I waved my hand sharply, cutting her off. “No way. There’s no way that my father is behind my being abandoned. You must have misunderstood.”
But even as I said the words, doubt crept in. My father’s cold reception, his obvious disapproval of my rescue, and the dismissive way he’d looked at Deklyn all formed a horrible pattern.
Then familiar pain and irrational anger rushed through me, along with the old competitive instincts that our father had programmed into us from childhood. Maybe Ariana was trying to put a wedge between me and our father now that I’d done something he didn’t approve of. Maybe she saw an opportunity to become the favorite daughter.
“Just because Dad is upset with me doesn’t mean you can swoop in,” I said, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. “I’m still his favorite.”
Ariana reared back as if I’d slapped her, and I instantly regretted the outburst. The hurt in her expression was so raw, so genuine, that it made my stomach lurch.
“If that’s what you think of me, fine.” Tears thickened her voice. “I was trying to warn you, but believe what you want. I thought we’d put aside all those years of fighting for Dad’s attention, but clearly you still care more about winning than about me, about anyone.”
She glanced through the doorway at Deklyn’s sleeping form. “You and Dad might deserve each other, but I don’t know if you deserve him.”
Then she was gone, storming out of the suite and leaving me alone on the balcony with the wreckage of what I’d just done. I stood there stunned and hurt, knowing that I deserved every word she’d said.
I’d proven her right with that one cruel comment. I was still the same person who’d put competition above connection, who’d rather win than be kind. And she was right about Deklyn too. I questioned whether I was worthy of someone who risked everything to save me and who looked at me like I was worth protecting even when I was clearly too damaged to protect myself.
I knew for certain that he didn’t deserve my using him in my quest for revenge while pretending he was just a convenient attraction.
As I watched the holographic sun disappear below the horizon, I couldn’t stop thinking about what Ariana had told me about our father. She must have misunderstood. There was no way he would have abandoned me. No way would he have preferred my death to my rescue. That would be beyond cold and cruel. He might be demanding, but I couldn’t believe he was heartless.
I closed my eyes, squeezing them tight to keep the tears at bay.
Chapter
Forty-Three
Tivek
Ientered the officers’ lounge and took in the indistinct murmurs of conversation, clinking glasses, and subtle tension of the welcome reception.
Admiral Zoran and Commander Vyk stood near the observation windows, their imposing figures bracketing a shorter human in a crisp Earth military uniform. The silvered hair and stiff spine told me it was General Bowman, Sasha and Ariana’s father. Even from across the room, I could see the rigid set of the general’s shoulders and the way he held himself slightly apart from the Drexians. Years as a Shadow had taught me to watch body language as closely as any words.
Torq and Volten had claimed spots near the bar, engaged in what appeared to be a polite conversation with a couple of Earth military adjuncts whose nervous glances around the dimly lit space suggested they were still adjusting to being surrounded by warriors who could probably break them in half without effort.
But it was the third grouping that drew my attention. Kann, with his affable grin and characteristic directness, was speaking with a human who stood out among the military personnel because he was clearly not one of them. He wore no uniform, though his dark suit fit him well and was no doubt expensive, and he didn’t stand as ramrod straight as the officers. This had to be Earth’s Chancellor Morrison, the politician who won the election to represent the planet despite lacking military or diplomatic experience. If I wasn’t mistaken, he’d risen to fame by doing something the humans called podcasting.
I studied the man’s jet black hair that was clearly artificial given the jowls on his face, the unnatural bronze of his skin, and a laugh that carried too loudly across the space. How peculiar that humans had chosen him, I thought as I observed him talking with Kann.
Supposedly, the Earth chancellor might be technically in charge of civilian leadership, but the military considered him a buffoon. Watching him now, I could see why. He dominated the conversation with Kann, seemingly oblivious to the way the human officers in the room were subtly avoiding him.
I circled the room stealthily, positioning myself to observe and overhear without appearing to do either. Chancellor Morrison made it easy to listen in to his conversation since the man had no concept of discretion or volume control.
“—and that’s why I told them, you can’t negotiate from a position of weakness!” he was saying to Kann, who listened politely. “Earth has to show strength, has to make it clear that we’re equal partners in this alliance, not weaklings begging for scraps.”
The irony wasn’t lost on me he was delivering this speech about strength to one of the most genuinely dangerous warriors inthe room. As a Blade instructor, Kann grappled daily and was known for his impressive skills with daggers. Not only that, he’d been Inferno Force before returning to teach at the academy. He listened to the human without reacting, which was a greater show of strength than Morrison would ever know.
I moved closer to Admiral Zoran’s group, arriving just in time to hear General Bowman’s clipped response to something Vyk had said.
“—understand your position, Commander, but Earth’s concerns about the tribute bride program remain valid. When human women are encouraged to leave Earth permanently, it raises questions about the true nature of this ‘alliance.’”
The way he said the word alliance, with barely concealed contempt, made my jaw clench. Vyk’s response was firm but measured.
“The program is entirely voluntary, General. Since the Reveal, no human woman has ever been coerced or deceived about what it entails. Many have found happiness and purpose that were denied to them on Earth.”
“That’s true,” a civilian Earthling said. “My niece volunteered and is happily married to a Drexian.”
General Bowman scoffed at this. “Or have they been brainwashed into believing that abandoning their home planet is noble?”
