17. Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Summer

"What the hell?" I ground out, holding my head in a vain attempt to stop my temple throbbing. Light hurt my face, and I struggled to open my eyes.

"She awakens," a gravelly voice said.

"Sabulk? Is that you?" Please help."

"Help me," the voice mocked. "Not so perfect now, are you?"

"Sabulk, please take me back to Renick. He's probably wondering where I am."

"You stupid female. I'm not taking you anywhere near Renick." His voice dripped with disdain.

"Help me, please. I'm not sure what happened. All I know is my head is killing me and I need your help to get back home."

"That will never be your home. You are not wanted among the Abane people. Nor are you welcome in the Ulawan family."

His feet kicked dirt and pebbles in my face. I tried to narrow down my potential location, to no avail. "You're his family! Please take me back to your nephew." My voice came out strained.

"I'm not his uncle. Not by blood, anyway."

"What?"

Sabulk chortled. "Oh, this is precious. Renick didn't tell you. I was only close to the family to put myself in a position of power. You know the Ulawan's have everything. I came from nothing. I worked hard, finally working my way up."

I grimaced at his rant. My eyes opened, and I strained to focus on the man in front of me. Sabulk paced the packed dirt a handful of feet away. His skin flushed almost like a two day old bruise. He tugged his hair, looking positively apoplectic. I debated the pros and cons of reasoning with him, settling on the ‘well, it can't hurt' train of thought. "A lot of people start out with nothing. I come from a family that's dirt poor. We barely had enough food."

"It's nepotism I tell you. Renick did nothing other than be born into that family. Now, he will have a position of power - one that he doesn't even want! One that he doesn't deserve."

"Once I take care of you, Renick will be too distraught to complete the ceremony, and the position will fall to me. The position should have been mine when Imoa found out Emzry died. She was supposed to give me his job and leave Renick to his life in the military. I did everything I could to stop him. And it worked! Imoa is mine now. Wait and see. She doesn't know it yet, but she is mine!" Sabulk screamed.

My head stopped throbbing long enough to process Sabulk's words. My vision finally came back into focus and I realized I knew where I was. I tried to move mybody away from the edge on top of the mountain where we sent our final goodbyes to Renick's father. Oh shit. He's going to throw me off the cliff. I'm going to die.

He lunged for me and I kicked out with my good leg, relying on the fact that the spot treatment and massage I'd gotten earlier in the day had loosened my muscles enough. Dance moves and stretches came back as if they'd never left. I rolled from under Sabulk's grasp, banging my shoulder and hip on a rock under some grass.

"Get back here, you filthy human. I'm going to take what Renick loves the most, just as Emzry took Imoa from me so many revolutions ago. She was mine first, but then she saw him and forgot about me."

"Renick will look for me. He has to know I'm missing by now." I glanced at the sky and my heart sank. Judging by the placement of the sun, Renick was in the middle of the installation ceremony - and I was missing it. I'd let the whole family I'd grown to love down. I hoped he hadn't noticed my absence, it would crush his heart. For all the negative thoughts filling my head, I held onto the single thread of hope he would come for me. All I had to do was keep Sabulk talking, ranting, whatever, and pray he made a mistake so I could escape.

A low hum buzzed over the field past my back. Needing to keep my eyes on my captor, I didn't dare twist my head to check its origin.

"Get up you bitch," screamed Sabulk. For an older man he was nimble as a dancer in their prime, and strong. He grabbed me by the hair and I cried out. I forced my body to go slack, forcing him to attempt to pick me up as dead weight.

A scream of pure agony tore through my throat when Sabulk fisted my hair, dragging me closer to the rough edge of the mountain.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of distinctive purple skin. My heart sang, and hope churned in my chest. While I wasn't out of danger yet, my odds of surviving exponentially increased.

I screamed again, keeping my eyes open this time. In doing so, I caught a glimpse of Ivex. He motioned with his hands that I should sweep my legs again.

I let my body slack, ignoring the pain on my scalp. Sabulk dropped me and I swung my leg in front of me between Sabulk's legs, bringing him to his knees.

As Sabulk fell, Arik let out a massive roar, and ran - partially on all fours like a feline - from his perfect camouflage, headbutting Sabulk in the side.

Someone grabbed me from behind, and I swung my arms and legs, until I looked down to see familiar purple arms wrapped around my body. "Oh thank God," I murmured. "I knew you'd come for me."

Renick didn't speak. He unceremoniously deposited me on my ass in the overgrowth away from the melee that had broken out between Arik and Sabulk. I put my head between my knees to catch my breath. Renick pointed toward Ivex standing back from the brawl, poised to jump in at any time. A small silver box with red buttons filled his hand. I grunted, unable to form my thoughts into words. Renick pointed up and I followed his finger to see two drones above the fighting below.

Overhead, the drones drew my focus. While I watched them, Arik managed to subdue Sabulk; both males breathing heavily from exertion. Arik tied Sabulks hands behind him using his belt. He pushed Sabulk toward Ivex, who held a pair of handcuffs in the air. With the silver box in one hand, Ivex was unable to control the man who had acted like an uncle to him, with his free hand.

Sabulk snarled and sprinted towards Arik who had bent down to pick up a glinting blade dropped in the fight. Sabulk screamed, barreling toward Arik. At the point of impact, Arik stood to his full height, hoisting Sabulk over his shoulders.

His momentum landed him precariously close to the edge of the cliff. With his hands tied behind his back, Sabulk's feet scrambled for purchase. The rocks on the edge loosened.

Renick pulled me against his chest, shielding my eyes from a gruesome end.

"Are you all right, Summer?" Renick asked, rubbing his hands over my extremities.

"Fine. A little bruised," I said.

Arik sauntered over, wiping the blade on his pants. "Glad to see you again, Summer. You gave us a scare. I'm sorry we didn't notice you were missing sooner."

"Not your fault. Sabulk ambushed me." I suppressed a shudder. "I like to sit on the benches outside looking up at the clouds. Sometimes I talk to them as if I were talking to my own family left behind on Earth. It's kind of weird, but it brings me peace."

"Little sister, I have a question," Ivex asked. "How were you able to move like that? Your legs?" he asked.

I grinned. "Thank your mother."

"What?" Ivex and Renick said in unison.

"Imoa took me to a spa treatment this morning. I didn't want to go at first, but she insisted because today was supposed to be a long day on my feet. She got both of us in for a massage that loosened my muscles." I glanced up at Renick. "It was a stroke of luck. Had I not gone with her, I wouldn't have been able to move like I did."

Renick smiled. "Remind me to thank her for her forethought."

I snuggled closer to Renick. "You're here now. We are all uninjured. That's what matters."

Arik winked. "If I'm being totally honest, I'm going to miss that belt."

"Ugh," I groaned. "Of course you'd say something like that."

Arik grinned. "A little levity never hurts."

Renick clapped his friend on the back. "I'm sure I can replace the belt," he said, his head bobbing.

Ivex fiddled with the box in his hands. He tucked it back into his pocket. "Now the whole planet knows who killed Father, and who tried to assassinate our new diplomat's mate."

"You caught his confession?" I asked.

"Sure did," Ivex said sheepishly. His wrist comm buzzed. He pressed a button on the top of the screen. Imoa's voice blasted through the tiny speaker.

"I'm glad Summer is safe. My boys, you're included too, Arik, were amazing. Now, get Summer home to her family, where she belongs. Summer, Sabulk was wrong. You are a member of this family, and you do belong. We love you."

"Yes, Mother," all three males replied.

The flyer landed in the field by our house. I rubbed my eyes, unable to believe the people anxiously awaiting my descent from the conveyance. Faces I never thought I'd see again, rushed to the door almost blocking me in. "Mom! Dad!" I cried, falling into my parents' arms. "What are you doing on Tenap? How? When?"

Imoa stood back, surrounded by her sons and Arik, a soft smile on her face. "Surprise?" she said softly. "Today was supposed to be a joyous day, and it still is because we're together. I'm glad we are all together as it should be."

My father extended his hand to Renick. "It's nice to meet you, son," he said.

"Summer, did you know there's a party tonight?" my youngest sister, Hannah, asked.

Before I could respond, Ivex knelt to get eye to eye with her. "I'm your uncle, Ivex. There is a party, are you going to it?"

Hannah nodded. "We all are!" She paused. "I saw you on the screen. Thank you for helping Summer."

Imoa leaned to talk to Hannah. "The party might be a little boring at times because a lot of grown-ups like to talk about their jobs, but don't worry. I have a plan."

Renick groaned. "Of course you do."

"Want to know my plan?" Imoa asked.

Everyone nodded. "I'm interested," I said.

"See over there?" she pointed to a canopied area at the edge of the patio. "We're setting up a special area where we can paint, or do puzzles and crafts, so if you get bored you can do that instead."

My mother's eyes filled with tears at Imoa's generosity. "What a lovely idea, Imoa. Thank you."

"Thank you for the gift of your daughter. I have never seen my son as happy as he is with her."

Warin, standing toward the back, cleared his throat. "Mother…"

"I didn't forget. Renick, step forward," Imoa commanded.

Ivex wrapped the ceremonial robes over running shoulders.

"Mother," my mate protested.

She waved her hand. "It's not like this family's ever done anything the traditional way. In a first for the Abrane people, we're having your installation ceremony here."

"When?" Renick's shoulders sagged under the weight of the crimson and black robe.

"Now."

A look of terror flashed over Renick's face.

"Right now, before any other drama can take place. We have our witnesses." Imoa gestured to our gathered family as well as the servants gathered on the patio. Someone I couldn't see pressed a button on a large big screen. The withered face of an older Abrane appeared.

"Greetings exalted one." Renick bowed.

"All the people who matter are here now. Can we please continue with Renick's installation ceremony?" Imoa asked.

"As you wish," the old Abrane said. "Your family suffered immense trauma today. It is not our desire to postpone or extend the service."

A few short words later, Renick officially became Abrane's newest diplomat.

Imoa made her way to Renick and me, my parents in tow. "Shall we tell them the rest of the surprise?" she asked.

"More?" My eyebrows arched. "What else could there be?"

My mother grinned. "Why not?"

"We're staying in Imoa's guest house for a month." Dad blurted out.

"A month?" I gasped. "That's amazing!"

Imoa leaned in. "Consider it a mating gift. Nothing is more important than family. I'm so glad you've become part of mine."

"I walked Summer to the runway the night of the auction, you know. It was as close as I got to walking my daughter down the aisle. Please take good care of our daughter," my father said, his voice thick with emotion.

"Mr. Hughes, I love your daughter with both my hearts. I will always prioritize her happiness and safety." Renick flushed. "This afternoon…"

"Was not your fault," my mother said. "We watched in real time the lengths you and your brother and friend went to get Summer back. It would be our greatest honor to welcome you into our family as you have welcomed Summer into yours." My parents beamed, hugging Renick.

"He's a good man, Summer. It looks like you lucked out sweetheart," Dad said.

"I sure did, Dad. I sure did." My heart felt full to bursting. "Renick loves me, and I love him."