Heretic

by Cyndi Friberg

  He looked at Lily. Was it possible he could find such a connection with her?

  She was watching the older couple with rapt interest, her expression part curiosity and part longing. Apparently her mood was rather like his.

  Not ready to tackle that particular mountain, he shifted his focus back to the older General Lux. It had been eleven years since he last saw his father and the years showed on Kryton’s face. He didn’t look bad, just older, and more distinguished, if that was possible. There were more gray streaks now than blue in his dark hair, but his eyes were still sharp and filled with love for his mate. He stood straight and tall with the square-shouldered posture of those who spent their entire lives in the military.

  “Now that you’ve found me,” Skyla teased. “What are you going to do with me?”

  He picked her up and signaled his ship.

  “Wait! I was kidding. You are not leaving without speaking to your son. Now put me down!” She smacked him on the shoulder and wiggled until he obliged.

  “Will my son speak with me?” He glanced toward Arton, cautious hope flickering in his blue-ringed eyes.

  Always in the past Arton had been the one to reject his father’s outstretched hand. It was long past time for him to make the first move. Fortifying himself with a quick breath, he straightened his spine and walked up to Kryton. Arton’s heart thudded wildly as he held out his hand. “It’s been a long time, sir.”

  “Sir?” Kryton glowered. “Don’t insult me.” Rather than slap Arton’s hand away, however, he pulled him in for a quick yet firm hug. “You look like shit, son. Have you been ill?”

  The criticism was so unexpected, and such a contrast to the tender look on Kryton’s face that it shattered what little remained of Arton’s composure. He laughed, almost hysterically, then was horrified to hear himself sob. What the fuck was wrong with him? But he couldn’t stop the tears once they broke free. Without an anchor to stabilize his emotions, Arton felt exposed, vulnerable as he’d never been before.

  Kryton wrapped his arms around his son, shaking a bit himself. Soon Skyla joined the hug and Arton was surrounded with love and acceptance. He was supported—safe. He sobbed, unable to stop the torrent of tears and emotions gushing from his battered heart. All the years of bitterness and rage flowed out like pus from an abscess.

  He purged the hatred and released all the anger, no longer needing their protection to survive. He couldn’t move on, couldn’t prove himself worthy of Lily, until he put the past in the ground once and for all.

  The pressure gradually eased, leaving him drained and depleted. He felt empty, as if he’d been hollowed out by an over-zealous surgeon.

  Then a spark ignited within the void. If even Brother Nanteen lied and Kryton had actually wanted him all along, how could Kryton explain the news streams and interviews? There had been actual evidence to support Brother Nanteen’s claims.

  Arton took one last shuddering breath, then stepped back and wiped the last of his tears away. He was too exhausted to be embarrassed by his breakdown. Some things were unavoidable. He wanted this settled, needed to be free of the past so he could concentrate on his future with Lily.

  “They showed me news files of you, interviews and documentaries,” Arton began without introduction. “You preyed on people’s sympathy to gain support for yourself and Pern Keire.” Who was one of the most corrupt rulers Rodymia had ever produced. “How do you explain what I saw?”

  Kryton took a deep breath, then glanced around at the crowd of onlookers. “Is there somewhere we can go? I’d rather not do this with an audience.”

  “Are you sure?” Arton sniped. “You seemed to prefer an audience from what I saw.”

  “Use the war room,” Kage said sternly. “It’s as close as you’ll get to common ground.”

  Kage was right. Arton’s cabin would make Kryton feel defensive and Kryton’s ship would do the same to Arton. He accepted the suggestion with a nod, then swept his arm toward the ramp leading to the Viper.

  Lily looked at him uncertainly as he moved up beside her. “There’s no way Skyla will be pried from his side. I’d like someone there to support me.” He held out his hand as his blood rushed through his ears. He was half afraid she’d refuse him.

  Lily took Arton’s hand without hesitation, thrilled to be included in his reconciliation. She’d never seen him like this, so open. Or so vulnerable. He looked as if he’d just fought the most demanding battle of his life. Maybe he had. This couldn’t have been easy for him. She gave his hand an encouraging squeeze and moved closer to his side.

  The war room was on deck four, adjacent to the command center. Kryton led the way. Apparently he knew the design of these ships, which shouldn’t have surprised her. Most of the Outcast ships had been salvaged or stolen from the Rodyte military.

  Kage didn’t accompany them. After shooting Arton an encouraging look, he entered the command center instead.

  The couples chose seats on opposite sides of the raised table. Lily tried not to fidget, but she honestly thought she was more nervous than Arton.

  “So, let me have it,” Kryton encouraged. Luckily, there was no condescension in his tone. “What did you see? Let me explain each situation from my perspective.”

  “All right.” Arton sounded sincere, likely for the first time. “I only trusted one of my tutors and he was the one who showed me the video clips. The first was some sort of fund raiser. You told an audience of at least two hundred all the horrible things the harbingers were doing to me and all the other trainees. You claimed that the money would be used to wage a legal war against Harbinger Guild.”

  “There were several such events,” Kryton admitted. “I’m not sure which one he showed you. You explained my motivation for doing them. What don’t you understand?”

  Arton tensed, but his voice remained calm. “If you ‘waged a legal war’ against them, why did nothing every change at the academy?”

  “Because Harbinger Guild was feared and protected by very powerful people,” Skyla told him.

  “More powerful than a crown striate?” Arton challenged. “Wasn’t Pern Keire more powerful than anyone else on the planet at the time?”

  “Yes and no,” Kryton countered. “He had the authority to close down the academy, but my influence over him only went so far. He allowed my ‘pointless campaign’, that’s what he used to call it, because I amused him and won wars in his name. But the harbingers also assisted him. There was no way he was going to choose one side over the other.”

  “You honestly took them to court?” Arton’s expression was so conflicted, she couldn’t decipher his reaction.

  Kryton looked at Skyla. “Eleven times?”

  “Fourteen, love. And that doesn’t count all the official complaints and requests for an injunction.”

  Arton looked from one to the other, his gaze filled with pain. “And the interviews? Why spend so much time in front of cameras retelling my pathetic story.”

  “The story of what they did to you was shocking and vile, but never pathetic,” Kryton objected. “When it became more and more apparent that I would never succeed through legal channels, I waged a war of public opinion. It was slightly more successful yet ultimately failed.”

  Arton reached beneath the table, obviously searching for her hand. She quickly slipped her hand into his and tightened her fingers, offering support and encouragement the only way she could without a mental link.

  “And still, nothing changed.” Now Arton sounded pained. Was he remembering all the things he’d suffered, all the times he’d been told no one wanted him.

  Tears stung her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. Breaking down now would only make him feel worse.

  “I never gave up,” Kryton insisted. “When the public moved on to their newest cause, I planned the first of many attempts to rescue you.”

  “But it’s hard to spring a surprise attack on a harbinger?” His voice was barely a whisper.

  “Exactly.” A long paus
e followed. “You know the rest. My final attempt worked, but by then they’d succeeded in turning you against me.”

  “Why did the final attempt succeed when all the others failed?” Something in Arton’s tone told her he already knew. Apparently, he needed to hear it.

  “Because of me,” Skyla told him. There was no bravado in her tone or expression. It was a simple statement of fact.

  “I knew the only way I would best them was if I used magic to combat magic. I honestly pictured some grand battle with fireballs and spellcasting, but that wasn’t what happened at all.”

  “He never would have taken a war bride if he hadn’t been desperate to rescue you,” Skyla stressed. “He has always found the practice abhorrent, and was instrumental in having it outlawed.”

  “So you snatched a dream walker and she contacted me so I could plan my own rescue,” Arton muttered more or less to himself.

  The convoluted explanation caught Lily’s attention. “How did you help plan your own rescue?”

  “We connected in the dream realm,” Skyla told her, “but because my dreams are also prophetic, the Arton I contacted had already been rescued. All he had to do was tell me how we’d done it.”

  Lily tried to wrap her mind around how that would have worked, but it just made her head throb. So she nodded, deciding she didn’t need to fully comprehend everything they discussed.

  Arton let go of her hand and folded them on the tabletop. “You have to understand how convincing my tutors were, how...”

  Kryton reached across the table and covered Arton’s hands with his. “I don’t blame you for your attitude. I never did. You were what they had programed you to be. My only regret is that I wasn’t able to deprogram you fast enough to spare you life as a mercenary.”

  Arton allowed the touch, seemed hesitant yet comforted by it. “Trust me, it wasn’t just you I was running from. A battlefield was the only appropriate place for me those first few years. I was so filled with rage.”

  “Are you less angry now?” Kryton sounded hopeful.

  “Much.” Arton pulled his hand back and wrapped his arm around Lily’s shoulders. “And I have two incredibly persistent females to thank for that change. Thank the gods I’m only responsible for one of them.”

  Skyla smiled brightly, clearly thrilled with the praise.

  “So what should I do with my wayward mate?” Kryton glared at Skyla playfully. “How much longer is this adventure going to take you?”

  “A month?” she proposed, turning her beaming smile on Kryton.

  “Two weeks,” he countered firmly.

  “With a one week extension for especially good behavior.”

  Kryton laughed, the sound rumbly yet warm. “I’m pretty sure you’re not capable of it, so I agree.”

  “Can you locate and train your replacement, or replacements, in just two weeks?” Lily asked Skyla.

  “Not entirely, but once everyone has access to the metaphysical plane, logistics won’t be a problem. Or I can go old school and use a holo-com.”

  “Only if Kage agrees to a detectible form of communication,” Arton reminded. “That’s rather doubtful.”

  She made a face. “Fine, we’ll keep everything hush-hush.”

  Kryton shot her a warning look. “You expect me to keep this from Sedrik?”

  “I would very much appreciate it if you did,” Arton stressed. “The last thing we need is the battle born rushing in to rescue a bunch of females who no longer want to be rescued.”

  “Are you sure that’s true of all of them?” Kryton asked carefully. “Or have they become cooperative because they all believe that returning to Earth is simply not an option?”

  Arton squirmed as if his chair were suddenly uncomfortable. “A vote was taken, but returning wasn’t an option at the time.”

  “Is it an option now?” Skyla pushed a little harder.

  “It’s not my decision to make,” Arton said. “I’ll have to ask Kage.”

  “With one com, I can make it an option,” Kryton warned.

  Lily braced for Arton’s response. He never reacted well to threats.

  “I’m aware,” he said evenly. “And I will encourage Kage strongly toward offering to return any female who doesn’t want to be here. But ultimately it’s the overlord’s decision.”

  “I think we should give Arton the same two weeks you’ve given me,” Skyla proposed. When Kryton didn’t immediately refuse, she looked at Arton. “You work on the overlord for the next two weeks, help him see reason. We’ll reassess the situation before we leave.”

  “Agreed.”

  Everyone exhaled at the same time, then laughed at the reaction.

  “Well, I feel better.” Skyla scooted back her chair, then stood.

  “I know this is only the beginning,” Kryton said suddenly serious again. “But I’m really happy with the progress we’ve made.”

  “I am too.” The two men stood and started to hug, but Arton held out his hand instead.

  It was hard to be disappointed after everything he’d offered. Besides, Kryton didn’t seem overly concerned. He shook his son’s hand, then led his mate from the room, whispering something wicked in her ear if Skyla’s throaty chuckle was any indication.

  Arton took both Lily’s hands and helped her slide down from the raised chair. “Can we postpone our talk until morning? I’m honestly struggling just to stay awake.”

  “Of course.” She tried not to be disappointed. He had to be emotionally drained by everything that had happened. But then, he’d seemed exhausted before he encountered his father. What had transpired between him and Kage? She’d seen Arton heading toward the overlord’s cabin on her way to share a nightcap with Skyla. “Are you okay? Kryton wasn’t exaggerating. You look ill.”

  He started to say something, then shook his head. “I haven’t been sleeping well. I hope that’s about to change.”

  “I hope so too.” They held hands as they walked down the corridor.

  “Can I ask one more thing?” He sounded adorably unsure.

  “Of course.”

  “Will you stay with me tonight? I won’t do any more than hold you until we’ve talked, but I can’t be without you right now.”

  Her heart gave a happy flip. He needed her, wanted her near him. That was a wonderful start. “I wasn’t sure how to ask, but I was hoping you weren’t going to send me back to my old cabin.”

  “Never again.”

  True to his word, once they reached their cabin he pulled her into his arms but didn’t even try to kiss her. She snuggled close, thrilled to be back in his embrace, but secretly wishing he were a little less exhausted.

  Chapter Twelve

  Waking up with Lily in his arms was the sweetest sort of torment for Arton. He carefully shifted onto his side so he could study her lovely face. She looked so peaceful in repose, so innocent and trusting. He gently combed her hair back from her face with his fingers. The silky strands slid against his skin making him eager to explore.

  She murmured sleepily and rolled toward him, pressing against him even more intimately. They were both fully dressed, but his body stirred, aching to join with hers. Still, he held back, not yet ready to indulge his need for his mate. They might not be true mates in the literal sense of the word, but their bond would be just as secure, just as lasting.

  The coming conversation was too important to rush or confuse with sensual pleasures, so he slipped out of bed and showered, then printed a fresh uniform. He was an Outcast, an integral part of this community. It was past time he started looking the part.

  She woke a few minutes later, rubbing her eyes as she sat up in bed. “What time is it?” she asked when she spotted him in the doorway.

  “Not quite nine. Do you have a transformation scheduled today?”

  She shook her head. “It’s too hard on Skyla if we do more than three in a row.”

  “Has she chosen an apprentice yet?”

  “I don’t think so.” Lily shook her head, swi
nging her legs over the side of the bed. “But she’s going to have to choose someone soon if she only has two weeks to train them.”

  “True. What would you like for breakfast?”

  She groaned. “I’m not sure I can eat. Can we talk first?”

  “Why don’t you take a shower and wake up. I’ll order your breakfast while you get ready.”

  “All right. Something simple, like toast and scrambled eggs.”

  “Got it.” He waited until she disappeared into the utility room before he dragged himself away from the doorway. Then he printed a clean uniform for her and placed it on the foot of the bed. Not wanting her food to cool, he waited a few minutes to print her breakfast, then waited in the tiny dining room.

  She joined him a short time later, her hair damp, faced slightly flushed. Was the color from the heat of the shower or anticipation?

  “So two weeks with your parents underfoot? How will you survive?” She smiled, clearly hoping he wouldn’t be upset by the gentle questions.

  “It has been a long time coming,” he admitted. “I’m looking forward to finally developing my own opinions of them.”

  She nodded, then paused for a bite of fluffy eggs. “Has anyone heard from Rex Dravon? If Thea is his genetic match, I know he won’t hurt her. But shouldn’t they have been back by now? It’s been over a week.”

  “That’s not unusual,” he assured her. “I’ll ask Kage the specifics of Rex’s mission if it will make you feel better.”

  “Hearing from, or better yet, seeing Thea, would make me feel better.”

  He reached across the table and placed his hand over hers. Awareness arced between them, electric and alive. “She’ll be fine.”

  Suddenly a grin parted her lips. “We should probably be worried about Rex. Thea can be hell on wheels when she’s riled.”

  She ate for a few minutes in silence, then pushed her plate aside. “All right. I ate, like a good girl. Can we talk now?”