“Now, tell me what you want packed and I’ll go downstairs and get it for you,” Dravka murmured.
And because she knew he wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer, not again, she said, “My mother’s perfume. Just that. It’s in a little vial on my dresser.”
At least he would have something of hers—one of her most cherished things. Valerie wanted him to have it.
He nodded once, relief in his gaze, and turned, heading towards the basement door before disappearing down the staircase.
When Valerie was alone, she closed her eyes, knowing that she would have to say goodbye to the male she loved tonight, knowing that she might noteversee him again. She might not ever hear his voice, feel his touch, his kiss.
She didn’t think she had the strength to say goodbye…but she needed to be brave. For his sake. For his future.
She nodded, opened her eyes, blowing out a small breath.
Then she returned to her Nu device, calling them a driverless car, though she made sure it was the largest vehicle size. It would need to be to accommodate three Keriv’i males.
And once Dravka returned from her room, shouldering his satchel? Once Tavak and Ravu returned to the lobby once again? Once she got an alert on her Nu that the car was waiting outside?
It was time.
“Let’s go,” Valerie said softly.
She sounded more brave than she felt.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The private entrance to the docking bay was, fortunately, not guarded.
The Port itself was a large, sprawling area that took up approximately three square miles of space on Everton. It was massive. And it was responsible for the majority of the jobs on Everton, like most colonies.
Valerie swallowed when she saw a towering building in the midst of it all. It read ‘Larchmont’ on the face, another reminder of Gabriel back at the brothel, a reminder of Celine.
A reminder of everything they had to lose if this failed.
Dravka squeezed her hand as the driverless car came to a stop in front of the gate. Beyond the black iron, Valerie could see a pleasure vessel, larger than she expected—much larger than the public transport she’d taken to Everton from Genesis for that matter—and she heard the dull whirring of the engines.
The pilot was already there. On their approach, the gate slid open but the car didn’t move since it was only programmed to journey to that specific marker of the address.
“Let’s go,” she told the three Keriv’i males crammed in the car.
Dravka buttoned for the door and it swung open silently. He stepped from the car, helping her down, and she was followed closely by Tavak and Ravu.
The air felt colder in the Port and she shivered. Thankfully, however, it was dark and she didn’t see anyone around, considering it was nearly eleven at night.
Valerie led them through the gate, her flat shoes clapping on the unmarked pavement. When they approached the vessel, the slim silver ramp lowered and a man descended it, coming to meet them. He was tall and handsome, with grey peppering his temples.
Blowing out a small breath, Valerie gave the man a small smile, nodding her head in greeting, as if this was a regular occurrence, as if this wasn’t strange in the slightest.
“Miss…Browen?” the man asked, his gaze darting to the three Keriv’i males that surrounded her.
“Valerie, please,” she told the male.
“Ben Vanner,” he said, introducing himself.
Valerie had to hand it to Ben. After his initial surprise at seeing the Keriv’is in her company, he didn’t blink. She wondered if Celine had warned him. But he’d have to be discreet, right? Working as a private pilot for the Larchmonts?
That realization made her shoulders loosen, though only slightly.
“Thank you for meeting with us on such short notice,” she told Ben, flashing him another smile, one she hoped didn’t waver with her nerves. “Did Celine tell you the destination?”
