by Cheree Alsop
I didn’t like where the conversation was going. “Can’t we go back to kissing?” I asked.
She gave a little huff of laughter before she said, “Kove, this is serious.”
“I know,” I replied. “Because you called me Kovak. I don’t like that name from you.”
“It’s your name,” she replied.
I shook my head. “It’s too formal, like calling you countess. What do you think, Countess Loreander?”
She paused, then said, “I think you’re really good at distracting me from our current conversation.”
I sighed at her persistence and said, “What do you need me to promise you?”
Nova was quiet for another moment. I felt her looking down at me and wondered what she saw. In my mind’s eye, I pictured all of my scars, bruises, gashes, and gouges. Why in Vexus did she even stick around such a broken man?
The thought nearly made me turn away from her, then she said, “Promise me you won’t break my heart.”
I froze, my breath caught in my throat and my heart beating double in my ears.
Before I could figure out what to say, Nova continued with, “If I give my heart fully to you, you have to promise me that you’re not going to throw your life away on some petty chance to be tortured and leave me in this ‘Verse all alone.”
A smile spread across my face so big I thought it would crack in two. I needed to talk about what she said, but it was so vast and heavy that I couldn’t help lightening the tension a bit. “Some petty chance to be tortured?” I repeated. “You know those are my favorite kind.”
She slapped my chest lightly and I winced at the real pain.
“Sorry,” she whispered immediately. “I forgot.”
I felt her sit up and turn away. Before she could move off the bed, I grabbed her arms and pulled her carefully down on to her back. I stared sightlessly down at her and pictured the soft curve of her cheek and the way her green eyes never stopped searching mine as though she could read my thoughts. I wondered if they still showed when I couldn’t see. I wished with all my heart at that moment that I could read exactly what she was thinking.
“Nova, I would have asked the same from you long ago; you have captured my heart fully and irreversibly. I can’t even put into words the way my heart soars at the sound of your voice, or the tremor that runs over me whenever you walk into a room. I don’t need my sight to know how beautiful you are; I can feel it moving from you in waves and changing everything around you for good.”
Her hand touched my right bicep, her fingers trailing along it with the lightest touch.
I swallowed and forced out in a whisper, “I promise to never break your heart.”
“And the torture?” she asked, her voice trembling with emotion.
A quiet laugh escaped me. “Even at the chance for petty torture.”
Her lips brushed mine again. “Promise?” she asked breathlessly.
“I promise,” I replied.
I pulled her into my arms and kissed her deeply. Her hair fell around us. I could picture the long dark locks hiding us from the rest of the ‘Verse. It was settled. This was definitely my favorite place ever.
I lost track of how long we kissed before she settled back against my side. The warm press of her body and the sound of her soft, steady breathing as she slipped away into sleep made me quickly follow. I had no idea what the next morning would bring for us, but Nova was right; everything would work itself out.
That was the thought that whispered through my mind when I finally awoke to find that the spot next to me was empty. I immediately regretted Nova’s absence. I tipped my head and studied the way the blanket still lay indented where she had lain on it. I ran my hand across it, hoping to capture the last shreds of warmth from her body, then paused and stared at my palm.
I could see. It wasn’t perfect. Strange black shards still distorted my vision, but I could make out my fingers and the blue of the blanket beyond them. I closed and opened my hand, grateful to see something so mundane and normal again.
I pushed up from the bed, showering quickly, and pulled on a clean set of clothes. It felt nice to wear a SevenWolf uniform once more. Nova’s father had good taste. The black and gray uniforms were an older style but fit comfortably and didn’t impede my movements.
I kept a hand on the wall and walked slowly to the door. My vision sputtered like a flame threatening to die out, but it held so that when I put my hand to the panel beside the door and it opened, the wash of light from the hallway stopped me short. How could I have missed the sight of light so quickly?
I put a hand out to it, feeling like a beggar who has been handed food after starving for so long. I had only been without light for a day, maybe a bit longer. It was hard to keep track of time without sight. How long had I slept? Had they gone back to the moon without me? Maybe everyone was in trouble!
I kept a hand on the wall to steady me and hurried toward the bridge. I was halfway there when voices made me turn. My dim gaze took in the rectangular door that led to the cafeteria. Nova’s voice mingled with those inside and relief filled me. At least she hadn’t left yet. Maybe I could talk them into letting me go alone.
Just point you in the right direction?
And make sure you have the pointy end of the sword facing out.
I rolled my eyes at my inner dialogue and stepped into the cafeteria.
The voices immediately stopped.
“Kove, how are you feeling?” Nova asked immediately.
I saw her rise as a dark blur.
“Don’t get up,” I told her.
I made my way over to them and sat down.
Redden gave a small chuckle. “I guess that means you can see?”
“Somewhat,” I replied. “Things are still in shadows, but better than yesterday.”
“I’d hope so,” McKy said. “You were running into walls yesterday. We definitely don’t need that back on the moon.”
“I’m going back alone,” I told them firmly.
“No, you’re not,” Nova said. “We’re all going as a team.”
“I think we should let him go,” McKy said.
“We’re all going,” Farlon replied.
“I don’t want anyone else involved. Anaya’s dangerous,” I told them.
“What gave you that idea?” McKy asked dryly. “Was it the torture or her welcoming action of throwing you into a dungeon?”
I gripped the table to keep from lunging over it at him.
Nova set a hand on my arm.
“Everyone calm down. Farlon has a plan. We should hear him out,” she said.
Another dark shape reached the table. I recognized her petite shape and the enormous tumble of bright yellow hair that cut through my stilted vision like a sunbeam. “Food for our resident gladiator,” Guinea announced as she slid a plate in front of me.
“Thank you,” I told her gratefully.
“Ex-gladiator,” McKy muttered.
Nova’s soft touch kept me from reacting. The thought that she had spent the night in my bed calmed my soul, along with the satisfying thought that if McKy guessed even a little bit of what we felt for each other, he would probably throw himself off the starship.
Maybe you should tell him.
I fought back a smile and managed to scoop up a few lumps of something from my plate. I took a bite of it and chewed, not entirely certain of what I was eating, but just glad it would calm my ravenous stomach.
“Now for the plan,” Farlon said. He leaned forward, his shadow shifting through my vision. “I was able to locate better blueprints of the base and found us a way in. There’s going to be climbing. It’s probably good you can see at least a little bit, Captain, because this is going to be dangerous.”
Chapter Eight
NOVA
Dangerous was an understatement. Nova jammed her fingers into another crevice and hauled herself up behind Redden. The Quarians were having better luck scaling the craggy wall; she should have known that four arms had an advantage ove
r two when clearing the side of a moon-based headquarters.
Nova glanced down to where Kovak was following a few feet below her. For all his optimism, his eyesight had definitely made climbing in the dark difficult. She didn’t know how bad it was, but after he missed two handholds, she made sure he saw where her feet were planted before she moved up. They had progressed quicker this way.
She couldn’t ignore the worry that nagged at her thoughts. The mission was clear. Kovak had been ordered to kill his sister in order to remove the price on his head from setting foot in the House. Though the Smiren didn’t give any outward sign of being bothered by the order besides his first initial surprise, they all knew what was coming. The only thing he had asked of the team was to let him carry out the deed when it came down to it. Everyone, even her brother, had agreed without argument.
As Nova moved up to the next hold, her thoughts turned to that strange relationship. McKy’s view of Kovak had definitely taken a turn for the worst. She couldn’t explain it. The gladiator had nearly died taking McKy’s place on Akrul, yet McKy was becoming more insolent to the Smiren by the minute. Her brother was no lightweight when it came to battle. She was afraid that if they fought, she would be patching holes in both of them.
Redden held out two hands. Nova reached up. The Quarian pulled her onto the roof of the base. Nova heard someone whisper a curse and turned to see Kovak’s grip slip from its precarious handhold.
“Gotcha,” Redden said.
He leaned down and caught the gladiator by the wrist. A scramble later brought them both onto their backs on the roof.
“That was a close one,” Kovak said, his chest heaving. “Thanks.”
“I owed you one,” Redden replied, breathing hard.
“Too bad,” McKy said.
Before Nova could say anything, Kovak pushed up to his feet and glared at her brother. “What is your problem?”
“Guys, now isn’t the time,” Farlon said in a loud whisper from the chained doors in the middle of the roof.
“My problem?” McKy shot back. “What’s your problem?”
Kovak shook his head. “I don’t have a problem. You’re the one who’s been acting like you have a kixon in your pants ever since we left the Dark Universe. What’s your deal?”
“Um, do we have to talk about this now?” Redden asked. “It’s not exactly great timing for some male bonding.”
McKy ignored the Quarian and approached Kovak. “What’s my deal?” His hands clenched into fists. “The next time I saw Nova after that was when she had been shot because of you! How am I supposed to feel? And not only that, you’re stealing her heart when she should be saving it for a Lord who can strengthen our star system like she promised our father she would! Do you really think I would rather her marry some blood-thirsty brute over a Lord who could provide the comfort and safety she deserves?”
Nova’s heart tightened as though it was gripped by a big, angry fist. She felt like she couldn’t breathe. She barely felt Redden’s hand when he set it on her shoulder. She couldn’t think of anything to say. Her brother’s words had taken the very breath from her. If she was the swooning type, she would be lying on the roof in a fit of vapors right then instead of dealing with her brother’s harsh words. Perhaps swooning had its advantages after all.
Kovak opened his mouth, then closed it again. He shook his head and glanced at Nova. The anguish in his gaze struck right to her core. She didn’t know what he wanted her to say; either way, the words wouldn’t come to her.
Farlon cleared his throat. She glanced at him and saw the chain dangling from the door handle.
“Let’s go,” he said firmly. “There will be plenty of time to deal with your problems later. Right now, I feel like finishing the mission and finding a way to stop the Godking are priority. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” Redden replied immediately.
“Agreed,” Kovak said softly.
McKy looked at Nova with an apologetic expression. “Nova, I—”
She shook her head, cutting him off. “Not right now.” She walked to Farlon. “Let’s move.”
He pushed the door open and led the way inside. The gun Nova carried felt hot in her hand. She wanted to shoot something. It wasn’t the healthiest impulse, she knew, but her anger at McKy’s words refused to dissipate even as they walked silently through the halls of Malivok’s base.
Farlon held up a hand and everyone stopped. All four of his hands held guns. Given the Quarian’s grim expression when he looked back at them, whatever he saw in the next hall wasn’t good.
“I think they’re waiting for us,” he said.
“Then let’s give them what they’re waiting for,” Kovak replied.
To Nova’s shock, the gladiator pushed past them and walked right around the corner without hesitation. Shouts of surprise were followed by those of pain and terror. The Quarians crowded forward, blocking her from the view. By the time they realized she was trying to get past them, all that was left was carnage.
Kovak stood at the far end of the hall with a knife in each hand. She hadn’t heard a single gunshot. The soldiers that littered the floor around the gladiator hadn’t even had a chance to fire back.
“I take back what I said,” McKy whispered in a tone laced with fear.
“Grow up,” Redden growled. He pushed past the Cadonian and stalked through the bodies to Kovak. Disapproval was clear in his gaze when he told the gladiator, “You couldn’t have saved us some?”
“You should have stayed on the ship,” Kovak replied in a flat voice. “I’ve got this.”
The Quarian tossed something at the gladiator. The gun clip hit Kovak in the face.
“What in Vexus!” Kovak swore.
Redden scooped the clip up off the floor. “If that was a knife, you’d be dead. But you’ve got this.”
Kovak didn’t answer, but his menacing glare was enough to keep Nova silent.
“Let’s move before they wonder why their battalion is sleeping on the job,” Farlon suggested levelly.
“Good idea,” McKy said.
Nova heard the hesitation in her brother’s voice. Normally she would have taken pleasure in the fact that Kovak’s actions had cut him down a notch, but she wasn’t so sure she didn’t feel the same way. When the Smiren shut down from the ‘Verse and turned into an angry killing machine, Nova didn’t recognize him. Any sign of the tender, vulnerable man she had fallen asleep beside the night before was completely gone. It unsettled her more than she wanted to let on.
The gladiator led the way down the stairs.
“According to the blueprints, we’re in the emergency stairwell. The Sergeant’s quarters are two floors down and to the left,” Farlon said from behind him. “Hopefully we’re catching everyone asleep. I think that last patrol was a fluke or else we’d be meeting some very hostile resistance right about now. They definitely didn’t get time to send out a warning, right Captain?”
“I’m not a captain,” Kovak growled without looking back.
Redden and Farlon exchanged a loaded glance. The two brothers slowed so that Kovak went down before them. The gladiator reached the next door and paused.
“It’s locked,” he said shortly.
“I’ve got this,” Redden replied.
He pulled a card from his pocket and slid it through the reader. The door beeped and opened.
“Pulled from the pocket of one of your benefactors back there,” the Quarian said lightly.
Kovak didn’t reply. He pushed through the door and turned down the next flight of stairs.
Farlon followed, but Redden stayed behind. When McKy moved to go past him, the Quarian grabbed him by the lapels of his uniform and pushed him up against the wall.
“Maybe the next time you decide to berate the man who’s trying to save the Accords to which he owes no allegiance, you do it at a time when his focus isn’t possibly the line between life and death for all of us. What do you think?”
McKy shoved the Quarian’s ha
nds away and walked past him. Nova and Redden started down the stairs after the group.
“Redden, is he going to be alright?” she made herself ask.
“McKy? He seems like the resourceful type.”
She sighed because she knew the Quarian knew exactly who she was talking about.
“Redden.”
He paused and glanced back at her. “Probably not,” he replied. “But we have bigger things to worry about right now like whether or not he can kill his own sister. Truth be told, at this moment we’re not giving him an awful lot of reasons to stay on our side.”
Nova’s heart slowed at the thought that the Quarian was right. Why would Kovak put aside the only family he has, the sister he has been searching for his entire life, to save the Accord Systems who would rather see him dead?
Lord Talius certainly hadn’t hesitated to send him on the most dangerous mission they could come up with. And why? To see the Smiren slain so they wouldn’t have to deal with the gladiator themselves? He challenged everything they stood for, a pedigree-less battle-hardened warrior who had put them into the uncomfortable situation of allowing him into their House or shooting him in the head. While Lord Talius hadn’t appeared the least bit hesitant about carrying out the latter, Nova knew Kovak saving their lives had been the only thing to save his own.
What if Kovak joined his sister? What had they talked about during his torture sessions? Redden had been there for the last one, but she had no idea what had happened during the one before. All she knew is that this Anaya seemed perfectly willing to torture her own brother to the verge of death. After what she had seen of Smirens, should she have expected more? Kove’s current attitude didn’t give her much hope. Maybe Malivok offered a way of life that was more in keeping with the gladiator’s.
Were they following him to their own deaths?
She hated the doubt that crowded into her head. If he was going to turn on them, he wouldn’t be killing all the guards. Of course, that may just be him displacing his anger toward McKy.
Nova watched his back with uncertainty. Surely there was no way the gladiator would betray them. He loved her. He had said she had captured his heart fully and irreversible. But was that the man who tore through guards without a second thought and wore the blood that stained his uniform like it was nothing? The thought sent a shudder down her spine. Did she really know Kove at all?
