We tramp out of the room behind the man. The two aliens fall back to talk with Rylan. Logan’s aloof posture matches his expression. My hands hang loose at my sides, abnormally bereft. I’m fuming too, but one of us has to at least attempt to act maturely. “We need to park the issue with Haydn and go in there as a team. We don’t know what kind of reaction we’re facing, and we can’t show any hint of discord. They know I’m your Eterno. You need to at least look like you care.”
He stops abruptly, pulling me aside. “Of course, I care. My feelings haven’t changed. I’m sorry for what I said back there about my father. That’s not your fault, nor is this situation with Haydn. It’s been … a rough day.” A shard of pain treks across his face, and I’m instantly contrite, remembering the loss he’s only just suffered. I know what it feels like to lose a dad, and he hasn’t had any time to come to terms with it yet. My expression softens, and I rub my hands up and down his arms.
“I’m just shocked … and angry and hurt, as well.” I give him a knowing look. “Yeah, okay, I’m jealous too, and scared. I’ve lost everyone.” His voice is unnaturally quiet. “I don’t want to lose you.” His fingers tangle in my hair as Rylan and the two aliens walk by pretending not to notice. “I know he’s been there for you when I wasn’t, and I know you’re close. I was already resenting him for that, and now this … it’s as if Haydn regrets our friendship.”
“He’s floundering, Logan. Questioning everything about the choices he’s made. But I very much doubt he regrets your friendship. You won’t lose him, just like you won’t lose me. I’m yours. Always only yours. But I won’t treat Haydn callously. I care deeply about him, and he’s hurting. He needs me as his friend.”
A sad smile covers his lips. “That’s very noble, Sadie, but you can’t just be his friend. Not when he clearly wants more than that.”
The assistant commissioner opens the door at the end of the corridor, head bobbing in our direction. I step away, gripping Logan’s hand. “We’ll talk about it later.”
The crowd quiets reverentially the instant Logan and I step into the room. Peering up at the slanted rows of seats, I instantly recognize the place. It’s the same auditorium where Commissioner Williams delivered his despicable presentation the day Jarod and I were here. We walk hand in hand up the steps to the raised dais. I stand beside Logan as he stops in front of the podium. He begins speaking in his native tongue, his confident voice resonating clearly around the theater. No one makes a sound.
Though I can’t translate, I know he’s telling them the truth about the nature of our relationship, that neither I nor the president had anything to do with the death of his father, outlining the threat the Amaretti pose to Earth and Saven, and listing our theories regarding the conscience transfer and what we believe is the real trigger. Murmurs rise from the audience, and shell-shocked expressions are swapped around the room.
Neve comes forward, addressing some direct questions from the audience. When she steps back beside Alex, her cheeks are flushed in what’s obviously becoming her new signature look. More questions are thrown out by the audience, and Logan calmly responds to each one. Every so often, he looks at me or gestures toward me, and I wish I’d thought to ask Dali for one of those translation earpieces. It’d come in mighty handy now. A gentle vibrating at my wrist claims my attention. Glancing at my comport, I notice the incoming call from Vin. I’ve no choice but to ignore the continuous buzzing.
After another few questions, the meeting disbands, and people start trickling out of the room. The two alien males from earlier step onto the dais with a couple in tow. The girl has striking red hair that reminds me of Jenna. The usual pang hits me full throttle. Quick introductions are made. Emmeline smiles politely, her pale, translucent skin staining a pastel shade of pink. Her alien mate, Ian, keeps a possessive hold on her waist. They lock eyes a lot, intense concentration evident between them. For my benefit, they converse in English.
“Tell the crown prince what you told us,” Rylan says to Ian.
“Emmeline and I were matched when she first arrived here five months ago. It was pretty much love at first sight,” he says, beaming at her. “I didn’t want to sleep with her because I knew what would happen, so I delayed it as long as I could. When Commissioner Williams brought in the Brainiac to examine our bond, there was nothing I could do to stall it any longer.”
“Wait, what?” I interrupt him. “I thought the Brainiacs assessed strength of will?”
“I didn’t know they’d brought Brainiacs to Earth,” Logan adds, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. I stifle a groan. He’s probably going to bust my balls over not sharing that tidbit of info.
“They are all here,” he tells Logan. Focusing on me, he says, “They can identify other strengths too, like the depth of the emotional bond that exists between two individuals. B5 took one look at us and determined that the bond was very strong.”
“We slept together five weeks ago,” he confirms. Emmeline squirms uncomfortably, and I slant an understanding look her way. “And Emme hasn’t lost her free will, though I’ve gained a conscience. And more than that, she’s gleaned some of my telepathic abilities. We’ve had to fake our reactions in front of the authorities so they didn’t suspect anything. She was due to be dispatched to one of the underwater colonies in two days. We can’t thank you enough for stopping it.”
“They are able to converse telepathically too.”
“I thought as much. This is the verification we needed, Sadie. There is another way.” Our mutual grins are fueled by a much-needed shot of hope.
“Will you stand with us against the Amaretti? Help us to defend Earth?” Logan asks.
“I will follow you to the ends of the universe, Crown Prince,” he says sincerely, doing the whole weird alien bowing thing. “And I’m not the only one. You are our crown prince, not your brother. You can count on the Saven here to support you.”
Logan plants a hand on his shoulder. “Your support is much appreciated. Thank you.”
“And we aren’t the exception either,” he supplies, smiling at Emmeline. “There are hundreds of couples this has happened to. Many not as fortunate as us.” His smile wavers.
“How many have been transferred underwater?” I ask, dreading the response.
“Thousands, Mistress.”
I manage to disguise my choking laugh as a cough. “Mistress?”
Logan is less successful, emitting a low chuckle. “It’s the official term given to a female who is the Eterno intended of a member of royalty.”
“I feel smutty and old.”
Now he’s having a hard time containing himself, his lips twitching irrepressibly. A steady line has formed behind the couple, as several Saven wait patiently to speak with their prince.
I leave him to it, sneaking off to the side to contact Vin. “Where are you?” he asks the minute we connect. No semblance of normal greeting is offered.
“In Sector Twenty. W—”
“Get out! Get out of there now,” he shrieks with transparent urgency. “My father is on his way with a big enough army to destroy the place.”
“Stars! Why? The president has already ceased experiments here. Can’t you call him off?” Logan darts a glance at me, an unspoken question lying unanswered between us.
“He went absolutely crazy after Dante’s speech. He’s completely flipped. Not only will he not entertain the notion of an alliance with Logan, he wants to destroy all the Saven on Earth. He’ll be there any minute. Get the hell out, right now.”
I cut the call and dash to Logan’s side. “The rebels are en route. We need to evacuate everyone ASAP.”
“I’ll speak to the president.” He starts furiously tapping his comport. “See what help he can send us.”
“Do it, but we don’t have much time. Hurry back. Perhaps the military can hold off the rebels from the air while we—”
Muted rumbling sounds outside distract me. Crap. They are here already. A rattling, crunching noise pierces m
y eardrums as the entire building shakes, the floor shuddering under my feet. Dust and debris float through the air as people start to run up the stairs. The assistant commissioner runs into the room, sweat pumping profusely on his brow, breathing labored. “We’re surrounded,” he pants. “And rebel soldiers have swarmed the town and the residential quarters, opening fire at will. Our scanners have picked up several aircraft heading our way. They’re going to blow us to bits!” He’s borderline hysterical.
“Go!” I urge Logan. “Tell the president we need pilots in the air ASAP.” He vanishes and I turn my attention to the assistant commissioner. I have an idea. “Are there any basement facilities we can direct people to?”
“Yes, we have several storage areas at basement level.”
A blaring alarm rings out throughout the facility as more tremors rock the building.
“Good. Order the guards to start moving everyone there. I’ll need access to your communication system.”
“Of course. I’ll show you to the control room.”
Fern, Rylan, Neve, Alex, and I trail him out into the corridor. Logan appears alongside me a couple of minutes later, matching my stride. “The president is instructing the military, and he’s sending some ground units. What are you thinking?”
We keep pace with the others as I fill him in. “We have minimal time for evacuation, so I figure our only option is to get everyone to pair up and teleport. We’re on our way to the control room. We can use the compound communication system to instruct everyone. You can speak to the Saven, and I’ll convince the humans. Tell your people to teleport their preferred earthen to their home sector and to stay put there until they receive further communication. Everyone will be diverted to the basement in the meantime, and those without an alien mate or a preferred earthen will meet there so we can ensure every person has a way of getting out.”
“Smart thinking.” His tone and look is respectful as we round the bend, joining throngs of panicked humans and aliens surging toward the stairwell. “We should also look for volunteers to help fight the rebels in the residential sectors. We need to rescue those people too.” The lights flicker as a massive vibration jolts the structure, sending powerful tremors filtering through the walls and floors. Terror-stricken screams fill the room as people stumble to the ground, tripping over one another. The assistant commissioner is lost somewhere in the melee. Gunfire breaks out behind us, and the screaming accelerates to ear-shattering proportions. People are running in all directions now, in a blind panic. If we don’t get this under control, everyone will perish.
I stop a passing guard. “Help us. We need to get to the control room.”
He looks from me to Logan and back again. Mumbling to himself, he reluctantly agrees. “I’ll take you.”
“Tell as many as you can to teleport their preferred earthens to their home sectors,” Logan directs Neve.
“Clear the stairwell and get to the basement,” I advise Fern and Rylan “We’ll meet you there as soon as we can. See if you can gather a group of Saven volunteers to come to the residential quarters with us.”
Logan starts tugging me forward as the guard maneuvers through the swarming crowd with skill. We stick close to his side. Stepping into a vacant corridor, he starts running, and we follow suit, chasing him down successive passageways, passing frightened humans and aliens running in the opposite direction. Logan barks instructions at each and every one of them, telling them to teleport out of here. Massive chunks of plaster and debris crash into the corridor as we run. Large holes open in the ceiling admitting more than just the chilly night air. Shouts and screams mix with the booming noise of cannons and the ear-shrilling zing of gunfire. Big sections of the wall implode, sending mists of drying dust in all directions, coating our skin and our clothes. My lungs burn in protest.
When we reach the near-empty control room, the guard takes off with a half-assed apology, leaving us to explain the situation to the supervisor. Once informed, she immediately hooks us up to the communication system. “Get your team to the basement. Go, now!” I practically shove her out of the room. Logan’s dulcet tone streams throughout the building as he commands the Saven. I’m up next, and I implore the stars to teleport with their alien mate, advising those who are alone to move to the basement without delay.
We teleport to the basement and emerge into pandemonium. Visibility is limited and the darkness amplifies the terror. Harried voices cry out in fear. More people swarm into the room, the sound of distant gunfire growing alarmingly close. If the rebels are already in the building, they know where we are. Time is of the essence. The entire complex continues to oscillate under the mounting attack.
I whip around, jumping up on a table behind me. I project my voice, shouting as loud as my vocal cords permit, demanding attention. Logan issues an appeal for silence and gradually the room quiets down. “Listen up,” I address the room, “the rebel soldiers will be here imminently. We need you to pair up. One human to one Saven. Teleport to your home sector and stay there until you receive a further communication from Prince Logan. Go now.” Arms wrap around arms, and couples vanish as the room rapidly clears. My body sags in relief.
Logan speaks to our friends and a group of Saven males. “We need to check out the rest of the compound. I’m hoping that other Saven have had the good sense to teleport away, but there could be many humans trapped alone in their apartments with no way out. Split up into teams of two or three and take a block each. Do what you can. If it gets too dangerous, teleport out of there.” He faces our friends. “Don’t put yourselves in danger. If it’s not safe, leave immediately. We’ll all reconvene in Sadie’s apartment.”
Everyone separates as a gigantic explosion rocks the building. Logan teleports us outside, and we watch from a hidden elevated position as the entire structure disintegrates into a billowing puff of smoke shooting high into the sky. Whoops and hollers meet my ears from the gathered group of heavily armed rebels on the ground. I hang my head in shame.
Wordlessly, Logan gets us out of there. Landing in the middle of the apartment district is no better. Heaped mountains of rubble and raging fires greet us. Ballooning black smoke blends into the smoldering nighttime sky. Not a single building remains intact. Everything has been razed to the ground. The smell of burning is sickening, and I gag. Logan connects telepathically with Rylan and Neve. His horrified look says it all as he hangs his head. I glance up as a gentle whirring sensation distorts the bleak skyline. The president’s pilots are too late.
There is nothing or no one left to salvage.
I gape, slack-jawed, as rebel aircraft begin firing at the government fleet in the skies above us. Fireballs shoot through the air, as the attack turns airborne. Logan wastes no time in getting us the hell out of there.
The mood is somber back in my apartment, events weighing heavy on everyone’s minds. Though most people escaped the main building, we don’t know how many lives were claimed in the city center and residential quarters. Talking is minimal as the enormity of the loss registers. I can’t believe the rebels are attacking when they know we are on the verge of a hostile alien invasion. We should be working together, not tearing each other apart.
Despite the terrors on a continual loop in my brain, I’m struggling to keep my eyes open as exhaustion comes a-calling.
I guess I fall asleep, because I wake up the next morning alone in my bed. The space beside me is frigidly cold. Yawning, I crawl out from under the comforter and make my way to the living area. Logan is fast asleep on the couch, snoring gently, a blanket draped over him.
Something moves in the kitchen, and my heart rate skyrockets. “I heard what happened,” Haydn says quietly behind me. “I should’ve been there.” He hands me a cappuccino, his fingers brushing briefly against mine.
I turn and face him. “I know. Thanks.” I gesture toward the coffee.
An uncomfortable silence settles between us, and I shuffle on my feet.
“Sit down,” he says, “I’ll make y
ou some breakfast.”
I sit down on a stool, suddenly conscious that I’m wearing Logan’s shirt, which only stretches to mid-thigh. He must have dressed me for bed last night. Haydn is quiet as he fixes breakfast. Chewing anxiously on my lip, I look around. Logan remains dead to the world. “About what you said …”
“I meant it.” The words shoot out without hesitation. He is facing away from me as he whisks eggs in a bowl.
Summoning my courage, I slide off the stool and walk to his side. “Haydn,” I say softly, willing him to look at me. “You mean the world to me, but I’m not in love with you. I can love you as a friend, but no more. I love Logan and my future is with him.” He stirs eggs in the pan, deliberately not looking at me. A muscle flickers in his jaw. “I’m sorry.”
His head tugs up. “Don’t apologize. I know you love him. But I want you to know you have options too.”
“I don’t need other options.”
“Funny,” he says, peering honestly into my eyes. “I used to think like that.”
“It’s not the same thing.”
“Sadie.” He puts the spoon down, placing his hands on my shoulders. His eyes glisten with strong emotion. “You have no idea what your life is going to be like. Logan’s life isn’t his own. He is bound by duty and loyalty to his people, and you will always take second place. Not intentionally, because I know how much he loves you. But he can’t give you what you deserve. He will always choose his duty over you, as he did when his father placed those demands on him. I would never do that. If you were mine, you would always take precedence above everything else.”
I shove his hands away, growing angrier with every word he utters. “How can you be so dismissive? I can’t believe you would do this to him. You’re supposed to be his friend! And where is your loyalty after all the years you served him? How can you so easily turn your back on your duty?”
Saven Disclosure (The Saven Series Book 2) Page 29
