Page 57

Fuck.

What is my dad going to think about these three?

The fact that they saved his life should score them points—but he won’t be able to accept that I want to be with a triad of Fanatic aliens. Maybe, just maybe, when I tell him that I’d be dead without them, he’ll see things differently.

But I remember how I felt when I first saw them. Attracted, yes, but also terrified. I can’t imagine being without them now, but there was an adjustment period.

My dad will just have to accept it.

“How long…how long will you three be at war?”

“We don’t know yet. Ra’al doesn’t trust us like he used to. He’s keeping information close to his chest—Queen Jasmine has her spies everywhere.” He clears his throat. “We won’t be able to go into Ridgetown with you. One woman alone might not draw too much suspicion, but accompanied by a triad…someone will hope for a reward for information and draw the Interrogators down on us.”

He opens the bag, pulling out the biggest hoodie I have. “Put this on, and cover your face with the hood. Go straight to your father’s room, and don’t leave. You’re a beautiful woman, Lola, the kind that attracts attention.”

“Should I…should I shave my head, or something? So I won’t be recognized?”

“That would make you stand out even more. Just keep your head down, ask for your father’s room, and go straight up. With some luck, you’ll be able to slip in.”

“When will I see you again?”

Khra looks away. “We’ll be back as soon as we can.”

I smile at him. If this is the last time we see each other, I won’t let him see me sobbing and scared. The ship shakes as the Reaver touches down, and I leave the bedroom. Krazak and Khra are waiting at the open side doors. They each give me a hug, a hug that lasts too long, as if it’s the last one I’ll ever get from them.

“Come back. Please,” I say, looking up at Krazak’s stern, hard face, and I see the ice in his eyes as he nods.

“We will.”

21

LOLA

Ipull the hood down until it nearly covers my eyes, my hair tucked away, as I walk into the grubby tavern. Even hidden in my heaviest clothing, I can feel the eyes on me, and I hate them, drunken men, so low compared to the triad.

A hand grabs my arm, and my eyes widen in shock when I turn to push away my accoster, when I see my dad’s face. He pulls me up the stairs quickly, and into his room.

“You’re alive,” I say, filled with joy.

“Of course. No problem at all,” he says, as if being trapped in the mines for near a week was nothing. He was always thin, but now his face is skeletal, but he got a fresh haircut and shave. I bite my lip. He should be resting, but he wanted to look presentable for me. He’s changed into jeans and a black sweater, and there’s no hint of the dust and grime of the mine.

“Take a seat,” he says, motioning to the wooden chair in the room. The bed is hard, with a thin mattress, the room low-ceilinged and dark. Somehow, I felt more free and relaxed in a literal cave.

I sit down, feeling awkward, happy that he’s alive, but uncomfortable—the last time we saw each other in real life was over a year ago, when he was standing stone-faced and I walked into Paulus’ estate.

I have a million questions I want to ask, but nothing comes to my mouth. My dad stays standing, as if sitting on the bed would be admitting weakness. “The Aurelians are at war. They don’t tell us anything, but I saw that warship of theirs, the huge one, taking off. Half broken up. They must be desperate to attack, if they’re using that hunk.” He smiles, and points to the desk, where he has a stack of credits displayed. “That’s a year’s worth of wages, there. With it, I can get us off this planet, into the Human Alliance territory, before that triad even knows you’re gone.”

“Dad, I don’t want to leave.”

His brows furrow. Is there more grey in his hair than when I last saw him? “They can’t hurt you here. I saw the news reports. That you were kidnapped. Even out here, people know about it. Now they saved my life, so I don’t want to get them killed, so we sneak off, and no one’s the wiser.”

“They saved my life, too. They only kidnapped me because…it’s a long story. But they never hurt me.”

“I know what Aurelians are like. These bastards…I won’t have my daughter’s blood spilt on some black altar.”

“They’re not like that!”

“You’re a sweet girl, Lola. You’ve always been tough. But I willnothave my only daughter be the…” He bites off what he’s going to say, but it’s like he slapped me.