The Nethren leaned back. “Why are you lying to me? I saw you kiss him. I planted a camera in the pit. I saw you.”
“Pit?” Lena shook her head. He didn't mean Rallorival. So, what was he talking about? “I've never been in a pit. I just came to Thennis for my . . .” Her breath caught. “Oh, sweet convergence. You think I'm Liria.”
The wires in his arm lit up as his gaze intensified. “Who is Liria?”
“She's my twin sister. She used to work at Fortress 6. I came to Thennis for her wedding ceremony to an Aethari.”
“Your twin sister?” The Nethren gaped at her, his eyes wide. Then he said, “It was you, all along. The Source of Technology led me to her so she could lead me to you.”
Lena drew back again, fear lancing through her. “You're mad.”
“No, I am chosen by Source. And so are you.” He took her hand, smiling when Lena didn't pull away. “What's your name?”
She just stared at him.
“I am Vor, Commander of the Ranuvul Forces. Please, tell me your name, beautiful one.”
Lips trembling, she said, “Lena.”
“Lena,” he repeated, his eyes shining feverishly. “Lena, I will lay this world at your feet.”
Lay the world at her feet? He meant war. What was happening?! “I just want to go home. Please, take me back.”
“You are with me now. I am your home.”
A tear slid down Lena's cheek. Just an hour earlier, she had longed for love. How cruel were the Sources that they'd send her a Nethren in response to her innocent wish? She knew what future he'd give her—subjugation, rape, humiliation. This was not what she wanted. Or maybe the Sources had been warning her with that vision. Lena just wasn't familiar enough with them to understand. Not that it would have mattered. Even with a warning, she would have still gone out for her harp. And Vor would still have captured her.
“Don't weep, Lena,” Vor said, his handsome face mocking her. If he'd been Medean or Aethari, he would have been herideal man. “You are safe with me. I swear it to you. I will care for you now.”
“Please, just let me go. I have nothing to do with the war.”
“This isn't about war. Not anymore. It's about you and me.” He lifted her hand and kissed it. “You will show me how to love you, and I will show you I am worthy of your love.” His expression filled with satisfaction and triumph.
Lena went silent. This Nethren was powerful and insane—a deadly combination. There was no reasoning with insanity, especially when it was backed with strength. So, she turned to look out the window and watch the landscape change. With her gaze locked below, she asked, “Where are you taking me?”
“The fortress.”
Lena's head jerked back toward the Nethren. “What fortress?”
“I assume it is called Fortress 6 since you say that's where your sister was stationed. I led an army through the barrier earlier today, and we took control.”
“You took a fortress?” Lena gaped at the Nethren, cold terror running through her. If one fortress fell, the others could follow. And if the Nethren came to the surface, they could kill all convergence. Lena's thoughts paused as she shifted her gaze to the erial's control panel. Or would they? “How are you flying this erial? Nethren destroy convergence.”
“You have been told many lies, my beautiful Lena.” Vor looked from the view to her. “We do not kill convergence.”
“Then why did they force your people underground?”
“The Aethari feared us because we can kill them. They lied to you Medeans so that you would help them keep us below.”
“No,” Lena whispered. “No, that can't be true.”
“You will learn. I'm sorry that we had to start like this, but it was the only way. Soon, you'll understand.”
Lena wrapped her arms around her stomach and went back to staring out the window. She didn't know what to believe. She couldn't take the word of a Nethren. But he was flying an erial. That in itself was enough proof to make her question everything she'd been taught.
Of course, that wasn't her main concern. Who cared about lies between the races when Lena was on her way to enslavement by the Nethren? If only she were a fighter like Liria, she might have stood a chance.
Lena glanced at Vor's deceptively handsome face.
