Page 102 of Tribute
Aled looked at Bron, who nodded, his brown gaze steady. “We could keep you safe there until we capture Palk. The security systems are first-rate, as befits a presidential residence.”
Rehz raised an eyebrow at Kai. “We will discuss this among ourselves and give you our decision tomorrow.”
“As you wish.” The president stood up, his silver hair gleaming in the candlelight. “I’ll leave you to think over whatwe’ve talked about. I know you feel we have ignored your valuable information and compromised with an enemy that does not deserve it, but we felt we had no choice. And we are convinced that with our new methods of selection for the Tribute program, we should prevent anything like this ever happening again.”
He bowed and left the room, followed by Bron, leaving the four of them sitting around the table.
“What a fucking waste of time.” Kai stretched his arms over his head. “I suppose at least we’re still alive.”
Aled frowned. “I think he was being sincere.”
“Yeah. I think he was too,” Rehz said slowly. “Should we take him up on his offer of a temporary retreat?”
“Why not?” Kai said. “If they do intend to kill us, we stand a better chance of surviving an assassination attempt with a smaller security force around us, rather than in the president’s own palace.”
“Agreed.” Aled looked at Anna, who was swaying in her seat. “Are you okay?”
She suddenly stood up and bolted for the bathroom, Aled in pursuit. He reached her just as she finished puking up her guts and knelt beside her, a comforting arm around her back.
“Get your fucking hands off her.” His shirt was yanked backward and he was practically thrown against the wall by Rehz.
“I was just?—”
Kai pressed a hand down on his shoulder. “Shut up, Aled, and let Rehz tend to her.”
He shook off Kai’s restraining grip. “Iwastrying to help her. It’s not my fault I got there faster than Rehz.”
Rehz spun around to face him. “Shut the fuck up and don’t fucking touch my female without permission. You’ve done enough damage as it is.”
“Rehz. Stop it.” Anna pushed past her lover. “Aled did what he had to do to survive. We all did. Leave him alone.” She pushed her blonde hair out of her eyes with unsteady fingers. “I’ve been feeling nauseous for days now, and the medical staff won’t tell me what’s going on.” She swallowed hard and met Aled’s gaze. “What if I’m pregnant?”
Rehz growled something unintelligible as the bottom dropped out of Aled’s stomach. “We can talk to the medics tomorrow and demand some answers, okay?”
“It could be my child, Rehz,” Aled said.
Kai groaned. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. Can we just avoid all the melodrama? It could be any of us. It could be a fuckingUngrich.”
Anna went even paler, and Aled cast Kai a warning look.
“Right,” Rehz shot to his feet. “I’m getting someone down here right now to answer some questions.”
“I’ll call Dr. Ilkar.” The medic kept his hands in the air as Kai gestured at him with his weapon.
“You do that.”
Within seconds the door opened and the senior physician came in; his hair was on end and he was dressed in medical scrubs. He looked as if he hadn’t slept for a week.
“What is so important that you had to threaten my staff and wake me up at this hour?”
Rehz cocked his weapon. “Sit down.”
The doctor held out his hands. “Now hold on a minute. There’s no need for threats.”
“I think there is.” Rehz patted the seat next to the medical screens. “Anna Lee wishes to know what the fuck is going onwith her. You will tell her the truth or I will start shooting bits of you off. Got it?”
Dr. Ilkar sat down next to Anna and immediately took hold of her hand. “What’s wrong?”
“I thought you were going to tell me that.” She searched his face. “What’s going on inside me? Why do I feel nauseous all the time?”
