When the elevator comes to a stop, the doors open automatically onto a lobby of sorts. We step out onto a seamless silver floor. The walls are a shimmering white color that looks almost transparent in places, and they are high, stretching upward farther than my eyes can make out. Strange music plays in the background, but it’s not unpleasant.
We walk past a striking sculpture in the center of the space, and I stop to examine it. A large circle is suspended along five cut lines which slope in different directions, tapering off into curls at the top. Another object rests in the center of the circle, and I peer in at it. I gulp as the shape takes form. It’s a pentagon shape, one that’s an exact copy of the marking we five have on our wrists. I smooth a thumb over my skin, dragging my lip between my teeth, as my gaze flips from my wrist to the sculpture.
The others have moved ahead, but Beck is still by my side, holding my hand. “The pentagon symbol is the official brand of the Academy. You’ll see it everywhere when you visit the compound.”
“Wow.” I have no other words. The more I hear, the more claustrophobic it becomes.
The sound of approaching footsteps diverts our focus, and we hurry to catch up with the others. As we reach the end of the corridor, a tall, imposing man appears from a side door, leaning forward to press his forehead to Dane’s. Zorc—I assume— is dressed in a shiny gold jumpsuit-type-thingy with an elaborate green hooded coat on top. It’s very stiff and formal looking, and I feel significantly underdressed in my sweater, jeans, and sneakers ensemble. His hair is cropped close to his head, and a blinding white-blond color. Eyes the color of emeralds smile affectionately at Dane. “Apologies, Dekten. I was on an important comm; otherwise, I would have been waiting on the landing pad to greet you.”
“Carpov, Brint, Manzar,” he addresses each of my protectors in turn by their birth names. He presses his forehead to theirs, in what’s obviously some form of traditional greeting. “It’s good to see you.”
Then he pauses in front of me, his Adam’s apple jumping in his throat. I smile, expecting the same treatment, so I fail to mask my shock when he drops to his knees, thumping a hand over his heart. “Chosen One, it is an absolute honor to meet you.”
Ho. Lee. Fuck.
My initial instinct is to laugh, to tell him to stop being silly and to get off his feet, but something stops me from reacting like that.
Placing my hand on his left shoulder, I tap three times, look into his striking green eyes, and nod. “Thank you for your loyalty. May bravery and good fortune guide your future path.”
What the hell? Where did that come from?
I look at the boys, deciphering a multitude of different expressions. Coop has a telltale smirk on his face, while Maddox wears a proud smile. Dane looks slightly off kilter, and Beck just beams at me. “You won’t know this,” Beck whispers in my ear, “but that is the official way royalty acknowledges their servants and wishes them well.”
“Shut the front door!” Despite knowing my family tree, I’m still hung up on the “royalty” and “servants” part of that statement.
“True fact. I’ll show you some more of the customs and traditions later. I really should’ve thought to do it on the way, but it looks like your instincts are guiding you just fine.”
Zorc stands up, bearing a grin so wide it threatens to split his face in half. “I see things are progressing, Your Esteemed Highness. That is most excellent.” He shoots a sly, scathing look in Dane’s direction that I don’t miss, and I wonder what that’s all about.
“I hope you are hungry.” He gestures me forward with an outstretched arm. “My homra prepared a feast in your honor.”
“Homra?” I inquire.
Zorc slants a frustrated look at Beck. “Did you not fully prepare her esteemed highness for this visit?”
“We’ve been focusing on Veronnian histories, the intricacies of the prophecy, our skills and abilities,” Beck coolly replies. “The hierarchical structure on Cerlyon wasn’t high on the agenda.”
I fight a proud smirk. Round one to Beck.
“I thought we might speak in private before we have dinner, Your Esteemed Highness.” Zorc’s sharp look drills into Beck, like he wants him to skedaddle, and I don’t like that one little bit.
Beck attempts to remove his hand from mine, but I grip him tighter, letting him know there is no reason why he can’t participate in this conversation. I may have no choice but to stand on ceremony with outsiders, but that will not be happening with my guys. No one is going to exclude them or talk down to them. “Beckett stays, and, in fact, anything you have to say to me can be said in front of my protectors. We’re a team.” I send Zorc a pointed look. “So, let’s just talk over dinner, shall we?”
CHAPTER 14
Zorc’s home is cavernous and hugely extravagant by human standards, and I have to wonder why he feels it necessary on a planet where there are minimal visitors tolerated. If he hasn’t built it to show it off, why the need for all this space?
My folks have simple tastes, and a pragmatic approach to possessions, and it’s a trait that’s rubbed off on me. I’ve never been one for extravagant gestures or expensive gifts. The simpler things in life mean more to me, like Maddox seeing I was thirsty back on the ship and handing me a bottle of water or the way Coop consistently takes my bag so I don’t have to bear the weight of it. One of the things that used to fill my heart with joy was hearing the rumbling sound of Jensen’s truck every morning as he pulled up in front of the farmhouse, knowing he was waiting outside to drive me to school. A sorrowful pang pierces me straight through the heart at the thought of my ex. So much of my life is enmeshed with his, and I don’t know if this separation, this distance, between us will ever get easier to deal with. The loss, sadness, and grief I feel whenever I think of Jensen threatens to consume me, so I’ve purposely tried not to think of him, but it’s hard to completely remove someone who has been such a big part of my life.
I think of how amazed he would be here and how much it’d appeal to his inventor’s brain. I hate that there’s this big part of my life he’ll never know anything about, but it’s for the best, because I know there will come a time when I have to leave Earth permanently behind, and severing ties now will help lessen the blow when that time arrives.
“Are you okay?” Beck whispers, peering at me with troubled eyes.
“Yeah,” I whisper back. “Grief is a funny thing. It creeps up on you at the most inconceivable times, when you are least expecting it.” I force myself to smile at him. “But I’m okay, so don’t worry.”
“That’s a virtual impossibility,” he murmurs. “We worry about you all of the time.”
And just like that, my heart restarts in my chest.
Zorc leads us out of the main living space into a side room that is fully encased in glass, and I draw a shuddering breath at the spectacular view. This room is a sort of sun-room, I suppose, jutting out of the main building on one side. The gold, orange, and red hues of the overhead sky glint off the glass, casting magical rays of vivid color all over the room and the sheer drop of the mountain outside, like a private fireworks display. Quite simply, it’s breathtaking.
A long sleek table occupies prime position in the room. Two narrow benches rest on either side of it, and both table and benches are floating slightly off the ground. Numerous different dishes and platters fill the full length of the table, and there’s enough food here to feed about thirty people. Extravagance is clearly a normal way of life for Zorc, and it doesn’t help endear him to me.
A myriad of different scents floats around the room, piquing my curiosity and rousing my taste buds. Maddox’s stomach emits a loud rumble, and we all laugh. Maddox is a big guy, but I’m always amazed at the amount of food he can put away and still look like a giant block of ripped, toned muscle. There isn’t an ounce of fat anywhere on his magnificent body. Memories of what we did in the woods unhelpfully replay in my mind, and I quickly blank them out before the proof of my arousal is evident on
my face. Zorc doesn’t look pleased, shooting an irritated look at Maddox, but he wisely keeps his lips closed and personally escorts me to the table.
The instant Zorc puts his hand on the bench, it lowers, adhering to the ground. Keeping Beck with me, I sit down. Cooper slides in on the other side of me before Zorc has even had a chance to sit down. Disguising his annoyance, he moves around to the other side of the table, taking a seat in between Maddox and Dane. As soon as we are all seated, the table lowers and expands at both sides. Strange-looking plates and silverware appear from underneath the extended panels as dishes on the table start a slow rotation. The guys start spooning stuff onto their plates, while I stare at the options as they glide past me. “I have no idea what to choose,” I freely admit.
“Allow me to choose for you?” Coop suggests, and I nod agreeably.
“Thanks.” I pat his knee under the table before turning to face Zorc. “What was it you wanted to discuss?”
Coop starts loading my plate with different colored and shaped foods, and delicious smells drift upward, making my mouth water.
“I believe I have found a cure for your curse,” Zorc says, just dropping the news like that.
Dane stares at him funnily.
“You have?” Beck asks, also astounded. “How?”
“I gave the specimens Dekten provided to the lab for analysis, and they were able to match the strain and generate a cure.” He produces a vial from his pocket, handing it across the table to me.
I take it with an appreciative nod, sliding it in the pocket of my jeans. “What specimens?”
“Dekten didn’t tell you?” Zorc looks surprised.
“He didn’t go into the specifics.”
“We took a sample of the Tianore removed from your system and gave it to Zorc for testing,” Beck confirms, eyeballing me before switching his attention to Zorc. “I also conducted analysis, and I detected no evidence of the curse. It wasn’t until later that it showed up in her system.” Which is obviously why we all, incorrectly, thought Jack was the curse-infector.
“The technology in the compound is the most up to date in the galaxy. It’s no surprise to me that it worked more effectively. Besides, it doesn’t really matter now, does it? The most important thing is we have a cure for the curse, and this should pave the way for Alinthia’s progress to accelerate in leaps and bounds.”
He seems to have dropped the “esteemed highness” nonsense. It was a ridiculous mouthful, and I’d rather he was relaxed around me.
“That’s excellent news. Thank you,” I reply.
“Oh stars,” Cooper exclaims, with his mouth half full. “This is to die for. You’ve got to try it.” He holds a curved utensil up to my mouth with eager eyes. I survey the bright purple mystery food with a certain amount of trepidation, but I open my mouth and let him feed it to me. A burst of flavors explodes in my mouth, and I have to work hard to stifle a groan of satisfaction. It’s both sweet and spicy, the flesh soft but with a little bite. I chew slowly, relishing the exotic taste that is exquisite. “Orgasmic, right?” He winks, and I almost choke on the last morsel.
“Oh my word, that was incredible.”
“Try this next.”
He shovels another mouthful of a different kind of food in my mouth next, and this time I can’t hold back my moan. If this is what the quality of food is like in space, then I’m sold. Book me a one-way ticket. “Do I even want to know what I’m eating?”
“Probably not. Here, this is so good too.” This time, he kisses me quickly before bringing the next delicacy to my mouth.
“Carpov!” Zorc snaps. “Show some decorum. This is no way to treat the Supreme Heir.”
Cooper glares at Zorc, but he doesn’t protest or sling a retort in his direction which is most unusual. There is little that can restrain Coop. I know I haven’t been here long, but it’s long enough to detect a weird vibe between the boys and their handler. Maybe I was mistaken, but I kinda thought he was like a father figure to them. Now that I’ve met him, I realize my assessment was definitely wide of the mark. I don’t know what to make of Zorc and whether he’ll appreciate me defending the boys, but I’m not about to let that comment go unchallenged.
After I’ve finished chewing, I place my hands on my knees and clear my throat. “I don’t understand your issue, Zorc. I thought you wanted us to embrace the bond and progress our relationship. What exactly did Coo … Carpov do wrong?”
“Your Esteem—”
“Please just call me Alinthia. I think we can dispense with protocol while I’m in your private residence.”
His answering smile is tight, disapproval radiating off him in waves. “Alinthia. I believe embracing the bond will accelerate the connection and bring your talents and hidden memories to the surface quicker which is why I made the suggestion to Dekten; however, that doesn’t give any of your protectors the right to treat you with any less respect than your position commands.”
“So you think they should call me “Esteemed Highness” and bow at my feet?” I’m joking but Zorc apparently isn’t.
“Precisely. They can never treat you casually or ever forget who you are.”
I take a small sip of the light pink drink Beck poured for me, allowing the refreshing fruity-tasting liquid to trickle down my throat while I gather my thoughts.
This dude is nuts.
He wants me to fully embrace the connection and develop our relationship to the fullest extent, yet the guys are to act all formal and shit around me? How the hell would that ever work? Especially in the bedroom. If what he’s saying is typical, and maybe it’s not, maybe it’s because of who I am, then I can’t imagine how dissatisfying relationships on my home planet must be.
I put the glass down and smile at him, but it’s forced. “I’m not sure how relationships usually work on Verron or here on Cerlyon, but on Earth, relationships that aren’t built on mutual treatment, equality, and respect don’t tend to work out long-term. Furthermore”—I add, really hitting my stride now—“relationships without fun and laughter and genuine pleasure in companionship usually suffer the same fate.”
Displeasure is written all over his face. “I can’t force you to follow the traditions and ways of our people, and I understand there’s a steep learning curve, but when you move here, the elders will not tolerate such blatant familiarity. Boundaries will have to be respected.”
“When I move here?” As far as I’m aware, no concrete plans have been made to move anywhere yet. I look to Dane. His knuckles are clenched, the skin stretched tight. The other three guys have gone deathly quiet, their bodies stiff and loaded with tension.
“The elders are not happy that you insist on remaining on Earth, but I’ve explained about your human mother, and I’m holding them at bay, for now. However, they believe you would be far safer completing your training here.”
“No,” Dane snaps. “There’s no way I’m bringing Alinthia here.”
Wow, for once we’re in agreement on something, but I’d really like to know why Dane’s so adamant. He’s the one constantly preaching about all the risks I’m taking remaining close to my family and friends, and he still harps on about using memory erase on Kylie and Jensen despite the fact neither of them poses any cause for concern. While the last thing I want to consider is coming here, there’s no denying it offers a safer environment, so why is Dane so resistant? My instinct tells me it’s to do with their upbringing, and if the guys don’t want to come back here, I’ll never force them to. If the time comes when we need to leave Earth, we’ll figure out alternative options.
“Besides, bringing Alinthia here puts the Academy at risk. There will be many who will stop at nothing until she is located. We can’t place the compound in danger. She is better hidden on Earth, and, with the right precautions, it is the safest place for her right now,” Dane adds.
“You may not have much of a choice if you don’t succeed in her training. The elders are not happy with the lack of progress, Dekten, and that
responsibility lands squarely on your shoulders.”
“It’s hardly Dekten’s fault,” I argue. “And I won’t hear of him being criticized for it.”
A muscle pops in Dane’s jaw. “I don’t need you to fight my battles for me,” he says in a low tone. “Focus on addressing your own shortcomings, and that’ll solve all the issues.”
I hate how much those words pierce through the shield around my heart and how transparent that emotion is on my face right now.
“How dare you!” Zorc slams his hand down on the top of the table. “Apologize, right now.”
“It’s fine,” I say, hardening my heart again. “Dekten’s bedside manner could use some work, but you can’t criticize him for speaking the truth. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to meet with you. When you say I need to embrace the bond fully to accelerate the process, what exactly did you mean by that? I need you to be specific, in case I’m interpreting it wrong.”
Beck splutters, almost choking on the food in his mouth. I pour him a drink and hand him the glass without taking my eyes off Zorc.
“I think we are all aware of what I’m referring to without the need to lower the tone of the conversation,” Zorc says with a hint of a smirk.
“So, you do mean sex.”
Coop moves to speak, but I slap my hand over his mouth. “We’ll have none of your smutty talk, thank you very much.” I send him a quick smile.
“Do you need us to draw you a diagram?”
Dane’s tone is condescending in the extreme, and I have to work really hard not to show my frustration. I’ve tried to defend him, and he’s throwing it back in my face. I can understand his frustration, but I don’t deserve to be treated with disdain. All he’s done is completely piss me off now, and I can’t help reacting to that. “That won’t be necessary. However, I may need to get high or drunk before I slide into bed with you. Or maybe I’ll just ask Beck to wipe my memory afterward. That way I’ll have no unpleasant memories haunting my dreams for eternity.”
The Secret Heir (Alinthia Series Book 2) Page 10