Page 15 of I Married Amreth

“Butyoudo!” I challenged before giving a meaningful glance at the high-tech med bay around us.

She shook her head, her face closing off. “We have reached the limit of how much we can interfere in this matter.”

“What the heck is that supposed to mean?” I asked, baffled.

“The Oracles saw the paths. If we meddle any further, things will end extremely badly for the Kreelars, and for many others. Our contribution in saving their people is coming to a close.”

“Oracles?” I echoed with confusion before my eyes widened with shock and sudden understanding. “Wait! Are you saying that you’re Korletheans?!”

I recoiled, and my heart skipped a beat when she bared her teeth, an air of pure hatred descending over her features.

“We arenotKorletheans! Wehatethose sons of krilliks! They have done to us what you have done to the Kreelars. But they did so with malice!”

“Hold up right there!” I exclaimed with outrage. “Idid nothing to the Kreelars.Humanitydid nothing to them. From what you are telling me, it appears that Elias’ team did. What I can promise is to do everything in my power to help undo some of the damage and prevent this tragedy going on any further. But… but you don’t look Xelixian either.”

From what little I remembered of the Sectarian history, the Korletheans had harmed a heck of a lot of species with reckless experiments. The only one that I could think of in those Quadrants that had a grayish skin with dark markings were the Xelixians. But they had oversized irises without pupils, chevron shaped bone ridges on their foreheads, and unusual ridged ears, none of which matched Svira’s appearance.

She snorted and shook her head. “We’re not Xelixians either.”

“Then what…?”

She waved a dismissive hand, interrupting me. “Never mind that. The only thing you should focus on is undoing the damage to the Kreelars. You have an epidemiology background which will be of great use for the challenge ahead.”

“Absolutely. I can and want to help. But shouldn’t Elias—”

“He will be dealt with,” Svira interrupted again. “There’s a reason he fled the minute our vessel attacked yours. He knew what was coming.”

Although I didn’t voice it, I had suspected as much. Nevertheless, I narrowed my eyes at her, still struggling to understand why they were handling things this way.

“All right, but why attack the Gladius? If what you’re saying is true—and I have no reason to doubt it—why not simply expose him? The UPO and the galactic community would hold him accountable and do everything in their power to do right by the Kreelars. This attack could trigger a major political conflict between your Quadrant and ours.”

She nodded. “Believe me, Ciara, that had been the original plan. Sadly, all those paths lead to tragedy. But you...”

To my surprise, her voice trailed off, and her eyes went out of focus. I cast a confused look at Aku, who simply observed quietly. Moments later, Svira blinked and returned her full attention to me. A triumphant smile stretched her lips.

“You can be the key,” she said at last. “So long as you work with your mate, you will find the solution.”

I recoiled again, this time truly confused. “My mate?! I don’t have one!”

She gave me a mysterious smile. “Not yet, but soon.”

Oh, my God! Is she talking about Amreth?!

Her smile broadened as if she had read the thought that fleeted through my mind.

“What are you?” I whispered more to myself than truly to her. “You are not a Xelixian or a Korlethean, and you display the type of powers that the Veredians possess. And yet you’re clearly not one. So what are you?”

“We are the Korletheans’ worst nightmare,” she said with a hint of cruelty in her pale eyes. She then turned to Aku with something akin to a triumphant smile. “She’s the one.”

An air of relief washed over him.

“I’m the one what?” I asked, instantly worried again.

She ignored my question, and the outer rim of her eyes began to glow as she stared at me with great intensity. “Ciara, obey my command. Once I leave this room, you will fall asleep and forget you ever saw me as well as any discussions and allusions ever made during this discussion regarding my people, the Korletheans, the Veredians, and the Xelixians.”

“But why? Wait!” I exclaimed when both of them simply turned around and started walking towards the glass wall separating my room from the one Mehreen was lying in.

Before exiting, she stopped one last time and looked at me over her shoulder. At first, I thought she was going to answer my question, but her eyes went slightly out of focus again.

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