Page 76 of Stars in Mist

When the remnants of the hawkstone on her temple vibrated and throbbed in his presence, sending waves of painful pleasure through her.

Something about him didn’t add up.

Try as she may, she’d not managed to burrow under his veil.

As she worked through her unbidden tears at his enchanting voice, she wondered whether he was Katánian, in changed form, sent to seduce her before capturing her.

The thought had sent waves of panic through her until Killen’s unmistakable presence enveloped her, even from so far away.

He can be trusted, Mother.

It was the same statement he’d made when he devised their plan many moons ago, soon after one of his many walkabouts when he’d purported to haveu’Kwelito share with her.

‘I’ve seen the man who will help us in our plight,’ Killen said. ‘He appeared in a hereafter vision.’

No sane creature argued with the hawkstone’su’Kweli. It never lied.

It had urged her to take note of thekhorawho’d appeared on Eden II a few nights before her wedding to Riv.

Sending her a flurry of hereafter warning visions, it had given insight into how to escape the rock. Taking heed, she’d fled with it and the son in her womb, driven by the fear of death.

Her flight had led her to a medical ship where she had given birth in secrecy, where the hawkstone had transmuted from her forehead to Killen’s in childbirth.

The remnants of it on her forehead had led them to various hiding places throughout the outer reaches of Pegasi. Until they guided mother and son to Devansi, where she’d sheltered with the monks at first, then later with just Killen.

In isolation, she’d come to terms with her heritage, which she’d loathed for so long.

Now, she contemplated returning to the clutches of its twisted darkness. Prompted by her lodestone for the sake of keeping Killen alive.

‘Have you heard from him?’

She dragged her eyes back to Ribau. It was as if he’d read her thoughts.

‘We’re connected all the time.’

Ribau raised a brow. ‘How does Killen reach you?’

‘We can speak telepathically. It’s a Katánian trait. One that can be helpful at times and at others vexing.’

Ribau’s lips turned up. ‘I can imagine.’

She tilted her head, curious. ‘You can?’

He deflected with a smile. ‘Why are you fleeing your people?’ he rasped, ‘and I want right answers only this time.’

She shot him a warning look. ‘What does it matter?’

‘Did you steal, kill or -?’ he pushed further.

‘I fled so we wouldn’t be destroyed if that’s what you want to know.’

He leaned in, his face hardening. ‘Your people were going to attack you? Why?’

She caught the menacing edge in his voice, a rage that sent a shiver down her spine, and looked away from him. ‘Drop it, Ribau. I’m not prepared to share.’

‘Yet you still sound terrified of them. That irks me.’

‘Why would you care?’ she shot out with a sigh.

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