Page 133 of Alien Haven

He expected her to tell him to mind his own business. To storm into the house. Instead, she set the telescope on the porch and sat on the back steps. When he stared at her, she impatiently waved at him to sit by her side.

“I get you Nobeks prefer to be on your feet, but I’d like you close while I spill my guts. In case I have to smack you for some reason. Down, big man.”

He obeyed. It wasn’t the threat of being hit, but his sense of her underlying need for support bringing him close. Her warmth was beguiling, forcing him to restrain himself from scooting as close as possible. “You’ll tell me?”

“I suppose I owe you, since you came running to my rescue. You have to keep this to yourself, though. My safety depends on it.”

A wave of protective anger swept through him. Detodev glanced at their surroundings, instinctively checking for trouble. “I don’t tell tales.”

“No kidding. You barely talk.” She chuckled and gave him a playful nudge before sobering again. “My real name is Charity Nath. Does it ring a bell?”

Nath. Detodev frowned. It did indeed sound familiar, and he sifted through his memory to discover why.

A second later, he had it. He wasn’t one to watch much where news was concerned, but he’d have to live under a rock to have missed the story of Holy Leader Browning Copeland’s supposed survival…and the allegations his last general, Borey Nath, had conspired with the Kalquorian Empire to illegally hold him prisoner.

“General Nath had…has a daughter supposedly clanned to Admiral Piras, the spy who played traitor to get to Copeland,” he said, thinking out loud. Jennifer, or Charity, couldn’t be her…no way a clan like Piras’ would let their high-profile Matara out of their sight. Besides, she was young for such a mature clan. His eyes widened in realization. “There was a younger daughter too, recently sighted on Alpha Space Station. You?”

“Me.” Charity smiled ruefully before launching into her tale of the bounty placed on her by certain factions of Mercy and New Bethlehem colonies. “It’s probably their leaders, the epitome of Earthtiques, who want to question me as to what I know. I happen to know a lot. Plenty to shake up the balance of the current situation.”

“Copeland’s alive,” Detodev surmised. Shock reverberated through him. If the Darks in charge of the Galactic Council could prove it, Kalquor’s few remaining allies might turn on the empire…a ruinous result for a dimension already rumored to be teetering on the edge of destruction.

“Unfortunately. Why Kalquor didn’t execute the bastard is beyond me.” She stomped the step her feet rested on. “Some people don’t deserve a fair trial when their guilt is beyond a shadow of a doubt.”

Detodev didn’t feel capable of weighing in on that portion of the situation, but he recognized what was important to him. “If the Earthtiques have learned you’re here, you’re in danger. We have to assume it’s the case.” He stood.

Charity stared up at him. “Where are you going?”

“To talk to Groteg.”

* * * *

“I can keep an eye on the farm. Patrol, watch for trouble,” Detodev said.

He and Groteg had the kitchen to themselves for the moment. Steady thumps overhead were evidence of James running around on the second floor. Sara’s, Charity’s, and Tori’s voices also drifted from the upper story. Detodev was unsure where Utber and Adam might be. The fact Groteg hadn’t signaled for quiet when the younger Nobek had announced he knew about Charity Nath, the fugitive Clan Amgar hid, reassured him they were far enough away for it to not be an issue.

“You?” Groteg’s tone was bland, indicating neither acceptance nor disbelief. His gaze was steady. Perhaps curious. “How did you feel when you searched for her attacker, Detodev? More importantly, what will you do if you discover a possible intruder on the property?”

Detodev remembered the hot, sick feeling when Charity had burst from the barn, her eyes wild from fear. How his vision had turned red-tinged when he’d torn into the building, searching for the animal who’d stamped such terror on her features.

He thought of another woman gaping in horror. Of a man, dripping blood. And another, groaning in a heap. Bile rose in his throat.

Detodev swallowed. “I can help. I can watch for trouble. And if…if nothing else, I can raise the alarm if I come across anyone suspicious.”

Groteg watched him for several beats, his expression evaluating. At last, he nodded. “I agree someone needs to be patrolling the grounds. I’d planned to do so myself, but I appreciate the assistance. You can take first watch and report to the fields tomorrow afternoon rather than morning.”

Detodev snapped a nod. Relief and dread mixed uneasily in his gut. He had no choice but to ensure Starry Eyes was kept safe…but he couldn’t keep from hoping he wouldn’t have to face those who’d harm her.

* * * *

Charity spent an hour tossing and turning after she’d bid everyone goodnight. At last, she admitted sleep wasn’t coming. She sat up on the edge of her bed and considered the view beyond the window before her.

The stars she loved were shining bright. Another body gleamed in the distance, larger but dimmer than the rest. She identified it as Rel Station, a Kalquorian fleet training facility floating a few hours’ shuttle journey from Haven.

She loved the expanse of black, the sense of vast space. For some, it might be lonely. For Charity, it served as a reminder that as big as her problems sometimes felt, they were truly insignificant in the scheme of life. Whatever happened to her, the universe went on unperturbed. Its unending existence was a balm to fears.

She stood and went to the window. Movement caught her eye. A shadow passed between the lovely pecan trees in the front yard. She squinted at the darkness, wishing for a Kalquorian’s heightened sight.

She didn’t need it. As the shadow emerged from beneath the wide branches, she identified the silhouette as belonging to Detodev. Funny how she already knew his figure: the breadth of his shoulders, the shape of his head, the swing of his arms. Evenhis manner of smooth striding was recognizable. When had she noticed so many details about him to the point of being able to recall them easily?

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