Braxis went to the wall to the left of the bed and pushed against the panel to reveal the console he'd used to contact the Embassy. He pulled out the shelf beneath the monitor to expose the Bleiten keyboard and started typing. He paused a moment to press the intercom button as he'd done the last time.
“Yes, Chief?”
“I'll be contacting Eden and Hell soon,” he informed the man. “Allow the signals through.”
“Yes, Chief!” the man said with excitement.
He doubtless thought that Braxis was enacting his plan to use me as leverage against Lucifer. It wasn't going to go down like that but hopefully, I'd get the Fengoth warriors the result they wanted.
Braxis went back to typing, his face creasing into a frown as he read through the prompts.
“Are any of these panels simply a wall?” I muttered as I looked around the room pensively.
“On a spaceship, every inch must be used.” Braxis stepped back and waved at the screen. It had lit up and displayed the Bleiten word for connecting. “It will probably go smoother if you ask to speak with King Jovan yourself.”
“Probably,” I agreed with a grin and stepped up to the screen. A camera just above the monitor started blinking red.
A few minutes passed and then the image of a man appeared on the screen. He wore a white and gold uniform and a suspicious expression. That expression shifted into shock as he stared at me.
“Duchess Amaranthine?” The man gaped at me.
“Yes. I need to speak to my uncle. It's urgent.”
“Yes, Your Grace. At once!” The man started typing on his keyboard. “Connecting you now, Your Grace. His Majesty is eager to speak with you.”
“Thank you.”
The screen went silver and then suddenly brightened to reveal my Uncle Jovan and my cousin, Altern. My uncle looked every inch the King of Eden with his short black hair sleeked back beneath his golden crown and his slim body bulked by layers of royal raiments. His sky-blue eyes filled with relief upon seeing me but before he could say anything, Altern leaned in, filled my view, and cut him off.
“You are Braxis Fengoth, I presume?” Altern demanded. His dark hair was disheveled and his tunic wrinkled. He wore a sword on his hip and a furious expression on his face. His moss-green eyes narrowed at Braxis, who stood behind me.
“I am.” Braxis grinned in a challenging way.
“Stand down, both of you!” I held up my hands—one toward each man—as if they were in the same room.
“Amara, we've been searching the galaxies for you!” Altern shouted. “Kyrian told us you were abducted during the attack on the Embassy.”
“I was,” I said calmly. “But I'm fine, Altern, as you can see for yourself. Please, take a breath.”
“And get the heaven out of my way,” King Jovan grumbled as he pushed his son aside. He smiled at me. “It's good to see your face, sweetheart.”
“Thank you, Uncle.” I smiled back. “I'm sorry you were worried.”
“You are safe now?” He glanced warily at Braxis. “You don't appear to be free.”
“I am safe and although not technically released yet, I'm not a prisoner anymore,” I said. “I've come to learn and understand a few things about the Fengoth Tribe and I have information that you need to hear.”
“Oh, for heaven's sake!” Altern huffed. “There is nothing you can say that—”
“Cease!” Jovan shouted.
Altern grudgingly went silent. He crossed his arms and pressed his lips together.
Jovan nodded in satisfaction, then said to me, “Please continue, Niece.”
“Gregory was behind the attacks,” I began.
Altern's expression shifted suddenly. “You have my attention.”
