by Kali Argent
“We’ve been here a dozen or more times over the years,” Bastian mused, “and it still never fails to amaze me when I see it again. It’s not your typical sanctuary, is it?”
“No,” Isla agreed with a smile. “That’s what makes it special, though. Sadayka has helped a lot of people, especially women.”
“Speaking of Sadayka.” Slade pointed out the window on his side of the shuttle. “I guess she’s expecting us.”
Sadayka stood on the wide, stone porch, her hand lifted in greeting. Despite the falling temperatures, she wore a simple black T-shirt that conformed to her toned body, and a pair of tattered, gray sweatpants that looked to have more holes than actual fabric. She’d cut her hair since the last time Isla had seen her, now sporting short, spiky locks that stuck out in every direction on her head. The look suited her.
“She is the strangest female,” Knox commented as the shuttle doors lifted open.
Slade laughed, ushering Cord out of the shuttle in front of him. “She definitely marches to her own beat.” Once outside on the circular driveway, he lifted Cord into his arms and tickled his belly. “You ready to meet some new people, kid?”
Cord giggled, pushing the male’s hand away, but his dark hair swished around his face when he nodded. “I’m hungry.”
“Me, too,” Knox agreed. “What do you think we should eat?”
“Water lemon,” Cord answered at once.
All three Krytos looked to Isla with puzzled expressions, which just made her laugh. Pip had downloaded various children’s vids for Cord to watch during their trip from Xenthian, and he’d had a lot of questions about things he’d never heard of before, especially food. The kid was a bottomless pit, and Isla swore that at only four, he already ate more than she did.
“It’s watermelon,” she corrected, “and I don’t know if Sadayka will have that or not. It’s a little late in the season.” When the boy frowned and tilted his head to the side, she elaborated. “It’s too cold to grow watermelon.”
It would be Christmas soon, and while the holiday had veered away from its religious origins, the people of Earth still went all out for the special day. Isla couldn’t wait to share the experience with Cord, and she’d already asked her mates if they’d help her find a tree for him to decorate. Of course, the Krytos didn’t celebrate Christmas, and they’d thought she was insane for wanting to put bobbles on a dead tree, but in the end, they’d finally relented.
“Isla, I’m so glad to see you’re well.” Sadayka pulled her into a firm embrace once Isla had reached the top of the porch steps. Her gaze went to the males behind her, and her eyes widened. “I see you’ve been busy.”
“You could say that.”
“Oh, and who is this very handsome little guy?” The smile she gave Cord transformed her entire being, softening her in a way Isla wouldn’t have thought possible. “What is your name, sweetling?”
Of course, when Isla had messaged ahead to inform the female of their arrival, she’d explain all about Cord. Still, it made her smile to see Sadayka putting forth the effort to create a connection with the boy.
“Cord.” Then, he proceeded to make the introductions. “This is Daddy. That’s Papi. There’s my mommy, and he’s Baba.”
Sadayka laughed, the sound deep and throaty. “Is that right? Well, let’s get you inside out of the cold.” She nodded her welcome to the brothers. “Will the crew be joining you?”
“Maybe later,” Slade answered as he deposited Cord into Isla’s arms. “We’re trying to keep a low profile for now.”
“I’m hungry,” Cord announced again, making everyone laugh.
“Well, we just made a whole pot of macaroni and cheese. Your mommy said that’s your favorite.”
“Yum!” The kid licked his lips and rubbed at his belly. “Yes, please, and thank you.”
Isla kissed his forehead as she carried him into the warmth of the sanctuary. “Good job, leelan. I’m very proud that you remembered.”
“Manners are im–im–im…”
“Important,” she provided, placing him on his feet inside the dining area of the sanctuary. “That’s absolutely right.”
“Come on, runt.” Bastian held his hand out, winking at Isla when Cord took it immediately. “Let’s go find the food. I’m starving.”
“Thank you,” she mouthed.
Watching them walk away, she was once again struck with how truly lucky she was. Without warning, tears sprang to her eyes, her throat tightened, and her stomach fluttered with emotion. Stars, she didn’t know what she’d do if she ever lost them, but she doubted she’d survive it.
“Is everything okay?” Slade asked so that only she could hear him. “He’ll be okay here, and one of us will always be with him.”
“I know.” She touched Slade’s forearm and smiled. “I’m okay. Just having a moment.”
“How about a drink?”
She’d never been much of a drinker—maybe a glass of wine on special occasions—but after everything that had happened, a strong drink was exactly what she needed.
The ambience of Haven was casual and inviting, the room swathed with creams, browns, and other neutral colors. Tables in various sizes, ranging from intimate two-tops, to large, circular tables able to seat up to ten patrons, were arranged around the dining area, leaving an open path to the gleaming oak bar at the back of the room. Behind the bar, a wide, curving staircase had been blocked off with a velveteen rope, but Isla knew from experience that the steps led to the living quarters of the sanctuary on the top floor.
A coatroom sat in the corner off the entrance, and the restrooms were located in a shallow alcove to the side. The door to the left of the polished bar led into the kitchens—the place where all the magic happened, and next to the coatroom, another stairwell led into the basement. The more raucous crowed convened in the rough and tumble bar on the lower level, so Isla had never ventured down there, but she had a feeling her mates would probably enjoy the more boisterous atmosphere.
At the hostess podium to their left, a pretty Krytos female with long, wavy hair the color of toasted wheat smiled broadly. She wore a tunic-style top made of soft, gray suede, and her matching pants were the most fascinating thing Isla had ever seen. From waistband to mid-thigh, the fabric was the same color as the top, but from there, it bled into a darker gray, and finally ended at the hems in an inky black.
“Okay, I’m officially jealous.” Laughing, Isla hurried over to hug the female. “Hey, Zora.” Stepping back, she looked her friend up and down. “Where in the worlds did you get this? I love it!”
“Starlight Designs. Mya Adaro opened a shop on New Vega a few months ago.”
Isla frowned. “Mya who?”
“Mya Spartan,” Zora explained. “She’s mated to the Adaro brothers now.”
Ah, that made sense. Isla and Mya had once run in the same circles, especially during their time at the Academy, but Isla hadn’t seen the woman in years. Still, she was happy for her old friend, and she just had to get her hands on one of Mya’s new designs.
“Wait, back up. When the hell did you go to New Vega?”
Zora wasn’t just an employee at Haven. She’d been one of the sanctuary’s first guests. Isla didn’t know the female’s backstory, or why she’d come to Haven, but she did know that Zora never left. Hell, she wouldn’t even step foot out onto the porch, which had led some to speculate that whatever she’d been running from, she still worried that it would catch up to her.
“Not me.” She jerked a thumb over her shoulder toward the bar. “The boss lady went about a week ago, and she brought back something for everyone.”
Isla found herself nodding before she even realized she was doing it. “Yeah, that sounds like Sadayka.”
Sadayka never did anything for herself, but she lavished the people she loved with all manner of gifts. It was a wonder the female ever had any credits left over to pay for basic things like electricity.
She startled when Knox cleared his thro
at behind her. For all of her talk of manners, she’d behaved very rudely. From their talk of visiting Haven before, she’d just assumed that they already knew everyone there. She really needed to stop doing that.
“I’m sorry. Zora, this is one of my mates, Knox Cadell.” She pointed to the back of the room where Slade was talking with Sadayka at the bar. “That’s Slade, and the one who left with the little boy is Bastian. He and Cord should be back in a minute.”
Zora and Knox both laughed.
“Yes,” Zora said, “we’ve met.” Her eyebrows quirked upward. “Mates? Congratulations.”
“Well, it’s not official with all three yet.” She gave Knox a sideways glance and a rueful grin. “We’re working on it, though.”
“Come.” Zora moved away from the podium and waved them to her. “Let’s have that drink.”
At that time of day, with the clock showing just after two o’clock in the afternoon, the main level of Haven was empty. The restaurant served only dinner and didn’t open its doors until four, while the bar on the lower level didn’t open until after nearly nine. To keep things civil, and probably to not terrify the restaurant guests, the bar had its own entrance on the side of the building. Either way, they weren’t likely to be interrupted for a few hours yet, which suited Isla just fine.
After the episode on X4, she hadn’t been sleeping well, and more than anything—even that drink—she wanted a nap. Her eyes stung, and her legs felt heavy as she shuffled after Zora. Wonderfully in tune with her, Knox slid an arm around her waist, supporting the majority of her weight as they made their way down the center aisle to the bar.
She murmured her thanks when he helped her onto a barstool, then pulled him down for a quick kiss. “So,” she said taking the glass of amber liquid Sadayka pushed toward her, “what have I missed?”
“I’m guessing you’ve heard about that Rego bitch.”
Slade and Knox stared at her blankly, but Isla nodded. She hadn’t heard from anyone since Amari and her party had left Xenthian, but Isla had hoped they’d made it to Earth before Quilla Rego could cause too much devastation.
“I know she was on Earth. What happened?”
“Well, she killed Canaan Hart and tried to take over Hart Pharmaceuticals in Light City for starters.” Sadayka took a sip of her whiskey and grimaced. “A lot of people died before they could stop her.”
Isla had been afraid of that. “Anyone we know?”
“An entire Strike Force Team from Jade City, including Regent Marks’ son.” After throwing back the remaining contents, Sadayka set her glass down on the bar with a heavy thud. “Communications were down for a while. Light City is still a fucking mess. I probably shouldn’t say this, but I’m glad Reva killed her. Prison was too good for Quilla.”
“Is she the female who released that drug on New Vega?” Slade asked, his gaze hard and his jaw tight. “The Tarin, right?”
Sadayka poured herself a fresh drink as she nodded. “That’s the one.”
Isla didn’t know anything about battle strategy or military planning, but it seemed rather foolhardy to send an entire team in without any intel. “Who okayed the Strike Force Team?”
“No one is saying, but if you want my opinion, I think the commanders sent them into an ambush on purpose.”
The commanders, meaning her stepfathers. Isla dropped her head and groaned. Every time she turned around, it seemed they were responsible for more death and destruction.
“Why would they do that?”
“Because Marks and his team were some of the few elites in this city your stepfathers couldn’t buy off,” Sadayka answered bluntly. “That’s just my opinion, though.”
Maybe, but somehow, Isla felt her friend wasn’t too far off the mark. At this point, she wouldn’t put anything past the commanders.
“I think that’s enough talk for now.” Lifting Isla off the barstool, Knox placed her on her feet and steered her toward the staircase. “You need to rest. You look half dead.”
She felt mostly dead. “Maybe just a short nap.”
“Take as long as you need.” Using her glass to gesture, Sadayka pointed upward toward the ceiling. “The big suite on the east corner is ready for you. Don’t worry.” She winked. “I’ll keep an eye on the males while you rest.”
Isla laughed and thanked her, then gave Knox and Slade both a kiss on the cheek before trudging over to the stairs. She’d only sleep for a couple of hours. Surely her mates could manage to stay out of trouble for that long.
At the top of the stairs, she turned right, following the empty hallway to the last door on the left. The suite was mostly reserved for visiting families, and it took up the entire eastern corner of the mansion by combining three different rooms. The living area was decorated in similar neutral tones as the restaurant downstairs, and it connected to a small kitchenette with a sink, food console, and full-sized refrigerator.
Two, plush sofas faced each other in the center of the room, separated by a glossy, black coffee table. Adjacent to the sitting area was a working fireplace, and someone had been thoughtful enough to light the logs for their arrival.
Too tired to make it to either of the bedrooms, Isla shuffled over to one of the sofas and fell face down on it, sighing at the softness of the cushions and the warmth from the fire. She toed her boots off, letting them hit the floor with a muffled thump against the chocolate-colored carpet, and stretched out with a quiet moan.
She didn’t even remember falling asleep, but when she cracked her eyes open, the sky outside the window was black, and angry clouds blotted out even the brightest stars. The fire had died to nothing more than the orange glow of smoldering embers. She hadn’t turned on any of the lights when she’d entered the suite, and the darkness of the room made her uneasy.
Forgoing her boots, she tiptoed through the living area, holding her hands out in front of her while she navigated to the door. Candlelight illuminated the hallway beyond the suite, casting dancing shadows across the walls. Isla frowned. She didn’t remember any candles during her last stay at Haven.
She briefly wandered if something had happened to the electricity, but that didn’t explain the deafening silence. Both the restaurant and the basement bar should have been packed with people by now, but she didn’t hear the drone of conversations, the clink of silverware against plates, or anything else that would indicate she wasn’t the only person currently in the sanctuary.
“Hello? Anyone?” Slowly, she made her way down the hall, sticking close to the wall so she could keep in the circle of light cast by the candles. “Bastian? Slade? Knox?”
When she didn’t receive any answer, she continued to creep down the hallway, but the more steps she took, the farther away the staircase seemed to grow. She picked up her pace, moving a little faster, but after several seconds of walking, she was still no closer to her goal.
Her heart hammered against her sternum, sweat beaded across her brow, and her legs shook as she pushed away from the wall and started to run. The faster she pumped her legs, the longer the corridor grew, until she might as well have been running in place. Frightened but not yet panicked, she turned around, intending to retreat back to her suite, but found only a single window behind her.
Her mouth turned dry, and her throat tightened, making it difficult to breathe. She was trapped, cut off on three sides, and she’d exhaust herself before she ever reached the upper landing of the staircase. She could continue to run in vain, or she could sit there and do nothing. Neither option was appealing.
She was still trying to think of a way out of her current predicament when a shadowy figured appeared halfway down the corridor from her. Isla couldn’t make out any distinctive features, but she guessed the person to be male based on his height and the sheer breadth of his shoulders.
“Hello?” she called. “Who’s there?”
She received no answer, but a tingle started in her lower back and raced up her spine, rekindling her fear. She had nowhere to run, nowhere to
hide. At the Academy, her instructors had taught her basic self-defense, but she doubted that would help against the looming figure currently staring back at her.
Then, he moved. One step. Two. With his third step he picked up speed, and after a few more, he was sprinting right for her.
She was going to die. She knew it as well as she knew her own name. When the shadow lunged into the air with his hands reaching for her, she didn’t know what else to do except throw her arms up to block her face.
And scream.
“Isla! Damn it, Isla, wake up!”
Isla jerked so hard, she would have fallen right off the sofa if Knox hadn’t caught her. “Where am I? What happened?”
“Shh, calm down, sweetheart. It was just a dream.”
Knox had been sitting in a common area the staff used on the lower level, just watching Cord play on the floor with an array of colorful toys, when the first wave of fear had hit him in the chest like a battering ram. Bastian and Slade had returned to the Storm Rider to retrieve clean clothes and other essentials, since none of them knew how long they’d be staying at Haven, leaving him on his own with Cord.
The moment he’d felt Isla’s panic, he’d launched up from his seat, but he’d hesitated after that, unsure of how to proceed. Thankfully, Sadayka had saved the day when she’d stuck her head into the room to check on them. Though she’d assured him that Isla couldn’t possibly be in any danger, she’d been more than happy to sit on the floor and play with toy cars while Knox left to check on his mate.
After taking the stairs three at a time, he’d hurried to the suite at the end of the hall, rushing into the room without bothering to knock. As Sadayka had predicted, Isla wasn’t in any immediate danger, but she was clearly in distress. Asleep on the sofa, she thrashed, murmuring and groaning in her sleep.
He’d tried several times to wake her, but she’d been so lost in her nightmare he hadn’t been able to reach her. When she’d thrown her hands up and screamed at the top of her lungs, he’d finally grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her hard, yelling her name until her eyes popped open. She’d tried to jerk out of his grasp, and she might have succeeded if he hadn’t already been holding her so tightly.
