by Imogene Nix
“What?” she asked.
“Your father is alive,” he told her. “He’s been our spy, going back inside to help us. I swear, Bree, I didn’t know about you.”
Tears welled in her eyes, and she didn’t know what to think. One thing was for sure, this was neither the time nor the place to have a meltdown.
“So…my father is somewhere in these tunnels?”
He nodded.
“All right,” she said, wiping her wet cheeks. “Let’s go find him.”
With her mind now focused on finding the father she’d thought was dead, the man who’d abandoned her, she wasn’t sure how long it took them to reach the main chamber of the mine. People were everywhere, some crying, some cowering. It was all chaos, really, and she didn’t pay too much attention as Nix began giving out orders to sweep the tunnels.
Niah’s men were trying to organize the humans lingering around as well as trying to subdue the fights breaking out. It was stupid that people were fighting amongst themselves when the real war lay against the TEV, but of course, some were hesitant of change, of the hybrids whose faces reminded them of their oppressors.
When all was said and done, Bree couldn’t even say what the interior looked like because she was too busy scanning for her father. Everything proceeded to happen around her, but it all faded as soon as she locked gazes with her dad.
His eyes widened when he saw her, and he whispered her name. She took a hesitant step toward him, because there were equal parts anger and love coursing through her. On one hand she was pissed he’d left her without a word, and yet how could she fault him when he left her for this? This was so much bigger than her, than any hurt she might be feeling.
Niah grabbed her arm. “Are you all right, Bree? Can you handle this?”
“Of course,” she said, rather blandly, not taking her eyes off her father. Another alien man grabbed her father’s arm and she tensed, until she saw her father nod toward him.
“That’s Kory,” Niah said, and he waved them both over.
Kory and her father approached and Adam reached out for her. Until that moment, she didn’t know what she was going to do or say to him, but all of her hurt and fear and sorrow faded in an instant as she pulled him in for a tight hug.
“Oh, my girl,” her father whispered in her ear. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“Daddy,” she sobbed. “I thought you were dead!”
“I’m so sorry I left you alone, but I knew if anyone could survive it would be you. I had to do this, baby girl. I had to help them.”
“I know,” she said through her tears. “I know.”
“I should’ve told you, but it happened so fast, and I knew you’d try to stop me.” He pulled back and looked at her as his hand smoothed down her hair. “What are you doing here?”
“Niah,” she said. “What about you? How did you know they were trying to stage a revolt?”
“I was hunting and Kory found me. He was on a training session. I still recognized him despite the change. He pleaded with me to help his people so I…I left with him. I honestly didn’t think I would be gone so long. I thought about you every day, Bree.”
Her gaze darted over to the new hybrid male before coming back to rest on him. “We used to live here, didn’t we?”
Her father nodded. “A long time ago, before I found a way to escape. Kory’s parents were good friends to me and your mother, and when I found out what the TEV monsters had done to him I knew I had to help them. I knew the way out, so I knew the way in, and I could hack into their systems for information. I never meant to leave you for so long, baby girl.”
“It’s okay, Daddy,” she murmured. “I really do understand.”
“Adam, let’s get you out of here,” Kory said, his voice low and gruff.
“Kory, this is my daughter Sabrina. She goes by Bree.”
Kory’s eyes were large and brown, and something tickled the back of her mind. A memory of an older boy pulling her pigtails. She saw the barest hint of a smile graze his mouth and knew he remembered her.
Niah’s hand slid around her shoulders and pulled her into his body. She looked up at him and saw him almost growling at Kory. Shocked, she realized he was showing jealousy. She laid her hand on his chest, bringing his attention back to her.
“Bree stay with Niah,” she told him softly, and he leaned down to kiss her lips.
When he straightened up, she caught sight of the surprise on Adam’s face.
“Daddy—”
“Will you treat her right?” her father asked Niah, interrupting her. “Will you love her?”
“You have my vow,” Niah told him.
Her father smiled, first at him and then at her. Adam took her hands in his. “Your mother would be proud. I am proud. Be happy, Bree.”
* * * *
It took a few hours to secure the tunnels and declare the first raid a success. They’d done it. They had managed to liberate a lot of people that wanted their chance to fight back against the TEV. It was one small step toward freedom, and who knew how many colonies like this one existed over the whole Earth.
The perfidious scientists were brought out for judgment, but Bree realized they simply stared at their creations with something akin to pride. Perhaps there was more to this story than traitorous actions, maybe the human race did need to adapt. Maybe adapting meant changing, because years and years of planning couldn’t have happened had it been just humans executing the revolution.
At that moment, Bree figured the world wasn’t set in black and white, in right and wrong. She stood proudly by Niah, and she stood proudly by her father, and above all, she stood proudly by her race.
Something had pulled her toward Niah from the first moment she looked into his eyes, and as she held his hand, that bond only became stronger.
About Beth D. Carter
I like writing about the very ordinary girl thrust into extraordinary circumstances, so my heroines will probably never be lawyers, doctors, or corporate highrollers. I try to write characters who aren’t cookie cutters and push myself to write complicated situations that I have no idea how to resolve, forcing me to think outside the box. I love writing characters who are real, complex, and full of flaws, heroes and heroines who find redemption through love.
I’ve been pretty fortunate in life to experience some amazing things. I’ve lived in France, and traveled throughout Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. I am a mom to an amazing little boy. I’m surrounded by friends and family. I hate washing dishes but I love cooking. I hate washing clothes but I love wearing them. Writing my bio is difficult because I never know what to say so I hope you like this one. My favorite color is red but I look best in black (it’s slimming). I hate people who don’t pick up their dog’s crap in public places, people who don’t use turn signals, and I really hate people who are rude and condescending. I especially hate discrimination in all and every form. And although I love holding a book in my hand, I absolutely adore my ereader, whom I’ve named Ruby.
Beth’s Website:
www.bethdcarter.com
Reader eMail:
[email protected]
Table of Contents
Tangled Webs
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
About Imogene Nix
The Spaceship Captain’s Wife
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Epilogue
About Ashlynn Monroe
His Human
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
About Jay
e Shields
Gravitation
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
About Beth D. Carter
