Page 29 of Cheating Fate

“ALDRISS!” Ghan’s voice shouted, snapping me out of my daze.

I blinked before refocusing on him.

“Aldriss. What’s the matter? Are you unwell? Ghan asked.

“Zhara,” I breathed out in half a whisper, my blood turning to ice.

It was his turn to blink, confusion settling over his face.

“What?!” he asked.

“I have to go to Zhara,” I said more forcefully.

“What the fuck?!” Ghan said, recoiling in shock. “This is a drill!”

I couldn’t recall ever hearing Uncle Ghan use that expletive. Under different circumstances, the distress and sadness in his eyes would have crushed me. But something terrible was about to happen to my soulmate.

“Zhara is in danger!” I exclaimed. “They all are. I must go to them now!”

“What are you talking about?” Ghan demanded.

But I ignored him. By now, everyone else had stopped the drill and were staring at the scene unfolding before their eyes with the same baffled expressions.

“Vintor, Curok, with me!” I ordered before turning towards the exit.

“STAY!” Khel ordered while approaching with an angry expression. “You do not give orders here and do not leave without permission.”

“My mate is about to die!” I shouted as if it was self-evident.

“Zhara is on a mission,” he countered, visibly starting to wonder if I was having some sort of mental breakdown.

“Contact them!” I shouted.

Khel took a menacing step towards me, which I assumed was to potentially physically restrain me if it came to that.

“You do not—”

“Khel! We’ve lost contact with Sohr!” Ghan exclaimed.

I realized then that he had attempted to message Sohr after Khel stepped in.

“Exactly! We must go at once!” I shouted.

This time, an air of worry flitted over the General’s face, quickly replaced by a stubborn expression.

“You stay,” he ordered me.

“NO! She needs me,” I snapped. “I have to go. I feel it in my bones.”

“You are an untrained recruit. You will stay,” he snarled.

“No,” I replied while turning away to leave.

“Leave and be expelled!” Khel ordered in a hard tone.

I snorted and gave him a disbelieving look before ripping off my recruit insignia and throwing it onto the ground.

“Braxians, MOVE!” I yelled.