by DuBoff, Amy
His father hesitated. “Everything changed when Tristen was killed.”
I never would have come into being. Thankful his slip about the war had gone unheeded, Cris took a slow breath. “We’re all being guided, whether you want to acknowledge it or not.”
“Like Marina having a child that’s now involved with Wil?” Reinen asked
“Just the latest thread binding us together.” Marina’s tie to Saera is the answer to our problems, but it means the manipulations run far deeper than I ever imagined.
“I never wanted this life for you,” Reinen murmured.
Kate cleared her throat, eyeing the back door.
“Right.” Cris took a moment to quiet his thoughts. Reaching any level of understanding with his parents would take time he didn’t have at the present. He turned his attention to the more pressing matter. Why did Marina have a child on Earth?
* * *
Wil brought Saera to her feet. He held her close as she trembled, staring into space. How can I even begin to comfort her? How can I even process this myself?
“There has to be an explanation. It’ll all be okay,” Wil tried to sooth. “I can’t believe you recognized her.”
“I… felt it,” Saera stammered. “She barely looks like the old pictures I have of her, but there was a bond—like a faint form of what I feel with you. I just knew.”
Wil nodded. “I have something like that with my parents, too.”
“Let me go after her,” Saera said, pulling out of Wil’s arms.
“Maybe we should let this settle—”
Cris barged out from the dining room, with Kate following close behind.
“Which way did Marina go?” Cris demanded.
“Dad—”
“Which way?” Cris repeated.
There’s no stopping him. “Down that hall.” Wil pointed to the left.
Cris and Kate took off in the direction he indicated.
“Are you sure you’re up for this?” Wil asked Saera.
She nodded. “I have to.”
Wil took Saera’s hand and they jogged to catch up to his parents.
They spotted Marina through a window, standing on a nearby terrace with her back to the glass doors.
Cris stormed outside. “Marina, you owe us all an explanation.”
Marina withered. “I do. I almost ran back to my room, but I’ve already spent enough time hiding.”
Saera slipped through the door next to Wil and approached her mother. “Mom, what happened? Why did you leave me?”
Marina closed her eyes and shook her head. “I’m so sorry, Saera.”
“Mom…”
“I had to!” Marina finally met Saera’s gaze, distraught. “They didn’t give me any choice.”
“Who?” Cris asked.
“Who else? The Priesthood,” Marina replied.
Cris clenched his jaw, silently fuming.
Wil took a deep breath. It all comes back to them. It always does. He wrapped his arm around Saera and she slumped against him, hugging herself.
“Just over twenty years ago, they approached me one night as I was returning to my home here on Tararia,” Marina explained. “They said there was something important I must do for them—that the fate of Tararia was at stake. I tried to resist, but they insisted. I was forced to put in a request for extended leave the following morning.”
“Doesn’t sound like you resisted much—” Cris began, but Kate stopped him with a debilitating stare that Wil had only seen her use on rare occasions.
“It seemed like my only choice at the time,” Marina continued. “The Priesthood gave me a new identity of ‘Mary Alexander.’ They instructed me to go to Earth and seduce a specific man to bear a child with him—a girl. I was given his name, picture and location, and then I was sent on my way. It wasn’t until later that I found out he was married and already had other children.”
With a retired Agent watching to make sure she followed through—Michael’s father, Wil realized. Fok!
“Why him?” Kate asked.
“I don’t know. I tried looking into him afterward, and there didn’t seem to be anything of note. His grandfather was Taran and immigrated to Earth, as people occasionally do. The bloodline doesn’t trace to any Dynasties. I think they just searched far and wide, and he and I were the right genetic match,” she looked at Wil, “to produce someone complementary to the Cadicle.”
Wil felt like he had been stabbed in the stomach, but he was careful to not show any outward emotion. They made her for me.
Cris startled. “What makes you think Wil is the Cadicle?”
Wil came to attention, realizing his father had picked up on a key detail. Only a handful of people know me by that title.
“It’s the only explanation that fits,” Marina replied. “You three Agents are more powerful than most, and add in the clear manipulation of genetic lines… The Priesthood was seeking their namesake. And for whatever reason, they want that new line to continue through another intentional pairing.”
Saera looked even more ill. “And knowing that, you just left me?”
Marina shook her head. “Saera, I tried to fight them, but they took me away. They told me I had to leave you. I couldn’t even begin to comprehend what it was all about until now.”
“I don’t understand why you couldn’t have stayed with me,” Saera murmured. “Been my mother and raised me.”
“Probably because of me,” Cris cut in. “Because when I was a hot-headed teenager I had a stupid grudge against one of my teachers. And because of those lingering feelings, however ill-placed, once I was Lead Agent I may not have given her daughter an honest chance with the TSS—let alone allow her to get close to my son.”
“They watch everything,” Marina whispered.
Why does the Priesthood want us together? Wil could barely maintain composure, crushed by the realization that the single most important person in his life was yet another piece in the plan directing his fate. I would have fought for her to the end, but it turns out we’ve been forced together this whole time.
“No organization should have this much control,” Cris muttered.
Marina ignored him. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you,” Marina said, trying to reach out to her daughter, but Saera pulled away.
“But you weren’t there!” Saera cried. “You have no idea what it was like for me after you left!”
“I’m sorry…” Marina hung her head.
Tears streamed down Saera’s cheeks, her breath ragged.
Wil watched the exchange unfold, too shocked to intervene. I didn’t even choose my own love. He caught himself. No… I did choose her. They may have made her for me, but I still chose to be with her. And I still choose her, despite everything.
With renewed vigor, Wil put his arm around Saera. “Come on,” he urged. “Take some time to process this. It’s too much to take in at once,” he added telepathically.
Saera nodded and followed his lead.
They departed without another word. Kate brushed Wil’s arm as he passed by, but she couldn’t meet his gaze.
Wil silently escorted Saera back to their suite. Her eyes were red and swollen, but eventually the tears subsided.
When they made it to the privacy of their room, Saera’s shoulders rounded. “So it’s all a lie? Just one big setup?”
What I feel for you isn’t a lie. Wil smoothed her hair. “Our meeting may have been contrived, but that doesn’t mean what we have together is any less real.”
Saera searched Wil’s face, perplexed. “How can you be so calm about this?”
“Because this is my life, Saera. Everything about my entire existence has been manufactured and manipulated. My very genetic code was part of a master design.” He took her hands and eased her down onto the edge of the bed. “What I came to realize a long time ago was that I can’t control everything around me, but I still have freewill. So, rather than be upset about everything that’s out of my hands, I’ve made a
conscious choice to focus on what I can do. Being with you is something I chose to do because you make me happy. Frankly, I don’t care how we came to be together, because I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Saera thought for a moment. “You’re right.”
They changed out of the formal attire, and Wil tucked Saera into bed. She tossed and turned at first, but eventually her breathing settled into the slow, deep rhythm of slumber.
Wil lay in bed next to her, staring at the ceiling. He had to put on a strong front for Saera’s sake, but he was more unnerved by the Priesthood’s actions than he would readily admit. My grandparents may not want us together, but the Priesthood does. They made the Cadicle—me—but why go to such lengths for Saera? What do they want out of our partnership?
CHAPTER 5
Saera awoke in the morning to a sore throat and itchy eyes. What a miserable night.
Wil rolled over to wrap an arm around her when she stirred. “How did you sleep?” he asked.
“Apparently not well. I still feel exhausted.”
Wil hugged her close. “We’ll have a mellow day and relax. I think we could all use a break from reality.”
“I just want to go home,” Saera moaned and buried her face in a pillow.
“No moping allowed,” Wil said in an upbeat tone as he removed the pillow from over her face. “Think about it this way: things can’t possibly get any worse than last night. It has to be on the upswing now.”
Saera groaned and tried to roll away from Wil.
“Nope! Time to get up.” He threw back the covers and gently began dragging her toward the edge of the bed.
She made an exaggerated frown but let Wil direct her. At the side of the bed, he pulled her to her feet.
“See? Not so bad.” Wil gave her a kiss.
“I still want to go home.” But I guess there’s no escape no matter where I go.
“Not an option. So, we may as well try to enjoy ourselves. How does a pool day sound?”
Saera pondered the proposition. “I suppose that’s acceptable.”
“All right. Let’s get ready for breakfast.”
They showered and dressed in the spacious bathroom—well equipped to accommodate two people. With a little more encouragement, Wil coaxed Saera down to the patio on the lower level of the residential wing for their morning meal.
When they arrived, Wil’s parents were lounging at the outdoor table. Kate was gazing out over the gardens with a cup of tea in her hands, and Cris was reading through what looked to be a report projected from his handheld resting on the table.
“Good morning,” Cris greeted. “I was afraid you might run off in the middle of the night.” He minimized the report.
“The thought did cross my mind,” Saera replied, only half-joking. She and Wil sat down in the cushioned chairs at the wooden table. An enticing spread of sliced fruit, juice, and pastries was arranged at the center amid vases of fresh-cut flowers.
“It’s a new day now,” Kate said. “We adjust, like always.”
Cris glanced at his wife. “Things are what they are.”
The Priesthood bred me for Wil. To be a complement to the Cadicle. Saera’s stomach turned over.
Wil let out a slow breath. “Last night was just another ‘that figures’ moment after everything I’ve been through in the last few years.”
“I can’t believe those sorts of revelations are starting to feel normal,” Kate admitted.
“I really thought I was getting used to taking things in stride, too, but that… Stars!” Cris shook his head.
Kate nodded. “Somehow it was easier when it was just us. But knowing there have been others…”
Saera wilted. What does the Priesthood want with me? “None of this feels real.”
Cris ducked his head to catch Saera’s downcast gaze. “I know it’s not a lot of consolation right now, but we know how you feel. We’ll get through this together.”
Saera fought to keep from tearing up again. “I always wanted to see my mom again. I ran through what I’d say to her countless times in my head. But now…”
“Everything was out of your control. You can’t get caught up in ‘what if’ hypotheticals,” Kate said. “We went through this a few years ago ourselves. You have to accept the fate you were dealt, but you don’t have to let it define you.”
Wil took Saera’s hand. “We know what we have. That’s all that matters.”
Kate smiled, caressing Cris’ forearm. “Exactly.”
Saera tried to take comfort in the words. She squeezed Wil’s hand and gave an assured nod, but inside the emotion was still too raw.
Wil eyed the basket of golden pastries at the center of the table and grabbed one. “I honestly did have hopes that this would be a relaxing, uneventful vacation.”
Cris chuckled. “Around here? Impossible.”
Saera grabbed a pastry for herself. It was still warm and had a delightfully airy texture.
“Though I don’t expect any more life-changing announcements, the drama might not be completely over. The party is still on for this evening,” Cris stated.
“Is that really such a good idea?” Wil asked.
Cris shook his head. “It wouldn’t look good to cancel last-minute. Appearances.”
Wil slumped back in his chair. “But of course. We are the perfect family, after all.”
Kate set down her empty tea mug. “Let’s try to keep the sarcasm to a minimum. The circumstances could be far worse.”
“Easy for you to say,” Wil countered. “You won’t be the one on display.”
“What do you mean?” Saera asked.
Wil faltered—only for an instant, but she knew him well enough to recognize that he was keeping something from her. “Nothing. These events are just an excuse for the absurdly rich to show off.”
“Sounds lovely.” Saera took a bite of her pastry. It was the perfect balance of sweet and savory that left her mouth watering for more.
Wil grinned. “It’ll be great.”
Saera and Wil finished eating, and then went back to their room to change into swimming attire. Wil led her down to one of the infinity pools carved into the hillside of the estate overlooking the city and lake below.
It felt strange, at first, to wear a bikini outdoors after years of TSS uniforms, but the warm sun on her skin soon set her at ease. She selected one of the lounge chairs facing the sun head-on and got comfortable.
Wil stripped down to his swim shorts and dove into the water. He slicked back the hair from his forehead when he surfaced. “I miss swimming. The ocean on Orino was frigid, but there’s something freeing about the water.”
“You just like it because it reminds you of freefall.”
“Now that’s probably true.” He laid back in the water and floated with his eyes closed.
Saera admired the view, starting to feel more like herself again.
In time, she closed her eyes and soaked up the sun. After several minutes, she felt a cool shadow pass over her leg.
She cracked open one eye to see if a cloud had manifested in the clear sky, but instead saw an orb of water approaching overhead. Wil was floating in the pool watching her with a mischievous grin.
“You wouldn’t!” Saera exclaimed. She raised a telekinetic shield just in time to deflect the water as the orb burst above her. The water splashed down around her protective dome.
“Now you’re asking for it!” Saera leaped to her feet and raised a retaliatory wave in the pool toward Wil.
He parted the wave to either side of him with the slightest raise of his hand, causing water to splash over the lip of the pool onto the pavement.
Before Saera had time to plan her next move, she felt herself lifting off of the ground, her skin tingling with electrical energy. “That’s not fair!” She could have tried to fight against Wil, but she knew there was no way she’d win if he didn’t want her to.
Slowly, Wil levitated her above the center of the pool. Saera scowled down at hi
m.
He laughed. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist.”
“There’s still time to put me back and pretend like this never happened.”
Wil tilted his head. “What’s the fun in that?”
Saera plunged into the water with a scream of surprise. She surfaced with a gasp from the warm water, pure as a mountain spring.
Wil took a couple strokes over to her. “Forgive me?”
Saera gave him a playful glare. “I guess—this time.” She splashed at him with her hand.
Wil splashed her back. “You know, I think this is the most time we’ve ever spent together in a row.”
“I guess it is,” Saera realized. She hadn’t been able to stay overnight with Wil since he graduated, due to the unwanted questions it would raise with her roommates. “And you’re trying to drown me already?”
“Oh, hardly!” Wil swam to Saera and pulled her in for a kiss.
She kissed him back. “Uh huh.”
They played around in the water for a while longer before returning to the poolside lounge chairs. As they dried off in the sun, Saera traced the outline of the dragon tattooed on Wil’s left shoulder blade.
“I’m glad you brought me here,” she said.
“So far it hasn’t gone quite how I pictured.”
“Me either.”
Wil turned to face her, his glowing cerulean eyes fixed on her. “My new trainees will arrive as soon as we get back. We won’t get many more moments like this for a long time.”
Saera took his hand. “So let’s enjoy it while we can.”
They spent the rest of the day lazing around the pool and gardens. So much had happened the previous evening, Saera was happy for some quiet time to process. Servants brought out a picnic lunch to them and refreshed their glasses of iced lemonade.
When the day turned to late-afternoon, they made their way inside to begin dressing for the party.
Wil again donned his TSS dress uniform, and Saera put on the second gown she had been given—this one light silver in color. It had a wide V-cut at the bust and two straps secured behind her neck. The back of the dress was almost completely open, and the rest of the metallic fabric formed around her in a tight sheath to the floor, with a slit to mid-thigh on either side.