Page 68 of Scars & Starlight
Please, please, please.
I don’t know if I’m begging the nanites, God, these Creators, or whatever connection exists between Kairen and me. I’ll sell my soul to the devil himself if he keeps my baby safe.
“Please,” I breathe, rocking slightly in response to the pain in my abdomen. “Please.”
34
KAIREN
“Where is my match?” I growl into Nireya’s face for the third time this mark. To her credit, she doesn’t even blink.
“Kai,” Caden murmurs. “We’re all doing the best we can.”
I slam my fist against the control console in front of me. “How is it possible that they vanished into nothing?” Pacing the main control room, I run my fingers through my hair over and over again, just a moment away from ripping it out. “It’s been half a rotation and we still don’t know where they went!” I reiterate uselessly.
“They timed it perfectly,” Caden says sadly. “As soon as the opportunity presented itself, they abducted the princess, incapacitating the guards. Small transports came and went all rotation, so they didn’t stand out flying away.”
Nireya jumps in, speaking slowly and clearly: “No one knew to intercept The Pride until they were already at the QEA, my prince. And they must have disabled tracking systems somehow.”
I stop and close my eyes. “I can’t believe this. They could be in any galaxy, on one of countless planets, or hiding in the vastness of space.”
“I’ll find them, Commander,” Orien says lowly. “I swear it.”
I look at my intelligence officer, noting the anger burning in his bright orange eyes.
“Interrogate any of Korvann’s men or associates left on Avaris,” I order. “Then follow any crumb of information they give you. Leave no stone unturned.”
“I won’t let you down,” Orien says, then turns on his heels and leaves the control room. There’s probably no reason for me to be here either, but it’s either that or flying around aimlessly in space, or perhaps stopping random passersby on the street to ask if they saw something.
“You should get some rest, Kai,” my cousin suggests naively.
“You’re jesting,” I sneer. “I won’t rest until Tara is returned unharmed.”
“Don’t make me fetch Lirael,” he threatens halfheartedly.
Sighing, I slump into a chair and rub at my chest, trying to reach the burning sensation inside.
“I haven’t been apart from her since we met, Cade. I don’t even know if she’s alive, if our unborn child is alive.” Catching his eyes, I try to convey everything I’m feeling. “I don’t want to live without her.”
He grabs my shoulder and squeezes, his gaze trapping mine. “We will find her, Kairen.”
I escape from the connection by closing my eyes. I don’t say what I’m thinking out loud. If something happens to Tara and our child, he will be one step closer to the throne of Avaris, because I’ll be living in a cave on some distant, barely habitable planet, wallowing in my eternal rage.
Another two rotationspass before Orien returns from his hunt. Eventually, I slept. Not willingly, but because I closed my eyes for a moment when staring at the security screens. I woke up in two kindsof pain, no longer just the mental anguish of missing my match, but a viciously stiff neck. Not even that distracted me from my misery, though.
Mother appeared to force nutrients down my throat, all but feeding me like a stubborn child, and Lirael indeed came to check on me every few marks. Sa’ami apologized for an unnecessarily long amount of time – she couldn’t have known my match wasn’t safe in our own palace. I fetched Kiko and kept him by my side. A silly attempt to have a beloved piece of my princess by my side.
I’m watching the two soon-to-be-dead Avaren carry Tara into a small vessel for the hundredth time when Orien reaches out to me.
I have something. I’m on my way.
Tell me now.
I’m bringing someone who might know a location of interest. I also spoke with a female whom the General is occasionally close to. Too seldom to keep her loyalty. Apparently, his goal is to force Queen Raelith to abdicate using your match as the blade that removes the crown.
I cover my mouth with my fist, trying to hold the roar climbing up my throat.
And he thinks our people will follow him after a stunt like that? He’s now the most loathed male in our history!
