by Avery Rae
"Really. I'm just exhausted, and I spent a little too much time in the shower." I nodded, satisfied with my lie. "I'm woozy, but fine."
Marion was silent for a moment, clearly not nearly as happy with my lie as I was.
"You have options, Naomi."
There was that spear again. Right through my heart. I swallowed thickly, my smile growing tight. "Why does everyone keep telling me that?"
"You'd be safer here. If you just take off on whatever ship Rylos can get you on, there's no telling where you'll end up." Marion looked off to the side. "Maybe it's selfish, I don't know, but I spent months looking for you, wondering if you were okay, and I don't want to spend the rest of my life—"
"I made the call," I interrupted.
She looked back at me with a frown. "What?"
"It was me who made the call to land on Korystus that day. I let you feel like shit in that basement because even though I know I made the best decision I could, I'm still responsible for those deaths, and it was easier to blame everyone else for failing me."
"That doesn't matter." She cocked her head to the side, confused for reasons I didn't understand. "Why bring this up now?"
"I'm not a good person, Marion. There's a reason why Solys wants me so badly. He wants to infect me, but I'm already rotten. It's a challenge for him."
"That's not true at all."
"You don't know me."
"Naomi . . ."
"I've ruined Kolyr's life. He attacked Solys's men, Marion. Do you get that? There's no coming back from there. And now, on top of it all, I hurt him."
In the mirror, Marion's expression flickered with confusion at the change in subject before she touched a soft hand to my arm. "He cares about you."
"He shouldn't." As I stared at my worn appearance, I touched my bruised shoulder then my throat. "This is what Korystus is to me. I can't stay here."
Marion hesitated for a moment before saying, "Rylos offered Kolyr something that could solve the Solys situation for him, but he refused."
"Why would he do something that stupid?"
Her brows inched up to her hairline, telling me everything I needed to know. I cursed underneath my breath and whirled around, striding back down the hallway to Marion's room and into the cavernous bathroom. Kolyr was still in the shower, leaning back against the wall, looking so lost it was like a punch to the chest.
I took a steadying breath and stood at the edge of the shower with my arms folded across my chest. "Whatever Rylos offered you, take it."
He slid his eyes over to me. "No."
"You have to."
"I don't."
"Yes, you do," I ground out from between clenched teeth.
Kolyr said nothing. He instead quietly walked through the rain falling from the ceiling, turned it off, then strode out of the shower to towel off. All the while he didn't so much as glance at me.
"Are you trying to teach me some sort of lesson?" I asked with a humorless bark of laughter. "You're going to end up jailed, or dead, just because I wouldn't stay? That seems really stupid."
"That's not it at all, and you know it." He paused in the middle of drying himself and shook his head. "He told me I would have to claim you threatened or coerced me into attacking Solys. Rylos made it clear that it would set things back for him and Marion, but it would clear my name, because my people are so eager for a humans-are-evil narrative. I'm not going to do that."
"It's worth it if it keeps you safe, Kolyr. It's one little setback."
He gave me a bitter smile. "What do you care about what happens to me? Just go, Naomi. Go tell the senator you're ready to go. He'll make arrangements."
I held my hands up and backed away. "You're right. Sorry for bothering you. It's your life. Enjoy ruining it."
"Let's not pretend it wasn't ruined from the moment I took you in."
"I never thought that it wasn't. If you did, then you told yourself one hell of a lie."
Kolyr shoved a hand through his hair, eyes clenched shut. "I'm sorry, Naomi, I didn't mean—"
"You did, and that's okay." I turned and left, stopping only to see Marion and ask her where Rylos was. I'd already been here too long. I was getting out of here. Now.
Filled with determination, I strode into what Marion had told me was the library. A plain white room with a table, two chairs, and a window in the back. Nothing more. Odd, but I didn't give it much thought. My focus was on the man sitting at the table. He didn't even look up from the tablet he was reading.
"Rylos." I sat down in the chair across from him, my lips set in a thin line. "I want to get out of here as soon as possible. Today, if you can arrange it. I'm not picky about where I end up."
"I assure you there are places in this galaxy much worse than Korystus."
"Says you."
All I got from him was a frown before he looked down at the tablet he'd been using. With slow movements and a long sigh, he scrolled through something, then tapped at the screen. Much like Kolyr's tablet had done before, a 3D figure of a frowning man appeared. One that looked very, very strange.
He had blue skin and his hair held a frosty shimmer. I moved around to get a better look at him and jumped when almond-shaped, pure black eyes stared back at me. It was the most typically alien thing I'd ever seen that I wanted to laugh.
"What's the deal, Rylos?" the man asked with a flat look. "We doing this thing or not?"
"We are. This is your transport, Naomi." Rylos held out a hand toward me. He didn't need to. The alien was still staring at me like I was the one who looked weird. I wanted to make a face, but if this was my ride out of here, I could deal with some staring.
"Naomi," Rylos continued, looking at me, "this is Kaz, a merchant from the planet Versix, located at the farther end of our galaxy. They're all scoundrels, but that means he's willing to smuggle you off Korystus. It's a compromise you'll have to make."
Kaz flashed me a wide grin. "Honesty and scruples are for suckers, I say. I mean, I won't put you in danger, but never make a bet with me or anyone like me."
I shrugged. "I can deal with that."
Rylos gave me a long look, his brow slowly arching, as if he was waiting for me to back down or come to my senses. When I didn't budge, he sighed yet again. "Well then, I suppose we'll bring her—" He stopped speaking and frowned as he looked toward the door.
It suddenly whooshed open and the maids spilled inside, chattering back and forth so quickly I couldn't understand them. Marion stood in the doorway, crestfallen. I looked back at Rylos in time to see him getting to his feet, striding toward Marion.
"What's wrong, pet?" he asked.
Pet? I wrinkled my nose but kept quiet, trying to listen to what the maids were saying.
"It had to have been one of the guards," Solyndi whispered fiercely, frowning with her brows mashed together in a tight knot.
"But the senator purged the ones from last time. And he said they caught the soldier's signal when they arrived, so—" Kastia was cut off by Solyndi clamping a hand over her mouth. The maid's worry disappeared, replaced by a smile that was just a little too big. I appreciated the effort, but it was too late. I already knew what was happening.
Solys was here to get me.
12
I was numb as we stood in the foyer of Rylos's mansion, the front doors rattling with incessant knocks. Muffled voices were shouting outside. Marion was pacing back and forth, nostrils flaring and head shaking.
"Calm down, pet, we'll be able to handle this," Rylos tried to soothe her. "I promise you."
"He brought peacekeepers," she seethed. "Why would they ever be helping him? What does that say for humans? We need to just get her out of here. I'll take them out the back and—"
A guard stepped forward, head lowered. "I'm sorry, madam, but our gates have been surrounded." He held out a tablet to Rylos. "It's the peacekeepers. Apparently we're being accused of harboring a fugitive."
"I'm a fugitive now?" I scoffed.
"No, but I am."
"Just hide Naomi and give them me. Solys can only prove that you've had contact with me, not her. So he won't be able to get the peacekeepers involved again unless they scrounge up proof she's here."
"Why would you do something that stupid?" I blurted out.
He gave me a flat look. "Do you want off Korystus or not?"
"I don't want you imprisoned because of it."
"You can't have everything your way, Naomi." Kolyr walked toward me, head shaking. At least, I thought he was walking toward me, but he moved right past me. I realized seconds too late that he was headed for the door.
The guard moved to stop him, but he held a hand out. "Don't. I'm doing this. Solys is standing right outside this door, so I would get moving."
"Kolyr, you don't have to do this."
He gave me a weak smile. "Maybe this'll help you figure out that we're not all the same."
But I didn't really think that. I wanted to tell him I didn't, but Marion and the maids engulfed me, ushering me down the hallway. I didn't even have time to look back at Kolyr.
If I'd known saying those things would not only push him away but push him to act like an idiot, I would've said something else. I just wanted him to forget me and live his life. Not only was he not forgetting me, he was ruining his life even more than I already had. Could I really let him just give himself up for me? Was I really that selfish? Why hadn't I stopped him faster?
"Naomi." Marion's face was suddenly directly in front of mine, so close I could see her individual eyelashes.
I jerked my head back. "What're you doing?"
"Pay attention and you would know," she replied with a sour look.
I blinked and looked around me. The maids were gone. It was just me and Marion. We were in the bathroom again. The air was still slightly damp from the prolonged shower I'd taken with Kolyr, which seemed like an eternity ago.
"Why are we in here?" I asked in disbelief.
"It's the only room without windows. Solyndi and Kastia will be back soon; they went to gather some things for you."
"What happens if Solys sends the peacekeepers inside looking for me?"
Why did I ask? Did I really even care? Sure, I didn't want Solys to get me, and I wanted off this planet. But the weight from the guilt bearing down on me was too much. From the start, I knew Kolyr had risked it all to get me away from Solys. And now he was paying up, even though I'd been awful to him. No. It was because I was awful to him.
I used to wonder why. But I knew now. It wasn't because he loved me or even liked me. Not back then. It wasn't because he thought he could get something from me. He was just that good, and I'd let him think that he wasn't. Because it was too hard for me to leave knowing that he wanted me to stay. I clenched my eyes shut, fists balled at my sides. When had I become such a coward?
"Naomi. I need you to get your head on right. You can't space out on me. I know you can do this. We've done it before, yeah?" She raised her brows, eyes hard on mine, like I would lose it if she broke eye contact for a second. Maybe I would. "We're getting you out of here the moment the peacekeepers are gone."
"No."
"What do you mean no?"
"I appreciate everything, Marion, I really do, but I can't let him take the fall for me. I'm the one who attacked Solys. I'm the one he wants."
"Do you really think if you go out there he'll let Kolyr go?"
"No, but I think he'll forget about Kolyr if he has me. And I trust that you'll get me out of there eventually."
"You can't be serious."
But I was. I turned and ran for the door, slamming my hand against the screen and racing into the hallway. I could hear Marion running after me, but that only made me run faster. As I skidded into the main entrance, Marion shouted after me.
"Don't let her get out!"
But I didn't go to the doors. I went to the window and banged my fist against it, screaming Solys's name. They were still at the gates. Kolyr was being escorted by four officers, one covering each side of him. Rylos stood at the front steps, watching, and he was close enough that he whirled around, eyes meeting mine. Shock registered in his expression, but he quickly turned around as if nothing was happening.
I was certain they could barely hear me, but Kolyr made the mistake of looking back. And when he did, so did the peacekeepers and Solys's guards. Rylos's dragged me from the window, but not before Solys turned to see what all the fuss was about. I knew it was only a matter of seconds before he raced to the door.
I struggled against the guards as they dragged me away. Marion was staring at me in disbelief. But she didn't understand. She didn't know what I'd done. How stupid and terrible I'd been. I hurt Kolyr. And although it was stupid to say I loved him, I did, and I knew it would destroy me if I didn't try to do something. It would destroy me even more than Solys would in the coming weeks or months. I could live through him as long as I had the promise of seeing Kolyr again someday. And if I left him like this, I knew that I never would.
The guards froze as hard, determined knocks shook the door. Marion shooed the guards away with frantic movements, her eyes wide.
"Go," she mouthed.
"I'm in here!" I shouted. "Naomi! Solys's . . . human!" I retched a little getting those words out, but it was what I had to do. It was the only way I could lessen whatever was going to happen to Kolyr. They had to know it wasn't his fault. It was mine. Everything was my fault.
One of the guards clapped a hand over my mouth. I jerked and twisted in his grasp. I was in the dining room, still fighting in vain, when I heard Marion answer the door. Several deep voices responded to her, urgent and harsh.
The guards had only managed to reach the kitchen before I saw him, flanked by his guards and several peacekeepers. Solys. My entire body shuddered, curling in on itself as he smiled at me, confusion and delight in his cold silver eyes.
Over his shoulder, I saw Marion, with Rylos at her side, holding her to him. They both looked stunned. I would be too. I'd gone to such lengths to stay away from him and now I was just giving myself up. But you know what they say, love is pain, and I was about to show Kolyr just how much I loved him.
As Solys walked toward me, I thought, I'm such an idiot.
With the peacekeepers there, Rylos and Marion were powerless to help me. Solys slid an arm around me, peppering me with fake concern, and talking about how much he'd missed me. He loved every second of it, especially when he saw how much I was struggling to keep my revulsion in.
Solys further got off on wrapping an arm around me as he escorted me outside, holding me flush against his side, making it almost impossible to walk properly. As we passed Kolyr, he lunged toward us, the guards barely catching him in time.
"Get that murderer out of here, would you?" Solys snapped. Murderer? What was Solys trying to pin on him? Kolyr never murdered anyone. I looked at Kolyr for answers, but he was staring at Solys, teeth bared.
"If you hurt her," Kolyr growled, "I swear to you, you're next."
"Next?" I blurted out, my heart hammering. "What're you talking about? What did you do?"
Solys squeezed me painfully tight. "Did I give you permission to speak?"
I ignored him. "Kolyr?"
Kolyr's eyes finally met mine, although it was obvious he didn't want to. "I'm sorry. He could've killed you, and I just—I lost control."
"The guard in the forest?" I whispered.
He nodded, and my stomach sank.
"Why would you do that?"
"I told you, Naomi. Whether you think it's stupid or not, I love—"
Kolyr seized and collapsed as a staff hit him square in the chest. The peacekeepers looked horrified to see Solys holding the staff, which he'd ripped from the hands of one of his guards.
A peacekeeper scrambled to take
it from him as the others carried Kolyr away. "Governor, forgive me for speaking out of turn, but that's simply unacceptable behavior."
"Maybe you should listen when I tell you to remove a murderer from my vicinity."
He sounded so frazzled I had to stifle a laugh. I'd never seen him so shaken up, but I guess seeing me actually respond to a man got him all screwed up inside. He might've wanted to break me, but I felt like I'd broken him in that moment, and it felt damn good.
He tightened his arm around me once more, crushing my ribs with such force that I winced. When I looked up at him, I saw nothing but fury. I couldn't hold back a smile.
"What's wrong, Solys? I thought you were so happy to have me back."
He dipped his head down, bringing his lips close to my ear. His breath was so hot against my neck, I wanted to squirm, but I wouldn't give him that satisfaction.
"Skara," he seethed.
A woman who'll indiscriminately give her body to anyone. He taught me that one. Hilariously, he used to call me that for not letting him have his way with me. I guess I was a slut because only the purest, most wonderful women would willingly bed a psychopath. I was sure it made sense to him, at least.
"Go fuck yourself, Solys," I whispered back.
I taught him that one.
13
I expected to pay dearly for everything I'd done to Solys. I'd attacked him twice and insulted him. Yet he didn't slam me around the moment we got into the car. He did something that was somehow worse. He began kissing at my neck, his hands roaming over me far more gently than they ever had before, and I hated it with every fiber of my being.
"Stop it," I clipped out, already flinching in anticipation of what would follow, but he instead pressed a kiss to my cheek.
