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With that, he stalks away, leaving me sad and lonely for reasons I can’t explain.Not having a choice, I push those feelings down and follow him.

Chapter7

Elsie

Kian doesn’t have much to tell us about how Karl and the women ended up on Zerra or who created the portals except the facts I already pointed out.

I give Aruan a look that says I told him so.

Aruan paces in front of Kian’s table, frustration etched on his face.“How is it possible that no one has heard of anyone with the same powerful ability as Mother?That kind of power isn’t easy to keep a secret.On top of that, the person who tried to poison Elsieandthe traitor who let the Phaelix into the palace are still hiding right under our noses.”

Kian sits on a circular chair behind his table, observing us with a neutral expression.“If you let me read your mind, Elsie, I may be able to find some information.Something could’ve happened while you were unconscious.”

“You can do that?”I come closer.“See what happened while I was unconscious?”

Aruan’s, “No,” echoes through the room.“You willnotread her mind.”His tense shoulders and fisted hands as he stops to glare at Kian say he’s not going to budge.

In either case, I don’t want Kian to sift through my most private thoughts.I was just curious about how the brain works, if the mind records information even while we’re lights out.

Kian sighs.“Suit yourself, but then don’t stand there and complain to me about the slow progress of our investigation.”

“Sandy mentioned something,” I say.

Both men turn their attention to me.

“She said an Alit came to visit the Phaelix at night, and that it sounded as if they were negotiating.She didn’t catch a name or see his face.The topic of the slaves came up, and the man said the Alit don’t mate with Earthlings.”

“Interesting,” Kian muses, steepling his fingers.

“And you didn’t get that from reading Sandy’s mind?”Aruan snaps at his brother.

Kian’s tone remains level.“Reading everything would’ve taken all night.I focused on their arrival on Zerra.”

Aruan resumes his pacing.“You need to read their minds thoroughly.Maybe one of them saw or heard something that’ll shed light on the Alit’s identity.”

“Hey.”I look between them.“What happened to asking someone’s permission before invading their thoughts?”

As expected, Kian ignores the morality question.“I can clear my official duties for the afternoon.”

“Do it,” Aruan says.“In the meantime, I’ll speak to Mother.”

Kian meets my eyes with an innocent shrug.

“Those humans had better be treated well,” I say, giving Kian a narrow-eyed look.“Or you’ll have me in your face, and believe me, you don’t want that.”

“Congratulations,” Kian says with a smug smile.

I’m not taking the bait by asking for what.Of course, Aruan does.

He slams a fist on the stone slab of the desk.“Get your mind out of Elsie’s head.”

“I’m not in her head.”Kian watches Aruan unblinkingly.“I don’t have to be to know her power is back.Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so brave as to threaten me.”

“Enough.”Aruan’s voice bounces off the walls.“We have ample problems as is.I don’t need you to add to them.”

Taking my arm, he leads me out of the room.

In the hallway, we bump into Vitai and Tarix.