by G. K. DeRosa
“Yes, Macon, actually you can.” My fingers trembled on the door, threatening to dent the metal.
He glanced around, a line creasing his brow. “Shouldn’t you be in a trial right now? Is it over?” Macon shifted uncomfortably as he noticed how my body shook. He probably noticed the wildness of my eyes too.
I stepped up into the plane, the large vein in his neck quivering erratically. Oh, he definitely noticed.
It didn’t matter though. He was about to forget.
“I’m going to borrow this plane.” I pulled on the power of my compulsion, staring deep into his light gray eyes. They quickly glazed over as he fell under my control. “You can use another one to pick up the DeLaurentis family.”
He slowly nodded, his shiny brown hair glinting in the cabin lights. “Yes. Take the plane.”
I’d never flown something this large. The dashboard contained a dozen more dials, buttons, and switches than the small military machine I’d trained with. But Solaris was in trouble—deep, life-altering trouble. I had to do this.
“Tell me, are there any special features on this aircraft?” I swallowed hard, a drop of sweat leaking down my nape. “A stealth mode? And invisibility screen?”
Please let there be something to shield the plane. I’d have to land outside of the walls bordering Imera. I wouldn’t go unnoticed busting through steel-plated doors.
A sleepy smile brightened Macon’s face. “Yes, of course. This plane is equipped with an invisibility screen. We can’t land certain places and risk angry taranoi stealing it.”
My brows knit at his offhanded comment. The taranoi seemed to be a bigger problem than the king was letting on.
I batted the thoughts away. “Excellent. Show me how to use it.”
Macon pulled out a sleek remote control from his pocket, proudly explaining the function for each button. A series of controls on the dashboard also engaged the stealth modes for the jet in case the device was stolen or misplaced.
Once the royal guard was satisfied I was equipped with the proper knowledge, I took off, heading for the human world. Unlike the little crop duster we’d flown in to take Solaris home, this machine was three times as fast. I’d be at their border in no time.
I set the autopilot and glanced at the Shadow Lands zooming below. Memories of being there with Solaris bombarded my mind. The feel of her delicate touch on my face, the taste of her lips...
It had only been days, but it felt like a lifetime.
Gods, I was screwed. I left in the middle of a trial. What was my father going to say when he found out?
It was difficult to even care about that right now when I was so focused on Solaris. It wasn’t only the bond. I wasn’t stupid. I knew that. The thought of something terrible happening to her tore my very soul to pieces. I cared so much more than I should.
The prophecy.
Sometimes it seemed like a distant fairy tale, something that really had no merit. And at other times, it was a crushing weight against my chest, reminding me that my feelings for her were wrong.
Right now, the only thing weighing me down was the danger Solaris was in. Saving her was all that mattered. We’d figure out the rest later.
My gaze shifted to the blinking lights on the radar. The human border patrol was doing their rounds. A ghost of a smile curled my lips. I was completely invisible to them. They couldn’t see the plane or detect it on their devices.
The massive wall constructing the border of Imera rose up. It was an intimidating sight to the humans. They were so small and fragile, weak and fallible.
I wasn’t.
To me, the wall was nothing but a hunk of metal standing in my way. And nothing was stopping me from getting to my little human.
I took the plane off autopilot, my fingers curling tightly around the yoke. I would take down any human standing in my way. My fangs tore through my gums, and the reflection of my silver eyes flickered in the window.
Chapter 12
Solaris
The sharp odor of ammonia filled my nose. I gasped, jolting upright, my lungs on fire. I coughed and spluttered, trying to expel the toxic fumes from my body. Harsh neon lights shone down on me, and the man in the white lab coat stood by my side. I reached up to rub my eyes, and cold metal bit into my wrists.
I wiggled around on the hard chair, but thick steel cuffs bolted my arms down. “Let me go!”
Two soldiers moved out from behind my chair, their hands trained on their weapons. White lab coat guy tapped away on his tablet in my periphery.
“Hello? Did you hear me?”
The soldiers stared blankly ahead.
The small white room had only one door with no windows. I scanned the blank canvas trying to figure out if I was still at the hospital or if I’d been moved while I was unconscious. The speckled white tile looked just like the floor I’d seen in the south wing. At least I wasn’t back at the detention center. Yet.
Approaching footsteps yanked my attention to the entryway. The metal door swung open, and my heart stopped.
Cold gray eyes fixed on me, sending an arctic chill through my veins.
“You couldn’t even go forty-eight hours without getting into trouble. How is that even possible?” Turstan slammed his fist down on a tray filled with small silver instruments. They rattled around, a few scattering to the floor.
I winced.
“I knew you were lying when I questioned you the other day.” He pointed his withered finger at my chest. “But your father, he convinced me. You did see something on that plane.”
At this close distance, the halogen bulbs overhead highlighted the dark circles under his eyes. He wore his impeccable powder blue suit as usual, but the lines around those icy orbs had deepened. Good. I hope they woke him up from a sweet dream.
“I saw the blood, but nothing could have prepared me for what I witnessed in that chamber of death,” I hissed through clenched teeth. “How can you do that to human beings?”
His permanently arched brows knitted together. “I do not answer to you. You are a child who knows nothing about running a country.”
“Who are those people? Are you just imprisoning citizens of Imera at your whim?”
“Silence!” Droplets of spittle formed at the corners of his mouth.
Bleh. I turned my head and spotted two more soldiers behind him. I’d been so focused on the Head Minister that I’d failed to even notice the pair that came in with him. Hazel eyes bored into mine, peeking out from under a navy AirComm cap. Gavin!
I dropped my gaze to the floor hoping Turstan hadn’t seen the exchange. Did Gavin know about this? He couldn’t. My friend would never let such a thing happen.
“Ms. Levant, you need to tell me exactly what you saw on that plane and how you ended up in the south wing of the hospital.”
I pressed my lips together. “I already told you everything.”
Turstan exhaled a long breath, his nostrils flaring. “Obviously you didn’t.”
“What are you doing with their blood anyway?” I glanced discreetly at Gavin, hoping to see something in his expression. His face was a blank mask.
I had to be careful. I couldn’t let anything about Draconis slip, but I had to know where all of that blood was going. Maybe I could find a way to tell Kaige.
Turstan took a step back and sneered, folding his arms across his chest. “If you won’t answer my questions, I won’t answer yours.” A smug smile pulled at his thin lips.
Fine. Two could play this game. “I told you. I saw the blood bags right before the plane went up in smoke and took a nosedive into the lake. That’s all.”
“And how did you end up at the hospital?”
I shrugged. “I was curious, and it just made sense. Where else would you keep blood?”
He stalked toward me like a lion sizing up his prey. “And why were you so interested in the blood?”
I narrowed my eyes and infused as much venom into my words as possible. “Because I hate you, and I’d do anything t
o take you down.”
He chuckled, his wild eyebrows like a caterpillar wiggling along his forehead. “And now, unfortunately, you’ll be the one going down. Down to join the others in the lab.”
Fear’s hand squeezed my heart, her fingers digging into my madly pounding organ. “No!”
“Goodbye, Ms. Levant.” He straightened and turned toward the door.
Adrenaline spiked through my veins and words shot out of my mouth without my control. “It’s too late. Everyone will know what you’re doing. I took pictures of everything and sent them to a friend. Even if you lock me up, your secret will be out.”
He spun back, his face ashen. “Did you check her phone?”
Lab coat guy started to stutter. “I—um—no, Head Minister.”
He pointed at Gavin. “Soldier, check her pockets immediately.”
My friend nodded and moved toward me. His hands were light on my thighs as he felt around for my phone. Heat rushed my cheeks.
Gods, I was so inappropriate.
His fingers clamped around my phone, and he dug it out of my pocket. Before he turned back to Turstan he gave me a half smile, his hand gently brushing my arm. He handed my cell over and resumed his spot by the wall.
Turstan flipped through my photos, crimson infusing his sallow cheeks. He tossed my phone to lab coat guy. “Make sure the phone is destroyed along with all the pictures.” He then turned to the soldier standing to his opposite side. “Sergeant, every soldier on duty tonight is to be assigned double duty and their pay suspended for one month. They allowed a child to slip by them, and they will be punished.”
The sergeant nodded, and Gavin’s jaw twitched.
Turstan stalked toward me, his gray eyes frosty. “You will give me the name of the person you’ve sent these photos to or Malcolm will be given an adjoining cell in the lab.”
I gulped. I couldn’t let my father suffer because of me. But I couldn’t give him a name of a person that didn’t exist either. I hoped I was right about Turstan’s loyalty to my father.
I sucked in a breath and steadied my nerves. “No.”
Turstan’s eyes blazed, the fire and ice swirling in his irises turning them a smoky gray. He ticked his head at the sergeant and Gavin. “You two, take her to holding. I need to have a word with Dr. Fawkes.”
One of the soldier’s standing behind me clicked a button, and the restraints unlocked. I rubbed at my sore wrists, but it was short lived. The sergeant slapped on a new pair of manacles and escorted me out the door.
“I’ll see you soon, Ms. Levant.”
Turstan’s voice carried down the hall as the soldiers dragged me away. The sergeant held my left arm while Gavin had my right. I peered at him from the corner of my eye. He shot me a quick wink as we walked through the long white corridor.
I had been right. We were still in the hospital.
Gavin cleared his throat. “I got this, Sarge. I’ll escort the prisoner back to the holding cells. Go grab a few hours of shut eye before your shift starts.”
The man yawned, tilting his cap back and scratching his bald head. “You sure about that, Lenox?”
“Yes, sir. She’s just a kid. I got this.”
He tossed Gavin the keys with a smile then saluted and turned heel, disappearing in the opposite direction.
As soon as he was gone, Gavin got to work on the handcuffs. “There’s no time for explanations right now. You need to get out of here fast.”
I nodded. “Thank you.” The big question burned on my lips. Did he know what was going on with the blood? Was my friend in on this? “Gavin—”
“Not now, Solaris. You have to take that corridor, down the stairs to the first floor. Stay low and follow the tree line to the fence. It’s only about six feet high—you can easily jump over it. It’s the quickest way out of here.”
“Okay.” I chewed on my lower lip.
“Now punch me.”
“What?” My eyes widened, certain my friend had lost it.
“I need to keep this job. It’s bad enough to admit a girl got the best of me, but it’s better than the alternative.” He squeezed my shoulder. “Come on. Don’t tell me you’ve never wanted to do it.”
A smile pulled at my lips.
“Do it, Solaris.” He shook my shoulders, and my brain snapped into focus.
I could do this. I had to. I pulled my arm back and let my fist fly. The crack of bone against bone reverberated up my arm. Holy hell that hurt!
I curled my fingers into a ball then straightened them trying to shake it off.
Gavin clapped a hand over his cheek and eye, grimacing. “Nice job. Now go.”
I darted down the hall turning back to look at my friend one more time and mouthed a thank you. My chest tightened, triggering my breath to come in shallow spurts.
I raced down the stairs, jumping over steps two or three at a time, my pulse keeping time with my feet. My mind raced. Where could I go? The answer to that was as clear as the murky day of the Shadow Lands. It was my only choice. Maybe I could make my way across and find Kaige.
Guilt crept into my gut. I shouldn’t. We’d already tempted the prophecy more than enough.
I reached the first floor and quietly opened the door. I peered around the corner. Empty. I must have still been in the vacant south wing. I tiptoed down the hall to the glowing exit sign as Gavin had instructed.
I pushed the thick metal door open, and a shrill alarm blasted into the dark night.
Crap!
I raced over the grass, my Converse squishing in the muddy earth. In the distance, the chain link fence concealed by the tree line appeared. Pounding footfalls echoed behind me, and a spotlight shot over my head.
“Stop!” A voice cried out.
I pumped my arms faster, my thighs burning as I sprinted toward the fence. If I could just get over it, I could hide in the woods. It was one of the only remaining strips of natural woodlands in Imera. I could climb a tree like no one’s business, and they’d never find me up there.
Dogs barked and howled and more footsteps trailed behind me.
Damn, Turstan wasn’t messing around.
I tried to lengthen my stride, but my short legs couldn’t eat up the distance fast enough. Ten yards away. I glanced back over my shoulder.
Bad idea.
At least a dozen soldiers and a few snarling dogs were closing in.
I panted as sweat rolled off my brow.
Five yards. Three yards. One yard.
A burst of adrenaline coursed through my veins, and I leapt into the air. I splayed my fingers out and landed a few feet up on the fence. I pulled myself up and over and jumped down.
The soft dirt absorbed most of the impact, but a sharp pang shot up my leg bones. I felt it all the way up my spine. I shook it off and kept running deeper into the woods. No time for pain.
The roar of an engine caught my attention. I spun to the right and bright headlights nearly blinded me. I threw my arm up over my eyes.
A car screeched to a stop inches away, kicking up dirt and showering it all over my feet and legs. I lowered my arm and strained my eyes to focus.
The passenger door swung open, and a voice I never thought I’d hear again shouted, “Get in!”
My heart stopped.
“Kaige?”
Chapter 13
Kaige
My foot slammed on the gas pedal, the howl of dogs growing louder. The tires spun in the soft soil before the car lurched forward, taking off through the patch of forest. My eyes were wide as I navigated the area of vegetation until we burst onto a street, dodging another car.
Solaris yelped and grabbed onto the door handle while a horn blared behind us. “How are you here? Why are you here?”
Her voice mixed with her honey and jasmine scent were like a balm to the erratic terror that had been ripping through me the moment she’d been drugged in that foul lab. My breath shuddered as I glanced in her direction. Golden hair shone in the darkness of the car.
“The road, Kaige!”
My head snapped forward, swerving to dodge another car. It wouldn’t take long for the soldiers to find us. I was driving like a maniac.
“Are you going to say something?”
I winced at Solaris’s shrill tone. “Yes, if you promise not to speak like that again. I have sensitive hearing, or did you already forget everything about me?”
“Of course I didn’t forget.” She lightly punched my arm. “Now tell me what’s going on? How did you know I was in trouble all the way in Draconis? Was it the bond?” Her bottom lip snagged between her teeth. “I couldn’t feel much but a presence. Your emotions were…”
My fingers tightened on the steering wheel to keep from reaching over and yanking her into my arms. “It was the bond, in a way.” I turned down another street, the monotone gray structures nearly identical. “I was getting flashes of you. I could see through your eyes.”
Heat flooded her cheeks. “When?”
The edges of my lips twitched. “Afraid I saw you in the shower or something?” Honestly, that would have been a treat.
Her eyes narrowed. “I’m guessing it was something else. I don’t think a vision of me in the shower would cause you to storm into Imera.”
My brow arched. “Don’t be so sure, little human.”
Her mouth dropped, and a fire traveled through the invisible cords of our blood bond.
I’d missed sensing her emotions so keenly. These last few days, a hole had been scooped out of my chest where they used to be. It was filled again, and I could breathe.
“Kaige!”
My heart slammed against my ribs as a large utility vehicle with The Collective’s emblem blazoned on the side barreled toward us. I jerked the steering wheel to the left, narrowly avoiding the head-on collision. But we didn’t get by unscathed. The Collective’s bumper roughly skimmed the side of the sedan sending sparks flying between both cars.
“Hold on.” I hit the brakes and put the car in reverse, spinning into a narrow alley too small for the other vehicle.
“They’re not going to stop until they get me,” Solaris muttered, craning her neck to watch the alley behind us.