by Hope Hart
“Life experience. Common sense. Impulse control.”
“You can be a real dick sometimes, you know that?”
He slides me a look and I sigh.
“What would you do, Korva?”
Silence while he thinks about it. I like that about Korva. He never wastes words. He’ll think before he speaks and he doesn’t believe in lying. Or platitudes.
“If it were my mate? I’d do anything.”
“We’re not mates. But he is my friend.”
“You feel guilty.”
“A little. When we…kissed, he said we could never do it again. But I tried, the night of Harlow’s wedding, and I think that’s what made him leave. I’d been friend-zoned and instead of accepting it, I pushed for more.”
“Methi is a male of honor.”
“He may be honorable, but he’s gonna get my boot up his ass when I find him.”
Korva glances at me and cracks a smile, and I’m so surprised that I burst out laughing, even as the door opens.
Eve’s mouth drops open in surprise and then her face goes blank. Her and Korva stare at each other for one long moment, and then she turns to me.
“Your mom’s looking for you.”
I nod. “I’ll be right there.”
Eve hesitates for a moment, a frown playing over her gorgeous face. Then she turns and leaves, shutting the door behind her.
I blow out a breath and turn to Korva.
“I know what I have to do.”
He doesn’t ask, but something close to a scowl comes over his face.
“Be careful.”
“I will.” I throw my arms around him and he tenses as if he’s under attack. After a moment he reaches up, his arms gently embracing me back.
Methi
My fever broke during the night, and I feel weaker than ever. However, I know that this is part of the healing process, and my body simply needs food and rest.
It is unlikely to get either.
I can hear other creatures talking, moaning, and crying out in cells near us. After giving me her blood, the female retreated to the other side of the cage and simply stared out, her gaze blank.
“Is this a slave planet?” I ask her at one point, and she nods.
I close my eyes. It could be worse. Talis could have killed me on the ship or left me on a planet completely devoid of life. But it could also definitely be better. There are many beings that would love to get their hands on an Arcav general, if only to send my body to Varian in pieces.
I smell food and shift restlessly as bowls are plunked down between our bars and the creature moves away before I can get a glimpse of our captors.
The female brings my food to me, and I nod, take a deep breath, and pour the gruel down my throat. Food is energy, and energy will help me heal.
She hands me her bowl and I shake my head. I will not eat this female’s rations. She is already too thin and her tiny wrists look as if they will break.
“I will not eat your food.”
She sighs but obviously realizes the futility of arguing and slowly eats it herself, her nose wrinkling in distaste.
That expression… Realization hits me like thunder.
“You are the Fecax Princess,” I growl lowly, and she freezes before she gives me one sharp nod and continues with her meal.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
She places the bowl down and delicately wipes her mouth, and I realize that if I hadn’t recognized her from the last time I saw her, I would’ve understood I was in the presence of royalty with that one small movement.
She looks nothing like herself. The last time I saw the Princess, she was racing through the halls of her palace, playing chase with her older sisters. She’d ducked behind her father at one point, taking shelter behind his legs, and grinned up at me, her face young, innocent, and joyful.
That innocence and joy is long gone, as are her sisters, her mother and the father who doted on her. She is alone and now responsible for an entire race.
“I was kidnapped from the palace,” she says coolly, and something in my stomach twists as I realize there is nothing left of the vivacious young Princess. “I managed to escape when they refueled, only to end up captured and for sale here.”
I stare at her, stunned. If she had not been kidnapped, she would be dead now. But perhaps she would have preferred to die with her family, rather than be captured and caged without them. My stomach twists and I fight not to lose the gruel I’ve just forced down. What if she does not know they are dead?
“We will get you home.”
Surprisingly, she smiles, and I see a glimpse of the young girl I once saw running through her palace without a care in the world.
“We both know I am going to die here. If not here, then on whatever planet they take me to. Do you think they will sell me as a worker slave once they know who I am?”
“Your Majesty—”
“Do not call me that.”
She’s right. If anyone here discovers her true nature, she will be worse than dead. I study her hair, which is lavender under the mud and the muck she has coated it with. Her glowing Fecax skin has been dulled, and she could likely pass as a human.
I clear my throat. “Are you aware—”
“That my entire family was murdered by those we trusted? Yes.”
She turns, dismissing me, and stares out the bars of her cage. I mourn for the child I knew but immediately begin to strategize.
My voice is barely a murmur as I address her. “You are now the Fecax Queen.”
Her head whips toward me, and for the first time, I see a thirst for life in her as she bares her teeth at me.
“No,” she snarls, voice like a whip. “I am not.”
Meghan
I had dinner with mom, although I mostly pushed food around on my plate. Arax is away on some trip for Varian and I know mom worries, so I tried to keep her mind off it.
Mostly, we just pretended to eat, both frowning into the distance.
I’m sitting on my bed, writing a letter when Harlow appears, Tom in her arms.
“Here,” she says, dropping the cat on my bed.
He sniffs and then prowls closer, butting my arm until I stroke him.
“What’s up?”
“You need to be cheered up, and Varian needs some space. He woke up to Tom sitting on his face today.”
I grin. The idea of this cat fighting for territory with the Arcav King is frankly hilarious.
“I’m sorry,” we both say at the same time, and then laugh.
“I shouldn’t have yelled at you,” I say. “I was out of line. It’s not your fault that Methi left.”
Decisions. We make them every day. I’m about to make a big one. And I’m not going to invalidate Methi’s decision by attributing it to someone else.
“I get it, and you had every right to be upset. It’s just…”
“You wanted to protect me. Do you think I need protection from Methi?”
She sits on my bed, rubbing her bump as she frowns. “Methi would never hurt or harm you. But…the Arcav don’t really do short-term relationships like we do. I know you guys were friends, but if Methi decided to leave, it may be because he wanted more.”
I sigh. “He could’ve talked to me about it.”
Harlow bursts out laughing. “Have you met these guys?”
She’s got a point. While human guys are uncommunicative, Arcav guys tend to make decisions first, explain them later. Harlow should know.
“Want to have lunch tomorrow?” she asks, and my heart clenches.
“Sure,” I say, pasting a smile on my face. “Sounds good.”
She grins, moving off my bed and I take a mental snapshot of this moment— Harlow finally looking a little healthier, a smile on her face, and her cat purring beside me.
And then she’s out the door, and I continue my letter.
Mom
I know you’re not going to understand this, and I’m sorry. I’m going afte
r Methi. I can’t stay here and do nothing. I’m not built that way. You didn’t build me that way. Thank you for giving me the tools I need to get through whatever comes next.
I love you.
Meghan
Next, I write to Harlow. She’s going to be devastated, and I know she’s going to feel guilty for not figuring out what I was planning.
Harlow
I have to go. I can’t explain it, but every instinct I have is telling me to find him. Don’t blame yourself— my poker face is legendary.
Look after yourself and the bump. Thank you for being the big sister I always wanted.
Love you.
Meghan
I leave the letters on my bed and reach for my pack, which I’ve hidden away. I have a few changes of clothes, food, water, and the blaster I never returned to Eve.
Then I head straight out of the palace where I borrow one of Jaret and Amanda’s pods. They’ve said I can use them whenever I want, but they’d lock them all down if they had any idea what I was up to right now.
I land the pod at the dock and take a deep breath.
Time to go.
I swagger onto the dock like I own it, greeting friends along the way. It’s not unusual for me to be here, and my clearance gives me access to the mid-sized ship I flew alone for the first time last week. It’s sitting in the dock as if it’s waiting for me. I have no authority to board it without permission, and I groan inwardly as I spot an engineer standing next to it, working on a tablet.
“This ship out of commission?”
Cinnri looks up, a faint smile on his face. We’ve flirted a few times but it was nothing serious.
“No, just finishing its checkup after maintenance. What are you doing here so late?”
I shrug. “I was bored and thought I’d come down. Oh—I saw Jaret a few minutes ago,” I gesture vaguely toward the entrance of the dock. “He was looking for you.”
He frowns. “Really? I just talked to him.”
Shit. “No idea what he wants, I’m just the messenger.” I shrug, and Cinnri stares at me for a moment and then nods.
“I will go find him.”
He finishes making his notes and I wander off, sticking close by as I make small talk with a few people who are barely acquaintances.
Finally, he leaves, and I blow out a breath. I need to get out of here before he returns, and I try to look cool, calm and collected as I nonchalantly walk back to the ship. I glance over my shoulder, but no one is paying me any attention as they finish up their work and make plans for their free time. I hit the button on the side of the ship and scamper up the stairs, pulling it shut behind me.
There’s no way I can take it now, so I’m going to just have to lay low until everyone clears out.
I stay away from the control center, in case Cinnri needs to check anything on the ship, and instead, I head to the medi-center and crawl under one of the beds.
I wait for what feels like hours, but I know that the fewer people around when I take this ship, the fewer people available to stop me. I count the ways that my whole plan can go wrong, and then blow out a breath impatiently. Focusing on the things that can go wrong is stupid. You want to succeed? Focus on the things that can go right.
I’m well aware that my dream of being a space captain for Arcavia is turning to dust today. I’ll never be trusted near a ship again. I take that dream out and study it, wishing I didn’t have to lose it. And then I say goodbye and let it go.
Cause and effect. Consequences. Karma. I’ve always been okay with living with the results of my actions. Every decision has an impact, and every choice I’ve made has led me to this point. It’s now or never.
I finally slide out from under the bed and make my way back to the control center. This ship is called the SSA Hope, which couldn’t be more perfect for my mission. Every action I’m taking is based on a tiny bit of evidence and a whole lot of hope.
“Ship, prepare for takeoff.”
Please provide authorization.
“Meghan Peterson, license number 83209421.”
Authorizing…
Please. Please. Please.
Authorized. Preparing for takeoff.
I blow out a breath, dizzy with relief, and huddle in my seat. As the ship communicates with the dock, adding us to the list of ships that will soon take off, I familiarize myself with the controls.
I’ve done this before. I can do it again.
Please file your flight plan.
Shit.
“Fecax,” I say. “I’m going to Fecax.”
As soon as I leave Arcavian airspace with this ship, every Arcav available is going to be on my ass. They’ll know I’m not going to Fecax, but since I’m planning to turn off the locator—thanks for that little tip, Talis— they’ll need to figure it out amongst themselves.
You see, my gut is telling me exactly where Methi and Talis landed to refuel. And I can’t risk the Arcav stopping me before I get there. Of course, they’re more than welcome to come and help us once I arrive.
The planet is well-known. Jaret once told me that it’s where hope goes to die. Since it’s just me and the SSA Hope, I’m crossing my fingers that it won’t be true.
I’m going to Durin.
Chapter Five
Methi
I sleep.
In my dreams, I see Meghan, locked in a cage with me. Run, I beg her. Get away from here. But she simply sticks out her stubborn chin and glares at me, even as her eyes scan my body.
Safely in those dreams, with no consequences, I tell Meghan I should never have left her. That I am a coward. That I should have tried harder. She does not say a single word and I wake with her name on my lips.
I manage to sit up, and the Fecax Princess—No, Queen—raises an eyebrow.
“Who is Meghan?”
“No one.”
She snorts and looks away dismissively.
“Why did you help me?”
“Your people protected us for centuries. Even if you did not protect my family, I at least owed you this.”
“Where are we?”
“Durin.”
She nods as I groan. “Yes. We are, as the humans say, screwed.”
“We have been looking for you for months. We need to get you back to Fecax.”
She stiffens, and I realize it was the wrong thing to say.
“Concern yourself with your own future.”
I sigh and we are silent for a long moment.
“What is your name?”
“Leara.” She stretches out her legs and I realize she is still wearing her nightclothes from so many months ago. They are thin, and she shivers constantly.
“I am Methi.”
I pull off my outer layer, a thick Arcavian jacket made of a material built for even the worst elements and throw it to her.
“I cannot take this.”
“I do not feel the cold like you do. I do not need it.”
I am not lying. Arcav are much different to the Fecax. While the Fecax are small, peace-loving creatures who excel in technological innovation, Arcav are warriors.
She hesitates for another moment and then shrugs, pulling it on.
“Thank you.”
We are silent for hours, each of us lost in our thoughts. I cannot help but feel pity for the young Queen. As the baby of her family, she should never have worn the crown and was likely never prepared for ruling her people, or even dealing with court life.
Eventually, we are given more food, and after I eat, I manage to get to my feet. I use the wall for balance, ignoring the black spots that dance in front of my eyes. I need to build my strength if I am to survive and form a plan.
A guard walks past our cell, leering at the Queen.
“Your auction is tomorrow, sweet thing. You should have been nicer to me and perhaps we could have made an arrangement.”
Leara says nothing, but her face turns white as snow.
She turns to me after the guard has gone.
“
So,” she says. “I am assuming you have a plan.”
“I am still working on it.
I will get back to Meghan. No matter what it takes.
Meghan
If I had to find one word to describe myself, it would be…underestimated.
I’m a motherfucking badass— smarter than ninety-nine percent of people I meet, with a healthy ego as well, of course. But all people seem to see when they look at me is a loudmouthed kid. Deep inside, I’m furious. Methi is one of the most loyal people I know, and we owe it to him to carefully consider every possibility. To tear this galaxy to pieces if we have to, and to bring him home.
If the people in charge won’t do it, I’ll do it myself.
Surprisingly, I make it out of the dock without anyone sounding the alarm. I guess no one would expect a ship to be stolen right under the Arcav’s noses. No one wants to risk pissing off either Jaret or Varian, that’s for sure.
Just wait until I get Methi back. That’ll teach them.
I’m still shaking, hours later. If this was a sanctioned trip, I’d have a copilot on this ship, along with a crew. It’s lonely out in space all by myself, but God, it’s beautiful. I’m small and lost, surrounded by nothing but darkness and the beautiful blinking fairy lights that pierce the black.
I’ve corrected my flight plan, however I won’t be going the exact route expected on my way to Durin. It’ll take me a couple of days longer, but if anyone thinks to cut me off and stop me, they won’t be able to find me. If the Arcav do trace me to Durin, by then they’ll be able to help me look for Methi and Talis.
I know what everyone will think. Why risk my life for someone infinitely more capable of looking after himself? Someone I’ve only known for just a few months?
Have you ever met someone and felt like you’ve known them forever? Like maybe you danced under the moonlight together in another lifetime, or fought back to back in a war?
From the moment I saw Methi, I knew he was someone special. Harlow forgets that the first time I saw him wasn’t in the medi-center. It was when we were under attack by the Grivath on our journey from Earth to Arcavia. He handed over his clutch piece and prepare to lay down his life for us. The few Arcav with us were hopelessly outnumbered, but they went into battle anyway.