Through the Never

by J. A. Culican

  “Is that the reason I’m here? It’s not just Aravidia you wanted me to save?”

  “Of course not. We’ve had plans for you since the moment I realized your full potential. Now, do your duty – this world is depending on you.”

  “Depending on me to make a villain happy on his wedding night?”

  “If that’s what it takes, Amandera, then you will do it, and consider it a joy.”

  I gritted my teeth, grateful when she left my consciousness. The High Tazmin wasn’t here yet, but the slaves said he would be before the red candle burned down. It was nearly down to the last inch. I wanted to spend the last moments of freedom looking out over the city that was currently celebrating my defeat.

  There was a ripping sound behind me in the room, and I spun, pushing through the diaphanous curtains. Was the High Tazmin back? But, no. There was a tiny … rip? … in the air and hanging out of it was a cord. Curious, I tugged the scarlet cord, and the rip in space widened to a door. On the other side was a foreign room I could never have placed, but there, right in the middle of the door was Catane.

  I gasped, and threw myself into his arms. He held me close, his grip desperate as he kissed my hair. I closed my eyes, letting myself sink into his love. I didn’t dare think about how it could be, or what would happen next.

  “You’ve come for me,” I gasped.

  “Not yet,” he said. “I can’t take you with me yet, but I wanted to see you. I needed to tell you …” his voice faltered, but then he cleared his throat and spoke more firmly. “I have a plan. Stay with my father. Learn everything you can from him, and before you know it I’ll be back again and together we’ll conquer this empire and take it as our own.”

  “But-”

  He cut off my words with a kiss, and I knew there would be no bending his will, because his kiss said goodbye in a way that was as final as it was sorrowful.

  “I can’t stay,” he whispered. “Promise you’ll wait for me.”

  “I’ll give you anything you ask for.” My voice was breathy.

  “Then promise.”

  “I promise,” I said, and I meant it.

  I meant it when he gently set me back from the door and then closed it between us. I meant it when I put away the long wedding dress. I meant it when I danced a dance that should have been for someone else. And I meant it in the long years that followed.

  The End

  Continue Amandera’s story in the Unweaving Chronicles Series. Book one is, Teeth of the Gods.

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  About the Author

  Sarah lives in rural Canada with her husband and two sons. She loves the outdoors, satire, and is a proud rabbit owner. Sarah's favorite fiction makes you see the world in a deeper or more clever way, which is why she loves Terry Pratchett, Robert Jordan and Stephanie Garber. If you love epic themes and fiction that makes you feel, then you'll have a lot to talk about with Sarah.

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  Amber Vial

  Frost Kay

  Copyright © 2017 by Frost Kay.

  First Edition

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  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any way or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the author.

  * * *

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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  For information on reproducing sections of this book or sales of this book, go to www.frostkay.net

  Amber Vial

  Never again.

  After unwittingly entering the draft for colonization of an alien planet, Allie believes nothing could get worse.

  It could.

  * * *

  A failed escape attempt leaves her chained to an airship chair with nothing but her bag, a vial, a wild redhead, and her anxiety for company. Numbing her fear seemed like a good idea… until it wasn’t.

  It was just one sip.

  The beginning of the end

  How did something that big fly?

  Allie Sai gaped at the immense, silver alien airship in shock. She’d only ever seen them on the tube screen. The longer she stared, the harder her heart pounded. People pushed around her, some chattering excitedly about their trip, others staring wide-eyed at the colossal monstrosity in awe.

  Come on, Allie. You can do this. Just move forward.

  Nothing. She glared at her stubborn feet. The darn things wouldn’t budge. She sucked in a deep breath and lifted her hand to push her troublesome hair out of her face. She paused, holding her shaking hand out, and scowled at it. God, she hated flying. Just the thought of it gave her hives. It shouldn’t be possible for that much metal to soar through the sky. It was downright unnatural to be thousands of miles above the ground, let alone traveling through the stars at a speed the human mind couldn’t fathom. Goosebumps erupted on her arms; her stomach clenched at the thought of being trapped in the metal death box. It might be massive, but it was still a steel coffin.

  Coffin.

  Death.

  Blinking, she snuck a glance at the metal airship, hoping it had disappeared.

  Nope, it was still there in all its horrendous glory.

  She began to backpedal, never taking her eyes off the airship. Why did she have to go? Her eyes darted to the people flowing past, paying her no mind. If she was smart, she could disappear and no one would be the wiser. No one would miss a country girl who was afraid of flying. Time to go.

  She spun on her heel, only to smash face-first into a large, hard chest and clumsily crash to the ground.

  Swamp apples.

  Allie pulled her stinging palms from the ground and stared at the abused skin. Great, she had scraped most of the skin off them. Just one more bad thing to add to her already horrid day. “Sorry,” she grumbled as she plucked a piece of gravel from her smarting palm and tossed it. She watched as it dropped into the grass, disappearing like it was never there.

  If only life was that simple.

  But life was never simple, and disappearing wasn’t an option. Earth was too regulated. Squeezing her eyes shut, she asked herself the same question she had asked herself a million times since being drafted: why had she filled out that stupid profile? It was supposed to be a joke. It was in a dress magazine for heaven’s sakes. Who’d have thought the government used the profiles of unsuspecting civilians to draft a list of people to help colonize a new planet?

  Not her, that’s for sure.

  A loud cough and a massive shadow pulled her from her thoughts. She blinked, lifting her hand to block the sun to see who was lording over her. “What?” she growled, trying to see the stranger’s face.

  “Impertinent little thing, aren’t you?”

  A deep voice washed over her, smooth as her family’s whiskey. Allie colored in embarrassment and dropped her hands, the sun blinding her. It was her fault. She’d crashed into him.

  “Sorry,” she mumbled. “Just a bad day.” She rolled onto her knees and brushed off her pants. Time to get out of here.

  “Beautiful.”

  She paused, staring at the stranger’s black combat boots. “Excuse me?”

  “I’ve never seen a mane like yours. It’s like you plucked some of the sun’s rays and spun it into hair.”

  Her brows furrowed. Who hadn’t seen a blonde? Natural blondes were rare, but people changed their hair color like they changed clothes. There were blondes everywhere. Was this guy touched in the head? If he was, then she needed to get out of here. She didn’t have time for nutters.

  Allie pushed off her knees when a large hand wrapped around her wrist and pulled her
to her feet. She stumbled and caught her balance, then pulled from his grasp. Opening her mouth, she went to thank him and froze, mouth hanging open.

  He was beautiful, like stop-you-in-your-tracks-and-gape-like-an-idiot beautiful. Dark, wavy brown hair smoothed back from his chiseled face, so deep it was almost black. It drew her attention to his deep green eyes. She blinked. Green eyes that were currently dancing with laughter. Allie snapped her mouth shut and smiled awkwardly like she wasn’t just drooling over him. She tucked her fine blonde hair behind her ear and gestured between the two of them.

  “Sorry for bumping into you.”

  “It’s not a problem.”

  Allie peeked around his arm, adjusting the strap to her bag. “Okay. Time to go.”

  She didn’t have a plan, but there’s no way she was getting on that ship. “Erm, sorry again, but I have somewhere to be.” Now or never. Her eyes darted to his handsome face one last time as she bolted around him. She was lucky a Lock hadn’t spotted her yet.

  The same large hand wrapped around her bicep, halting her escape. What in all the worlds? She followed the hand, pausing on the shiny black band wrapped around his bicep. It looked like polished obsidian. Masculine, but pretty. Allie shook her head at herself. She was always a sucker for shiny things. Lifting her chin, she locked onto his dark green eyes.

  “Please let go of me,” she said politely and tugged on her arm gently, but he didn’t relent. Her eyes narrowed when he smiled back at her. This guy was being a creep, a problem she didn’t have time for. “Are we going to have a problem here?”

  “I don’t know. Are we, Ms. Sai?”

  Allie stilled, then recoiled, jerking against his grasp. How did he know her name? Something wasn’t right. “Let go of me.”

  “I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

  She opened her mouth to scream, but it caught in her throat when the chain around his neck peeked out from beneath the collar of his shirt: obsidian wings.

  A Lock.

  No. No. No.

  Her gaze snapped back to the face of the Lock smirking at her. The breath in her lungs seized as her heart fell. How did they guess she would run? How? Did they read minds now?

  “We can’t read minds.”

  Allie stiffened further. Please let it not be possible.

  The Lock rolled his eyes. “But we can read expression and body language, Ms. Sai. We also keep tabs on those drafted for colonization. Your many appeals flagged you as a flight risk, so here I am. Your escort.”

  Her breath rushed out of her. The government watched her. Her papa was right, privacy was only an illusion. Nothing they said could be taken as the truth.

  She darted a glance between the Lock and the alien behemoth of an airship behind her. “That’s the flight risk,” she blurted, stabbing a finger at the ship. “Is it even safe? Have humans operated something like that before? What if it’s contaminated and carries diseases? How do we know it’s not an alien trick to get us to Sars and then eat us?”

  The Lock burst out laughing, making her want to punch him in the face. These were valid fears.

  “You have an active imagination. I assure you it’s quite safe, and as for the eating, well, you will just have to trust me.”

  Allie barked out a laugh. “Trust the government that has been invading my privacy by keeping tabs on me without my consent? I thought our laws protected us against voyeurism and stalking. Or is the government above such laws?” The smirk slipped off his face, giving her a sense of temporary victory.

  “I’m not here to debate the morals of our government, but to escort you onto the airship.”

  Allie leaned away from the Lock, eyeing the ship with trepidation. “No.”

  The Lock’s face hardened as he leaned into her face. “Now is not the time for defiance. You have two choices, Ms. Sai. One, you walk onto the ship of your own volition. Or two, I throw you over my shoulder and haul you there myself. It’s your choice.”

  Her jaw clenched at the patronizing tone of his voice. She wanted to walk onto that ship, but her feet wouldn’t move.

  Move, Allie, move.

  Again, nothing.

  Damn it.

  Sweat beaded between her shoulder blades and she came to one conclusion. She had to tell him.

  Hell … how embarrassing.

  Allie ran through a dozen scenarios in her mind but they all came down to her being dragged onto the ship or telling him about her fear. It would be mortifying to be dragged onto the ship, but was telling him about her fear worse?

  Her butt in the air, shirt riding up, and people staring at her flashed through her mind.

  Being dragged was worse.

  She blew out a breath and turned to glare at the obsidian wings around his neck mocking her. “I’m not trying to be a pain.” A breath. “I’m afraid of flying,” she rushed out.

  “What was that?”

  “Seriously?” she complained, hating that she had to say it again. “I’m afraid of flying.”

  His forehead wrinkled. “What? Stop mumbling.”

  “I’m afraid of flying!” she hissed.

  The Lock jerked back, staring at her in shock. Heat scorched her cheeks. “How is that possible? Every mode of transportation flies.”

  “I am well aware.”

  He looked to the airship and down to her. “Stop playing around. It’s time to go.”

  “I’m not playing around.”

  He raised a brow. “Are you serious?”

  Her hand itched to reach out and slap him, but jail on the airship wasn’t too appealing. “Doesn’t it look like I’m bloody serious? My heart is pounding, I am sweating through my shirt.” She pulled it from her throat and wheezed. “I can barely breathe, and I am about five seconds from puking on your boots.” He blinked and stepped back, putting a little more distance between them. A perverse sense of delight filled her. She almost wished he would step closer so she could puke on his crisp button-down shirt and black jeans.

  “Do you need a medic?”

  She scowled. “Yeah, because a medic can get rid of my irrational fear.” Allie sniggered. “Idiot.”

  His brows lowered and something flashed across his face. “You’re getting on that ship.”

  “No. I’d rather go to prison.” An idea blossomed in her mind. Maybe if she fought hard enough they’d just send her to prison on Earth.

  “You have no choice.”

  She squealed when he jerked her arm, upsetting her balance and causing her to crash into him. “Knock it off. This is harassment,” she growled, kicking at his shin.

  “That’s original,” he mocked as he scooped her into his arms.

  Allie gaped at him and wriggled around. “Put me down!”

  His hand tightened, but he ignored her.

  She did the only thing she could think of. She screamed at the top of her lungs.

  “Really?” he growled. “Lock en route,” he bellowed. “Move!”

  Allie scanned the crowd helplessly, looking for someone, anyone to save her. All she encountered was pity and apathy as people parted to let the Lock through.

  Cowards, all of them.

  Her cries died as the last piece of hope withered inside her chest. No one would save her. She belonged to the government now. Her eyes moved over the crowd to the dark opening of the ship that gaped like the maw of a monster. Fear energized her, making her struggle harder against the Lock. The man’s grip didn’t budge. Maybe logic would appeal to him.

  “Just put me down. I can go from here. Really, I can do it. Plus, I’m not small. Your back has to be killing you.”

  He sniggered, one corner of his mouth hooking up. “No.”

  “No? What do you mean ‘no’? Put me down!”

  “You and I both know you’ll run the moment I set you down.”

  “You know nothing about me.”

  He snorted. “Remember the whole keeping tabs thing? I know more than I care to.”

  She choked on her panic as his boots thump
ed against the metal walkway leading into the ship. A dull ringing filled her ears, and the light dimmed. The metal walls gleamed in smooth colorless perfection around them. Too smooth. Too perfect. It felt wrong. Something inside her whispered she would die here.

  Dead. Dead. Dead.

  This was where she would die.

  “Breathe or you’ll pass out.”

  She sucked in a breath. “Maybe if I pass out, I’ll wake up from this nightmare.”

  “Stars above, stop being so dramatic.”

  Allie’s eyes turned to slits even as she struggled to breathe. She tore her eyes from the walls of the deathtrap to glare at the Lock’s jaw line. “I am being ripped from my home, forced to leave my family, friends, and life behind to live on a planet we understand very little about. I think I am entitled to be dramatic if I want to.”

  His jaw tightened as he glanced down at her, his chin dipping. “I stand corrected.”

  “Damn straight.”

  He didn’t have any idea what it was like to be a woman drafted. To have all her hopes, dreams, desires, eradicated with one comm. That one message changed her future, irrecoverably. To leave everything behind and face her deepest fears … the isolation she felt at being completely alone…

  The Lock followed the labyrinth of hallways until they arrived in a large chamber with people strapped into the chairs lining the walls. Allie stared at it dispassionately. It looked like a prison. Well, it essentially was. The man strode to the right wall and dropped her unceremoniously into an empty seat. Allie hissed and rubbed her elbow when it connected with one of the armrests. She scowled up at the Lock who’d ruined her life.

  She wasn’t being fair. He didn’t draft her, but he’d caught her before she could escape. Therefore, by default, it was his fault.