AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Kyrex stood and drew Eden to her feet. “I apologize for the interruption. Eden and Raina have grown quite close and that friendship is coloring her reactions.”
“I understand,” Laidon assured, a smirk twisting one corner of his mouth.
If you make a scene, mate, Kyrex warned,we will have no choice but to discipline you.
The anger and resentment in her gaze made it obvious that she wasn’t nearly ready to let it go.
CHAPTER9
Fury and frustration drove Eden from one end of the corridor to the other. Her heels rang on the tiled floor and her dress whipped around her legs each time she turned around. Neloff was still inside the press box offering amnesty to the bastard who’d terrorized Raina.
“This is wrong,” she stated for the third time. “It’s so fucking wrong.”
Soro smirked then turned his face away. He’d followed her and Kyrex out into the hallway after Neloff ejected her from the negotiation. The rebel positioned himself beside the door, likely to make sure she didn’t run back inside.
“Compromise is part of any negotiation,” Kyrex insisted. He stood near the door as well, but his attention was fixed on her. “We’re trying to avoid further bloodshed.”
“By putting that craven jackass in charge?” she sneered, hands fisted on her hips. “Laidon isn’t fit to lead a parade.”
“All you know about Laidon is that he tried to kidnap your friend,” Soro pointed out calmly. “Name three facts about him that didn’t come from Raina.”
She stopped pacing and faced the brawny rebel. “You think he’s ready to govern an entire planet? People who are unwilling to play by the rules tend to react harshly to being defied. Why go to all this trouble if you’re just switching out one dictator for another?”
“Laidon has no desire to govern the planet,” Soro insisted. “He would prefer not to lead the rebellion, but no one else will stick their neck out far enough to do any good. I joined the rebellion eight months ago and already that much is obvious.”
“You’re not a conduit. Your opinion of him might not be so generous if you were.”
Soro pushed off the wall and stalked toward her. His eyes suddenly appeared more blue than green. “Have you ever asked yourself why Laidon tried to steal a conduit?”
Eden stopped just short of rolling her eyes. “Torretians are automatically rejected by the Citadel. I agree that the policy is not fair but?—”
“And Laidon agrees that trying to steal a conduit was not a good decision,” Soro cut in. “Desperation makes people do all sorts of things they would not ordinarily do. Raina was not harmed, nor would she have been had Laidon succeeded. We are honorable males. We do not force ourselves on females.”
“What’s keeping him from doing it again?” she countered.
“The alliance.”
Kyrex’s unexpected response drew Eden’s attention to her mate. “How does working together to take out Emperor Jevara alleviate the desperation Soro is talking about?”
Any hint of emotion vanished from Kyrex’s features and she felt his mental shields intensify as he admitted, “A redistribution of power is also being offered as part of the alliance.” His tone was conversational as if the topic held no more import than the weather.
Trepidation skittered down her spine, landing like a stone in the pit of her stomach. She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. “What does that mean exactly?”
“Power triads were meant to be distributed evenly between the four planets. Wars and shifts in governmental priorities have disrupted that balance. It needs to be restored.”
“Just spit it out,” she urged. The only time one of her mates danced around an issue like this it meant the truth was going to piss her off. “What has Zevon decided to do?”
Kyrex moved closer, his expression uncharacteristically cautious. “Each planet will receive eleven conduits. The conduits will be delivered a few at a time and only after measurable goals have been achieved. The first goal is the permanent removal of Emperor Jevara.”
Her jaw dropped and she staggered back a step. “You’re paying for this alliance with my friends? What the hell is wrong with you? The conduits are not faceless entities. You’re talking about Kendra and Susan and Amy. I’ve known these women all my life.”
“They will be courted just like you were,” Kyrex assured her. “They will just be on one of the other planets.”
“This is unbelievable.”
Kyrex reached for her but she twisted away and stomped down to the other end of the hallway. She was furious and hurt. She felt betrayed, not only by the stipulation, but by the fact that they’d hidden it from her. Anything she said at this point would be extremely disrespectful so she put as much distance between her and Kyrex as possible.
Unfortunately, Kyrex followed her and caught her arm right before she turned the corner. “I know this is upsetting for you, but?—”
