Page 46 of Revenge (Warriors of the Drexian Academy #6)

Chapter

Forty-Six

Deklyn

T he ceremony setting was a seaside bluff overlooking an impossibly perfect ocean, complete with a sunset that painted the artificial sky in shades of coral and gold.

The scent of salt air and blooming flowers was so convincing that if I closed my eyes, I could almost believe we were standing on an actual cliff instead of a space station light-years from any real ocean.

But all the holographic scenery in the galaxy couldn’t distract me from my growing frustration.

I hadn’t been able to talk to Sasha all day.

Every time I’d looked for her, she’d just left where I was.

Serge had been too busy to be of any help, rushing past me with armfuls of fabric samples and muttered complaints about last-minute changes.

When I’d finally tracked down Reina, hoping she might know where Sasha was, she’d been unusually cagey, deflecting my questions with vague comments about bridal jitters.

I had the distinct feeling that Sasha was up to something, and I wanted to talk to her before she put herself at risk.

Tivek and Admiral Zoran stood nearby, their voices pitched low in conversation. Now that I knew Tivek was much more than the admiral’s adjunct, I suspected they were discussing sensitive information.

”You don’t have to keep secrets from me," I said as I joined them.

Tivek glanced at the admiral, who nodded permission. “Zoran got verbal confirmation from Chancellor Morrison that there were meetings where they discussed abandoning all Earth prisoners.”

“The man was quite talkative after a few drinks,” Admiral Zoran added. “He claimed the decision was made to drum up sympathy for Earth and to make people rally against the Kronock threat, but I believe he was being fed that justification by others.”

“The chancellor was too addled to remember which specific military leaders advanced the plan,” Tivek continued. “He admitted that they all looked the same to him. ‘Bald ties or buzz cuts in uniforms,’ were his exact words.”

“This is the man who represents Earth?” I growled.

Before I could tell them more of my thoughts about the chancellor, Volten approached us, his usual serene confidence replaced by obvious worry.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

He ran a hand through his brown hair. “Ariana is upset. She and Sasha got into a fight.”

“When did this happen?”

“Last night, apparently,” Volten said. “Ariana went to Sasha’s suite, and they argued.”

Heat flushed my face. Had I slept through a fight? After showering with Sasha, I’d fallen into a deep, exhausted sleep that I hadn’t experienced in ages. If Sasha and Ariana had argued, I’d have been completely oblivious.

“Do you know what they fought about?” I asked.

Volten’s voice dropped to barely above a whisper. “Their father.”

I growled under my breath. “What else?”

General Bowman had been the source of tension and competition between the sisters their entire lives. Even though I hadn’t known Sasha as long as Volten had known Ariana, I understood this fundamental rot of their family.

Tivek looked between me and Volten, “Did Ariana say specifically what about their father caused the argument?”

Volten’s face pinched. “She won’t say. It’s too upsetting for her to talk about. But she’s heartbroken that Sasha took his side over hers and accused her of being jealous.”

I frowned, genuinely confused. This didn’t sound like the Sasha who’d been overjoyed to reconnect with her sister and who’d spoken with such regret about their years of competition and distance. What had changed? What had happened while I’d been sleeping?

The need to find Sasha and get answers became even more urgent.

Before I could leave to track down my fake fiancée, Serge bustled up to our group with a clipboard, trailed by a camera crew that seemed to be ever present.

“I need to talk to Sasha before we start the rehearsal,” I said told him

“Out of the question!” Serge snapped, then flashed a bright smile at the cameras. “She’s in the back with her father, waiting to rehearse walking down the aisle. It’s terrible luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony rehearsal begins.”

He produced a small wireless microphone and began pinning it to my lapel. “We’re about to broadcast live to Earth, so say nothing you don’t want heard around the galaxy.”

I gulped and clamped my mouth shut, suddenly aware that every word, every expression, every gesture was being transmitted to billions of viewers.

I’d have to wait until after the rehearsal to talk to Sasha, to find out what had driven a wedge between her and Ariana, and to discover what scheme she was undoubtedly planning.

It wasn’t lost on me that I was about to rehearse a wedding ceremony while having no idea what my supposed bride was up to. If this were what genuine marriages were like, I wasn’t sure how anyone survived them.