One to transport Kyon!” I say, trying to relate the information to him quickly.

  “Is that Kricket?” Jax asks.

  “Yes, she said they have squelch trackers, amps, chiggers, and an E-One,” Trey replies.

  “How does she know that?” Jax asks, sounding tense. “Wait. One of the guards just stepped out of the guard house.”

  “GET BACK!” I yell. “Tell him to get to a safe position!” I order Trey.

  “AHHH! MOTHER OF ALL WACKERS! The guard just vaporized, sir!” Jax says, his voice heightening with tension.

  “FALL BACK!” Trey barks.

  Entering the room, Gibon stands at attention and says, “Regent police have been dispatched to the gates, sir.” He stares at the communicator in Trey’s hands as the sound of rapid bursts of gunfire and explosions issue from it.

  “Dispatch Rapid Ascenders—there’s at least one enemy E-One nearby that has cloaked itself from detection. Destroy it,” Trey demands.

  “Yes, sir,” Gibon responds grimly, before pulling out his communicator and barking orders into it.

  The sounds of yelling and gunfire go on for several minutes, while I wait in tense anticipation next to Trey. Then, Jax says, “Enemy E-One brought down. Prisoner secure. Returning to base.”

  “Good work, Cavars,” Trey says, before lowering the communicator.

  Exhaling a deep sigh, I sit down on the sofa by the fire, feeling exhausted and physically beaten. “Kricket, that was…” Trey trails off, looking like he’s searching for the right word.

  “Freakish?” I mumble, half in shock.

  “Amazing,” he counters. “You saved my men.”

  “But first, I had to watch them die,” I reply, still shaking from trauma.

  “How did you—”

  “I don’t know,” I rest my head against the cushion wearily, while listening to the sound of my teeth chattering.

  Trey plucks me off the sofa and sits down on it, pulling me onto his lap. He strokes my hair while holding me close to his chest, as he whispers in my ear, “Everything is okay. You saved them...you saved them...you saved them...” he keeps repeating it softly, like a mantra, until my teeth stop chattering.

  CHAPTER 19

  BEND OR BREAK

  After waiting for Jax and Wayra to return from transferring Kyon to another unit, I’m greeted in the drawing room like a hero by them and the rest of the detail. I answer every question that Trey and the other Cavars put to me about what happened—what I saw. When we compare the two scenarios with the guard at the gate, my version is reasonably similar to how that guard was actually murdered. I’m dizzy with fatigue when the Cavars begin discussing strategy regarding my security.

  Seated on the sofa near the fire, I lean my head against Trey’s shoulder.

  **

  I open my eyes to the darkness of my bedroom. Disoriented, it takes me a second to realize that I’m in my bed. As I sit up, I glance around in confusion, seeing an odd shape in front of my bed that I don’t recognize. I bend forward and rub my eyes, before remembering everything that went on tonight like a blur of unreality. Pushing back the thick blanket, I’m about to get up and make sure that everything’s all right when Trey’s voice stops me.

  “Kricket,” he says softly.

  “Trey?” He moves closer. Reaching me, Trey’s hand strokes my hair soothingly. He touches my cheek, making my heart leap in my chest. “Is something wrong?” I rub my eyes again, realizing he must have carried me up here at some point during the night. I glance at my clock on the nightstand; it’s been hours since the Cavars returned. I must’ve been sleeping for a while.

  Trey’s voice is hushed, “I need you to get up now—change as fast as you can into something you can travel in. We have to leave before morning.”

  I reach out and take Trey’s hand in mine. In a rush I ask, “What’s wrong? Where are Wayra and Jax?”

  “Shh,” he quiets me softly, “they’re here, downstairs—they’re fine, everyone is safe.”

  “What is it, Trey?” I squeeze his hand, sensing something is extremely wrong. Trey is in my room in the middle of the night. He’d never normally do that because he’d be afraid of risking my reputation.

  Letting out a sigh, he says, “We have to go now. I’m getting you out of here.”

  I crawl out of bed and face him. “What has happened?” I’m starting to panic.

  “The fight over you has begun, Kricket,” Trey says in a strained voice.

  “The fight? What fight? You mean with the Alameeda?” My heart is throbbing painfully in my chest.

  “No, this time it’s domestic. You’ve heard me speak of Skye, right?”

  “Yes,” I reply in an apprehensive tone.

  “Skye is the military branch of our government and they’re as powerful, if not more powerful, than the Regent and the Ateurs in the House of Lords put together…and now, they want you.” He watches my reaction.

  “Skye wants me?” I ask, trying to figure out what he’s saying. “For what?”

  “For what you can do. For what you did tonight…predicting the Alameeda attack.”

  “How did they find out?”

  “They intercepted everything we said on the communicators—everything,” he replies.

  “But, I don’t even know if I can do any of that again!”

  “I know,” he says gently, trying to calm me down. “They want to help you develop your skills—”

  “What about Manus?” I ask in confusion. “I’m his ward and his adviser.”

  “Yes, and he’ll fight to keep you,” Trey agrees. “He won’t want to relinquish you to the Cavars or the Air Brigade.”

  “The Cavars? You mean I’ll be enlisted? Then, I might have a chance of being with you?”

  “We’ll make it work to our advantage. You’ll probably be assigned to a special unit—intelligence,” he replies. “That will keep you off the front lines.”

  “Will we be assigned to the same base together?” I feel desperate all of a sudden.

  “If you’re drafted into the Cavars, there’s more of a chance of that happening. I have people working on it right now.”

  “You do?” He nods. “When will you know?”

  “Soon,” he replies, trying to reassure me, but I can see that there’s more.

  “What aren’t you telling me, Trey?” I search his face as best I can in the dark.

  “Manus has ordered our reassignment. He wants all the Cavars to leave in the morning,” Trey says in a tense tone.

  “WHAT?” I whisper-shout, not able to control my reaction.

  “Manus has assigned his police to guard you,” Trey replies, trying to remain calm. “They’re downstairs now—they don’t know I’m up here. They think I’m gathering my gear. With Skye demanding that you be turned over to them, Manus sees us as a threat. Skye wants you and he no longer trusts us. We’re Cavars—we follow ord
ers from Skye. He sees the conflict of interest and has replaced us. By morning he plans to move you back to the palace.”

  Stepping forward, I wrap my arms around Trey’s waist, hugging him fiercely.

  “I’m not leaving without you, Kricket. We’ll go to Skye; I’ll find a way for us to stay together. I promise.”

  Finding Trey’s lips, I press mine against his and what begins as a desperate act, slowly becomes something quite different. Returning my kisses, his hands slide from my waist downward toward my lower back. I fit against him like I was made to be there. “They won’t keep us apart, Kricket,” he promises. “We won’t let them.”

  “How will we stop them?”

  “When Skye enlists you, you’ll no longer be the Regent’s ward…you’ll be emancipated with all the rights of any other Rafe citizen,” Trey kisses me tenderly.

  “So…I’ll no longer need Manus’s permission for…anything?” I ask. Warmth spreads through my body as Trey runs his lips over the soft skin of my shoulder. “And if I’m no longer his ward, then I can commit to anyone I want?”

  “I love the way your mind works, Kitten. Have I told you that?” Trey’s words cause shivers of desire to dance over my skin. “But, there’s only one person you’ll commit to.”

  “Do I know this person?” I ask innocently, feeling the strap of my tank top slide over my shoulder and rest against my upper arm. I bite my bottom lip when the rough stubble on his cheek follows the strap’s descent, causing my breath to catch at the intense desire it creates.

  “I don’t believe that you were ever formally introduced to him, but he’s very tolerant and understanding…perfect for a saer like you.”

  “He does sound perfect,” I agree, my fingers entwining in Trey’s thick, dark hair. “I think I know this Etharian…did he travel all the way to another world just to find me?” I tug on his lower lip with my teeth.

  Trey groans and then smiles. “He’d go much farther than that for you,” Trey says against my lips, holding me and pressing me close to him.

  “He doesn’t have to.” I trace my finger down his chest and see the growing darkness of desire in his violet gaze. “I’m right here.”

  He captures my finger in his large hand, bringing it to his lips, he kisses the tip of it. “You have to change now. We’ll slip out your window. I have Drex and Fenton outside. Wayra and Jax will run interference.”

  Trey leads me to my closet and I look for something to travel in. He turns his back as I hurriedly drag a sweater on over my cami. I whisper, “Talk to me Trey. I’m starting to freak out a little.”

  “You live up to your name, Kricket,” he says softly.

  “Are you calling me a bug?” I smile at his broad back,

  “Your father was definitely a soldier…he understood the power within your name,” Trey murmurs. “And it takes another soldier to understand just what it means.”

  “What does it mean?” I ask as I shed my pajama bottoms and pull on dark, tailored trousers.

  “Pan knew about war. He spent a lifetime outside under the stars, in trenches or bunkers when the only sounds at night that will bring you any comfort are the songs of the crickets.”

  “Why would that bring you comfort?” I ask, scurrying around in my closet and finding black boots with a low heel. I sit on the closet floor to put them on.

  “When the crickets are singing, their music drowns out all the other noises in the night sky. You can have faith that the enemy isn’t moving because they’ll warn you,” Trey replies. “It’s when the crickets stop singing that you know the enemy is near and the battle is about to begin.”

  “You’re a philosopher,” I smile up at him, lacing my boots.

  “No, I just recognize what he was saying,” Trey whispers.

  “And what’s that?” Despite everything that has gone on tonight, unbelievable happiness is creeping into my soul.

  “He was telling us that your voice will give comfort when the night becomes its blackest,” he replies. “And I’ll protect that voice with my body, my mind, and my spirit…because without it, I’m alone in the dark.”

  “Trey,” I say his name, not realizing that I have tears in my eyes until one slides down my cheek. “What if I just told Manus that I want to be with you?” I ask.

  “Kricket, he’s obsessed with you,” Trey says. He turns toward me and reaches down to help me to my feet. Cupping my chin, he uses his thumb to brush away my tears. “He wants you for himself. I don’t believe that he’ll ever give you his permission to commit to anyone, even a perfectly acceptable match.”

  “Trey, all of that is meaningless. The only thing that matters is how we feel about each other. I love you and that’s never going to change,” I promise, leaning forward and placing a gentle kiss on his cheek. “I’m yours,” I whisper, shifting my lips to his other cheek and kissing it, too. “And you’re mine,” I continue, looking in his eyes, before touching my lips to his.

  Groaning and collecting me in his arms, he murmurs, “I’d break every rule for you,” Trey breathes, watching a grin slowly encompass my face.

  Ustus’ voice startles me. “That’s quite a lovely sentiment, Trey,” he says from the doorway of my room. “But, I’m afraid you’re never going to have her.”

  “Ustus!” I gasp, tensing. Trey shifts me behind him. “Get out of my room!” I order, appalled that he overheard my intimate conversation with Trey.

  “Kesek Trey, you and your men have overstayed your welcome here,” Ustus says, eyeing Trey cautiously, as he raises his automatic weapon. “You are to return to your base. I’ve been instructed to inform you that you’re to have no further contact with Fay Kricket.” The last is said with no small amount of satisfaction.

  “Ustus, don’t be stupid.” I scowl at him. “I’ll talk to whomever I want.”

  Trey walks toward Ustus menacingly. Ustus, in turn, points the gun at Trey’s chest. “You’ll have no one to speak with if Trey continues to move,” Ustus barks out, fear creeping into his tone.

  Grabbing Trey’s wrist, I try to step in front of him, but he brushes me aside. “Wait!” I plead, afraid that Ustus will pull the trigger. “It’s okay, Trey!” But Trey doesn’t stop.

  Ustus swings the gun in my direction, pointing the blue laser at my chest. Trey stops dead; he stiffens. “Lower your weapon, Ustus.”

  “Not until she walks down those stairs with me and we depart,” Ustus says. “I have orders to take her back to the palace. I cannot have you leaving with her, Kesek. She can survive a bullet if it keeps her here.”

  “SIR!” Wayra says from the door, training his weapon on Ustus.

  “Tell him to lower his weapon,” Ustus orders with sweat slipping down his face as he continues to train his gun on me.

  “Wayra, easy,” Trey says. “Lower the gun.” Wayra complies slowly, not making any quick movements. “We’re going to allow Ustus to escort Kricket to the skiff. It will take them back to the palace without incident.”

  “Let’s move,” Ustus says to me, using his head to indicate the stairs.

  My eyes flicker to Trey’s and I see him nod. Wringing my hands, I walk forward, moving toward the stairs. Ustus falls in behind me, never letting his weapon waver from me. Passing Jax and Hollis, they both reach for a weapon before Trey orders them to stop. I walk out the front door and to the hovering skiff. Several Regent police surround us.

  Silently, I get into the hover car and remain mute all the way to the palace. I refuse to even look at Ustus. When we arrive, Ustus doesn’t use his gun, but merely gestures me to follow him from the vehicle. We head straight to Manus’s personal arcade on the north end of the estate. Once in the Amethyst passage, we quickly arrive at the Regent’s sitting room.

  Ustus leaves me with the attendants who offer me a drink from the bar. Accepting a glass of water, I try not to gulp it down. I walk around the room and absently touch the small statuary on the tables. I’ve never felt more awkward in my life.

  “You’ve put me
at a disadvantage, Kricket,” Manus’s deep voice sounds behind me, startling me because I didn’t hear him come in.

  “How so?” I ask, trying to recover my cool. Looking up, he’s by the door of his bedroom, dressed in an elegant, black robe. His hair is a little less meticulous than usual and his violet eyes are trained on me.

  “I was not aware that you were…lonely,” he replies, accepting a fazeria from his attendant and then waving him out of the room.

  “I’m not lonely,” I say, trying to figure out what he means.

  “Then why was Kesek Trey in your room this evening?” he asks, and I about choke on my drink. I set it down on the table.

  “It’s been a frightening evening for me, Manus. I was afraid, so I asked him to stay with me…to guard me,” I lie, knowing that I have to protect Trey.

  “Mmm,” Manus says in a non-committal tone. “You won’t mind putting these on for me then…just to see?” he asks, holding out a pair of the grandma goggles to me. Knowing that the visor will scan my entire body, I grit my teeth. Walking to him, I take them from his grasp. Placing them briefly on my eyes, I wait for only a few seconds before handing them back to him.

  Analyzing the data that I’m sure is telling him that everything is still ‘intact,’ I watch his expression, seeing a small smile creep to the corners of his lips. “What was the point of that?” I ask.

  “You know what the point is. I needed to know if you were still a virgin,” he replies, smiling.

  “Why?” I shoot back. “That’s personal. It’s my choice.”

  “No, Kricket, it’s my choice,” Manus counters, losing a little of the satisfaction he was sporting. “Things are changing quickly. I have many decisions to make and you seem to be at the center of them all.”

  “Am I?”

  “Mmm,” he nods. “It would seem with your new ability that you are even more valuable than before. Unfortunately, I was not able to keep this ability from Skye, like I have with your other ability. No, this one is more…overt.”

  “I’m not loving it either, if that’s what you’re saying.” I take a sip of my drink and walk toward the double glass doors that lead to the private terrace.