Saven Deliverance

by Siobhan Davis

  “A little warning would’ve been nice.” I cross my arms over my chest in mock annoyance.

  “This is me you’re talking to.” She jabs her finger in my arm. “You would’ve freaked out the entire way here if I’d said anything.”

  “Maybe, maybe not,” I relent. “I’m going to have to get used to stuff like this, and I’d prefer to be prepared in future rather than walking into anything blind.”

  “You were perfect, Sadie.” Haydn hugs me briefly. “And if that’s all it takes to bring this lot around, then you’ll be fine when we return to Saven. They will adore you too.”

  “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, although this is a great step in the right direction.”

  Deputy Tre approaches on ground level, looking sheepish. “If I may be permitted to speak, My King.” He bows at Logan.

  “Say what you need to.” We walk off the stage and join him.

  All of a sudden, he drops to one knee in front of me. “I respectfully request permission to act in the capacity of Alma Sadie’s personal bodyguard. Nothing would give me more pride or pleasure.”

  Logan scowls, and I arch a brow at him. “You seem quite enamored with my wife. Are you attracted to her? Are you asking this so you can get close to her?”

  My cheeks stain bright red. “Logan! Stop it,” I murmur. “You are being ridiculous. Anyone can see he is completely devoted to his duty, and you’re embarrassing me.”

  “Sadie, I see the way he looks at you. The way plenty of the men look at you around here. Believe me when I say this is not my paranoia talking.”

  Huh, could’ve fooled me, but it’s impossible to get mad at him. Sometimes it feels like we are both so far removed from the people we used to be, and it’s nice to catch glimpses of the old Logan, to know he is still the same underneath all the pomp and ceremony and the responsibility of the crown.

  Even if I’ve the urge to bash his head against the wall.

  “Come on, Logan. Seriously? Give the poor guy a break.”

  Deputy Tre’s face has paled, and he looks like he might keel over. I reckon the king calling you out for ogling his wife is high up there on the list of shameful offenses. “Forgive me, Your Highness,” he sputters. “I don’t know what impression I have given, but my intentions toward my future queen are nothing less than honorable. Perhaps I have overstepped the mark, but I feel differently since receiving the serum, and maybe I’m not handling things right.”

  “Stand up, please,” I command, and he rises. “You have nothing to apologize for, and I would be honored to have you serve as my personal bodyguard.”

  Logan and Haydn pin me with disbelieving looks. “What?” I glare at both of them. “I’m exercising my right as future queen to make my own decisions. Deputy Tre has already proven he is loyal and skilled, and he’s more than capable of protecting me. Plus, he had the balls to come up here and ask for the post outright. The job is his, and that’s the end of the matter.”

  Logan throws back his head and bursts out laughing. “Damn! I think I’ve created a monster.”

  I punch him in the arm too, and Deputy Tre’s eyes stretch so wide I think they might burst.

  Haydn leaves with him to make everything official, and Fern sets off in search of Jarod, promising to catch up with me later.

  Logan and I walk to the cafeteria arm in arm.

  Waves of hostility batter me from all angles as I place my tray on the table and slide into a seat. Logan sits down across from me, grimacing. “Narrow-minded jerks,” he seethes, violently stabbing his pasta.

  “The unknown is scary and after what aliens have done to our planet I don’t blame anyone for their wariness.” My newfound tolerance makes everything seem clearer, and I’m still on a bit of a high after events in the auditorium.

  Logan chews on a mouthful of pasta, thoughts churning through his mind. “I understand that, but you are part human and you fought the Amaretti for them. You are on their side. Why can’t they see that?”

  My mind wanders into dangerous territory as I pick at my chicken.

  “Stop thinking what you’re thinking.” He reaches across the table, lacing his fingers in mine. “You saved thousands of lives, Angel.”

  “I killed thousands.”

  “It would’ve been far worse if you hadn’t stopped them. You can’t think of it any other way. I hate that it’s come to this, too, and I had hoped we could avoid mass casualties, but it’s war, and the dreadful truth is that lives will be lost. You cannot save everyone.”

  “I know but it still sucks.”

  He moves over to sit beside me, slinging his arm over the back of my chair. I lean my head on his shoulder.

  “I hate that we have to deal with all this, that we can’t be a normal couple. I hate that we have to sit in a cafeteria eating this bland food instead of going out on a dinner date. I hate that we’ve had so few proper dates. That I can’t treat you the way you deserve to be treated.”

  “Hey.” I lift my head up, tapping his cheek with my finger. “Where’s all this coming from?”

  “I don’t like that you have so much responsibility weighing you down. I want you to be happy.”

  “I am happy, Logan, because I’m with you. That’s all I need. And we’ll have plenty of time for dates and stuff when we finish kicking Amaretti butt.” I send him a cheesy smile. Now it’s my turn to cheer him up. “Don’t worry.” I kiss his cheek. “I know what you’re thinking too, and I believe in you. I know you can do it.”

  “I’ve never astral possessed anyone before. What if I can’t do it?”

  “You’ll do it, and if you can’t, we’ll fight them the old-fashioned way.”

  “Maybe I should mention it to Vin in case we need to revert to plan B.” He rubs his taut jaw.

  “If it will make you feel better, do it, but there’ll be troops on the ground and in the air as contingency in case something goes wrong, so I don’t think you need to be specific unless you need it for peace of mind.”

  The alarm blasts out over the speakers, and intermittent flashing lights bathe the room in a scarlet coating. Logan and I share ominous looks. The last time this happened it was because the Amaretti were attacking Philadelphia. I hope this doesn’t signal a similar attack because we’re not battle-ready yet.

  Logan and I stand, linking hands automatically as we join the frantic throng exiting the canteen. An automated voice advises everyone to return to their rooms until further notice. Logan’s comport vibrates at his wrist, and he picks up the comm.

  It’s Jarod. “We need you and Sadie at the hangar, pronto.” He hangs up without further explanation.

  Logan starts pushing through the crowd, sheltering me under his arm. The minute people spot me, they fall back, leaving a clear path to the exit.

  Guess being a monster has some advantages. I chuckle to myself.

  Out in the corridor, we run in the direction of the hangar, jostling against people fleeing the opposite way. We burst through the doors, heading for the large crowd of soldiers and Saven guards grouped in a circle in the center of the space. Weapons are focused, and voices are raised as we advance. I can’t see what all the commotion is over the heads of the surrounding guards.

  Then I hear his voice, and it becomes clear.

  I yank Logan forward, nudging guards aside as I shove my way into the middle of the circle. I gasp. A line of Tor men and women, wearing red jumpsuits and a myriad of weapons strapped across their bodies, stand rigidly to attention, skimming the aggressive reception with hawk-like eyes. Ax and Izzy are talking with Vin and Jarod while Luc and Zac surround them on either side, weapons pointed at their heads.

  “Put those away!” I snap at the twins as I approach my friends. Izzy breathes a sigh of relief although Ax’s expression doesn’t change. “And call off your guys,” I tell Vin. “There is no need to be alarmed.”

  “You do the same, Logan.”

  I hear movement behind me as Vin motions over his shoulder and Logan issues a comma
nd. The sound of receding footfall is welcoming.

  “What’s going on, Ax? Why are you here?”

  “I was at the U.P.C. and heard about Dali and the threat her father made. Izzy spoke to some of her friends on the Assassins Program, and they agreed to help.” He motions toward the men and women behind him.

  “We are highly skilled assassins with considerable field experience,” Izzy cuts in, “and I figured you could use the additional help.”

  “This was your idea?” I ask.

  “I pitched it to Ax, but he didn’t need persuading. He agreed on the spot.”

  “I know it’s not much, but it’s the best I can do given the circumstances,” Ax says, shrugging. “I don’t want to see any harm come to Dali.”

  “How thoughtful.” Logan’s tone suggests he believes anything but, and the usual tension builds.

  “We are grateful for your support, and I apologize for the less than friendly welcome. You startled us,” Vin explains, staging a much-needed intervention. He stretches his hand toward Ax, and, one by one, he walks the line shaking every single assassin’s hand.

  I wrap my arms around Izzy, and she hugs me back. “How are things?” I whisper.

  “So-so. You?”

  “About the same,” I say, surreptitiously watching Logan and Ax glowering at one another.

  Ax pins his attention on me. “We need to talk in private.”

  “Not happening,” Logan growls.

  Ax purses his lips. “I meant the four of us.”

  “What is it?” My eyes rake over his face. “Just tell us.”

  He sighs. “I’ve located the VP. He’s here on Earth.”

  CHAPTER 20

  “Do you have an exact lock on him?” Logan asks, worry transforming his face. I can’t say I’m overly surprised. We know he’s coming for us and that he’s very resourceful, so it’s the most logical place for him to be.

  “Unfortunately, no. All my tech guy can confirm is that the VP is back on Earth, and it’s obvious why. I’m not going to be able to hang around indefinitely, but I can leave Izzy and a few of the others here to watch over Sadie.”

  I know Logan wants to argue, to tell Ax to butt out and that he’s more than capable of protecting me, but he’s never going to turn down additional security. “That’s great, thanks, Ax,” I reply.

  Vin butts into the conversation. “We’ve spoken with Commander Douglas and the president, and we have everything in motion. If you want to head toward the war room, I can update everyone at once.”

  “The war room?” My eyebrows lift curiously.

  Vin smiles. “It seemed fitting with the approaching battle and the lovely big hole in the wall.” He sends me a knowing wink.

  I laugh despite myself.

  Once we are all seated—Ax, Izzy, and the assassins too—Vin kicks off the meeting, running through the agreed plan and outlining the resources we’ve been provided with and who will be where at the time of attack. With the rebels, the Saven, and the government all working together and the addition of Ax’s little group of bandits, we are a formidable force, and there’s a confident buzz in the room, a real sense that we can do this.

  We can defeat the Amaretti and reclaim Earth.

  While everyone disbands, heading out to update their troops, Izzy and I set out in search of Fern. She’s chatting with a group of Saven in the recreational hall when we catch up to her. She greets Izzy warmly, and we move to a quieter part of the space, claiming a corner couch as ours.

  “I’m sorry to hear you broke up with Rylan,” Izzy tells her with a sympathetic smile.

  Fern tucks her hair behind her ears as she shrugs. “It wasn’t meant to be, but he’ll always have a special place in my heart.”

  “I know what you mean.” Izzy looks nostalgic, and I know her mind has wandered to Blade. “Did Sadie tell you I was married?”

  “No.” Fern shakes her head, hiding her surprise well. I think she can tell this is a difficult topic for Izzy.

  “Blade was an assassin like me,” she says, curling her feet up underneath her body. “And I’d known him since I was a little girl. It was forbidden for assassins to marry, so we had to conceal our relationship and our marriage, and I hate that I never got the chance to love him in the open.”

  “He knew how much you loved him, Izzy. Don’t ever doubt that.”

  She reaches over, squeezing my hand. “I love that you remember now. It was so hard not to let things slip before, but I didn’t want to make things any harder for you.”

  I’m loving the normalcy of our conversation. For a few minutes, I can forget that we are in the midst of a bloody battle for control of Earth. I can forget about all those I’ve had to kill in the name of freedom. I want to wallow in this carefree, girly bubble for a little while longer. “I know, Iz. You’ve always been an amazing friend. I would never have survived my time on Torc without you, Ax, and Blade. I miss him too.”

  “At some stage you’re going to have to fill me in,” Fern says.

  “At some stage, I’m going to have to face up to all my memories, but that’s for another day.” I grimace, not relishing the prospect. Izzy is staring off into space, a strange look on her face. “Are you okay?” I touch her arm.

  Her eyes are moist with unshed tears as she looks over at me. “Do you think …” She looks down at her hands. “Do you think it’s wrong to want to move on? To allow myself contemplate the prospect of another love?”

  I grip her hands in mine. “No. You have to move on. You can’t cling to the past and be truly living.” The irony of my words strikes me. That is exactly what Ax has been doing, and he hasn’t been living either. “Blade wouldn’t want you to spend the rest of your life pining for him. Your happiness was his sole priority, and he’d want you to find someone else to make you happy.”

  “Do you genuinely believe that?” Her gaze and her tone reveal her inner conflict. “Because I feel so guilty for even thinking like this. As if it downgrades what we shared, makes it seem less important than it was.”

  “You can love more than one person, Iz. I’m proof of that. Letting Ax go was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, especially now I remember all the ways in which he loved me. And he loved me good.” The usual gut-wrenching pain twists my insides into painful knots.

  “He did, Sadie. He truly did.”

  “But letting him go was the right decision for all of us. I know he doesn’t see it that way yet, but he’ll come to that realization. And there is someone else out there for him. Someone who will love him in the way he deserves to be loved. And that goes for you, too, Iz.”

  The call to arms wakes us up at five a.m. and we both spring up, adrenaline already coursing through my veins. We shower together, kissing softly as the warm water cascades over our bodies, not needing words to articulate our feelings.

  After I’m dressed, I look at myself in the mirror, wondering where the girl I used to be has gone. My hair is longer than I’ve ever worn it, draping in soft curls over my shoulders. My eyes sparkle with a fierceness and a confidence I used to lack. My black utility shirt and combat pants fit like a glove and I notice how my body has filled out, curving in and out like a woman’s body should.

  “You’re beautiful,” Logan whispers, pushing my hair aside to plant a lingering kiss on my collarbone. “And you’re all mine.” His mouth follows a trail up the side of my neck, worshiping me with his lush lips. “When all this is done, I’m locking us away in our apartment and we’re not surfacing for days.”

  I twist around, placing my hands on his chest. “I like the sound of that, and I’m going to hold you to it.”

  Curling his hand around my neck, he kisses me deeply. “You can count on it.” He reels me into his arms, and my face nuzzles his warm chest. His chin rests on top of my head. “No matter what happens today, we don’t split up. We’re in this together.”

  “Always,” I reply with a smile, reaching up on tip toe to plant one final kiss on his luscious mouth.
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  The hangar is buzzing with nervous energy when we arrive. Row upon row of the military, Saven guards, and Vin’s soldiers line up, listening as they are issued directions. A group of officers stands at the back of the large open space, distributing weapons and other forms of artillery. Differing aircraft line the opposite side of the hangar, engines quietly humming as last-minute checks are carried out.

  Deputy Tre approaches with Haydn. “Hey, guys. All set?” Haydn asks when we stand toe-to-toe.

  “As ready as we’ll ever be,” I confirm for both of us.

  “Our troops are prepared and itching to do this. Everything seems to be going smoothly so far.”

  “Good,” Logan says, looking pensive as he clocks the time. “We better make our move.”

  We are using Dali and Win’s ship as it’s the only aircraft in our possession with invisibility technology. We will land as close to the mother ship as we can before their heat-seeking radar technology kicks in and identifies us. We will teleport to the server control room on the ship from there.

  Vin walks toward us, dressed in khaki-colored army fatigues. “Good luck, guys, but I know you don’t need it. We’ll be lined up and ready. Go do your thing.” He pulls me in for a quick hug before slapping Haydn and Logan on the back.

  Logan slides into the pilot seat, and I take up position beside him. Haydn has escorted a party of twenty-four loyal guards on board, and they are currently strapping themselves in. Logan pushes a few buttons on the control panel and checks a few gauges over his head. He converses with someone on the radio, confirming coordinates, and he may as well be speaking a different language for all I understand of the conversation. This is my first time in the cockpit with him, and I didn’t realize how much seeing him in this guise would turn me on.

  It’s hot as hell.

  He’s hot as hell.

  Logan smirks knowingly, leaning over to kiss me sweetly. “Let’s do this.”

  The ship powers up, a gentle hum vibrating underneath my feet as Logan maneuvers us out of the hangar and up into the air. Shrouded in hues of navy and gray with golden strips stealing through slim gaps, the sky is a wonder to behold. There is something so harmonious and peaceful about flying invisibly through the early morning sky. Down below, night dew greedily hugs the land, bathed in celestial silence.