Chapter 21

Lise

Icouldn’t believe what I was hearing. We had just figured out that there were alien microparticles in the water and likely also in the blood of every person in this Thrail, including me. My theory was dead-on. I’d been hoping it wasn’t.

For reasons we didn’t know, the women were the only ones affected by it. I, being new here, probably didn’t have enough of these particles in my system to allow me to be controlled.

“Hold on a minute,” I said to break through to Adrik. “We have two days. Two days to figure out how the particles work and disable them. Two days to get a message out.”

Adrik’s face was set and serious. “Our communications have been cut off from the other Thrails,” he said. “It is like a blanket has been laid over the valley and hills. We cannot get messages in or out, and without those coms, the ships on the hill are grounded. They cannot lift off without relaying and coordinating with the central system here. Safety measures.” He spat out the last two words like a curse. They certainly didn’t help us now. “We can only use ground transports to remove everyone in this Thrail. It will take at least three and a half days for any of our people to reach another Thrail by ground. There is not enough time.”

“Adrik, wait—”

He cut me off, bringing his hand to his forehead. “Lise, my priority is saving the lives of the people who live in this Thrail. That, I will do. The Dessicans have wanted this valley and its rich resources for longer than I have been alive. Their actions make it clear that they will not be waging war on the entire empire. We will evacuate. We do not have enough weapons, fighters or resources to take on the Dessican forces above that ridge. Some of us will stay as a sacrifice.”

Dikon nodded. “It is the way of the true warrior.” Dikon placed a fist over his chest. “I will inform everyone of what is happening.”

Adrik nodded wearily. “Find fifty warriors who are unmated and willing to stay. This is voluntary, you understand? Any who are bonded to human females are to leave with them. No exceptions.”

“Who is to say that they won’t pull the plug on these women anyway?” I asked him. “If they’re being controlled with devices deep in their bloodstreams, or embedded in their bodies, they can still be killed.”

Adrik’s scowl deepened. “The Dessicans’ actions indicate that they are not looking to declare war on all Mitrans. Believe it or not, this is the most peaceful solution. And if they kill your people, they make another enemy.” He shook his head. “I have to gamble that they wouldn’t risk retribution from Earth.”

“I’m not leaving you, Adrik,” I ground out.

His gaze locked with mine. All I could see in his dark eyes was pain. Agony. “Dikon, take Lise back to her home so she can pack up her things. Make sure her cat is well-secured in his carrier this time.” Sadness flickered over his face. “I will not be there to rescue the creature this time.”

“Understood, Warlord.” Dikon did not sound pleased about his mission. “Come with me now, Lise.” His voice was low and gruff. “I will take you home to collect your things.”

“I am not leaving you,” I said.

Adrik jerked his chin towards the door, and Dikon picked me up, as gently as possible, and put me over his shoulder.

I did not fight. I didn’t beat his back or kick my legs. I knew this was not at all what Dikon wanted to do. I had no ill feelings towards him, and I was confident he had none towards me. He seemed pleased that his warlord had found a mate. And unless I was deeply mistaken, he would be one of the warriors who stayed behind with Adrik. I felt horrible for him. And draining his strength would not help him for the fight that would come, no matter how futile it would be. “I will walk with you, Dikon,” I said. “Save your strength.”

He placed me down gently. “I understand your frustration, Lise. If there was another path forward, the warlord would take it.”

“Begin the evacuation immediately,” Adrik said.

Dikon led me quickly to my house, but did not leave until I was inside. He held the door and looked down at me, and for the first time I saw real emotion on his face. “Adrik will want you on the first ground transport out of here, so time is short. Bring only what you need, which would be your animal and your equipment. There will be no room for baggage. We are going to fit as many people on the transport as possible.”

“What about the women who are frozen?”

“The Dessicans indicated that they can be moved.” He shrugged and shook his head. “It is our hope that once they are out of a certain range, they will no longer be controlled by the Dessicans.”

I bent down to pick up Nugget, who, oblivious to it all, rubbed against my ankles. I scratched his chin as I studied Dikon. “Is anyone going to try to break a hole in the Dessicans’ communication blockade?”

A smile flickered over the tired warrior’s face. “Yes. We have scientists from the warship that is now grounded and we have other brilliant minds here who will dedicate as much as they can to solving this puzzle. But the warlord is right in beginning the evacuation. It is not easy to mobilize so many and get them out safely.”

“I’d like to stay and help.”

Dikon shook his head. “You did well in determining the water was the problem. If it were not for you, we would still have no idea that alien technology was at work here. But time has run out and the warlord’s orders are clear. Gather your things. Get some rest. You will be on the transport in four hours. That’s the earliest we can begin departing.” He dropped his gaze. “I am sorry, but I’m going to have to lock you in. I suspect you will not stay here, otherwise.”

I didn’t even say anything. I just watched him go and heard the lock of my door click. I put Nugget down and slammed a fist against the closed door. “Dammit.”

The adrenaline had faded and the reality of the situation crashed down on me like a bucket of ice water. Not only was I going to lose Adrik, but he did not expect to survive. The enemy was coming to kill him and fifty of his finest warriors simply to slake bloodlust.

I touched the beautiful emerald that hung around my neck. His mother’s stone. The touch of his skin on mine was still vivid, but in a little over two days’ time, this Mitran warlord, whom I had fallen in love with, would be dead, having taken out as many Dessicans as he could in the process. I sat on the edge of my bed, dropped my head in my hands and wept. I cried for what I had found, and just as quickly lost. I cried for the women who were trapped in their own bodies, unaware of what was going on, and how frightened they must feel. How terrified and helpless their mates must be.

Something made a humming sound above my right shoulder and I looked up, remembering the flycam. It had been on the whole time. Recording. Watching everything. I stared up at it. Its flat black eye narrowed to focus on my face. I narrowed my gaze as a thought popped in my head. “How fast can you fly, little one?”

It couldn’t answer, of course. But that answer and more were right in my computer, in the digital manual I never read.

Back on Earth, flycams broadcasted live footage from many places—from the moon and back to Earth. Although, sometimes that was very spotty, depending on interference. But across the globe? No problem. It was designed to pick up and piggyback on all available relay systems. I looked out the window. And I began to form a desperate plan.