“I love you too.”
The men in the back went quiet, and Vor looked over his shoulder at them. He expected to find horror on their faces. Instead, they stared at Lena and him with hope and a little envy. Vor blinked and then winked at them before focusing back on his Lena. Even after all she'd been through, she was still radiant. He couldn't imagine her despondent. That he had caused her despondency cut him deep.
“I'm so sorry I had to leave you behind.” Vor met her gaze. “I couldn't go back for you without risking my soldiers.”
“I know, and it's all right. I understand.” Lena squeezed his hand. “It's a good thing you're such a planner.”
“I despaired that I'd never see you again,” Vor whispered. “I have never felt such pain.”
“Neither have I. I couldn’t function. Barely spoke. Liria and my father looked after me. They put me in an erial to fly us back to Thennis. That's when Rallorival attacked. He shot it down and took me from the wreckage.” She blinked. “Oh, sweetconvergence! I've got to vid my sister. My family must be frantic with worry.”
“Of course.” Vor didn't hesitate to hand over his vidco—the Medean version he'd taken from the fortress.
Lena took it and tapped a number into its panel. The screen went white, and then color infused it, focusing into a face nearly identical to Lena's. But Vor saw the differences now. Lena's eyes were bluer than her sister's, and there was a fleck of gold in the right one. Her forehead was a tad narrower than Liria's too, and her chin was a bit more pert.
“Lena!” Liria screeched. “Where are you?”
Vor grimaced as his soldiers went quiet. Lena's voice was sweeter than Liria's as well.
“I'm fine, Liria.” Lena held up a hand to ward off Liria's questions. “Rallorival is dead, but his friends are still alive.” She glanced at Vor. “Could I have the coordinates for the house?”
Vor nodded and pointed at the navigation screen in the dash. There was still a marker for the house Rallorival had taken his Lena to. As Lena gave her sister the coordinates and told her who had rescued her, Vor thought about the state of those Aethari they'd left behind. They'd been bleeding from their ears and eyes when he entered the house. Had Lena done that? It must have been her. No one else was there. He had heard her scream before he burst through the door. Was that how she'd hurt them—with her voice? It made sense. Vibrations were neutral. They could be used positively or negatively.
“Liria, I don't know how Vor got to the surface, and I wouldn't tell you if I did!” Lena glared at her sister. “He offered you peace, and you attacked him.”
Liria sighed. “I told you I tried to convince the general to speak to Vor, but he refused. He wanted the prisoners freed.”
“Vor would have listened if you'd only given him a chance.”
“What are you talking about?” Vor glanced at Lena.
Lena looked at him. “It was Rallorival who shot at the prisoners you released. Evellor saw Rallorival with a Nethrren dart. When we confronted him, he tried to flee, but Thax caught him, Rallorival confessed to shooting at the prisoners to destroy peace talks. He knew that if there was peace between our people, he’d never get Lena.”
“That fucking bastard!” Vor growled. But he also felt a strange relief that Paradefense hadn't tricked him. “Why didn't General Caden tell me?”
“I’m guessing pride.” Lena grimaced.
“He didn't think you'd believe him,” Liria said, leaning to see Vor.
“I would have.” Vor sighed. “And I will still agree to peace talks if they're offered. But I will have to do much to convince my general that Paradefense can be trusted.”
“I don't know if peace is possible now, but I hope it is,” Liria said. Then she narrowed her eyes. “Are you flying? Where did you get an erial?”
“I stole it,” Vor said. “I needed to get to Lena as quickly as possible.”
Liria huffed. “I don't know what to do with this information.”
“All you have to do is speak the truth, Liria.” Lena looked from her sister to Vor. “Tell Paradefense that we still seek peace. I'll keep in contact.”
“We?” Liria asked. “Lena, you can't seriously be thinking of going underground?”
“Why not? You did for Thaxvarien.”
“Not to stay! Lena, you'll never see the sun again.”
“Vor will be my sun. I need nothing else.”
Vor's breath caught in his throat, and his eyes watered as he looked at Lena. She smiled at him, love shining from her eyes.
