by Nia Mars
“Are you naming before us your accomplice as Fered Sayer, the vice-president of the Trade Alliance?” the leader of the tribunal, a tall woman with dark purple skin and seven fingers on each hand asks with incredulity in her voice. Clearly, she’s one of the people who did not see this coming.
Gaden nods, looking smaller than just minutes ago. He’s no longer the all-powerful pirate lord, the terror of the Frontier who bravely challenged the Federation. He’s a beaten man. Now that he’s given us Sayer, he knows he can’t expect help from that corner.
Has he been waiting for Sayer to pop in and put in a good word for him? Work some miracle? Buy the tribunal?
Good luck with that.
Do I enjoy seeing him beaten, a little too much? Probably. I’ll worry about that later. Or not.
“Did you send the poison to my palace?” I demand.
Gaden’s yellow gaze returns to mine. “Not me. But I know of it. That, too, was on Sayer’s orders.”
“Olipha’s kidnapping?”
He hesitates, then nods. “The same.”
A sound of outrage flies from Tiam’s lips, in the back of the room. I know he’s holding himself back with effort. He’s krek, the leader of his people, so he’s going to remain civilized, even if he wants to march across the room and punch the pirate lord in the face.
Gaden is lucky Olipha turned up safe and sound. If she’d been hurt in Gaden’s little demonstration of power—demolishing Treab—the pirate lord would probably be dead already.
The leader of the tribunal intones to the clerk. “An immediate order of house arrest is called for the Trade Alliance’s vice president, Fered Sayer, and all his known, close associates, charges pending.”
The clerk sends off the order.
I try to imagine simultaneous, solar-system-wide arrests. “How many known, close associates does he have, do you think?” I whisper to the man on my right.
The mass arrest is not like our justice system on Earth, but I suppose it makes sense. Sayer had given orders to one or more of his subordinates to carry out his crimes. It’s important to secure all possible suspects, since they can be out of the solar system in a blink.
The man whispers back, “Over a hundred. The tribunal will sort out who was involved.”
“And then what will happen?”
“Sayer will be exiled. The rest will receive sentences depending on the degree of their involvement.”
“Now tell us about the murdered senators,” the leader of the tribunal poses the question to Gaden.
The conspiracy that’s unraveled is stunning. If I hadn’t shown up when I did to forge peace among the kreks, the Trade Alliance, with Fered Sayer at its helm, might have taken control of the Federation before anyone realized their intent.
When the leader of the tribunal looks at me, his eyes say he’s thinking the same thing. Narrow escape.
“Glad to be of help,” I snark back under my breath.
The tribunal goes on. Gaden has a long list of sins, going back decades. I’m exhausted by the time the proceedings are over, and I can finally return to the palace with my kreks.
“Where are you going?” Koah asks when I don’t head straight to my quarters. When he reaches for my hand, I pull away.
I’ve not forgiven the kreks yet for leaving me back in the pod when they faced Gaden on the pirate ship. I gave them my heart, and they didn’t trust me. Fine, falling in love with them is on me, it’s my own stupidity, but still...
I have not let any of them into my bed in the three days since I blew all those pirate ships out of the sky. I’ve gone three nights without them. And three days without my power. No, it didn’t return. My small demonstration at the tribunal is the current extent of what I have.
Will the power ever come back?
Do I want it to?
I’m not sure. The pain of using the power had been breathtaking. I’m just grateful unleashing all my power at one time didn’t kill me.
Also, I thought I had enough control, but I’m still woefully untrained. All those pirate ships falling into the planet’s atmosphere, burning wreckage raining down on the inhabitants? I never even considered that. Thank the stars Tiam can control fire. He saved my ass big time on that one. I definitely owe him for that.
“I need to go to my public office,” I tell the kreks. “To work.”
“You could take the day off,” Tiam suggests.
They’re all pretending that they’re not waiting for my answer, but nobody is moving away, heading off on his own business. Only Dason’s expression is artless. He hides nothing. His eyes are full of hope that now that the enemy has been identified, I’ll just invite all the kreks to my bed for a big family celebration.
Desire tingles through me at that thought. We’re fully connected. I have accepted all five kreks. They’re mine, and I’m theirs. Yet I want more... If I’m completely honest... I want their love.
Am I being stupid? Self-sabotaging? Am I being greedy?
There’s a deep well of longing inside me to have them love me back.
“What’s wrong, my Ava?” Uthan asks next to me.
“Tired.”
“All the more reason to rest,” Tiam says.
“I need to put together a proposal for laws to protect the planets of the Frontier. I’m going to make a presentation to the Zebet.”
They all offer to help.
“I want to sit with the first draft by myself for a while. Think it through. But once I have an outline I like, I’ll be asking for help to refine it. Thank you. This is important to me. I want to get it right.”
When I walk into my offices a few seconds later, they’re still with me.
Behind his desk, Nilo immediately jumps to his feet. “Oath Forger. How was the tribunal?”
“Productive. Any messages? Did I miss anything here?”
“All sent to your unit.” He ignores the kreks who are glaring at him from the doorway.
I ignore them, too. My Five will just have to get used to my having a male assistant.
After they finally leave, I lose myself in work. It’s exciting to have the ability to make this kind of difference. My to-do list is long enough to stretch from Merim to Earth, and while part of me still finds the duties of the Oath Forger overwhelming, now I’m also able to see the possibilities. I can change things for the better. That thought brings an incredible sense of freedom.
Nilo pops in. “Can I confirm that you accept the invitation to chair the Refugee Committee?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll let them know.” He turns to leave.
I call after him. “Nilo? Could you please contact the Federation delegation that’s being put together to visit Earth and request that I’m made a member?”
He grins. “Already requested and approved. I figured you wouldn’t want to miss that. The delegation thanks you in advance for the honor of your company. I sent you a note on this. It’s in the starred folder.”
Pleasure spreads through me. My heart is dancing. I’m going to Earth! “Thank you.”
Lily! I’m finally going to see my sister again.
Nilo hesitates.
The constipated look on his face makes me wonder... “Do the kreks know that I’m going to Earth?”
I doubt it. If they did, they would already be fighting over which one of them will get to come with me.
Nilo flashes a pained smile. “Who will you take?”
“I suppose, they’ll all want to come.”
“That’s a given. But the five kreks can’t leave the Federation all at once. It’s a matter of security.”
I close my eyes for a second. “I’m so not looking forward to that discussion.”
“You can’t blame them for being blindly in love with you,” Nilo says with a grin as he leaves.
I stare at the closed door. If only.
I let myself wallow in the muck-filled pit of unrequited love, but I only feel sorry for myself for one minute. The Oath Forger must have sta
ndards.
Next, I hold two virtual meetings on the display screen. Then I decline being nominated for the Savior of Merim medal, a title and award created just for me, for annihilating the pirate fleet. Oath Forger is more than enough. I don’t want the power to go to my head.
I don’t regret being Oath Forger, because it puts me in a position where I can help countless others. But I’m not comfortable with being celebrated for killing.
Another hour passes with satisfying work before Nilo pops in again. “Taly’s parents are in the palace. Do you still wish to meet with them?”
“Yes.”
“Should I bring them over?”
“Please.”
As he leaves, I push to my feet. My palms are sweating. So far, as Oath Forger, Taly has been my most spectacular failure. I wasn’t able to protect her.
Koah said that when the time came to meet the parents, he’d be with me, but he probably wasn’t notified. I could send a guard for him, but I don’t. I’m too frazzled. I can handle this, right? I’ve been looking forward to meeting Taly’s parents, but now I suddenly don’t know what I should say to them. When Nilo finally ushers them in, I can only offer a sad smile.
Taly’s mother looks just like her, about the same age as my mother would be if she were still alive. She’s a kind-faced, round woman, simply dressed. Taly’s father is a full head taller, somber, his droopy eyes sad. He holds on to his wife’s hand.
Nilo makes the introductions. We greet each other awkwardly. Then there’s nothing but silence.
They’re looking at me, waiting.
“I really miss her.” The words fly out on their own, then I step forward and hug Taly’s mother. My heart breaks when she cries on my shoulder.
Her words are halting, coming out between sobs. “She was a good girl.”
“A good daughter,” her husband adds.
“And she was a good friend to me,” I tell her. “I would have been so lost without her when I first arrived here. She helped me with everything. She just knew everything.” My voice breaks.
After a few seconds, Taly’s mother pulls away to wipe her eyes. “Would it be possible for us to see where she died?”
She looks away as she asks.
Her husband clears his voice.
I get the distinct feeling that they’d discussed this before, and she wasn’t supposed to bring it up. They must know that Taly died in the Oath Forger’s bedroom. It’s like asking to be shown a queen’s bedroom, I think. Probably against all protocol. I don’t care.
“Of course, you can.”
And off we go, Nilo in the lead.
We pass Roax in the hallway, heading toward my office. He takes one look at the unshed tears in my eyes, and joins us. Only then do I realize how much I needed his unwavering certainty and strength next to me. He doesn’t say anything, for once, other than introducing himself to the parents. He’s just there for quiet support.
Did I ever think that I wasn’t going to fall for him? Stars, I was naïve.
Inside my bedroom, Taly’s mom looks around, looks at the glass ceiling that has since been repaired. She sniffs valiantly for a while, holding back, then gives up and buries her face against her husband’s chest, lets herself cry in earnest.
I think the best thing for me to do is to respectfully wait.
Nilo and Roax wait with me, until at last the woman wipes her eyes again and turns to us, looking at me. “I’m very glad that you weren’t hurt, Madam.”
I can see how being here is tearing her up inside, so I gesture toward the door. It’d be best to return to my office.
Roax, however, has a different suggestion. “Why don’t we go out into the garden?”
Right! I’m so messed up that I’ve forgotten. “I’m naming the heart of the garden after Taly.”
The couple’s eyes lighten.
I flash a thankful look at Nilo who suggested this.
“It is an honor.” Taly’s father inclines his head, his eyes tight with sadness. “Thank you. She will not be forgotten then.”
As we walk out, Roax takes my hand. He leads me to the heart of the garden, the others following behind. We stop at the rock formation that marks the ‘heart’. The seven rocks are each as large as I am. The stream that circles them feeds the waterfall, as well as the fishpond on the other side of the garden.
None of us are looking at the stream, however. We’re all looking at the inscription on the largest stone. Taly’s Glen.
As Taly’s mother steps up to caress the words, tears rolling down her face, Roax squeezes my hand, and I can’t hold back my own tears any longer either.
“Thank you,” I whisper under my breath.
“I thought you might like it. It was completed this morning. I was going to show it to you later.”
My bruised heart warms and expands.
We stay in the garden having tea and agra cakes, all arranged by Nilo at a moment’s notice. Taly’s mother tells me stories of Taly’s childhood at home. I tell her stories of Taly at the palace.
When they leave to claim their daughter’s body, Nilo escorts them so they won’t get turned around in the sprawling building. I truly and honestly love having that man as my assistant. I’m never going to give him up, I don’t care what the kreks think.
Roax remains with me.
I fill my lungs and gather myself, walking away from him, moving toward the running water. “You were coming to see me at my office?”
He watches me with quiet contemplation. “We need to talk.”
I stop at the stream’s edge and wait.
“You can’t reject them,” he says. “If you regret connecting with us, it needs to be discussed. But you can’t just keep them at arm’s length forever. They’re going crazy. It’s tearing everybody up. They’re so fucking far-gone-nuts in love with you, even I can’t deal with their sorry asses.”
I blink. “I know Dason is hurt...”
Emotions throw sparks in Roax’s dark eyes. “It’s not just Dason.”
“They’re not in love with me.”
“Are you blind?”
I lose my breath. I blink again. “Are you in love with me?”
A strangled laugh escapes him. Then he strides to me with purpose and grabs me by the shoulders. He leans over until we’re nearly nose to nose. “Not that I didn’t try to resist you, but yes. Yes, I love you, Ava Mine.”
I’m lightheaded. “Why?”
Another strangled laugh.
“Because you’re brave and magnificent. Because I can’t think about anything but you. Because when I’m with you, I think that another, better version of me is possible. And I really used to like my pissed-off, surly-bastard self.”
His fingers flex. “Because your eyes are the color of hope, dammit. And the thought that I might not get to look into them before going to sleep every night rips my heart out and makes me want to tear down the world in despair.” He huffs. “And I never even knew I had a damned heart, until I met you, Ava Mine. Believe me, it’s news to me.”
I smile at him, filled with so much happiness, I’m pretty sure I’d float off if Roax wasn’t holding on to me.
His response to that smile is a searing kiss.
I’m only vaguely aware that at some point he picks me up and carries me inside.
“If you kreks don’t stop carrying me around, I’m going to develop muscle atrophy,” I tell him between kisses.
“You can exercise your legs by wrapping them around my waist when I’m inside you. Feel free to squeeze.”
Chapter Nine
I have no response to Roax’s words and the image they put into my head. None. I couldn’t talk anyway, since he’s is kissing me again.
Of course, we run into Koah in the hallway. His indigo eyes immediately narrow. “What’s going on here?”
Roax marches by him, carrying me into my bedroom.
“Ava thinks we don’t love her,” he calls over his shoulder.
Koah pushes in right behind us
. “What the hell are you talking about? What did you tell her?”
His lips are flat with anger. Just now, he looks scarier than Roax, which is saying something.
One day, Roax and Koah are going to have a fight. My money is on a duel with Terabian swords. I’m just going to grab some agra and watch. It’s not my job to fix the crazy in men. Not even if they’re my men and I love them. People can only fix themselves. When these two are done cutting each other up, I’ll go to the med unit with them and hold their hands, kiss them better. But that’s it. That’s my best offer. They are going to have to work out on their own how to get their uber-possessive, uber-competitive shit together.
I wiggle out of Roax’s arms and step away from both of them, even if, unfortunately, that means stepping toward the enormous bed. “It’s not that I think you’re only with me out of duty, but...”
Koah’s nostrils flare. “Then what is it?”
“The way you all treat me sometimes.”
He squints. “Like you’re the most precious thing in the universe?”
When he puts it like that... Gah! I refuse to be weakened by the cloud of testosterone that’s slowly filling the room. It’s like water vapor, like humidity that clings to my skin and makes me all hot and bothered.
I shake it off for long enough to get out a coherent sentence. “You all want to do everything for me and keep me stashed away in some padded box for protection.”
“You’re angry because we care about your safety?” Koah’s voice grows another notch tighter.
Why do I suddenly feel like a very small cat, facing down two very large lions? I’m the Oath Forger. Reminding myself of that fact helps. I stand my ground. “You unilaterally decide what’s to be done about my safety.”
“So you want input into your safety protocols?”
“Yes!”
“Done.”
Okay, that takes the wind out of my sails. I stare at him, then at Roax, who is smirking at me.
Of course, just when the tension in the room begins to abate, Tiam bursts in.
