This Is Where I Want To Be

193: Deals

Michael

Selena and I sat patiently waiting while Caleb had gone for the book Louis needed and was now back pacing in front of us. Marcus had already decided for us, but the boy wanted his mother’s approval. “We can’t wait any longer,” Selena said. Caleb stopped walking around and sighed heavily. The three of us came out in that field, hoping we would catch the three talking. It was empty. Louis, Chris and Juliet weren’t there. When Chris had come back through the door, his features were constricted. I knew that face. He did something stupid. There was just no time to find out the gossip of the day.

I longed to wrap Juliet up in my arms. I had been so angry at her for not giving me time. At that moment, I was mad at myself for not embracing what we did have and how much I had wasted because of pride. I could’ve been there for her more than I had been. Juliet’s words kept going around in my mind. “It’s because I respected you more than any of them. I always had.” I had broken that trust she had in me, and that was why she was either with Louis or Chris. I would have to wait even longer to have her because I had to prove my submission to the timing of the family. It felt like I wanted to burst, and the only thing I could do was fight to get the lust out of my system. The sex had never bothered me before I changed. I had been in the army for so long that it had become second nature to channel it… somewhere. At that point, it was almost all I thought about.

The three of us traveled to Romero’s home, no… Charlene’s home and came out to the spot Jessy had created. They were gone, and the tented area lay barren. Romero and his people had cleaned up the campsite where Juliet was attacked, and it was as if they were never there and nothing ever happened. The bodies were buried in what could only be a mass grave. We didn’t have to walk from the bandit’s tents to the valley. Caleb’s teleporting was good. Selena kept up with me on every travel.

We were on that ledge before I could register how fast everything was moving. When you had two teleporters with you, it changed the dynamics of any mission. It was late into the night by the time we got there. Caleb looked from me to Selena. We were so quiet, making sure Iku would not catch us, and we gave all our cues with hand signals. Caleb disappeared after I gave him the order. Selena and I ducked down behind the rocks. The shadow was moving about, patrolling and listening for any sound. We figured that he had to be done for the night because no more beasts were coming and trying their luck with the shadow. Selena’s breathing was deep. Anxieties were high because we couldn’t see the boy. Only knew he was somewhere down there alone. Caleb would have to wait to catch Iku off guard or until the guy was still for a second too long, which didn’t seem to be going to happen. I grabbed at the rocks in front of me, ready to teleport to his side if he needed help. I wanted to jump up when Caleb came back from his vanished state. He had assessed the situation and saw what I saw. “What is he doing?” Selena pulled me back down.

“Hey! Iku!” Caleb yelled behind the shadow towering over him. Iku was fast over the water. The ground shook until he was in Caleb’s face, speaking in loud tones in that foreign language. Caleb waited and said nothing. What was he thinking? The boy needed a beating. I shuddered at the thought. Caleb would probably never be hooked to that pole.

The shadow circled him and glanced all around until it stopped moving. Iku transformed into his human face. Caleb was fast and teleported behind him, slicing him across the back. The man spun around. The faint red glow of the small switchblade glistened in the moonlight. Iku faltered forward and tried to grab onto Caleb with unsteady hands. The boy took only a tiny step back, disappeared, and was next to me in a second. We waited to see what Iku would do and if the blades would even work on him. Iku’s hand reached for his back, and he looked at the blood on his fingers. He was trying to manifest but couldn’t. He stumbled forward to the entrance of the cave. Selena didn’t hesitate and teleported down. She pointed the gun. The man protested. “Don’t, please. They need me.”

She smiled, and the net propelled forward. As it leaves the gun, at first, it’s all wound up and opens up in front of its target. The net covers and wraps its target and drags whoever is in it to the ground. He tried to move like they all did. It made it worse. By the time Caleb and I joined Selena, Iku was going nowhere.

“You said you’re undefeated.” I joked.

“You fight with no honor.” Iku sneered.

“Oh, we will fight… But man to man. And then, if I pin you. You will tell me where the vault is.”

He glanced at Selena. “Are you Juliet?”

She nodded.

“Are you the one I am supposed to fight for the vault? A deal is a deal. Now manifest into a vampire, so I know you are who you claim to be. And where is the stone you are supposed to have around your neck? Selena’s hand reached for the empty space. We didn’t have the stone. Never even thought about it for identification.

“You are not Juliet, are you? The three of us turned to our manifested forms.”

“Ahhh. Zoreah. I desperately want to go to that city. If I can align with the people there… Could you not get me to talk to their leader for a trade agreement.”

The three of us laughed. “What?” Iku asked incredulously.

“Ahasuerus had an agreement with Ira… You have no idea how many consequences one small post-it can bring about. It will be beyond your control… Didn’t you say you needed to protect these people?”

“I want to take the chance. They will have to find another way to protect their lands. It is why I made the deal in the first place. He would come back for me.”

It would be too tricky to try to work with Ira. It would take too long.

“Tell us where the vault is, and I’ll drop you off myself,” I said, thinking I could at least do that if he would change his mind about fighting Juliet. “At Ira’s feet, and you can plead your case.”

He pulled his gaze from mine. “I can’t.”

“Why not? Ahasuerus is dead.”

“On Mirach. All you have is your honor. My honor. Here, your words mean something! It will never happen. I would rather die.”

“Don’t your agreements… expire after death?” Caleb tried.

“No… Not even then. You will not find a race more worthy to have on your side.”

I picked him up and dropped him in his cave. I went back two more times and put the others down. Caleb wouldn’t be able to go that far, and Selena didn’t know where to go.

“Then I want to trade with you.”

Iku’s face brightened as Caleb undid the weights, happy he could stretch his limbs. “I’m listening.”

“Time… for time.”

Caleb and Selena smiled again. “I give you my word. Juliet will come and fight you as soon as she is not with child anymore. Man to woman. Not that thing… If you tell me where the vault is… Afterward, you get to go to Zoreah. I can’t promise Ira will accept you. But you will have a chance.”

Iku laughed lightly, got up, and walked towards the water. He disappeared as he went under. The surface shimmered in the moonlight and soon turned a soft red. Caleb had left a nasty cut. Iku’s head came back up, and he exited the pool. Selena joined him and pulled something out of her cargo pants pockets. We all wore camouflage uniforms, and the usually stylish-clad woman seemed more like a warrior that day. Selena was trying to embrace the new life she was thrust into. She gestured to his wounds. Iku regarded her and turned around. Selena dabbed at the gash. After it was dry, she smeared it with ointment.

“Ssh.” His head snapped around.

“Keep still. Don’t be such a baby.” Iku chuckled. Selena put small bandages over the cut and pulled the skin together. She bent down, picked up his robe, and hung it around his shoulders.

“Thank you.” She nodded. “You Riphaths are not very far from our kind. You value peace above all else.”

“That’s why we never make any kind of deals.” She said softly.

“Just so. It does complicate things.” He pulled on the robe’s sleeves and tied it around his waist.

“And minus the monogamy,” Selena added.

“Yes, I would not have been able to have multiple partners. I did have a wife at one point.”

“I’m thinking about it myself.” She answered.

“Have you finally realized Jessy’s in love with you?” Caleb asked. Selena’s face said more than enough. Caleb and I laughed. The smile I thought would come didn’t. Selena’s brow furrowed. “If you were thinking about my father. You’re wasting your time.”

“Juliet said I have to make sure.”

“Selena… You can’t break up my family on “making sure.” You might change your mind. Where would that leave Chris?”

She faltered, not having an answer.

“You’re not sure, are you…” I added. “You’re just playing with the idea. It is all so new to you. How can you even consider it? Juliet is just jealous and wants closure on the subject.”

She shook her head. “We have always danced around it, like Chris would say. But… when you put it like that... It was her idea from the start. She wants Chris to brand me to see what would happen. Isn’t that worse?”

Iku chipped in. “You would have to do it here.” The realization dawned. Selena was way too old to do it on Earth. We had no idea what the laws for brandings were on other planets. “By the looks in your eyes… them mating would be out of the question.” I pulled in the air through clenched teeth. Caleb softly whistled. “Nevertheless, this is all very entertaining. Will you join me for supper?” Iku stretched out an arm toward his tent.

“First, tell us. Will you accept the offer,” Caleb asked.

Iku thought about it. “How will I bind you to your word. With Ahasuerus, it was easy. If he lived, he would return for his most prized possession.” He glanced at Caleb.

I pulled the boy in behind me. “No! That won’t do.” I thought for a moment. “The queen of this place is her best friend. After Caleb, Charlene is one of the things she will come for. As the queen can’t leave… you have your reassurance.”

“How far along is this, Juliet?”

“Four months.”

He glanced at the moon. “She will not manifest! If she does. I will as well.”

“Michael, wait! Are you sure?” Selena asked.

“Can she use any abilities?” I went on. We were on the right track.

He regarded me and glanced over at Caleb. “You mean the disappearing act… Why not?”

“Weapons?”

“What kind?” He glanced at the guns around our legs.

“Normal steel short blades.” I smiled.

Fine. “How tall is she?”

We all glanced at Caleb. “Good. A young vampire with two short swords. I think I will manage. I won’t be breaking my word. Make sure she knows the parameters of the battle.” He glanced up at the moon. “How will we work out the time.”

“Earth has a full moon every thirty days. Give us Eight more, and she will come.”

“Good, I agree. Be warned! Our honor runs deep. But our vengeance is swift. If you decide to go against me. The queen will die on the last day of the eighth moon.”

“She will probably be here by the end of the seventh just to make sure,” Caleb said.

“If she forgives us for making the deal.” I ventured.

“With all the formalities out of the way. Will you please join me? I would like to hear all about this… Jessy, you are avoiding talking about.” He smiled at Selena.

I stepped forward. Iku turned around just before we entered the tent. “Juliet has to come alone. No audience… And… If you intervene in any way, I will kill all of you.”

“She will not have it any other way.” I faked a smile. My insides were twisting. What had I done? He didn’t say she couldn’t use her white eyes and big mouth. Regardless, Juliet wouldn’t be able to train for months. He watched me closely. “One last chance to back out.”

I glanced at Caleb. “You make the call. I’m too… emotionally invested.”

“Like I’m not?”

“And she has to bring that stone.”

“You’re making a lot of demands. I feel we’re getting the bad end of this deal.”

“You get the secrets of the universe… I don’t think it’s an unfair trade at all.” If you step through the door. The deal is sealed. Caleb stepped through, and there was nothing for it.

***

After a lengthy dinner and a few drinks, Iku got up. He stepped out of the tent, and we followed. He walked up a small stone embankment on one side of the pool of water. The high wall cordoned off the little pond he bathed in. At the top, there was an opening in the mountain. A sort of window. All be it a large one that gave way to, I guessed, a view. As we came to the top, the gusts of strong winds hit us repeatedly. My feet were unsteady as I saw only water as far as the horizon from left to right. Their ocean fitted out with giant rolling waves. The three of us were speechless, gazing down as the enormous walls of water hit the mountain, shaking the ground under our feet. Selena took several steps back. She grabbed Caleb by the arm and pulled him away from the ledge. “It’s at the bottom of those waves. Under the water, there is a tunnel. It would take me one trip to get it if I was myself.” Iku said, glancing at us in turn. “You don’t swim… You will have to wait till I am better and come back.”

I remembered Romero’s warning to stay in Riphath form, but we had come so far. Even though I knew in the pit of my stomach that it might cause problems in the future, I turned into a wolf. Iku stepped back. His mouth gaped for a few moments, then he stuttered out the words, “You! Are… not… a Riphath.”

I shook my head and glanced at the water. “But I do swim.”

“Where exactly?” Caleb asked.

It took Iku some time to answer, and breathlessly, regarding me, he said at last, “Against the mountain, close to the breaking waves.” I couldn’t place what his features portrayed or why my Ittoqure form had shocked him. Another wave hit, and the mountain creaked under the pressure of its force. Flashes of our time on Palmyra ran through my mind. When I had to save everyone. It didn’t feel like four months ago. It felt like yesterday that I almost drowned. I waited for the next wave to crash and dove in when the water seemed calm. I drew in a deep breath before I hit the water. The swimming was easy, and I glided effortlessly down into the darkness. I could feel the current pull on me and had to swim harder. I needed to get under it before it smashed me into the rocks. There would be no one coming to rescue me if I got knocked out. How would I have teleported out if I had nothing to find footing on. I kicked hard and dove fast with every stroke of my arms. The next wave barely missed my feet. I swam even deeper. The little tunnel appeared. I wouldn’t have seen it if I weren’t in my werewolf form. My eyes widened in gladness. I willed myself into the circle of darkness, hoping it wasn’t a trap. It wound up into the mountain as the water became quieter and, at last, produced the end of the most challenging part. I gasped and coughed, swimming for the ledge. My eyes caught sight of the chests lining the walls all around me. What did Ahasuerus hide away? Did he have that many coordinates? I pulled myself out with black nails digging into the rocks. Very glad I had to do that only once. I fell down on the rocks, my back on the cold surface, heaving and trying to catch my breath. All the thoughts of Juliet and me between the sheets were banished from my mind.

I traveled out the first chest and put it down at Caleb’s feet near Iku’s tent. Caleb threw his arms around me. “Don’t do that again.” I ruffled his hair.

“I don’t need to.”

I made the trip several more times. After I put down the last chest, Iku was still glaring at me with a wild expression. If he was not cut. I would’ve died. I changed into a vampire and stared him down. He took another step back and then forward toward me. He touched my face. “It is your kind… that wiped out mine. That much power?”

“It’s not easy.”

“I can well imagine. Any more?”

“The Queen. Charlene.”

His teeth gritted, and his upper lip pulled up into a sneer. “Yazen allowed it?!” Iku said in a raised voice.

“The branding took place in the dark city. Romero was besotted.”

He pointed out to sea. “My mate is on an island out there somewhere. They took her and hid her away. Thousands of years ago. It was such a fight, such a war, and out of spite… they left her there. No way for us to get together.”

“You could’ve built a boat,” Caleb said.

He spun around. “Do you think I did not try?” Iku snapped.

“Do you want to change the deal? And I’ll go get her right now.”

The mixture of emotions on his face ranged from excitement to incredulity to utter defeat. So much for honor. Would he cave and give in to what seemed to be his one weakness? “How? You have no point to travel to.”

“Earth has its way of covering water. I can get a seal team here in a few minutes, and we will find her with flying machines.”

Iku spun around, biting the nail on his thumb. The first human thing I had seen him do. “I’ll have to talk to Yazen.” He went back into the tent.

“Let’s get this stuff back. He needs to think.” Selena prodded.

I disagreed and left.

***

Lyla

I had watched all the footage and had to sit down when Michael turned into all three aliens. One after the other. I stared out the window. Although it was only a mountain around the little house. It was enough for me at that moment. They had not even known. The adults played them so perfectly. I couldn’t even fathom the implications.

If Earth was made aware that two lovers could turn into… something. At the same time. How many couples... human partners would be so unconditionally connected to claim that privilege. Who of us on that god-forsaken rock kept loving the other no matter what. A second marriage had almost seventy percent of failing. Even if it were just a few. The one percent that really loved each other... It would change everything. We, as humans, would have a chance of surviving... No… The Earth would be filled with them in a few hundred years. Humans would all but disappear, be eaten, and killed as rivals in some horrific cannibalistic ritual. I got up and walked through the house. It was smaller than the apartment my parents could afford. They were one of the lucky couples… But true love? Really? And how did we come to be? Who was first?

I put on my veil and opened the door. I had to get out. The small space was suffocating me. I glanced back as I closed the door, remembering what Nevin had asked me to do. Juliet had lived there for fifteen years. Not allowed to leave the boundary of the small plot. For the first time, I doubted knowing. Nevin had been right. Was it fate that put me in this position?

As I walked down the road, I saw that there were vampires in almost every house. The others were in human form. They had to be Werewolves. How did it feel to be dumped on a foreign planet? Away from your home, family, and friends because you did something stupid. Freedom of speech took on a whole other meaning for me. I kept walking and walking. The market was bustling that day. There were some women in veils, talking and laughing. Some covered only their hair, and others without anything. The two species had one distinction. One woman was nothing. The other they ruled. And not only was the Werewolf planet empty, but Juliet and her four men had wiped out a race. There were still gaps in what I had learned.

The familiar supermarket came into view. I stepped in and lifted the tarp in the back. It was barren, and the couches were gone. The door in the back closed and bolted. “I take it you found what you were looking for.”

Nevin’s steady voice was a balm to my nerves. Would I expose all their secrets? “How do I get the feed on something human?”

“You drag and drop.” He chuckled. “I’ll show you. If you are certain.”

“What did you do last night?”

“I went to that house.”

I turned to see what his face looked like. “May I ask?”

He nodded.

“Do you regret it?”

“No. I want to thank you.”

I smiled. “You didn’t watch Willa’s death, did you?”

He shook his head. “I did see her get born. Watched every minute I could of how happy she was. There is still a lot I need to get through. He lifted the bag in the air. I smiled again.

“I have to say. I don’t think I want to see Lucy die, either.”

“You didn’t watch it?” I shook my head. “When I got to that part where I saw us in that club. I skipped ahead. The secrets up until that point were enough. When we get a chance... will you watch it for me?”

He held out his arm. “Come, you have to eat. There are pens with alien cows you can buy. You can taste one.”

Nevin and I spent the day together in that house. In different rooms but watching nonetheless. After we were all done and had even watched the other loved one die. We both advised each other not to do it. I had seen Willa beaten to death just because she made the wrong choice. They had asked her if she wanted her tongue cut out or die. She didn’t want to go back to Lucius. After that, they left her in those tunnels to wither away. How awful were their lives that Willa would choose that and Juliet would choose to cut her wrists and jump off a ledge…

If I released the secrets and Juliet died. Some other vampire would take over. Our fate might be even worse off than criminals finally reprimanded for crimes such as murder. Who knew if we would be enslaved. Conditioned like Marcus was to serve them and become a breeding colony to supply their numbers and fodder for a blood-hungry addiction. I wasn’t naïve about the outcome. Having my tongue cut out and forced into manual labor was not my idea of fun.

We sat and made a fire in the pit. It was a lovely evening out in the desert. I had my veil close by just in case. Nevin was explaining how I would get the information off the tubes. Gigi was still fast asleep at my feet. I didn’t like her like that. I missed the old Gigi. Crazy and cuckoo at times. Was she finally accepting me? I stretched out my hand and rubbed her ears. How different things might have been had she run off into those tunnels. Fate seemed to be playing a bigger role in my life than I could ever imagined.

***

Soren

Ian was away getting the stone from Marcus. I did feel terrible giving him the information. But I only did it after I was sure Juliet would not need it, not in that way, anyway. It wasn’t going to make the whole planet fall at her feet. The decision left me not knowing if it would make them doubt me. It was that, or I had to tell him about the brandings and that, eventually, he would have to take a knee for her anyway. My face was in my palms. All I had done was read and think. I rubbed my two index fingers up and down my forehead in an attempt to focus on the future. In the end… If I married Rana, all of Juliet’s problems would be over. Marcus never had to worry about me again. Juliet could be free of letting me go, knowing I was over her, moving on. I wished I could speak to her. Just for a minute. Have an honest conversation with anyone other than my sister.

A hand rested on my shoulder. I looked up. Isla’s veil was back. She was so ashamed of breaking down in front of Ian that she decided to never take it off again. Oh, how I regretted everything. Why did I come? Why did I not talk to Louis while Marcus was a million miles away? Marcus would never have come back… I cringed at the thought. Juliet would have had to fight Ahasuerus alone. How would they have gotten over it?

“Soren…”

“Yes.” I bounced my chin on my thumbs.

“Are you going to make it?”

I shook my head and stood up to peer over the pink water. I didn’t enjoy the view that day. My hand rested on the window, keeping me up.

“Do you regret agreeing with the two marriages?”

“I’m not the one going into a situation you know nothing about, Isla. After everything, how can I let you go into a house so fast.”

“I wanted to….” She wrung her hands in her lap. “I think I know enough of a person to know when the man will turn out to be cruel and abusive.”

I scoffed. “You know nothing. Ian might be using us both, and you’ll be used in worse ways than I will.”

I rested my mouth on my stretched-out arm, looking back at her. She glanced around. The door was closed. She got up and moved as close as possible. “What will Juliet say when she hears you’re marrying Rana?” Quickly, I looked back over the water. “I thought you didn’t like Rana.”

“It’s not that I wouldn’t be able to marry her. It’s that I love Juliet and always will… I do fear that I’m giving away another chance. Juliet would live much longer than Marcus.”

“Soren, that’s seven hundred years if you’re lucky. Maybe Juliet would wait for you.” I scoffed. There was no chance of that. “You could come to appreciate Rana.”

I scoffed louder. “She’s shallow. Doesn’t have two thoughts to rub together. We will never talk or have anything in common. How is that worse than waiting… Isla, you have no idea how I feel.”

Isla turned away. “I suppose I don’t. And love is not a custom on En-gannim, and I was always okay with it. All I want is security.”

“I don’t know what’s going to happen or if you will find it. Let’s wait and see. Ian might die in the end. So don’t get your hopes up too much. I promise if things don’t work out. I will find you a match.”

“I wish I could go home, Soren. I miss mama et baba.”

“Yes. Ian might even be lying about talking to Baba… I will try to get him to let us go. Even if it’s escorted.” I was scared my parents might be dead. I wasn’t going to frighten my sister.

There was a bustle throughout the house. Servants rushed to the foyer. “Ian is back,” Isla whispered.

“Seems like it.”

“Where is Soren?” His steward ushered him into the common room. Ian was animated with a big smile on his face. He pushed his hand into his pocket and pulled out the stone. Ian placed it on the table with a ridiculous grin on his face. I frowned as I picked it up. What had happened? Did they capture Marcus? Or worse?

“The plan went off with no hitches. You are a genius, boy.”

I kept staring at the stone, rolling it through my fingers. “This is not the right stone.”

“What?!” Ian’s smile fell. He came back to human. A scowl on his brow. “But this is Ahasuerus’s emblem.”

“Yes, it is. I’d recognize the eagles anywhere. I had not seen it close up. I just imagined it would be... pink.” I took the plate out of my pocket and slid it over to him. I flipped to the page he needed to see. Look here. The images are in black and white. But if you look closely. It’s different in the slightest way. The carvings are the same. It’s even the same size, but the translation is precise about the color. This one is blue and green.

Ian rolled the stone around in his fingers. “I have seen this very stone a hundred times. It is definitely the one Ahasuerus wore.”

I paged further and tapped the screen. “This is what you have.”

“What do the writings say?”

“It’s a key to open doors on Palmyra… Somewhere on that rock, there is a place that holds some power. It doesn’t say what’s inside, but… if the one can make any liquid turn to stone….” I turned away to think. “I figure Brylee must have had the stone we hoped it would be.”

“Why?”

“I have no idea. She might have used it more regularly than Ahasuerus to manage her affairs or travel around that vast place that was mostly water.”

He nodded. “You think that they had some kind of deal.”

“If she had the other stone at all. We accepted that it was a sign of rulership. Now… I’m not so sure.”

Ian rubbed at his chin. I glanced up. Isla was gazing at Ian in that love-sick way. My stomach churned at the possibility of her getting hurt again. She looked down when she noticed I had caught her. Could she not just confess that she was in love with the man. Would she even recognize what was happening to her? It did complicate things further. If Juliet killed Ian, it would bring about more rifts between us. We were back in the eighteenth century. The door opened for Rana. She waited on the threshold. I wondered if Ian had even apprized her of what was to come. I thought back about her standing in that corner for days. I had so much time to stare at her. I just didn’t want to. Every day, I tried to catch a glimpse of Juliet. To see what was in her eyes that day.

Ian glanced up at the movement. “Ah, Rana, come here. I need to talk to you.”

She shuffled over. Head to the floor. If I married her, I would forever want her to try and change. She would become an outcast if I tried to conform her to… whatever I wanted.

“Soren and I have been speaking. You will marry him. And I will marry Isla as my second wife… You two have something in common in that regard. I expect you to treat him respectfully and not humiliate me.”

Rana didn’t dare open her mouth or object. The two women didn’t look at each other either. My heart sank at the weight of the situation. The dreary outlook of my life ahead. If Rana didn’t change, I would have to. I shook my head at the thought of going down that road.

“It might not be the position I was hoping for you. But Marcus will never come around to the possibility of a union. He even said so when I saw him today… I told him what would happen.”

I turned my head not to give away the feelings written on my face. Marcus was probably ecstatic. So it was over. They were not coming for us and will try for a peaceful resolution. Or the war will just go on.

“You two are dismissed. I need to talk to Soren alone.” Rana retreated backward, and Isla shuffled out in the same manner.

Ian got up and paced the room. “What am I going to do? How will we get into Nahrima?”

I could give him ten ways off the top of my head. I ruffled my hair in irritation. I would never be able to say my peace. Forever in Ian’s grasp. Maybe I should tell him. If I pushed it from this side. Ian would die, or Juliet and her people would retreat to Zoreah.

“Speak, boy.”

“First, you need to send Fahan human hands to help him. He needs more scientists to help him with his teleporter if the one he has is off. If you permit me, I could oversee the proceedings. Tell him about the stone we are looking for and what it could mean for him… That chamber must have something valuable in it. If it’s not the origin of all the stones, which is my theory. If I am there….” I took a breath. “If Fahan believes there are more stones that could help him in ways none of us could fathom, he might be inclined to help us search for those rooms. He needs that tech implanted so that they can fly. That alone will get you more than the ability to attack Nahrima.” Ian observed me carefully. I waited for him to figure it out. “If you can’t get into Nahrima….” I said after it seemed he wouldn’t ever realize what he should do.

He cut me off, “Go around them and keep taking over.”

I nodded eagerly. He was starting to think about the bigger picture. “You already have most of the mineral islands. If you can keep hold of the water… You could build your own big teleporter, and once you do….”

“Take over, Nahrima.” Ian shook his head. “You surprise me every time you open your mouth. Do you understand why I’m marrying my sister to you?”

“I think so… There is one thing I would like to ask. If you will permit me, us. I would like to see my parents.”

This would be his test. If he said no… I would try to get Isla out.

“Of course.” My eyes widened in surprise. “And take your sister with you… You will have to forgive me, Soren. I… am not accustomed to the way you live your life. I had not even considered you would want to see them.”

I was stunned.

“You have helped me so much already. It’s the least I can do.” He dug into his pocket. He opened his hand. Inside laid a small round plate. My eyes darted up. Had he found out? “With this, you can go anywhere you want to.” He chuckled. “It’s our house signate.” I took it and held it up into the light. It was an ocean. “I can’t give your sister one.”

“I understand. When Isla needs to see my parents, will you allow me to take her?”

He nodded. The first genuine smile played over my mouth since I had been stuck there. “I’m glad to see you are coming around.” I turned to leave. “Soren,” I paused. I knew it was too good to be true. “If you want to change Rana in any way. Feel free. If she lives on that island with your family. She needs to fit in. She will do what she is told. If you want to see her face the whole day. I will not deny you the privilege or force you to conform to the way you can not accustom yourself to… In fact, I expect you and your sister will be the making of me.”

I stilled at his words. Our future was not set in stone, and I have been keeping a lot from him. The weight of the situation sunk in. He was being sincere, and it caught me by surprise. Ian wasn’t a complete louse, and Isla could see it. Could I really blame Ian for going up against Marcus? He was trying to preserve a whole way of living.

“Speak.”

“Are you… a violent man?”

His brows knit together, and then they relaxed. “Ahh, Isla.” He smiled. “No. All I expect from her is respect, and I will return that much. Maybe not in the way you understand it. Unfortunately, here, we do not have to earn trust. It happens, and you live either honorable or not….” He got up. “Not all of us are like Lucius. I will not even lift my hand if she makes a mistake. I will be patient with her.”

The feelings in my breast swelled. Maybe Isla was right. Ian didn’t seem so bad after all. I bowed for the first time and left. There was nothing for it. If he took over. He would be my family and my king