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The question was where was Keran? Where was our backup? I recalled hearing some kind of explosion outside. I refused to believe that Keran and his men could have been killed. Worse still, my stomach knotted at the thought that they might have been captured. But how would that even be possible?
The Sarenians did not seem to have a huge team—at least not from what I had seen so far. There had only been the three using their compulsion on us from the stage. Then there had been the two Guldans and the human, two of whom worked for Jardan. Although I couldn’t swear to it, I believed they were acting under compulsion.
That said, if my suspicions about the building being in fact a camouflaged spaceship proved accurate, then a much larger crew could be currently going about their business in the part I had not seen yet.
My heart seized at the possibility that Keran could be locked up somewhere, having Kranax Beetles laying their eggs inside him. As much as I didn’t want to accept that possibility, the propaganda recordings had been beyond clear. Deimos wanted Keran and the entire Xeldar bloodline gone.
Yes, if they captured him, they would kill him.
If they used the Beetles—and they had every reason to—that would give me three days to find a way to get us out of here before the eggs hatched. The other hybrids had survived that ordeal for an average of six days after that. So that would give me a few extra days to at least get him to a stasis chamber until a Veredian healer could revert the damage.
But first, I needed to find a way out whether they had him, where they kept him, and figure out how to get out of this damn room.
As if in response to those thoughts, the door chime resonated in the room, making me nearly jump out of my skin. Pressing a palm to my chest, I stared fearfully at the door as it slid open with a soft swish.
Deimos stepped in with a warm smile on his disturbingly handsome face. Where other women would be fanning themselves over him, everything about that male made my skin crawl. On him, even the plunging neckline of his traditional Sarenian top and elegant long skirt had something obscene about them.
He directed a hover tray laden with covered plates to the table in my room, set it down then turned back towards me. Although he stopped a couple of meters in front of me, at what would be deemed a respectful and non-threatening distance, his presence seemed to suck the oxygen right out of the room. What I previously deemed as spacious accommodations now felt claustrophobic. Despite the fear knotting my insides, I forced myself to remain where I stood, bracing for what would come. In spite of my respectable combat and self-defence skills, without a weapon, I likely held zero chance of winning a physical fight against him.
With my superior Braxian strength, I could handle regular males of most species without much difficulty. But Deimos didn’t fit that profile. While I didn’t know for sure, everything about his demeanor, down to the way he walked, screamed lethal skills. I wouldn’t be surprised to find out he belonged to some military faction or assassins’ guild.
“My dear Dawn, what a pleasant and unexpected surprise it was to find you among our guests, tonight,” Deimos said in an obnoxiously charming tone.
At least, he’s not using his compulsion… yet.
He also didn’t seem to carry any weapon on him. He was either extremely confident in his ability to restrain me, or he didn’t expect this meeting to turn to violence. I certainly prayed for the latter.
“I realize you have many questions. The first one is undoubtedly why you are here and what I intend to do with you. Let me reassure you right now that absolutely no harm will come to you, in any way, shape, or form. Contrary to the slanderous rumors spread by the Korletheans, we Sarenians are extremely protective of females,” he said in a reassuring tone.
“Then let me go. This ‘guest’ has definitely overstayed her welcome,” I replied in a stern tone, while gesturing at myself, although relief flooded through me.
Granted, those were mere words on his part. However, my gut told me he meant them.
“I’m afraid that’s not possible. You see, I have a much greater purpose for you. In order to achieve it, I need you right here,” Deimos said in an apologetic tone.
“People will notice I’m missing. My assistant Melinda, the Braxian Prince, and the Twelve, just to name a few,” I challenged.
I deliberately kept quiet about Keran’s crew and law enforcement who had been on standby to assist us. If they were currently mounting a rescue mission, I couldn’t risk tipping him off. I silenced the nagging voice at the back of my head insisting that ship had sailed. If a rescue was coming, it would have already happened.
My chest constricted when Deimos gave me a smug smile.
“Although your absence will indeed be noticed, no one will fret over it. You see, every single one of them will clearly recall you mentioning the extended leave of absence you were taking as you have eloped with Jakar Keran.”
My jaw dropped, and I stared at him in shock, robbed of words.
“Unlike you Braxians, other species are very easy to enthrall. Why do you think none of the docking bay and planetary controllers recorded or recalled seeing a Sarenian vessel entering their space? People generally do not like conflict. When you tell them there is no trouble, nothing for them to worry about, they’re all too eager to agree with that statement. And therefore, they did not resist the compulsion,” Deimos explained with shameless pride.
“It was you!” I breathed out with sudden understanding. “The reason the peacekeepers and the Twelve refused to properly investigate the murders. You mind-controlled them into botching their work and allowing us to die for your sick plans!”
The oddest expression flitted over his features. He hesitated for a second before giving me what I recognized this time as a genuine look of sympathy.
“Yes, we suggested they should look the other way, and that there was nothing nefarious happening except a brutal people causing their usual trouble. And they were all too happy to accept it. You can only go so far with mind control. If a compulsion is truly abhorrent to you, sooner than later, your mind will rebel against it, which can result in severe brain damage. None of them fought it because it suited them. We merely empowered them to behave the way they wanted to begin with, which was to do nothing.”
I hugged myself, helpless anger boiling within my veins. While I couldn’t fault the Twelve and the peacekeepers for falling victim to the Sarenians’ compulsion, nothing excused their lack of empathy for my people. Whatever our shortcomings, they had a sworn duty to protect us. It didn’t matter that they didn’t like us. So long as we followed the law, we deserved equal treatment.
“But have a seat, my dear,” Deimos added, gesturing at the loveseat. “We have much to discuss, and we’ll be more comfortable doing so sitting down.
“I do not want to sit,” I snapped back. “I want to leave.”
