Chapter 24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

O ne Hour Later…

Snuggled against Zade’s side as they sat on a large sofa, Ashlyn couldn’t help but fidget. She hated waiting. Hated wearing the armor over her full body suit that Zade had insisted she wear for the meeting with Ocliver. It was uncomfortable and didn’t fit properly, but that was all that was available on short notice.

Sasha and Dagan sat on a second sofa, while Rachel sat in a comfortable chair. Cam stood protectively behind her.

Ashlyn knew there were others in the room, unseen. Invisible. Cloaked. Ready for battle. Lumerian Knights. She shivered in spite of Zade’s warmth. Everyone was tense. Ocliver somehow knew she and Zade had gone through a Yielding. What other secrets did he know? How had he found out? Who had he told? They’d been discussing the possibilities for nearly an hour and still had no answers.

Dagan put his hand on Sasha’s expanding waistline. “I still don’t think you should be here, little one. It’s not safe for you or the baby.”

Sasha placed her hand over his. “That’s where you’re wrong,” she said gently. “We’re safest wherever you are.”

A loud gong sounded throughout the house. Their ‘guest’ had arrived. Everyone stood as Zade walked out of the room, returning a few minutes later with Ocliver.

Ashlyn looked at the Cappran’s obsidian eyes. They were still just as glassy and cold as she remembered, along with those creepy tentacle eyebrows, which gave her the willies. Tall and gaunt, Ocliver would have made a great grim reaper in her favorite horror movie. He was terrifying.

Ashlyn held out her hand for Zade. Immediately, he returned to her side, placing a comforting arm around her.

Ocliver strode to the center of the room and turned in a slow circle, his shrewd eyes taking in every detail. With a barely perceptible smile, he stopped when he’d made a full circle, his gaze resting on Zade and Ashlyn.

Zade was the first to speak. “Ocliver Vii Salakoori, we thank you for your assistance in the arena. I don’t know why you saved us, or how, although I assume you asked us here in order to explain yourself.”

Ocliver gave a small bow from the waist and smiled, showing a mouth full of sharp teeth. “Indeed, Caldorian, and you are most welcome.”

Ashlyn fidgeted. Her skin was crawling, literally crawling, at the sleazy Cappran’s proximity. Rubbing a hand soothingly down her arm, the one with the beautiful new markings, heart thundering in her chest, she slowly stepped forward. I’m a full on Council member and, thanks to Zade, a princess to boot. I refuse to be intimidated by C’Nar’s lackey.

Pulling her shoulders back, spine stiff, Ashlyn tilted her head up, way up, and looked Ocliver in the eye. “You said you’ve waited thousands of years for someone like me. What did you mean by that?”

Ocliver’s smile widened. “You’re very direct. I knew I liked you.” He gave a tiny jerk of his head toward the others. “Are you sure they can be trusted?”

Ashlyn pressed her lips together in irritation. “I trust them with my life. You’ve met Ambassador Shronti. He’s mated to my sister, Rachel, and I have also invited my friend Sasha and her mate, King Dagan.”

Ocliver turned to the first couple named and gave another bow. “I am delighted to meet you, Rachel. I confess, I already knew who you were. The resemblance to Ashlyn is unmistakable. Ambassador, your reputation for handling the most difficult situations, and Councilors, precedes you. I am most pleased you are here.”

Cam nodded. “Salakoori.”

Ocliver grinned, presumably at Cam’s cool tone, then turned to Sasha and Dagan. “King Dagan Tiranon of the Western Sector of Caldor,” he began, bowing once again. “You and your mate have caused quite a stir.”

Dagan raised an eyebrow, choosing to remain silent.

Ocliver held out a hand, palm up, toward Sasha. “My dear. If you would?”

Sasha looked at Dagan, then back to Ocliver. Hesitantly, she placed her hand in Ocliver’s. When their palms touched, a bright blue light flashed between their hands, there one moment, gone the next.

Dagan pulled Sasha back with preternatural speed and stepped protectively in front of her, blocking Ocliver from further contact. “What game are you playing, Salakoori?”

Sasha laughed from behind Dagan. “It’s alright. I feel wonderful. Better than I have in months.”

“And the baby?” he growled; his eyes fixed menacingly on Ocliver.

“She’s fine. Better than fine, I think.” Sasha peered around Dagan, her eyes shining. “Thank..thank you?”

Ocliver dipped his head. “Of course.”

Turning back to Zade and Ashlyn, Ocliver stood quietly.

Zade stepped up beside Ashlyn and crossed his arms. “I’ll ask again. Who are you?”

“First, tell the Lumerians to sheath their weapons. I have no wish to die today. If I wanted to hurt you, I would have let the poison have you in the arena. Do not insult me by telling me they do not exist. I can feel one breathing down my neck.”

Tense seconds ticked by as Zade and Ocliver stared at one another in a silent battle of wills. Finally, Zade nodded. “Very well. Bren?”

Out of thin air, Bren appeared next to Ocliver, the tip of his dagger so close to the Cappran’s throat, the tiny, raised hairs on Ocliver’s skin brushed against the alien metal. Bren’s black camouflage armor flickered, in patches, in and out of sight, like a ghost. An apparition. Ashlyn could see him, but there was no sound.

Ocliver didn’t move a muscle. “And the others?”

Four more Lumerian Knights appeared. One stationed by the door, the others spread out. They were all armed and ready, weapons pointed at Ocliver.

Zade smiled coldly. “Your turn.”

Rather than respond, Oliver closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. On the fourth inhale, a white light, an aura, appeared around his entire being. Brighter and brighter, he glowed, until the light was so intense Ashlyn had to look away.

When she looked back again, Ocliver was gone. In his place stood a woman in a toga style black dress, her arms covered in glowing blue markings. She was tall, nearly as tall as Ocliver was, with long black hair, small, pointed ears, and delicate features. Beautiful. Refined. Timeless.

“Uh, am I hallucinating right now?” Ashlyn asked, dumbfounded.

Bren stepped back in shock, his dagger falling from boneless fingers as he fell to one knee. “I am sorry, my lady. I would never hold a dagger..I did not know..”

Zade was the first to recover. His lips quirked. “I believe that qualifies as a dramatic entrance, my lady. Unfortunately, you have us at a disadvantage. You clearly know who we are, while we know nothing of you.”

The woman’s tinkling laughter was like music, soft and melodic. “I am Aro.”

There was a moment of silence, then everyone started talking at once, including the Lumerians, who sheathed their weapons and gathered around her with rapt attention. Aro laughed again, clearly delighted.

Only Ashlyn didn’t join in. How could she? Ocliver was evil. He worked for the Ubrions. Didn’t he? What the fuck was happening?

Aro reached out and took Ashlyn’s hands. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Ashlyn looked deeply into her mint green eyes. “Who are you, Aro? Why are you here?”

Aro’s smile softened. “I am Aro. I am from Luma.”

Abruptly, all talking ceased. Ashlyn glanced around the room. The Lumerians had gone stock-still, frozen, their eyes, their entire focus, now on their conversation. Ashlyn’s internal warning system started blaring. What was going on? Why did they look like they’d just seen a ghost? They were the ghosts, for crying out loud. She refocused on Aro. “Luma? Is that near Lumeria? A moon, or something?”

Aro shook her head in amusement. “Luma predates Lumeria. We are their ancestors.”

Don’t panic. Breathe. Breathe. Be cool. “Oh. I see. Well, that’s..uh..great, then. So, you’re like, Bren’s great, great, great, grand..I mean..not that you look old..you, ah, look like you’re barely in your twenties. How..” she stuttered, cringing at how ridiculous she sounded. An ancient of the ancients. Her mind was literally being blown right now. “Do you have..uh..any family? Nearby, I mean?”

Aro’s smile faded, replaced by deep sadness. “I am very old. I was a child when Luma was destroyed. There were other survivors, of course, but no one from my family that I could find. Luma is many light years from Lumeria. I have not seen anyone from Luma in many centuries.”

Before Ashlyn could ask more questions, Zade spoke from beside her, “Aro, it is my honor to offer you a seat at our table. We have fresh fruits from our gardens and refreshments, as well. I know you have traveled a great distance. We would all love to hear your story, but if you are tired, we can wait until you have rested.”

Aro nodded. “Something fresh to eat would be lovely. Thank you.”

Ashlyn smiled at Zade and stole a quick kiss while Aro moved to the table. Luckily the oblong table was enormous and there was room for everyone. They’d put out trays of food and drink ahead of time, buffet style, so they spent several minutes filling their plates and glasses, chatting animatedly. “I love you so much.”

Zade grinned, his eyes full of mischief. “I’ll let you prove it later.”

Ashlyn winked at Zade and sat down across from Aro, at the head of the table. It was the only seat left. Apparently, everyone seemed to think she should run the show. Well, she supposed she was ‘Councilor Faro’, after all. She looked around. Was she the highest ranking person in the room? Holy shitballs. Technically, she was. Resisting the urge to laugh hysterically, she clasped her fingers together and waited for Aro to continue.

“My people colonized Lumeria after the A’Nua Na-KI destroyed our planet,” Aro said in between bites of a crisp yellow fruit that tasted a lot like watermelon. Ashlyn knew that because she had already eaten several that day.

One look at the Lumerians’ intense focus on Aro’s story told Ashlyn they’d never heard it before, either. She could only imagine what it would feel like to be in their shoes right now, listening to their planet’s origin story.

“There was already a primitive civilization there,” Aro continued. “Slowly, we integrated our species, gave them many of our gifts. The Lumerians thrived. Became powerful. Too powerful. They drew the attention of the A’Nua Na-KI once again.”

Zade handed Ashlyn a plate full of fruits and cheeses, but she was too nervous to eat much.

Aro cleared her throat. “Delicious. Thank you for that. Now, where was I?”

Bren spoke quietly from three seats down. “I think you were about to tell us the A’Nua Na-KI were responsible for the destruction of our planet.”

Aro nodded. “Yes, ultimately, they were. You see, they were bitter enemies of my people. We were at war for centuries before they found a way to destroy us. When they realized the Lumerians were our progeny, they devised a way to destroy them, as well, through political manipulations. We do not know who they bribed within the Intergalactic Council, or what was promised to them to order Lumeria’s destruction, but it is happening again.”

Ashlyn leaned forward, enthralled. “Again? How is that possible? I thought the whole planet was destroyed.”

Aro took a sip of juice, her eyes glazed in memory. “Lumeria was not the only planet we colonized. There were others.” She looked around the table, her gaze settling on Ashlyn. “We gave Lumeria all of our gifts. Even with the blending of the native civilization, they looked remarkably like us, had longevity like us, and maintained many of our traditions. They were so much like us, in fact, we were afraid they would become targets, so we colonized Caldor as well. They, too, have our gifts, but we partially hid them.”

Zade sat back in his chair, stunned. “How? How did you hide them?”

“Caldorians are fast, yet not quite as fast as the Lumerians, things like that, but mostly their psychic abilities were suppressed. Only a few have been able to tap into some of their gifts without them being activated by our superior technology.”

This time it was Dagan who spoke. “The Saltrec. They tapped in, didn’t they?”

“Out of necessity, yes. A survival instinct, deeply buried.”

Ashlyn looked at Sasha, realization dawning. “And Earth. You colonized Earth, didn’t you? That’s why the maju paste does what it does to us.”

Aro nodded sadly. “Yes, child. And you have been discovered.” She reached for Ashlyn’s hand across the table, her eyes hardening with determination. “I have spent millennia watching, waiting, getting close to the Council members, making myself indispensable, all so that when this day came, I could warn you.”

She looked around the table. “So that I could warn all of you. Be in a position to help. The A’Nua Na-KI have returned. They know who you are, and they have powerful allies on the Council. The Ubrions were one of them. Destruction is no longer their goal. They mean to enslave the people of your planets. Control your gifts. Feed from you.”

Heart pounding, Ashlyn asked the questions she knew must be on all their minds. “How? What can we do to stop them?”

Aro sighed. “The Dark One, Bone Crusher, has demanded the Council produce the Lumerians who killed his mate. This was no spur of the moment appearance. This was well thought out in advance. The threat of war with the Dark Ones means war with the A’Nua Na-KI and all their allies. The Council will want to avoid that. They will try to bargain. Offer up one planet to save many. They’ve done it before. First Luma, then Lumeria. The question now is which planet do the A’Nua Na-KI want most?”

This time Cam spoke up. “My lady, are you suggesting the Council is considering sacrificing an entire planet just to avoid conflict with the A’Nua Na-KI?”

“No. I am suggesting the deal has already been made.”

“Which planet?”

“Earth.”