by Lili Zander
Zeke’s still looking shaken by Adam’s revelation. “Be careful,” I tell the only two surviving members of my team. “Don't take any chances.”
I'm nervous about letting them go off alone. I really hope that they'll be okay.
Just for once, it'd be nice if things were easy.
26
Raven
Boarus 4
Past midnight, TenthDay of FourthMonth
I've been alone for a very long time. In the re-education camps, you tried not to make too many friends because any emotion, any feeling, was a tool that could be used against you. The last time I felt cherished was when my parents were still alive.
The last fourteen years, I've taught myself not to hope. Hope can kill you. I've hardened my heart and closed myself off to everyone. No friendships, no relationships, nothing has been allowed to penetrate my guard.
But now, I slowly allow myself to dream again. I allow myself to imagine a future with Nero, Zeke, and Saber. Maybe we’ll be able to find a hospital that can treat my condition as soon as we get out of here. Then, I’ll truly be free.
Lost as I am in my thoughts, I don't notice Saber's worry at first, not until I see him pacing up and down the small shelter. “You're concerned about Zeke and Nero?” I pat the seat next to me. “Want to talk about it?”
He sits down, his expression bleak. “The last time I sent members of my team out on a mission, they were killed.”
I remember now. I’d asked him why he was protecting me from the Overlord, and he’d replied that he’d sent his team into an ambush, one in which they’d been killed, and I was his chance to make amends.
And now, Nero and Zeke are walking into another potential ambush. Poor Saber. This has to be his worst nightmare.
I put my arm around him. “They’re clever, and they’re careful.” I’m trying to reassure myself as much as him. “Zeke’s hacked into every system on this planet, right?”
His lips tilt up. “Pretty much.”
“So, he’ll know if anyone’s after them.”
“I hope so.”
He would have gone with Nero and Zeke had it not been for me. I can’t imagine how exhausting it must be to be responsible for people. How soul-shredding to realize that your team died because of an order you’d given. The weight of that responsibility is enough to crush most people.
Saber isn’t crushed, but the tension rolls off him in waves. We watch the fire flicker for a while, and I hold him, wishing I could do more. Zeke and Nero must have found the facility by now. It’s bound to be guarded. I’m sure Saber wouldn’t have sent them if he wasn’t confident in their abilities, but anything can happen. What if a stray shot hits one of them?
“There are too many variables in play,” Saber says after a long period of silence. “Too many different agendas. Ragnar. Zimmer. Lula Kenner. Even Adam Masev. Everyone is playing a different game, chasing a different goal.” His lips twist. “I want to keep you safe, but there seem to be a thousand obstacles in my way.”
“Lula Kenner?” I’m happy to be distracted from worrying about Nero and Zeke. “The woman that was going to sponsor me? What’s she up to?”
I don’t expect him to satisfy my curiosity, but he does. “She has a human partner in the re-education camps,” he replies. “She's planning to break her out of there, and then overthrow Zimmer.”
Ah. Joanna had told me that she had resources. It all makes sense now.
That reminds me. I promised Joanna I’d do my best to tell her brother that a rescue attempt is on the way. That can’t be done at night; everyone will be asleep then. It has to happen during the day, when Saber is in deep slumber, and can’t come with me.
He's not going to like it.
It feels oddly intimate to be sitting here next to Saber. My guard is down. Great sex might have played a role in that, but it’s also Saber’s willingness to tell me what’s going on. I was in the room when Zeke’s friend called, and they hadn’t asked me to leave. Just now, Saber told me about Lula Kenner’s plans. He treated me like an equal.
Maybe that’s why I ask my next question. “Does it bother you that you can’t feed on me?” Vampires need human blood to survive. Under normal circumstances, they feed on their lovers. Hell, even Ottar Thistle, the vampire that bit me on SecondDay, drank from me.
But now, because of the blood virus he passed on to me, they can’t drink from me. In the face of everything that’s happening, it feels small and even petty to worry about it, but I can’t help feeling a little inadequate. They’re putting their lives and their careers on the line for me, and I can’t even feed them.
His shoulders stiffen. “Some vampires look at humans as a blood source and nothing else.” He gives me a sidelong look. “I’m not one of them.”
“You’re not answering my question.” Three days ago, the thought of contradicting a vampire would have tied my stomach into knots. “What if this can’t be fixed?” What if they can never drink my blood?
“I don’t live my life dwelling on what-ifs.” His fingers skim my cheek. “I’m exactly where I want to be. I’m doing exactly what I want to do.”
His words are meant to reassure me, but they don’t work. Anxiety claws its way through my insides. Worry about my blood. Fear for Zeke and Nero. The ever-present danger that hangs over all of us. Both Saber and I need to do something. Otherwise, we’re going to lose our minds.
I get to my feet. “Tell you what. Nero reminded me of something important. The Night of the Shayde. One full day has elapsed, and I don't have a single flag to show for it. Let's go get one now. The wind’s picked up. We’ll make good time on the ice boat.”
Saber raises an eyebrow. “You want me to ride with you on that contraption?”
“Sure.” His expression is dubious, and I have to fight to keep my grin from spreading all over my face.
“It's dark outside.”
“You can see at night, can’t you?”
“I’m not worried about my ability to see,” he replies pointedly. “I’m worried about yours.”
“Scared?” I give him an innocent look. “Don't worry, my Lord. I won't let anything happen to you.”
He laughs out loud and gets to his feet. “I think I’ve just been challenged. Sure, why not? I've never been on an ice boat before, and there’s no time like the present. Let’s go get your flag.”
I put on all my layers, but it still hurts when I step out of the warm shelter. Cold knifes through me. The wind rages like a wild animal, and for a second, despite the effects of the vampire bite, I can’t breathe.
Too much warmth and good sex, and I’m growing soft.
“Do you want to sit or stand?” I ask Saber.
“Stand,” he says at once.
“Okay. Climb on.”
The moment I put up the sail, we start to glide forward, faster and faster, picking up speed as we move. Saber wraps his arms around my waist and laughs softly, his body mirroring my movements perfectly. We race over the desert with effortless ease. “You're right,” he says into my ear. “This is fun.”
I can't focus on the tingle that runs through my body at his nearness, or else I'll tip the boat. “It wasn't all bad in the camps,” I yell over the sound of the wind. “I built my first ice boat there. We used to have races every week.”
The winner of the races would get an extra ration of food. It had been a powerful motivator. I don’t tell him that. Glacis is in my past, and I much rather look forward to my future.
Even with the imperfect plastic base and Saber's extra weight, we move much faster than we would if we walked. In less than an hour, we’re at the location of the first flag. I shine my light on the stand and hiss with surprise. “There are only eight flags here.”
Two of the contestants have already been here. Some of them are sturdier than they appear. I’ll be honest, I didn’t think any of them would get this far this quickly.
I grab a flag while Saber looks around. I’m stepping onto the boat to head ba
ck to our shelter when Saber speaks up. “Hang on,” he says, his voice sharp. He takes the far-glass out of his pack and brings it to his eyes. “There’s someone on the ice.”
My heart starts to beat faster. Is it another ambush, or is it one of the other contestants? “I can't see anything.” The three moons are hidden behind clouds, and it's pitch black out there.
“Steer northeast,” Saber says. “I'll guide you.”
In less than five minutes, he signals for me to stop. I slow down, and to my left, I see a tent.
That’s hopeful. At least one of the contestants is taking my advice, sheltering during the night and walking during the day. I'm about to open the flap when Saber shakes his head. “No, this way.”
I look in the direction he's pointing, and my throat closes. There is a small dark shape lying on the ground. One of the contestants.
Great Spirit, no. Please don't let them be dead.
We rush closer. It’s the girl with the pink braids. What was her name? Bailey. Bailey Ware. Saber crouches over her, trying to catch the sound of a heartbeat. I hold back. “Is she…” My voice trails off. I really don’t want to know the answer.
“She’s still alive. Barely so.” He lifts her into his arms. “We need to get her back to the tent.”
A flag lies on the ice next to her. Damn it. She was so close to the tent. To shelter, to warmth. Why didn't she just hold on a little longer?
But I know the answer. The cold changes the way you think. The compulsion to lie down and rest is powerful, and it can overcome your instinctive caution. Glacis is dangerous.
She risked so much to get the flag. It doesn’t seem right leaving it on the ice. I grab it, and trail after Saber, anger and fear churning in my gut. When we reach the tent, I undo the flap, and we enter, and I close the opening as soon as Saber is inside.
There was a warmer in the kit. I rummage through Bailey’s pack and find it, and I turn it to the highest setting while Saber sets her down on the sleeping bag.
She needs warmth. Body heat. Her outer layer is damp and cold. I take it off, and unzip my outer layer as well, crawling into the sleeping bag with her.
She’s so icy. Her pulse is weak, and she still hasn’t regained consciousness. Come on, Bailey. Open your eyes.
“She’s not warming up.” There’s a tremor in my voice. My mind flashes back to the re-education camps, and I have to force the memories back. Now is not the time to re-open old wounds.
Saber pulls a small knife from his pack and looks around the tent. There's a discarded cup from the food rations, and he picks it up. Holding his wrist over it, he slices his skin with the blade. Blood gushes out at once. “Vampire blood gives humans strength.”
And human blood nourishes vampires. It's as if our people are linked together.
“Why not hold your wrist over her mouth?” Wake up, Bailey. Please wake up. Please don’t die.
A strange expression flickers over his face. “That’s a very intimate thing to do.”
Oh. I know so little about vampire norms.
The cup fills with blood. Saber licks his wound to seal it, and brings the cup to Bailey’s lips, dribbling the warm liquid into her mouth. Two agonizing minutes go by, and finally, Bailey stirs weakly. Relief floods through me. Thank the Great Spirit, it’s working. The vampire blood is bringing Bailey back from the brink.
Saber feeds her two cupfuls of his blood. With each sip, warmth seeps back into Bailey’s body. Her eyelids flutter open, and she seems to realize she’s not alone in the tent.
“Raven?” She turns her head and sees Saber there, and her expression turns alarmed. “My Lord,” she stammers, struggling to get up so she may bow to him.
Even at the point of death, we know how to show proper respect to our vampire masters.
“Shh,” he soothes. “Rest. Relax. Drink the rest of this.”
She seems quite intimidated by Saber, so I take the cup from him and hold it to her lips. She slowly starting to warm up, thank the Great Spirit. “I picked up your flag,” I tell her brightly as she drinks. “Don't worry. You haven't lost it.”
I must have said the wrong thing. Tears roll out of the corners of her eyes. “I don't want it,” she whispers. “Please, I just want this to be over. I just want to go home.”
She's trembling with cold, fear, and exhaustion. I remember that feeling too well. Poor thing. “Are you sure?” I ask her softly. “Things will seem better in the morning, you know.”
“I'm sure,” she says. “I can’t do this anymore. Please, Raven. Please light my flares. I just want to go home.”
She’s as weak as a newborn pup. She’s been walking all day on the ice, and she’s broken. I can’t ignore the plea in her voice. Saber nods to me, his eyes filled with darkness. “The blood is only a stop-gap. She needs proper care.”
Bailey’s warming up. She can do without my body heat for a few minutes. I struggle out of the sleeping bag. “Okay. I’ll light the flares.”
Saber gets to his feet as well. “I'm going to get out of here. I don’t want the enforcers to see me.”
That would make Zimmer suspicious, and Ragnar as well. I move closer to Saber. “She saw you here,” I whisper. “If she mentions it to the enforcers… Maybe you should order her to forget. Use the compulsion.”
“No, Raven.” He shakes his head. “There are some things that I just won’t do, and using the compulsion is one of them.” He strokes my cheek. “There’s not much of a risk. Why would anyone question her?”
He’s probably right.
“I'll stay out of sight,” he continues, “but if you need me, just call out. You have your gun?”
It’s technically Zeke’s gun. The weapon is tucked away in the small of my back. Out of sight, but accessible. “Yes.”
He melts into the night. Donning my outer layer, I duck out of the tent for an instant to light Bailey’s flare, then seek shelter again. She’s fallen asleep, her breathing labored, her cheeks too bright. Saber’s blood has bought her some time, but she needs medical attention.
The Night of the Shayde wasn’t supposed to be a death race. It’s always just been a way for us to let off some steam. Until Zimmer upped the stakes.
Thirty long minutes later, a chopper appears in the sky and lands fifty paces from us. A human enforcer gets out and runs our way. I unzip the tent flap and wave him in.
He appears somewhat surprised to see me there. Then he looks at Bailey, and his lips tighten. “This is the third one,” he says grimly. “The Overlord’s not popular right now. There are a lot of angry people in the inner sectors. They’re not used to their own being in danger. One of the guys almost got mauled by s’kal cats.”
My heart leaps in my throat. “Is he okay?”
He seems to recognize me. “You're the girl from the mines, aren’t you?” he says. “Raven Unnuk. Yeah, he got out in time.” He pats my shoulder. “He said that you told him to light the flares. If you hadn’t warned him, he would have died out there.”
Bailey stirs. “Please,” she begs, half-awake, half-unconscious. “I want to go home.”
“Don’t worry,” the enforcer says gently. “You’re going to be okay.” He lifts her over his shoulder and gets to his feet. “We’ll get her to safety.”
“Thank you,” I mutter.
He pauses in the doorway of the tent. “I got lucky,” he says quietly. “A vampire took a liking to me and bit me. But before that, I grew up in Sector 24, and my parents worked in the mines all their lives.” He shakes my hand. “You win, you understand that? You win for all of us.”
Saber rejoins me when the chopper is out of sight. Tears roll down my cheeks, unchecked. “He's risking all our lives,” I sob. These aren’t tears of sadness. I’m angry. So angry. Red-hot rage runs through my blood. “And for what? For entertainment? Bailey would have died if we hadn't come along.”
“I know.” Saber puts his arm around me. “I promise you, Raven, Zimmer will pay for this.”
I lean a
gainst him, taking comfort in his strength and conviction. I can’t wait to get off this planet.
27
Zeke
Boarus 4
Past midnight, TenthDay of FourthMonth
This situation is rapidly deteriorating into a complete clusterfuck. Adam lofted one hell of a bombshell at us.
Levitan and Zimmer are already looking for Raven. If they find out who she is, Equality Pact will hunt her.
Then there’s Ragnar.
The prince is a wildcard. There’s no doubt that his presence on Boarus 4 has complicated matters. Ragnar is not stupid. We need to get Raven the hell out of here before he connects the dots and realizes what she carries in her blood.
Things changed the day I told Raven the truth about who had betrayed her parents. When I held her in my arms as she cried, I’d known that I didn’t want to lose her. Raven had allowed herself to be vulnerable in front of me, and it had felt like a precious gift.
I’m not the sort that bounces from woman to woman without wanting to ever put down roots. I’ve just never met anyone I wanted enough.
Until I met Raven.
I don’t know her. She doesn’t know me. It doesn’t make any sense. And yet…
We just have to figure out a way to keep her alive.
The landscape is bleak and uninviting. The wind blows incessantly, and the visibility is terrible. This is a harsh and miserable place to live. When I think of Raven arriving at the re-education camps as a child, so much anger fills me that I want to smash something and scream at the top of my voice.
Either that or kill Overlord Zimmer. That'll do as well.
Nero’s piloting the skimmer, lost in his own thoughts. “What do you think of the prince?” he asks abruptly, after a long period of silence.
His words startle me out of a half-doze. “Ragnar? I don't know what to make of him. Sometimes, he seems as ruthless and cunning as Levitan, but at other times he seems different. More authentic somehow.”
