by Rachel Jonas
He zoned out and I guessed a memory of her had fluttered into his head.
“What were they?” I asked. “The principles she instilled in you?”
His gaze flickered to meet mine again. “Well, the one that stands out most is her firm belief in fighting for what’s right. By any means necessary.”
My stare was fixed on him when those words left his mouth, sounding so familiar.
He lowered his head the next second. “I suppose I’m guilty of taking that charge a bit too literally at times, but only when I believe in a thing so strongly. It’s like, it gets ahold of me, takes root in my soul, and—”
“Becomes a part of who you are?”
He focused on my lips when I finished his sentence.
“Yeah … something like that.”
A deep, quivering breath left my mouth and it was nearly unbelievable how similar we were.
“So, um … how’d you end up here?” I asked quickly, needing to break the tension.
“Fate,” he answered with a smile. “Mother was rejected for yet another job, and on her way out of the lobby, the business partner of the man she’d just interviewed with stopped her. He had listened in on the conversation and knew what his partner’s hesitations were. He told her it was clear she’d relocated to the quadrant to outrun someone or something. And that, if she ever wanted to move into her future, she’d have to find a way to first deal with her past. For some reason, those words struck a chord with her. Within a week, we had packed all our belongings and boarded a ship back to the South Quadrant.”
“How old were you?”
“Nine,” he answered. “And growing up very much aware of being somewhat awkward, I had no friends to speak of. As you can imagine, letting go and moving on was pretty simple for me.”
My brow quirked. “You … were awkward?” I didn’t miss the air of disbelief in my own tone. However, looking at him today, it was hard to believe he was ever not, well, this—handsome, revered.
He seemed to find the question comical. “When you’re taller than everyone, stronger than everyone, and are forced to wear red contacts to hide your identity, you tend to catch on to something not quite being right.”
I blinked hard when he ran a hand through the loose, cropped curls that stood out in comparison to the shaven sides. Their golden color was similar to Julian’s, and my imagination got away from me when I made the connection. However, I managed to keep my theory to myself, until I had more to base it on than similar hair color, that is.
“We arrived with only a few personal effects and no family that hadn’t turned their backs on my mother many years ago. So, that’s when we realized we were lacking resources and out of options. To keep afloat, we joined the only people who would have us.”
I waited with bated breath for him to finish.
“Roamers.”
“They took you guys in? No questions asked?”
He nodded. “They’re not what they’ve been made out to be. It’s not surprising that the Dynasty has gone out of its way to villainize an entire sector of the population, based solely on the actions of a few. Roamers have gotten a bad rep, but they’re as vastly different from one individual to the next, just like any other group. All they’ve ever wanted is to be treated as equals, without that fair treatment meaning they have to conform to the ways of the Ianites.”
A bit of guilt set in hearing his explanation, knowing I’d been guilty of passing judgment on that particular group a time or two.
“So, did your mother take that person’s advice and face her past?” I asked.
Aaric nodded. “She did, but … not quite in the way most would have expected,” he shared. “There was no clear-cut path. Going back to face her demons wasn’t an option, so she had to make atonement in other ways.”
“Like what?”
He lifted both hands, gesturing toward our surroundings. “She laid the foundation for this sect of the Resistance. And, in the process, established several meaningful partnerships—with Glenn and many others—and the result is what you’ve seen here today,” he explained.
And what I had been shown here was one heck of a legacy. One Aaric ought to be proud of.
I stared at him, noting that a very big part of his story had been glossed over, and when he smiled, I guessed he knew I still hadn’t quite gotten my answer.
“Which leads us back to where we started,” he chuckled. “My eyes.”
“You can’t blame me for wondering.” My smile matched his and I felt it the second my face flooded with heat.
“The trait, of course, one only handed from father to son,” he shared. “Mine was a tyrant and a user. And, yes … he is one of the four reigning monarchs.”
Highly intrigued, I hadn’t blinked in several seconds.
“As I’m sure you know, there was a mad rush to produce an heir a little more than two decades ago.”
I nodded, having heard that from Julian before.
“One of the reigning monsters, in an effort to ensure he provided his people with a male heir, developed some rather questionable practices.”
His tone went dark with those words.
“…Like?” I hesitated to ask.
“Like … coercing his empress’s handmaid into being his backup plan. So, in the event that his wife—who’d already given him two daughters—couldn’t give him a son, he’d have another option.”
I breathed in deeply, but never let it out. Because this story was very familiar. The princes hadn’t gone as far as to disclose such information, but there were rumors.
“The man even went as far as to seek the council of Dr. Percival.”
My brow twitched. “In what way?”
Aaric was thoughtful a moment. “The good doctor,” he continued with sarcasm, “injected my mother with some sort of trial drug he only had one viable sample of at the time. The Empress had, apparently, refused to be dosed with it, but Mother wasn’t given much choice. It was said to increase the odds of yielding a son rather than a daughter. To put it simply, the treatment was supposed to make her body more receptive to male DNA than female.” He glanced down then. “It worked, but … Mother believed whatever was in that vial is what made me different.”
And different he was. Starting with his ability to become invisible when he deemed it necessary.
“So, technically, Roman’s your—”
“That bastard is no brother of mine,” Aaric cut in as a sharp look shot my way. I felt it down in my bones. “The only family I’ve ever had is my mother and my team.”
There was no missing the conviction in his tone.
“I won’t argue with that,” I said quietly, assuring him. “So, what happened next? How did your mother end up in the West Quadrant all those years?”
“She fled,” he answered. “The moment she realized she was with child, there was a very short window before the Emperor realized it as well. There were only two ways things could end for her. Either she’d give him a boy and be killed right after giving birth, when the Empress could no longer stand to look at her. Or, give him a girl he clearly didn’t want, and suffer the same fate, only with her infant daughter at her side,” he said through clenched teeth. “So, she did what she had to do.”
My thoughts were racing, and one detail stood out among the rest. “If the Emperor only had two daughters at the time, and you were conceived before Roman, then that mean’s the throne belongs to—”
“I’ll have nothing to do with their pretentious titles or that family,” Aaric cut in. “The only thing that interests me is seeing this mission through to the end.”
I got caught in his stare and found it hard to believe that someone who, literally, had it within his grasp to rule one-fourth of the world wanted no parts of it.
His gaze lowered and a half-smile emerged. “Well, there you have it. Now you know my big secret.”
Indeed, I did.
“Is it weird that I feel a little guilty for making you share something so per
sonal?”
He laughed a bit.
“Honestly, considering who you are and what you’ve done for those of us fighting for change, I can’t think of a more fitting individual to know my truth.”
I swallowed deeply when he peered up at me. The action was practically boyish in nature.
“Flattery will get you nowhere,” I said with a breathy chuckle.
He shrugged. “Agreed. I have a hunch that you’re one who’s drawn to honesty more than anything.”
Guilty, I nodded. “That’s pretty accurate.”
He flashed another grin and let his gaze settle on the table again.
He’d shared so much with me, had been so open, a bout of courage came over me and I decided to let him in on a thought I had earlier.
“You mentioned needing a plan to get the high-powered Ianites in one place, and I think I might have an idea.”
Aaric’s brow quirked when meeting my gaze. “Do tell.”
I scooted toward the edge of my seat. “Well, I’ll be transitioning soon, and I was thinking we could host sort of a ‘coming out party’, where I’m presented to the people as an official Ianite.”
I nearly choked on that sentence but managed to get it out, because this wasn’t even remotely about me. It was about the perfect opportunity to execute this leg of the agenda.
Aaric was thoughtful for a moment, so I continued.
“I mean, think about it. With all the controversy surrounding my dealings with the princes, people will likely turn out in droves just to get a glimpse of us all in the same room. Anyone who’s anyone will be there just to say they were there,” I added. “It’ll be the event of the century.”
Aaric’s lips curved up slightly. “I think you may be on to something.”
I smiled back. “It’s perfect if you ask me. Once they’re a little drunk, and their guards are down, we’ll administer the cure.”
If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve thought he was proud of me for having come up with that.
“I’ll bring the rest of the team up to speed during our next meeting.”
He’d barely gotten the words out when the double doors sprang open hastily. A tall brunette’s red glare landed on me first, before flitting toward Aaric. I hadn’t met her when he’d done the first round of introductions, but she carried an air of authority about her.
“Sorry to interrupt,” she forced out in one breath.
“No worries,” Aaric assured her. “Paige, I’d like for you to meet Corina.”
The brunette—clad in head-to-toe leather—met my gaze. A rigid hand was aimed toward me and I gripped it.
“Nice meeting you,” she said firmly.
“You, too,” I answered, still wondering why she’d crashed in in such a rush.
Her stare was aimed toward Aaric again. “May I have a word with you?” she requested.
The urgency in her tone caused Aaric’s brow to furrow. “Of course. Anything you need to say to me, you can say it in front of Corina.”
I liked that he didn’t immediately try to exclude me.
Paige shifted her gaze my way for a moment. “Very well. It’s just that I can’t reach Glenn. He tried getting me on the com, but the signal was lost before I caught the whole message.”
“Well, what did you catch?” Aaric was suddenly on alert, listening more intently.
“Only something about the motorcade being tracked by Sentinels.”
“Anything to indicate whether he was safe? Whether they were safe?” Aaric inquired.
Paige shook her head, clearly trying to hold her composure. Her concern for Glenn and whoever else may have been involved was impossible to miss.
“We’ll need to get out there and see for ourselves,” Aaric concluded. But then, to my surprise, his gaze landed on me. “I hate to cut our conversation short, but I need to take care of this.”
I shook my head, waving off his apology. “No, absolutely. Checking in with Glenn should be everyone’s priority.”
He only nodded once before heading to the door, but I called out to stop him before I missed the chance.
“Aaric.”
He turned, bracing one hand against the frame of the door. “Yes?”
“I’d like to come with you,” I informed him. “Glenn’s safety is important to me, too. I know I’m not familiar with your procedures or how you run things, but I think I may be of some assistance.”
He seemed out of sorts for a moment. “Of course.”
When he didn’t hesitate, I was a bit caught off guard. “You don’t think anyone will mind me tagging along to help?”
An incredulous look passed my way. “On the contrary,” he assured me. “Having you come along to support would only be looked at as one thing.”
Heading toward the door to follow him out, I smiled as the excitement of being on a mission filled me to the brim. “Oh yeah? What’s that?”
He held the door as I passed through, and I felt his gaze roam over me when he answered. “It would be an honor.”
Chapter Ten
Aaric
The unmarked, black sedans flanking the motorcade were definitely Dynasty-issued. And although the identity of my incoming guests was concealed behind dark tint, my guess was the authorities had been tipped off. If they succeeded in tailing them back to the compound, our cover would be blown. And that would mean we’d have to relocate.
Again.
As we sped along the dangerous cliff edge, where the road abruptly dropped off, the front tire of my most treasured motorcycle inched into my peripheral vision. Perched on its seat, like a seasoned pro, was none other than Corina.
When she asked to join me, I felt no hesitation whatsoever. She was no mere tagalong. She was the heart of our Resistance, and having her at my side was, admittedly, somewhat of a highlight.
The blacked-out helmet she wore hid her face, but I imagined her smiling underneath it, precisely at the moment her engine revved and I was left in her dust. She slipped past and my eyes stayed trained on her instead of the road ahead. Paige loaned her a leather jacket that fit like a glove, and I might have been more distracted than I cared to admit. It’d been quite some time since I looked at a woman the way I found myself looking at her, but it wasn’t a welcomed feeling. Seeing as how the connection we both seemed to feel wasn’t natural, but rather the result of the bond I forced her into.
All so I had the option to one day kill the men she’d been mated to.
These thoughts—and the rapidly increasing speed of our marks—sobered me quickly.
“Should I get out ahead of them?” Paige asked through the com.
“Not yet,” I warned. “Without a doubt, they’re armed. Last thing we need is a repeat of Halifax Road.”
Mentioning it brought about a flashback of that night. It ended with only half of our team of ten returning to home base. The result of the sentinels we hunted turning on us with flamethrowers. A tactic that, in the end, proved fatal for so many I had vowed to protect.
“Copy that,” Paige answered.
Deciding it would be best if I, myself, tested the waters, I gained on Corina until I could pass her up.
“What’s the plan?” Corina asked through the earpiece.
“I’m pulling out ahead to see if I can get a reaction out of the Sentinels. If I can get them to chase me, it’ll prove they aren’t as interested in my guests as I think they are.”
“Smart move,” she approved.
I lowered my mass toward the bike and gunned it straight ahead, at a speed that should get the Sentinel’s attention, and earn me a hefty fine. All for a good cause, of course.
The engine’s roared, sending a powerful vibration through me as I sliced my way between two of the three vehicles that should have broken formation to chase me.
Should have.
“Didn’t even get a warning siren out of ‘em,” Paige noted. “Means Glenn’s hunch was right.”
“Unfortunately,” I confirmed with a sigh.
>
I slowed my speed and pulled off the side of the road, out of sight until the limousine and Sentinels passed me again. Rejoining Paige and Corina, I knew we needed some sort of plan.
“Proceed with caution. For all we know, they’ve got Glenn restrained in the back of one of these things.”
“Or, he’s with your guests,” Corina countered, nodding toward the left side of a discreet limousine after catching up to me.
I looked that way as a red handkerchief was waved out the back window. I recognized it as Glenn’s, the one he kept tucked in the back pocket of the ratty old jeans he always marched around the compound wearing.
“I swear that man has nine lives,” Paige chuckled. “What now, boss?”
The com went silent and the one to whom Paige spoke failed to respond. It wasn’t until I passed a glance toward Corina that she seemed to catch on.
“Who, me?” she asked.
I had to laugh at her skepticism. It seemed to still go right over her head that she was revered here. That she had innumerable followers who were, literally, waiting to hang on her every word. And rightly so.
“You’re the only boss I see,” I assured her.
More silence as the Sentinel’s brigade gained a few more yards on my guests.
Corina shrugged a bit. “It’s kind of a tough call.”
“Why’s that?” Paige questioned.
“Well, for starters, as much as I don’t love Sentinels, I suppose I love gratuitous violence even less. I mean, they haven’t exactly shown signs of hostility yet.”
The universe was clearly listening in on our conversation, and answered Corina’s statement with a bang.
A loud one that sent a bullet screaming past my ear when one of the men aimed out a back window.
“That hostile enough for you?”
“Definitely,” she stated quickly, answering my question. “Gun?”
At her request, I slipped a Desert Eagle from the back of my jeans, giving her the best piece I had.
After veering close enough to hand it off to her, I fell back a few feet to give her room to work.