Chapter 60

Chapter

Sixty

Ariana

I stopped jogging when I reached the edge of the cliff, braced my hands on my knees, and bent over as I sucked in greedy breaths. The Drexians might have impressive holo-technology that could recreate the most elaborate environments, but I still preferred working out the old-fashioned way. I inhaled the salty air and watched the spray kick up from below as the waves pounded the high rock face.

This was where I came when I wanted to clear my mind. This was where I came if I wanted to run to the point of exhaustion and banish all thoughts of Sasha from my mind, even if it was only for a few minutes. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to think about my sister but worrying about her so much had started to make me feel crazy .

I knew that the Drexians and my friends were doing everything they could to find her but imagining her being held captive by the Kronock made it impossible for me to focus on anything else. At least Fiona’s personal drama had distracted me for a bit, although I didn’t like to see my friend in turmoil. And the thought of the captain grabbing her against her will made the blood pound in my ears.

I clenched my fists until the nails bit into my flesh. Maybe I should pay a visit to the captain and tell him what I thought of entitled men who presumed they could do what they wanted without repercussions. Even better? I could tell Volten what the human had done. He and the other Drexians would be more than happy to explain Drexian honor to the guy.

I smiled at this thought, getting more malicious pleasure from that idea than I should have. I was still considering it, when the device in my pocket trilled.

I always brought it with me when I ran outside the academy buildings, but I was surprised that it was going off. I rarely used it within the academy, and it had been a while since I’d received a message or vid call.

I pulled it from my pants pocket and glanced at the screen before answering. “Hey, Nina, it’s been a while.”

My cousin worked on the Island, one of the Drexian space stations designed to house tribute brides and their warrior husbands. We hadn’t spoken much since I’d arrived at the academy—we were both busy with new jobs and new Drexian mates—but she knew all about Sasha and the plan to rescue her.

“No kidding.” Nina’s voice crackled as her images warbled on the screen. “I’ve been trying to reach you for days. ”

“Really?” That was odd. I’d received no transmissions or attempted calls. Then again, maybe that was the weird part.

“Really.” She frowned. “I’ve been worried about you.”

“You don’t need to worry about me. I’m fine. We’re still working on pinpointing the place where Sasha’s being held, but I think we’re clo—”

“Ariana,” she cut me off, “how are the preparations going? Is the academy ready or can I expect you to come here until the danger has passed?”

I stared at her image for a beat. “What danger?”

She ran a hand through her dark hair and huffed out a breath. “Have you all received no transmissions?”

My heart, which had started to return to its normal patter, began to race again. “I don’t know. Why? What’s going on?”

“You know that we formed an alliance with the Taori, right? Well, they have been tracking the Sythian swarm, which is even more terrifying than the Kronock.”

I’d heard some things about the horned warriors who were traversing multiple galaxies to hunt down a deadly swarm, but my understanding was that it was far from Drex.

“Apparently, the swarm splintered and part of it went off in another direction,” Nina said, her voice dropping. “Drex and the Academy are now in its possible path.”

My stomach clenched as I backed away from the edge of the cliff and started to half run, half stumble toward the academy. “I didn’t know. No one here knows.”

“I’m telling you, your communications are down. ”

My mind spun in a thousand directions as I started to run. “What about the envoy from Earth? Did he know about this?”

“You mean the guy who was sent there to warn you about it and assist with preparations and evacuations—?”

I didn’t hear the rest of what she said because as I drew closer to the towering black stone walls of the academy, the connection was lost and my cousin’s face vanished. It didn’t matter. I knew what I needed to know, and I knew who was to blame.

“ Grekking men,” I said as I broke into a sprint.