by J. M. Page
“Hunter,” she said, a warning in her tone, her eyes narrowing. “What did you do?”
“I… I recorded you and sent out a broadcast,” he said in a rush, all the words running together as one.
“Wait… you did what?”
He shrugged, not meeting her eyes. “I thought it would help the cause. Let people know you’re really here, you’re really fighting for them…”
“Yeah, except the Queen will have to know that someone recorded me. She’s going to detonate your chip!”
“Not until I bring you to her. As long as we’re out in space and I’m the only one that knows where you are, I’m safe. She won’t risk cutting off her only link to you.”
“That was really reckless,” Snow said, her voice softer, the image of Hunter still and stiff too easy to imagine. She swallowed. “I don’t want anyone else to die for me, Hunter.”
His head hung below his shoulders, his body folded forward with his elbows on his knees. He lifted his eyes to meet hers. “There are worse causes to die for, Princess.”
And Snow knew, without a doubt, that he meant every word he said. She couldn’t stand the thought of it. Couldn’t believe that he’d put himself at risk like that. Finally, she sighed.
“Well, for what it’s worth, Beaver said that it’s been well-received. That people everywhere are hopeful again.”
Hunter grinned then, and Snow’s heart started galloping. “So…” he prodded, his voice taking on a sing-song lilt.
She sighed. “So, thank you,” she said, trying to hold in a bubble of laughter. “But maybe next time, leave the suicidal plans to me?”
He shook his head. “Not a chance, Princess. Not a chance.”
Chapter Twenty
Hunter
Hours later, they crossed the border into the Aalyrah district. “Alright, Snow, where to from here?”
She frowned, flipping through her notes. “There are three good candidates, I think. A pair of stars here,” she pointed on the map, “and then two sets of twin planets, here, and… here,” she added.
“Alright, so let’s try to narrow it down. There’s a lot of distance between those. What does ‘not the jealous one’ mean?”
Her brow pushed down and Hunter wanted to kiss away her wrinkles. But he didn’t. He kept his distance and let her think. The communicator in his pocket seemed to be burning a hole through his pants, charring his skin. It was all in his head. He couldn’t stop the words from replaying in his head over and over again like a mantra. Bring her to me NOW.
There was still a chance to save his skin maybe. If he did exactly what the Queen wanted. But they were in this too deep now. He’d come too far to give up. He refused to believe all of this effort had been a waste. He refused to doubt Snow, even as she struggled with this riddle.
The more time that passed between the Queen’s order and his delivery of Snow, the worse it would be for him. And though he’d sounded confident when he told Snow he was safe as long as he was the only one that knew where she was, he knew it wasn’t a guarantee. The Queen was not a patient woman and if he kept ignoring her and didn’t turn up… he’d be dead before long, he had no doubt.
He’d need to call her back soon. Try to smooth this all over the best he could. But the thought of even talking to her again turned his stomach.
“It could mean a couple of things I guess,” she said. “It could be that one twin is bigger than the other, so the ‘jealous’ one is the smaller one. It could be that there’s a rivalry between the two planets, maybe one has more natural resources than the other?”
He nodded along, nothing to offer her. He was useless in this situation. “How about I look through one while you look through another?” If she told him what to look for, he could manage that much.
“Sure,” she said, flashing a set of coordinates on his screen. “Actually… Wait.” She zoomed in on the rendering of a pair of small planets. Neither was larger than the other, orbiting each other in a synchronized dance.
“What is it?”
“I’m not sure… let me…” She pulled up information about the planets, skimming through it faster than Hunter’s eyes could focus.
“Ha!” she shouted, triumphantly pointing at the screen. “This is it, I’m sure of it.”
Hunter craned his neck to look over at her screen where the two swirling planets were locked in their ballet. One, a cloudy fuchsia, the other verdant and green.
“Not the jealous one,” she said, grinning. “Every heard of ‘green with envy’? It’s this one,” she said, tapping the fuchsia planet. “‘The center of it all,’” she continued, “would be the capital, I’m betting. And, at the center of the capital,” she zoomed way in on the surface of the planet until the screen centered on a huge building with marble columns, manicured lawns, and statues scattered about the grounds, “is ‘a place of heroes and monsters.’”
Hunter raised a skeptical brow at her. “Your father hid this device in a library?”
She just beamed at him. “Of course he did. My mother loved books, don’t you remember the cottage? She preferred real books, made of paper. They’re not all that common any more. They’re heavy and expensive to produce and ship. Electronic is practically free and instant.”
He nodded. “Okay, so we’re going to the library?”
“I think it’s our best shot. I’m still not sure what the rest of it means, but maybe it’ll make more sense once we’re there.”
Hunter typed in the coordinates and sat back, marveling at the way her brain worked. He’d never have been able to put all that together.
“That’s an awfully big city, Snow,” he said, imagining her being recognized by people — or worse, the Guard. They’d all be looking out for her now, thanks to his little video stunt. Maybe that hadn’t been the best idea after all.
“I’ll wear the shawl,” she said. “It’ll cover my face and keep me disguised, don’t you think?”
“Yeah. That should work.” Still, there was something about the plan that made him uneasy. Walking into a city of that size, it should be easy to blend in. To be just another person in the sea of faces. And he could tell by Snow’s wide grin that she wouldn’t be dissuaded from the journey. Whatever it was that made him nervous would just have to be pushed aside and shoved down. There was no room for doubts.
Givva, the purple twin to Latau, had a port rivaling any other in the Empire. Givva City was a sprawling metropolis, practically swallowing all the land available on the tiny planet. But with a city that size, came more complications. Like security.
Before they were permitted to land, the ground called up to them. “This is Givva station delta, state your business,” the harsh female voice barked through the computer.
Snow’s eyes went wide. This was a first for her probably. But Hunter had encountered this more than his fair share of times while hunting for the Queen.
“Personal travel,” he said clearly, squeezing Snow’s hand.
“Duration of stay?”
“Only one day.”
“Have your chips ready for inspection,” the voice said, granting their ship access to the floating port that hovered miles above the city.
“Hunter,” Snow said, her voice soft and wary as her eyes flicked to the computer.
“They’re not listening anymore,” he assured her.
“I don’t have a chip,” she said. “They’re not going to let me go anywhere. And then they’re going to wonder why I don’t have it. That’s treason. They’re going to ship me straight off to the Queen before I even have a chance to find the device!”
One corner of his mouth curled down, his brows pushed together. “Do you really think I’d let any of that happen to you? This isn’t my first rodeo, Princess,” he said, getting up, heading to the back of the ship and rummaging in a drawer.
“Here,” he said, blowing dust off the tiny device. “We’ll clip this to the inside of your sleeve and when they scan, it’ll give you the all clear.”
<
br /> He rolled up her sleeve, skimming his fingertips up her arm as he went. She shivered under his touch, goosebumps marching up her arm following his path.
“What about you? Don’t you need one?”
“I have a chip, remember?” The fake was the only one he had. He used it because having a chip in his heart made him… odd. But without it, they’d have to move fast. The Queen would know where they were. Even if she had an alert set up on his chip, it would take a while for the message to get back to her. Though Hunter wasn’t placing any bets that she’d let it go unnoticed. He was sure she’d send the Guard after them as soon as she could. He needed to beat her to the punch. Tell her to hold off just a little longer.
He needed a minute alone.
Once the ship docked, there was a quick rap at the door. “Customs and Immigration!” he shouted.
Snow wrapped the shawl around her head and pulled it up over her face, giving him a nod.
“Chips, please,” the pudgy older man demanded, his voice bored and uninteresting. Snow thrusted her arm toward him and he swept the scanner over her arm. It beeped once and the man nodded, turning to Hunter.
“Chip,” he said, annoyed that Hunter wasn’t extending his arm. Hunter thumped his chest.
“Up here,” he said, swallowing, his palms clammy.
The customs agent lifted his brows, suddenly less bored with his job. “Really?” He waved the scanner over Hunter’s chest and it beeped again. “I’ll be damned. How’d you manage that?”
“Long story. Are we good?”
The guy studied the scanner’s output with a furrowed brow. “Huh? Yeah, yeah,” he muttered, seeing himself out.
“That was… easier than expected,” Snow said with a contented sigh.
“Yeah,” Hunter agreed. “Why don’t you go ahead? I need to secure some things here first.”
“I can wait.”
“No need. Just go,” he said, coming off harsher than he intended.
He couldn’t tell under the shawl, but he imagined Snow frowning. Her eyes narrowed, almost like she could see right through him, but finally she nodded. “Okay, I’ll just be outside then.”
Once Snow was off the ship and the door was securely closed behind her, Hunter braced himself for the call he’d have to make.
The communicator connected immediately.
“Hunter,” the Queen said, her voice harsh, none of that fake giggling or simpering smiles to greet him now. She was ready for blood.
“My Queen,” he answered, bowing his head, his eyes locked with hers.
“What news have you?” she barked, skipping the pleasantries.
He swallowed. He’d need to tread carefully here. Give her enough that it seemed he was still on her side, but not enough to actually compromise what they were doing. “It seems the King left his daughter something. I’m not sure what, but he suggested it would have the power to destroy you.”
“Not likely,” she said, her eyes narrowing.
“I agree,” he said, the words foul and slimy as they exited his mouth. “Though I thought it prudent to intercept whatever it is and bring it to you, lest it fall into the wrong hands.”
“The girl is my biggest concern. I want her brought to me.”
He dipped his head. “Of course, Your Majesty. Though she has already told the resistance about this item. I’m sure they will seek it out in her absence.”
The Queen’s eyes blazed and the muscles of her jaw twitched with barely controlled rage. “I hope you’re not trying to deceive me somehow, Hunter. Despite what you may think, you are replaceable and I will find someone to bring her to me.”
“Of course, Your Majesty,” he said, working to keep his expression neutral despite his racing heart. “I would never be foolish enough to doubt your resources and guile. I only wish to end this once and for all.” At least that part was true.
“I don’t appreciate being ignored.”
He nodded. “My apologies. I have to keep up the ruse or things might get… tricky.”
She wasn’t buying it. “You’re a smart boy, Hunter. Don’t let this girl ruin everything you’ve worked so hard for. Your father is eager to be reunited with his son.”
His chest tightened, his blood all but boiling. Did she really expect unfailing loyalty when all she provided was threats and fear? His reward for a job well done was only his life, something that wouldn’t be in jeopardy without her anyway.
“As I am eager to be reunited with him,” Hunter said, his voice level.
“I expect the girl and the object here within two days. If you cannot manage that, I don’t think I have any use for you.”
“Yes, My Queen,” he managed through clenched teeth. He just hoped this device could really do what Doc said. Maybe they’d have a chance. It was seeming less likely.
She didn’t reply and the call went dead, leaving Hunter alone in the ship with his mind racing.
How was he going to get out of this?
Better yet, was he going to get out of this?
Chapter Twenty-One
Snow
Hunter was acting strange. There was no doubt about it. But what did it mean? Was he having second thoughts? Or was he still playing both sides?
Did he ever mean what he’d said to her, or was he just trying to earn her trust to betray her later down the road?
Snow hated that she couldn’t stop thinking things like that. She wanted to believe in him, in them, but when he wouldn’t talk to her it made things difficult. She was brought up to question everything, everyone, and every motive. She couldn’t just turn that off because her heart skipped a beat when he smiled.
And after the talk with Beaver, there was no chance she could fully trust him, either. Though she had a feeling that they would need his help before this was all said and done.
Was there anyone she could fully trust? She wasn’t even sure she could trust herself. Every time she thought she had something figured out, she was wrong.
Footsteps rang out on the stairs behind her, but Snow didn’t turn to face him. “All set?” she asked.
“Yep. Let’s go to the library.”
She started marching toward the shuttles that would take them to the surface and into Givva City. What had changed? At some point, between falling asleep last night and this moment, their relationship had taken a turn. It was obvious that a schism was there, but beyond frustrating that she didn’t know the reason for it.
There was no use in dwelling on it in any case. He seemed determined not to let her into whatever was bothering him. If he wanted to deal with it alone, she wasn’t going to force herself into the situation.
It had been nice, for a little while, to think that they were in this together, but Hunter’s behavior now only reaffirmed that she could only rely on herself.
As they left the ship behind and ventured further into the port hub, Snow tripped over her feet, lurching forward and catching herself on the slick metal walls.
Her face was everywhere. On vidscreens, on posters, all with big block letters that said: WANTED.
Hunter cursed under his breath. Snow couldn’t say she disagreed.
Her face was plastered on one side of the split screen while the Queen’s was on the other side. She was saying something, but all Snow could hear was a swarm of hornets buzzing in her ears.
“Come on,” Hunter hissed, nudging her forward. Her feet felt stuck to the floor, like some magnetic force was keeping her from moving. “You’re going to draw attention to yourself.”
She shook her head and snapped her jaw shut, fighting to remember how to walk. One foot in front of the other. Don’t let your knees buckle. Don’t take off running. Easy now.
They exited the hall that led to their ship and entered the atrium full of images of her, clearly taken from Hunter’s ship. Was this part of the ‘message’ he’d sent out? Or something he’d gotten specifically for the Queen to use against her?
As Hunter steered her, she caught bits and pieces of
what the Queen said, though the message was at a different place on each screen.
“...says she knows the troubles you’ve faced, but where has she been?”
“...remember who fed you during famine…”
“...traitor to the Empire…”
“...wasn’t there when invaders threatened…”
She was going to be sick. Snow stumbled again, but this time Hunter caught her and shoved her toward the shuttle. “Let’s go,” he said, pushing her through the doors.
