Chapter 28
Zelup Vartik, next in line for the throne and well regarded by the people on his planet, was currently slamming his hands into the navigation console while unleashing a torrent of foul language.
“Fuck!” he yelled, his fists adding punctuation. He thought it would make him feel better. It didn’t.
The communication console started buzzing, so he transferred his ire to it, thumping tight fists on it over and over. His brother’s amused face appeared on the screen but it didn’t stop Zelup’s rampage.
“Dad’s going to make you pay for whatever damage you cause,” he drawled, his tone nonchalant.
“Shut up, Calabez. I’m not in the mood right now.”
“Clearly.” His brother watched him, his light eyes flashing. “Sorry about how all this went down. That Dr. Illya is a fine-looking piece.”
Zelup lunged to his feet, shaking a fist at the viewscreen. “You don’t talk about her like that! You don’t talk about her, and you don’t think about her. In fact, if I ever hear her name come out of your mouth, I’ll—”
Calabez waved a hand in front of the camera. “I get it. Mum’s the word.” He shook his head, his gaze serious. “We’re ready to launch. Have you finished smashing things to your liking?”
Zelup ran a hand through his unruly hair then nodded.
“Good. We’ll take off right after you, so whenever you’re ready.” Calabez moved to switch off communications but hesitated. “A clean break is best, bro.” Then the screen went blank.
A clean break. Those words sounded moronic. How could there be anything clean about the way he’d left things when he felt dirty as hell?I lied to her, used her to accomplish my mission, seduced her, and belittled her. I’m a complete asshole.
And the situation didn’t feel like anything as simple as a break. It felt like someone had clawed his heart out of his chest with a rusty utensil, leaving a gaping hole that would only fester but never heal.
I love her. That’s the only explanation.
Zelup fell back into the chair in front of the central console in shock. He hadn’t wanted to admit the truth to himself, although it had been obvious for longer than he cared to admit. What had really tipped the scales was the discovery that he’d pursued Dawn rather than worked to reinstate his place in the line of succession. It might have all been a dream, but that had made it feel no less real.
Dawn is more important than being king. More important than the role I’ve been groomed for my entire life. More important than my own ego.
But was she more important than a planet full of lives? He couldn’t abandon his role in the protection of his people. The signs were clear. The Battle of the End was coming. And that final battle, if lost, would mean the destruction of his planet and the end of any hope for a future. For anyone.
His hand feeling like it was dipped in lead, he pushed the button to launch his ship. It lifted slowly off the asteroid’s surface, and as it rose, he watched the door to her lab as it shrank away to nothing.
Hitting the communication button, he waited until his brother’s face appeared.
“We’re lifting off now,” Calabez said.
Zelup nodded. “I’ll follow, but I need a few hours first. To clear my head. Tell Marek and our folks that I’ll be home soon.”
His brother cocked an eyebrow at him. “You’re not thinking of returning already, are you?”
“No. I know my duty. I don’t need you to remind me.”
Calabez shrugged. “Then where are you headed?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Ah.” His brother gave him a knowing smile. “You’re finally making sense. Gonna fuck her out of your system, are you?”
“What?” Zelup was startled.
“You don’t have to play coy,” his brother replied. “I know about your visits to a certain establishment in this system.” When Zelup’s face flushed with anger, Calabez laughed. “Don’t worry. I haven’t told anyone.”
Zelup’s eyes narrowed, but he couldn’t get up the gumption to yell at his brother. “I’ll be home in a couple days.”
“Enjoy the Double V,” Calabez said. “And keep your eyes open. You never know who could be watching.”
