by Brenda Hiatt
While Dr. Stuart heals the tiny incision in Kira’s neck and applies an anesthetic, Mr. Stuart explains what just happened.
“M and Rigel were able to keep the stasis field in place while I inserted it into a piece of scrap metal tubing from the construction site. Then Rigel flung it as high as he could over that adjacent empty lot.”
“Best long bomb I ever threw,” Rigel jokes, provoking a general laugh. We’re all slightly giddy from the sudden release of tension.
“No doubt everyone within a mile or two will have heard the explosion,” Mr. Stuart says, “but there shouldn’t be any other evidence. With any luck, people will assume it was a particularly large firecracker. Still, I recommend we leave the area before the local police decide to investigate.”
Everyone immediately agrees. Kira, M, Rigel and I clean up the last of the debris in the apartment while Dr. Stuart puts her instruments back in her bag.
“Shall we?” Mr. Stuart says with a last glance around.
As we all walk down Ruby Street to where both of the Stuarts’ cars are parked, M turns to Mr. Stuart. “I’ll need to tell the Council what happened—almost happened—just now.”
“I agree,” he says. “They should be notified at once about the antimatter theft and what Allister and Lennox attempted to do. I’ll be very surprised if they’re not both charged with high treason.”
“About time,” Rigel growls. “When I think of Lennox’s high-flown patriotic platitudes about pinning a treason charge on me last year for something he knew I hadn’t even done…” He shakes his head in disgust.
“I’ll let you know what the Council decides to do,” M promises us all.
The Stuarts head to their SUV and Rigel offers to drop the rest of us off in their other car.
“No need. Kira lives right here.” I gesture to her apartment complex across the street. “I’ll see her home, then walk. But thank you again, all of you. Just…thank you.” I wish I could find stronger words for the overwhelming gratitude still coursing through me.
Kira nods. “I’m so incredibly sorry. Not just for making you risk your lives tonight, but for everything else, too.” She looks directly at M. “I was so determined to believe the worst about you for so long… I know now how very wrong I was. From this point on, you will always have my absolute allegiance.” Putting her right fist over her heart, she bows deeply to M.
To my surprise, M bows back, instead of the little tipping of the head that’s customary. “Thank you, Kira. That means a lot.”
Then she and Kira are hugging each other and there’s a little bit of sniffling on both sides. They’re both smiling when they break apart.
“Okay, let’s get out of here before the cops show up,” Rigel says.
“I’ll See you in church tomorrow,” M adds.
As they all drive off, Kira and I walk back through the courtyard of her apartment complex. It’s past ten o’clock by now and nobody’s around.
“Do you want me to help explain to your folks why you’re so late?” I ask when we reach the stairs leading up to her apartment.
“No, I’d better make up some excuse. The truth would just scare them.”
Nodding, I take her in my arms again for a long, wonderful goodnight kiss. It’s harder than ever to let her go after almost losing her tonight.
“See you tomorrow,” I whisper when I finally do.
“Tomorrow,” she whispers back, smiling tremulously up at me. “I… Good night, Sean.”
Leaving me to wonder what she almost said—whether it’s the same thing I wanted to tell her last night—I watch as she hurries up the stairs and into her apartment.
Kira
I’m a little achy in church the next day after being paralyzed and nearly killed the night before, but I don’t care. What matters is that I’m here, next to Sean, his hand firmly around mine despite the occasional frown from his mother.
All through the service I sneak looks at his profile, wondering how I could have fallen so deeply in love in such a short time. Once or twice he catches me looking and holds my gaze, his lips curving in a slow smile that makes me shiver with happiness.
After church, while everyone is chatting, we make tentative plans to play basketball again that afternoon.
“It’ll be better than sitting around separately, wondering what the Council will decide to do,” he whispers.
I agree. Now that I’ve had time to think about it, I doubt there’s any way M will be able to keep my name completely out of her report this time. In fact, it’s possible I’ll be asked to provide evidence, if Allister and Lennox are brought to trial—though I hope not. Mum would be mortified to learn how disloyally I’ve acted.
That concern ratchets up when Dad receives a message as we’re finishing lunch an hour later.
“Look at this, Deirdra,” he exclaims, showing her his phone. “The Echtran Council has requested that Kira attend a meeting at the O’Gara house at two o’clock this afternoon.”
Mum reads the message, then looks at me curiously. “How strange that they only texted you. Kira, do you know anything about this?”
“Um, maybe?” I glance at Adina, who’s understandably curious, too. “But I’m not sure if—”
“Adina,” Mum says briskly, “didn’t you say you were going over to Jana’s after lunch?”
My sister scowls. “Well, yeah, we were going to introduce Aggie to her cat today, but—”
“That’s fine. Why don’t you take the puppy and go. Now,” she adds when Adina starts looking stubborn.
Muttering under her breath, Adina puts her sandwich plate into the sink, picks up Aggie and leaves the apartment. The second the door closes behind her, both of my parents turn to me.
“Er, well, I was involved in an…incident last night, and my phone got ruined. That’s probably what this is about.”
Keeping the details as sketchy as possible and completely omitting the bit about the bomb I’d carried around in my neck for a month, I explain that there’d been an attempt on the Sovereign’s life the night before.
“It was kind of scary but Sean and…and Rigel Stuart stopped anyone from hurting her. Since I was there, too, the Council probably wants to get a statement from me or something.”
I seriously doubt that’s all, but I see no point borrowing trouble. Surely, if the Council planned to deport me to Dun Cloch, they’d have asked my parents to come, too?
“How far is the O’Garas’ house from here?” Dad asks. “It’s a quarter till two now. Should we drive you?”
Quickly, I shake my head. “No, it’s not far at all. I can walk there in about five minutes.”
The Stuarts drive up just as I get there—all three of them, even though Mr. Stuart’s the only one on the Council. M comes around the corner from Garnet Street just then, too, also on foot, her Bodyguard following several paces behind. She smiles when she sees me and motions us all into the house with her.
More nervous than ever now, I accompany the others inside.
The O’Garas’ small living room is crowded, all the dining room chairs brought in to supplement the usual couch, loveseat and chairs. All seven Council members are present, three of them holographically. Glancing quickly around, I spot Sean and feel a rush of relief. We take two quick steps toward each other before his mother points him to a chair on one side of the room and me to another on the opposite side. I draw what comfort I can from the encouraging look he gives me.
Once everyone is seated, the head of the Council, Kyna, calls the meeting to order. “By now, you’ve all had time to read the statement the Sovereign sent you earlier, with an account of what happened last night. She requested this meeting so your questions can be answered and so we can decide how to proceed, given what we now know.”
I’m pretty sure I don’t imagine the censure in Kyna’s eyes when she glances my way. I swallow.
“This is the girl in question?” asks one of the holographic Council members— Connor, who I recognize from Dun Clo
ch. “Why has she not been taken into custody?”
There are nods and murmurs of agreement from several other Council members. I swallow again.
“Because she did nothing wrong,” M replies firmly. “As I told you at yesterday’s meeting, she was duped by Allister and Lennox into believing she could serve the Populist cause in Jewel. She knew nothing about the explosive they implanted in her neck.”
“So you claim,” protests another Council member, a dark-haired man. “At the very least, she should be sent to Dun Cloch to face an inquest and possible trial.”
Sean’s mother nods emphatically. “I agree. We don’t dare assume—”
“There’s no need for that,” M insists, frowning them all down. “Cormac was able to apprehend the woman working with Allister and Lennox late last night and I’m confident our Mind Healers in Dun Cloch will be able to get all the remaining facts from her. Our first priority should be to find out how they got their hands on the antimatter they used in that chip.”
Though a few of them appear to agree, it’s clear Mrs. O’Gara doesn’t. Because Allister is her brother? Or because she wants me as far from Sean as possible?
“This charge is even more serious than the one you made yesterday, Excellency,” Connor says then. “I find it difficult to believe that Royals, particularly two who previously occupied positions of such prominence, could be capable of an attempt on your life. Can we be absolutely certain the whole story wasn’t concocted by this girl, or by others in the Anti-Royal movement?”
“Didn’t you read my report, Connor?” M snaps at him. “I saw Allister and Lennox myself last night, projected into Jewel holographically. They used a device they gave to Kira in Dun Cloch, disguised as a phone. If you doubt my word, Rigel and Sean are also witnesses. Because neither Allister nor Lennox believed any of us would survive, they were completely upfront about what they intended to do. Mr. Stuart and his wife arrived shortly afterward and can positively confirm the existence of that antimatter bomb. I suggest we hear what they have to say.”
At a gesture from Kyna, first Mr. Stuart, then Dr. Stuart stand up and relate what happened last night, including lots of technical details about the chip and the bomb it contained. Kyna next calls on Sean and Rigel, who also confirm everything M said. With understandable bitterness, Rigel relates how Allister and Lennox positively gloated about what they intended to do.
“I doubt M and I could have stopped them if Sean hadn’t come along,” he adds with a half grin. He goes on to explain how Sean refused to leave when Allister told him to, and how he and M took advantage of the conspirators’ tussle over the detonator to destroy my phone.
Kyna nods. “That fits. According to a report I received from Dun Cloch early this morning, both men were found unconscious in the living room of the house where they’d been secured. No one had any idea how that could have happened. Given what we’ve just heard, I believe both Allister and Lennox should be charged with high treason. I move that we take a vote on that.”
“But…but if they’re convicted, that will mean the tabula rasa,” Connor sputters. “No Royal in Nuathan history has ever been subjected to a complete memory erasure.”
“Has a Royal ever been convicted of high treason before?” M asks him.
“Of course not. But—”
Kyna raises a hand to silence him. “Shall we put it to a vote?”
They do. Connor is the only dissenter, though Mrs. O’Gara raises her hand with obvious reluctance.
“And what about this girl?” she demands as soon as Kyna records the result. “She was a conspirator, too, unwitting or not, and a self-confessed Anti-Royal. I insist she be tried as well.”
Sean leaps to his feet. “No, Mum. You’re not sending Kira off to Dun Cloch to make some kind of…example out of her.”
“Sit down, Sean, you are out of order.” She glares at her son. “If the Council feels it necessary in order to ensure the Sovereign’s continued safety—”
Sean remains standing. “That’s not why you’re suggesting it, and you know it. Anyway, if Kira goes, I’m going with her.”
Mrs. O’Gara stares at him in shock. I’m nearly as shocked myself.
“Sean—” I begin, but M waves me to silence.
“Kira’s not going anywhere,” she tells Mrs. O’Gara. “Last night, in front of several witnesses, she formally declared her allegiance to me. I choose to accept that allegiance.”
Sean’s mother is still frowning. “How do you know—?”
“Mrs. O’Gara, I suggest you ask Kira if she is sincerely loyal to me. The entire Council, I know, relies on your ability to know whether someone is being truthful or not.”
Swallowing visibly, resentment etched in every line of her face, Mrs. O’Gara turns to me. “Kira Morain, do you promise to be completely loyal to Sovereign Emileia from this day forward?”
I meet her gaze steadily, noticing irrelevantly that her eyes are as blue as Sean’s. “Yes. I promise to be absolutely loyal to Sovereign Emileia for the rest of my life.”
For a long moment her eyes bore into mine as though she’s determined to detect any shadow of a lie. Finally, with a little sigh, she turns back to the Council. “She…she’s telling the truth.”
“Thank you,” M says to her. “Kyna?”
“Yes, thank you, Lili. Everyone, I believe this concludes our business today. I declare this emergency session adjourned.”
My shoulders sag with relief.
Sean immediately moves to my side. Putting an arm around me, he faces his mother, who still looks less than happy. “Thank you, Mum. I know that wasn’t easy, but…I promise you’ll like Kira once you get to know her better.”
She looks at me and manages a tiny smile. “I’m…sure I will. But if you’ll excuse me, there’s something I need to speak with Kyna about before she leaves.”
Sean watches her hurry across the room, then turns to me. “She’ll come around, don’t worry. Meanwhile, how about I walk you home?”
“That…that sounds great.”
Ten minutes later, having said goodbye to everyone else, he and I descend his front porch steps together and head down Opal Street toward Diamond—and the arboretum. It’s early October by the Earth calendar and the air holds a crispness I never experienced in Nuath. Breathing deeply, I smile up at Sean.
“I think I’m finally starting to appreciate Earth’s weather. It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?”
Smiling down at me, he nods. “And I’m looking at the most beautiful part of it.”
I feel a blush stealing up my throat. “You were…amazing back there,” I tell him. “Convincing your mother you’d go with me, if they sent me to Dun Cloch—”
“I meant every word,” he assures me. “I’m not sure if I could live without you, Kira, but I’m positive I don’t want to. I love you.”
My heart rushes into my throat. “I…I love you, too, Sean. I wanted to tell you last night but I was afraid that… I mean, I didn’t think it was possible that—”
He silences me with a kiss. Though I no longer have a chip in my neck, I suddenly feel like I just might explode anyway—from happiness.
Keep reading for a sneak peek at The Handmaid’s Secret!
The Handmaid’s Secret (preview)
Molly
* * *
“Molly, are you ready to try that new move we talked about yesterday?” Trina, our head cheerleader asks as we finish our pre-practice warmup on the track by the football field.
“Sure.” I step between the two girls who act as my “bases” for most of the flyer routines. “I have it looking pretty good on the ground, anyway. Where’s Amber?” She’s usually my back spotter.
Trina looks around, frowning. “This is the second time this month she’s been late. If she doesn’t— Oh, here she comes.”
Amber trots up, all smiles. “Sorry I’m late, but I come bearing gossip. Believe it or not, we’re getting another new student tomorrow!”
All the girls
start talking excitedly.
“Seriously?”
“That will make nine in one semester!”
Just three weeks ago we got eight new students all at once. That would have been a huge deal for a school as small as Jewel High even if they weren’t all from Mars. Not that any of the other cheerleaders know that particular detail.
“Boy or girl?” Trina demands, cutting through the chatter.
“Boy.” Amber waggles her eyebrows. “Sounds like his parents will be working out at NuAgra, too.”
NuAgra is the new company on the outskirts of Jewel supposedly responsible for the recent influx of newcomers to town. Along with its stated purpose of conducting top-secret agricultural research, it’s also supposed to become a sort of government headquarters for Martians on Earth.
“Hm. I wonder if he’ll be as good looking as the other new guys?” Trina’s eyes narrow speculatively.
I suspect he will, since Echtrans in general tend to be unusually attractive by Earth standards.
“Did you hear what year he’ll be?” she asks then.
Amber nods. “A junior, I peeked at his paperwork. His name’s Tristan. Tristan Roark.”
“Ooh, yummy name,” Donna declares, to general agreement.
“Tomorrow we’ll see if he lives up to it,” Trina says, but then she’s all business again. “Okay, time to get serious, girls. It’s barely two weeks till our first playoff game and Jewel’s bound to go to State this year. We need to be in top form by then. Molly, you ready to fly?”
I am. We start our latest choreographed routine with its synchronized dance steps and kicks, then Donna and Tiffany, my base girls, hoist me up by both legs to their chin level. I wait a beat, lift one knee into my basic Liberty pose, wait three more beats, then transition into an Arabesque, moving my raised leg straight behind me as I lean forward slightly and spread my arms out to the sides.
I’m about to shift from that to the Needle, the new move, when Donna changes her grip slightly.