"Please, call me Areana and drop the lady. I've seen enough American movies to know that it is not how you address ladies in your society. You call them by their given name, or if they are strangers, Ms. or Mrs."
"Very well," he agreed without arguing. "Would you like me to heat up a meal for you or do you just want to sleep? If you press that button on the armrest, your seat will recline all the way, turning into a bed."
"I wish I could sleep, but I don't think I can." How could she close her eyes when Navuh was fighting for his life twentyfeet away? When every beep of the monitors might herald the moment his heart stopped?
Anandur stood, reaching into the cabinet built into the plane's wall. He pulled out a bottle and a glass. "Whiskey might take the edge off."
Areana stared at the amber liquid he poured. She rarely drank because she didn't like the taste of alcohol, but if it could help her sleep, it was worth the medicinal taste and the burn in her throat.
She took the glass and sipped. As she'd expected, the whiskey tasted awful and burned going down, harsh and warming, spreading heat through her chest. How did anyone enjoy this?
"Thank you," she said.
Anandur settled back into his own seat, producing a large bag of pretzels from somewhere. "Comfort food," he said, offering her the bag. "Wonder loves them. She says that salt and carbs are good for the soul."
Areana smiled and took a small handful. The salt was sharp on her tongue, and the crunch was very satisfying. Comfort food. What a strange concept.
"I need to thank Yamanu's mate for the clothing and the shoes," she said, needing to focus on something other than the rhythmic beeping sounds of the medical equipment.
"Her name is Mey, and Wonder helped organize the collection." Anandur's entire face softened when he talked about his mate. "It was one hell of an undertaking to make it before the plane left. Amanda, your niece, helped."
"That was so kind of them." Areana took another sip of whiskey, then another small handful of pretzels. "Please tell them all thank you from all of us." She looked down at the jeans, the long-sleeved T-shirt, and the flat-soled shoes she was wearing. Not her usual style, but they fit, and she looked like the average American woman in them.
Well, not average. She was a goddess, but she might be able to blend in.
"I'll tell them," Anandur promised.
After that, they sat in silence, and the only sounds were the engines' steady drone and the medical equipment's mechanical symphony. The other Guardians sat with earphones on and either dozed off or watched something on their tablets.
"I'm going to see Annani. After all this time, I'm going to see my sister, and I'm bringing along the male who caused her and her family so much pain."
"Annani is going to be so happy to see you that she won't care who you're bringing along. You could be traveling with the devil himself, and she would welcome you with open arms."
Areana frowned. "Is that what she thinks of Navuh? That he's the devil?"
He chuckled. "No, she doesn't. You might find it hard to believe, but your mate is not the big bad wolf he believes himself to be. There are worse villains out there."
"Who?"
"I'll leave it up to the Clan Mother to tell you. I don't know what you are and are not allowed to know."
Apparently, there were many things Annani hadn't told her about during their Wednesday calls. Like the Kra-ell who were living in the village.
Why hadn't Annani told her about them? Probably for the same reason Areana hadn't told Annani about Navuh's submarine. They both kept secrets from one another to protect the people they loved.
"I'm happy for Tula," Areana whispered. "I'm so happy that she's free and she will get to raise her son."
"I hear a but in there," Anandur said.
"But her freedom cost Navuh his." The admission felt like tearing something vital from her chest. "It's her freedom and the freedom of all the ladies, of Tony and Elias, in exchange for his. And it's not only he who will pay the price. I worry for the harem staff and the Dormants in the Dormant enclosure. I worry for all the human women who were brought to the island to work in the brothel. I worry for all the humans and what will happen to them when the soldiers find out that Navuh is gone, and they can do whatever they want."
He turned to face her. "That's the odd thing. From what we could monitor, nothing on the island seems to have changed. The construction work is continuing, and supplies continue to arrive and get unloaded. It doesn't seem disorderly at all. We haven't picked up any gunfire either."
"That's good, but odd," she admitted. "Maybe Losham has taken over and he's more capable than Navuh gave him credit for. Do you know who Losham is?"
He nodded. "I do. He used to be Navuh's right-hand man and the real brains behind the Brotherhood's long-term planning."
She took offense to that misconception. "Losham is very smart, but I wouldn't say he was the brains behind Navuh. My mate is a brilliant strategist."
