No, Liria wouldn't have stood a chance either. Not even her sister could have saved herself from this Nethren. Commander Vor was a stranger to her, but Lena already knew that he wasn't a man to be thwarted. He would have what he wanted, whether or not she wanted to give it to him. All she could do was prepare herself for what was to come.
Chapter Three
Vor
Commander Vor kept glancing at the woman beside him. She was terrified, and he hated that. But this was the only way forward for them. All he could do was be patient with her and protect her. Tell her the truth. She would come to understand. She had to. Tech would never have led him to Lena if she weren't meant to be his. He had to trust in the Source of Technology.
But trust was hard to hold as Fortress 6 came into view. Surrounding the fortress was an army of Medeans and Aethari—Paradefense. There were already tents erected, and a line established to keep the Nethren inside the fortress. His army was busy defending the fortress from the testing volleys sent their way. They also kept the skies cleared of any erials or Aethari who tried to come at them from above.
“Damn, they're fast,” Vor muttered as his hand reached for a button. He didn't know what he was doing at first, completely guided by Technology, but then a crackling sound came through a speaker embedded in the dashboard, and he understood. Vor hit a switch below the speaker. “This is Commander Vor. Anyone there?”
He flicked the switch off, and the crackling returned. Lena slid an anxious look his way.
A few seconds later, a male voice came through the speaker. “Commander, this is Lieutenant Commander Zucar. We've been looking for you. Where are you, sir?”
Vor flicked the switch. “Source led me to Thennis. I'm in the approaching erial.” He flicked it off for the response.
“Yes, Commander. You're clear to land. I've notified the troops on air duty.”
Another flick. “Understood.” Vor flicked the switch and then hit the button. The speaker went silent.
“How do you know how to fly this thing?” Lean whispered.
“I've read books, and the Source of Technology guides me.” Vor flew them over the encampment that was quickly becoming a siege.
Soldiers shouted and pointed at them, but confusion kept them from firing on the Paradefense erial. Vor grinned as they passed over the fortress walls, and he headed toward the back where the runway lay. Circling around, he brought them into alignment with the runway and smoothly landed the erial. Silently, he thanked Source for making him look competent in front of his woman.
Lena's blue eyes—a blue more translucent and precious than sapphires—were wide as she swiveled her head to take in the courtyard. The other erials were still there, only one missing besides Vor's. He parked the erial in line with the others and shut off the engine.
Then he turned to face Lena. “Lena, I promise you will not be harmed. Please don't be afraid.”
She looked at him. Doubt was evident in her expression.
He put his flesh hand on his chest. “I swear it. No one will hurt you. You are under my protection, and I lead this army.”
Lena lifted her chin. “Do not pretend your intentions toward me are honorable. You abducted me from my sister's home. That is harm, Commander Vor. You've made me your prisoner. That is more harm. So, your word means nothing.”
Fury roared through Vor, and his hands trembled. But then he saw the fear in Lena's eyes and recognized the truth in her words. His trembling ceased. “You're right. I've wronged you, Lena. I'm sorry for the mental suffering I've caused and will continue to cause you, but this is the only path open for us. Source guides me, and I listen. It's how I breached the fortress and why I now feel the sun on my skin.” He held his hand out to the sunlight that streamed through the windshield. “I trust in Source completely. So, as much as I hate causing youanykind of harm, I will keep you here. And yes, that makes you my prisoner. I'm not the madman you accuse me of being. I know you are here unwillingly. But I will notphysicallyharm you.” He leaned closer as her expression went blank. “My word is good. You will learn that.”
“Then what do you intend to do with me?”
Movement out of the corner of his eye drew Vor's attention to the main building. A regiment of soldiers was exiting and approaching his erial. “You are safe with me.” He opened the door, grabbed his helmet, and jumped out to hold up a hand to the soldiers in greeting.
“Commander!” A man ran over to him. “We've been searching the fortress for you.”
“Yes, I heard. Source guided me to follow a fleeing erial. It led me to an important hostage.” Vor strode around to the other side of the erial and opened the door.
“A hostage, Commander?” The soldier looked back at the others who caught up to him. “But we have many hostages already.”
“This one is mine.” Vor held up his normal hand to Lena. “Come, Lena.”
Lena leaned out to look at the soldiers. They gaped at her. She drew back into the erial.
“Come down, Lena. You cannot stay here.” Vor motioned with his fingers. “Come now. No one will hurt you.”
“Commander, who is that?” a soldier asked.
“This is Lena, my guest.” Vor shot them a stern look. “Mine. No one touches her.”
