“Stand down,” I yelled. “Kaelen hates the Tai-Kok as much as we do.”
Uncle Ben stared at us in alarm. “What’s going on?”
“Battle Commander Kaelen hitched a ride in my head, and he wants to know how the portal works,” I replied.
“I’m open to an exchange of information,”General Jones stated.
Kaelen quickly answered,“I am sure the Overlord will be agreeable. Lexi is blood of his blood, and he will want her protected.”
To my surprise, General Jones immediately began negotiating a trade deal. He had Uncle Ben give Kaelen basicinformation on how the portal worked and in return the general wanted weapons and all the data they had on the Tai-Kok.
Dad pulled me aside. “How does Zarek know about you?”
“Kaelen drank some of my blood and he had his medic take a sample too.”
Alarm flashed across Dad’s face. “Damn.”
“And he said he can find me no matter where I go. Is that true?”
A muscle twitched in Dad’s jaw. “Supposedly, but Zarek never came for your mother. She thought it was because of the Central Molecular Zone.”
“The what?”
“At the edge of our solar system is a ringlike accumulation of molecular fire near a black hole,” Dad replied. “It plays hell with psychic abilities.”
Relief rolled over me. “Then the battle commander won’t be able to find me either.”
“I will find you,”Kaelen said with cool authority.
I snorted.“If the Overlord couldn’t find my mother, what makes you think you can?”
“The general is eager for our help in defeating the Tai-Kok. He will bring me a portal belt in exchange for weapons.”
Damn.That was a given.
The general motioned to my dad. “I need you to get an update from our people in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.”
‘Yes, sir.” Dad pulled out his satellite phone.
A wave of weariness rolled over me, and I headed for my room. I really needed to brush my teeth, and I wanted some alone time.
“Even battle-hardened warriors find the slaughter ships upsetting,”Kaelen announced.
I placed my hand against the elevator’s sensor pad and stepped inside.“Aren’t you supposed to be negotiating with the general?”
“He is taking a call from his command center.”
God, I hoped it wasn’t more bad news.“Go away and leave me alone.”
“No.”
I swung at him again.
Kaelen ducked the blow.“You are an intriguing female.”
“I’m one of a kind. Just ask my dad.”The elevator opened, and I practically ran for my room.
“The Overlord wants to know how Xara died.”
