by Hope Hart
It hurts. It hurts so bad that I may not survive it, but I whirl, reaching for my weapon as Korva leaps forward to stop me. I hold my weapon on him, and whatever he sees in my eyes obviously convinces him not to fuck with me, because he nods, jaw clenched.
I almost vomit on his floor on the way out.
Chapter Fifteen
Eve
“Wow, are you okay?”
Harlow jumps to her feet. Or at least she tries to. She huffs as she falls back on her sofa, something that would amuse me if I wasn’t losing my mind.
“Fine.”
“You’re not fine.”
I walk over and offer my hand, hauling her to my feet. I make a sound like I’m a weightlifter at the Olympics and Harlow narrows her eyes at me.
I glance at where Varian’s talking to Jaret by the window and Harlow nods. She gestures toward her cat, who is currently winding around my legs.
“I thought I’d take Tom to Jen,” Harlow says. “He can’t come with us to Fecax, and I thought Jen might like the company. Plus, that way we can check up on her before we go.”
My stomach clenches as I nod. Jen may not want to see me. If I’d been on my game instead of obsessing over Korva, I would’ve noticed that Meghan was planning something stupid.
Harlow reads my mind. “She fooled everyone, Eve. Her mom, a trained therapist, me, an ex-cop, and you, ex-FBI. She was smart and she worked fast. We couldn’t have seen it coming.”
“She took one of my blasters.”
Harlow grins. “Thank God.”
I nod. “She’s a menace, but at least she’s armed. I just hope…”
“We’ll find her. Varian has people scouring for any sign of her or Methi. There are only so many places she could be.”
I nod again, but we both know it’s a big universe.
Nathan and Vazta are waiting outside the door. Nathan looks hungover, while Vazta’s obviously distracted, his mind elsewhere as he stares into the distance. I’m trying not to embarrass myself by bursting into tears, and Harlow glances around at all of us, frowning.
“What the hell happened to all of you?”
We all shrug simultaneously, and Harlow tuts as we walk toward Jen’s quarters. The guys stay outside, where they seem more than willing to stand in silence.
Jen’s eyes are tired when she opens the door, but she still manages a smile, kissing us both on the cheek as Tom yowls in his carrier.
“I hope this is okay,” Harlow says.
“Of course. I love cats, and it’ll give me something to focus on.”
“How’s the investigation going?”
I should know, and I curse myself for paying more attention to Korva than the search for Meghan.
“It’s basically stalled,” Jen sighs. “The Arcav are very patient, and I know they’ll keep looking, but I think deep down they’re looking for a body now.” Her eyes fill with tears and she pulls out a tissue. “I’m so sorry. It’s been a long week.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Harlow says. “Can I make you a cup of tea?”
“You can sit down and rest your feet, that’s what you can do,” Jen says, mopping at her face. “I’ll be right back.”
Arax walks into the room as Jen walks out, and he brushes a hand down her cheek murmuring softly to her. She nods and blows her nose before hurrying out.
“Your Majesty. Guard,” he says, nodding at Harlow and me.
“How’s she doing?” Harlow asks softly.
“Some days are better than others. Sometimes I think it would be easier if Meghan had died,” he says, and then lifts a hand at whatever he sees on my face. “We both know that her chances aren’t good. But a search and rescue can only go on for so long. It has been over six months already, and the hope, combined with the stress…” Arax shakes his head.
Six months.
They passed in the blink of an eye. But for Meghan, they might have crawled by. If she’s even alive.
Jen reappears and we all smile at her. She pauses but gives us a small smile back as she hands out cups of tea.
I clear my throat, decision made.
“Jen… if Meghan hasn’t been found when we get back… I’m going to look for her. I promise you, I’ll do everything I can to locate her.”
Harlow lifts one eyebrow at me, but doesn’t seem at all surprised.
“Oh… oh, are you sure?” Jen’s voice is full of hope, and Arax sends me a look of death. I stare straight back. I’m not having Jen mentally bury her daughter yet.
“I’m sure.”
“What if Varian insists on the blood test?”
I pause and look at Arax. “Would you mind giving us a moment?”
He gives me a hard look back but nods, finally smiling. “Of course. I have to meet Jaret for a meeting soon anyway. I will see you in a few hours, my love.” He leans down and kisses Jen before striding out the door.
I wait until it closes behind him and then lift up my sleeves, showing them the black bands circling my wrists.
Harlow’s mouth drops open, and even Jen looks shocked.
“Oh dear,” Jen says.
Harlow sits further back in her chair with a sigh. “It’s Korva, isn’t it?”
I nod, and before I know it, I’m spilling the whole story. I brush off the tears that somehow appear on my cheeks. I thought I was done with crying.
Harlow gets to her feet and paces. “I can’t believe he’d try something like this. He’s insane.”
“Well… yeah.”
Jen clears her throat. “No, he is not,” she says disapprovingly. “The man is perfectly sane; he just has a murky moral code and believes that he’s above the law.”
Harlow and I look at each other.
“That’s worse,” we both say at the same time.
I sigh. “Listen, I need you both to swear not to tell anyone. I know, I know,” I say, as they both give me identical looks of offence, “but promise anyway.”
They both swear and Harlow holds out her hand for a pinky promise.
“He’s going to find out, though. Arcav males are tricky.”
“Not if I’m not in Arcavia. And I don’t even have to feel bad about leaving him without a mate, since he’s obviously been planning to fix that problem in his lab.”
I let out a half sob, half laugh, and Harlow grimaces at me sympathetically.
“Are you sure that’s what he was doing?”
“He said he wasn’t doing it anymore, but his little experiment was just sitting there. He’s mentioned her so many times, Harlow. Not once has he also mentioned that he’s been trying to fucking clone her.”
“Men,” she says. “Who needs ‘em?”
Jen guiltily raises her hand and we burst out laughing.
“So anyway, as you can see, there’s nothing stopping me from joining the search for Meghan. If anything, it’ll be good for me to get some space. I’ll turn this galaxy upside down until I find her. I promise.”
Jen’s eyes fill with tears again, even as she smiles shakily.
“Thank you, Eve.”
Korva
I stand in my lab, wishing I could rewind time. For once, the rage doesn’t come. Instead, my hands shake, my fists clenching and unclenching as if I could hold Eve to me.
For as long as I live, I will never forget the betrayal and disgust on her face. And yet her hand didn’t shake as she held her blaster on me. She was prepared to fire at me if I attempted to prevent her from leaving. I could see it clear on her face.
I’ve lost her.
For the first time in centuries, the world had color. I felt things other than rage and hopelessness. I was able to have conversations with others. I had even laughed.
No more.
I stare at the embryos, sickened by what the represent. A male incapable of embracing happiness where he finds it. One willing to lose the female who was made for him while obsessed with one who has long since turned to dust.
I feel as if I am being ripped apart. No matter what I felt
for Daliz, no matter how long I have mourned, it all feels like a shadow compared to the way I feel when I think of the hurt in Eve’s eyes.
I love her.
I want to kiss her smart mouth, to listen to her laugh, to find her dressed in ribbons and lace. I want to hear her secrets and tell her mine. I want to wake up with her every day for the rest of my life.
I have come to this realization too late. Eve may never forgive me for this. I know well that she is not a female to trifle with. She is a warrior, one who would be loyal to the male she chose. Or the male she is eventually mated to. I grind my teeth at the thought. She has little trust, but her pride… her pride burns like an inferno.
I walk toward my work, which has been my obsession since I was released all those months ago.
I have let my obsession with the past prevent me from embracing the future. I had already realized that Eve was the female for me. Why did I not do this sooner?
I unlock the storage box and destroy the embryos.
Eve
I groan at a knock on my door. After leaving Jen’s yesterday, I hit a bar close to my house until 3 am. Now, my head is pounding like a drum and I haven’t slept a wink.
“Go away,”
“Eve?”
It’s Jaret. Shit. I haul myself out of bed and stumble toward the door. Then I freeze as I reach for the handle.
“No pants. Shit.”
Then I stare at the bands on my wrists and realize that pants are the least of my worries.
“Eve?”
“One moment.”
I duck back into my room and pull on some jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt. Then I blow out a breath and open the door, squinting against the bright light.
“Ow.”
Jaret runs his eyes over me and shakes his head.
“I need your help,” he says, choosing to ignore my obvious hangover.
“Me?” I’m just a guard. What could I possibly help him with?
He nods and I frown. “You want to come in?”
“I’m actually hoping that you will come with me.”
“Where?”
“We have been having some issues getting information out of the members of HGA.”
Uh oh.
“Is that right?”
Jaret nods. “One of them says that you were mated.”
“Engaged,” I say through clenched teeth. “We were engaged. So what?”
“We believe that he has information we could use. However, so far, we have failed to extract that information.”
I swallow, wondering what methods they used to try to get him to talk. Surprisingly, the idea of Liam being tortured doesn’t sit well with me.
“And?”
Jaret raises an eyebrow at my tone but chooses to ignore it.
“The next step is to use X. However, this is a last resort. There is a chance that his mind could be damaged and information could be lost.”
I grit my teeth at the thought. X is the drug that was given to Cheryl. It turned her into someone who was willing to blow everyone up, including her daughters, who were just a few floors below us. It completely takes away free will, and it sickens me that X exists at all.
“Why are you telling me this?”
Jaret sighs. “He wishes to speak with you.”
“No.”
“He insists that any information he knows will only be told to you.”
Suddenly I’m all for torture. Torture is great. Torture gets things done.
“Have you tried breaking his legs?”
Jaret smirks. “We use physical torture as a last resort. Humans tend to go into shock which is not conductive to getting the information we need to know.”
I gape at him. Cold bastard.
He simply smiles back at me. “Usually, the threat of X is far more effective. Unfortunately, this male is stubborn.”
Tell me something I don’t know.
I grit my teeth. This is one more example of Liam trying to get the upper hand. He knows I’ll have to talk to him if he implies that he has information we can use. He’s trying to throw his weight around, and he’s succeeding damnit, because the thought of the Grivath invading Earth or Arcavia or both…
“Fine. When do I have to do it?”
“Now.”
Of course.
I sigh.
“Give me five minutes.”
Jaret decides to wait outside and I don’t blame him. I’m pretty sure my house smells like stale booze, and I wrinkle my nose as I throw on some clothes.
I want to be able to drive myself home, so I follow Jaret to the prison. Korva was kept in his own private quarters under the palace, but the Arcav also keep a separate prison on the outskirts of the city. I’ve never been here, and I snort as I enter. Trust the Arcav to even make their cells comfortable.
The bars are thick, but each cell has a gel bed, a recliner, and a private bathroom. I spot cameras in every corner, but compared to most Earth prisons, this is the Four Seasons.
Jaret leads me down the row of cells, and I keep my eyes away from the prisoners. This isn’t my first rodeo, but unlike Earth prisons, there are no catcalls or threats. In the last cell, I spot Marcus, his eyes wide and fearful as he stares straight ahead, lost in a nightmare.
“You drugged them?”
Jaret shrugs. “He had told us all he knew. He attempted to hurt the female who brought him food. Now he suffers the consequences.”
Something tells me I don’t ever want to take that drug.
Jaret pushes open the door and gestures me inside. It’s a small room, and I almost choke as I look straight into Liam’s eyes.
“Hello, Evie.”
I blow out a long breath and glance at Jaret. It would’ve been nice to have this conversation when I wasn’t sleep deprived, I didn’t feel hungover, and my eyes weren’t swollen from crying over he-who-shall-not-be-named.
“What do you want, Liam?”
“I wanted to see you.” He runs his eyes over my hungover form. “It doesn’t look like they’re treating you all that well here.”
“They’re treating me just fine. Spit it out.”
“There’s going to be a trial.”
“Why would I care?”
“We were together for years. We were going to be married.”
“You shit on that when you allowed all our friends and colleagues to believe I was a psycho liar.”
He’s silent for a long moment.
“I don’t expect you to believe me, but I’m sorry. I was caught up and over my head. Losing you was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.”
I wave a hand in the air. “I don’t have time for this. What do you want?”
“The trial will determine whether I’m put to death, which will be televised live on two planets. Or, whether I’m sent off-planet to be sold as a slave. Or, perhaps, if I’m kept here for the rest of my life.”
I feel a pang of sadness at the thought of what his family must be going through.
“I was allowed a call home,” he says, reading my mind. “Mom suggested I talk to you.”
“Does she know what you did to me?”
He’s silent and I bark out a laugh.
“She still thinks I’m a liar, is that right?”
I’d loved his mom. She was the closest I’d had to my own mom.
Liam’s jaw clenches and he takes a deep breath.
“They don’t deserve to see me die, Evie.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Eve.” His voice is bitter.
I sit back in my chair and glance at where Jaret is standing in the corner, face blank. We need any information we can get in the fight against the Grivath, and as much as I hate what Liam did to me, I don’t want him dead.
“What do you think I can do for you?”
“You’re a heavy hitter here,” he says, his mouth twisting. “You’ve got respect. If you speak on my behalf on my trial, I’ll come out better off.”
“Why would you trus
t me?”
He smiles at me, and for a second, I’m back in our kitchen. He glances away. “You’re a bitch, but you’re an honest bitch. You’ve got integrity.” His eyes tighten. “Isn’t it funny how the integrity that broke us up may end up saving my life?”
A headache begins to pound at my temple, and I resist the urge to rub at it.
Liam notices anyway. “You still getting them? Don’t they have good doctors here? Or healers?”
“I’m fine. Okay, say I agree to this, how do I know that you’re not playing us? Do you even have useful information?”
He nods. “HAA doesn’t trust HGA. I was sent in to see what they were saying and what they were planning.”
“You’re trying to tell me you weren’t a member?”
“Oh no, I was a member. But I was only there because HAA put me there. You think I want more motherfucking aliens on my planet? You should know me better than that.”
That was something I hadn’t been able to understand. Liam hates the Arcav more than anyone I know. When he found out I was moving to Arcavia, he left a long, drunk, rambling message on my phone calling me a whore, before telling me he’d do anything to get me back and begging me not to go ‘fuck those horned motherfuckers’.
The Grivath are even worse. Human women who don’t want to be mated are at least treated like prized treasures. But the Grivath like to sell humans on slave planets. If they had free reign on Earth…
“Say I believe you,” I start, and Liam grins.
“You do believe me,” he says. “Why would I want the Grivath to come set up base on Earth when things are just getting back to some form of normal?”
“You’d need good information. You’ll need to make it worth our while.”
He nods. “I can do that.”
I turn to Jaret, who gestures up at the cameras. Anything we say will be recorded and used as evidence.
“Okay,” I sigh. “Let’s get started.”
Chapter Sixteen
Eve
I almost give in and head to the healers on my way to the palace. Varian is hearing applications today and I need to be there. But I’ve popped a bunch of ibuprofen and this headache is almost a migraine.
