Chapter 21

LEONA

The speakeasy is eerily empty tonight. Only a handful of patrons showed up. There's no entertainment either. Jenny, as well as other musicians who sometimes visit to share their talents, are all strangely absent. Usually, at least one of them makes an appearance.

Angelo is standing near the entrance, and we exchange an uneasy look. A few of our volunteer workers failed to show up tonight as well.

There's no denying it. The atmosphere on the ship is becoming more and more tense as the days go by.

I glance at the clock. Almost closing time.

My stomach flips at the prospect of returning to the quarters I share with my father. A virus. I can scarcely believe it. He claims a human woman, one of the thirty, deployed a virus on the Haxxal .

Are Darrvasons getting sick? Are some of them dying?

Grief darkens my psyche. I've never felt more hopeless or helpless before. But what the fuck am I supposed to do? Report my father's crimes to the command team? My hands aren't exactly clean. I would implicate myself in the process.

Staying out after curfew.

Engaging in fornication.

Running an unsanctioned gathering place.

Brewing illegal substances.

Add up all my crimes, and there's a chance I would have a date with a depressurization chamber. Shivers rack my body and I wrap my arms around myself.

I can't return to my quarters. Not when I no longer trust my father. I'll have to sleep in the bar. I don't want to spend the night with a friend. What if a warrant is issued for my arrest? I don't want anyone I care about to be caught harboring me.

Lee-oon-ahh.

My breath catches, and hope rises in my chest. Zahhn . I peer around the bar, but he's nowhere to be seen. I close my eyes and concentrate.

Zahhn , I send down what I assume is our bond, can you hear me?

Yes , comes his reply, and I revel in the feel of his deep voice vibrating through me. I can hear you. Thank the Star Gods. Are you all right?

Yes , I tell him. I am fine. Where are you? Why did you leave without waking me?

I am on the Rorrsa . I awoke this morning on the…

His voice fades in my head. So does his presence.

I nearly scream in frustration. I still haven't decided whether I truly want to be his mate, but I'm desperate to have a conversation with him. I need to know if he's safe. I also need to warn him about the virus. He's a skilled doctor. Perhaps he can help devise a treatment.

A hand clamps down on my arm, and I yelp and tug away. My eyes shoot open, and I find myself staring at Angelo's concerned face.

"Hey, Boss, you okay?"

"I'm fine," I bark in a tone much harsher than intended. I sigh and soften my voice. "I'm fine, really. I, um, just spaced out for a while. My dad and me haven't been getting along. I was just thinking about our last argument." It's not a total lie.

"Why don't you spend the night in my quarters? As you know, we have plenty of room. My mom won't mind."

"That's very sweet of you to offer," I say, "but I'll be okay." I don't want to admit I would feel uncomfortable spending the night in Founder's quarters. Angelo is a descendant of Founders, though like Jenny, he tends to hang with the non-Founder crowd. His offer is truly touching, but if another Founder, one who believes in a separation of the classes, so to speak, witnesses me visiting his quarters at this late hour, it could spell trouble for both of us. I watch as the last of tonight's customers depart the speakeasy, then gaze up at Angelo and force a smile.

He sighs and drags a hand through his dark hair. "Well, let me help you clean this place up."

I cast a quick glance around the bar. "It's not that bad. It'll just take me a few minutes. Go home and get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely." I make a shooing motion toward the door. "Now go. Don't make me call a security officer on you."

He laughs and heads for the door. "Fine, fine. See you tomorrow, Boss."

I watch as he departs, then sink down on a stool at the bar. I drop my head in my hands as a shudder of exhaustion moves through my body. I'm mentally and physically drained, and somehow, I've become tangled in a mess I don't know how to escape.

I have a mate I'm not sure I want, despite my intense attraction to him.

My father is indeed involved with rebels who would like nothing more than to take over the command of the Jansonna . Apparently, they want to kill all the Darrvasons on the Haxxal and take ownership of that ship as well.

I have no idea whether my mate or his comrades are falling ill aboard the Haxxal , and unless our mind-connection starts working again, I have no way of contacting Zahhn to warn him.

Oh, and let's not forget that I run an illegal speakeasy and suddenly customers are scarce. My stomach flips when I consider why. The bar has been a place for rebels to congregate. Maybe business has slowed because my patrons are worried about a raid.

Fuck fuck fuck.

I groan aloud, a bit dramatically, then slip off the stool. I quickly clean up the bar and turn down the lights.

But I'm suddenly second guessing my decision not to return to my quarters tonight. What if Zahhn shows up and I'm not there? I don't want to see my father. Not only is he a rebel, but he's a would-be murderer. Thousands of Darrvasons call the Haxxal home, and he wants to kill as many as he can. While I can understand his misgivings about the alliance, I cannot condone his methods of protest.

In the end, I climb through the tubes to Deck Eleven, home sweet home, and slink through the shadows to my quarters. To my relief, I don't hear any voices when I enter. Nor do I see anyone. My father's bedroom door is cracked, and I peek inside to find it empty. Good. He's gone. Probably out engaging in criminal activity, but at least he's not here to try to convince me to help him.

I hurry to my bedroom and lock the door. Then I sit on my bed and hold vigil, waiting for Zahhn. Waiting for his arrival. Waiting for his voice in my head. Anything.

But no matter how hard I try to reach him, no matter how many thoughts I attempt to send his way, I receive no response. It's as though he's vanished from existence.

Worry clutches me. What if he was sick when he contacted me earlier in the night? What if his illness was the reason our conversation ended so abruptly?

I peer around my room, feeling trapped and useless. I rack my brain for anyone aboard the Jansonna I might ask for help. But the only people who hold enough power to contact the Darrvasons are the most corrupt of all. Unless…

Nathan Gonlez. He's a security officer who was engaged to Jenny's sister. I don't know him well, but I know his face and I'm vaguely familiar with his work hours. I see him patrolling the corridors each day. Could he help me?

I huff and quickly push the idea aside. I don't know for certain where his loyalties lie. Approaching him might be too risky.

What about Officer Brute? Maybe I ought to approach the Darrvason security officer who has an interest in Jenny. It's been days since his visit to my bar, and he hasn't turned me in yet. Clearly, he's capable of keeping secrets.

Yes, I resolve, I'll try to track him down tomorrow. From what I've heard, he's been following poor Jenny around the ship lately. If I can't find him myself, I can always ask her for help in facilitating a conversation.

I prepare myself for bed and climb under the covers, trying not to think about why I have fresh sheets. I'm still mortified that my father heard everything , though why the opinion of a would-be murderer matters to me so much, I'm not sure.

At some point, I drift to sleep.

I awake in the morning to the beeping of my alarm, and I sit up in bed, weighed down with so much worry that it's difficult to breathe.

Zahhn didn't visit me last night. Not in person and not in my head.

I close my eyes and reach out with my thoughts, but nothing happens. I still can't feel him.

Zahhn. I'm sorry, but I don't want you as my mate. Forgive me, but I treasure the freedom I have on the Jansonna , and I never planned to marry. I should have tried harder to push you away. I should have ignored my urges . But I still hope you're okay. Please don't be dead. Please, if you can hear me, let me know how you're faring.