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“No!” I exclaimed, startling all three men. “You and Ganekcannotgo. Keran’s ascension is being challenged. The two of you must remain here to remind everyone that House Xeldar still rules. We expected Keran to be back already to prepare for his coronation. One or both of you leaving now will raise too many questions.”
“If my son is in trouble—” Ravik started in an angry voice.
“Iwill bring him back,” I interrupted.
“Wewill bring him back,” Gavin corrected, holding my gaze with a dare in his.
Under different circumstances, I would have taught the boy a sliver of humility, but considering I had no clue where to even start looking for the Jakar, we would need to rely on his instinct.
I grunted my assent before turning back to Ravik. “I can justify my absence saying I took my clansmen on an off-world hunt.”
“Fine,” he growled reluctantly.
“What do we tell the Council?” Ganek asked.
“Nothing,” Ravik answered. “Gavin merely wanted to discuss personal matters. They will assume it is related to people who approached him about becoming Magnar. Let them believe it.”
Turning back to me, Ravik’s dark gaze bore into mine with a savage glint.
“Bring my son back alive,” he commanded.
“On my honor,” I replied, striking my chest with my fist. “Come on, boy,” I said to Gavin as I headed for the door.
With one last nod to the Magnar and his son, we walked out of the room.
Chapter 22
Dawn
Ipaced around the room, twisting my hands nervously as I waited for Jaek to arrive. In my mind, I replayed my plan and the various scenarios that could occur. The biggest unknown remained who between Deimos and Jaek would bring breakfast. The worst scenario would be for Deimos to escort Jaek here and treat him as a prisoner, like he did with me.
The latter option had seemed likely until Jaek asked Deimos if the two of us having breakfast was a problem. In that instant, there had been a clear power shift. But why? The only explanation I could come up with was that Deimos wanted to keep Jaek happy so he would finish the work on his serum. Jaek apparently believed I had “voluntarily joined” them in their project to relocate to Braxia. Deimos being overly controlling would make him suspicious and potentially start affecting his compulsion.
That Deimos had used his voice to order me to behave during that breakfast after he accompanied me back to my room last night hinted that he wouldn’t be the one bringing me food this morning. I needed it to be Jaek for my plan to work. Above all, I needed to know if Jaek was aware of what was happening. And second, I had to find a way to let him know I was temporarily free from the Sarenian’s thrall.
But only once I’m certain he won’t rat me out because of the compulsion.
My door chime going off startled the living daylights out of me. Despite trying to beat its way out of my chest from the fright, my heart soared when the door didn’t immediately open afterward. Deimos never waited for my permission to enter.
Just as I was going to bid my visitor come in, the red light on the door’s control panel on the wall turned blue, indicating my door was no longer locked. Had Jaek unlocked it, or had Deimos done so remotely? As I couldn’t picture Deimos giving Jaek the key to my door, and as I doubted he wanted Jaek to know he was holding me prisoner, he had likely unlocked it at the last minute so that I could open it myself, as I would have under normal circumstances.
Heart pounding, I crossed the short distance to the door and opened it.
My pulse raced when I found Jaek standing outside with a large hover tray in tow. He looked good enough to eat in his skin-tight black t-shirt, and black pants. Since Thesala had healed him, Jaek had taken to binding his hair in various versions of a ponytail, exposing the now flawless skin of his face.
He smiled at me with that tenderness that made my stomach flutter and my knees waiver.
“Good morning, beautiful,” Jaek said.
“Good morning, handsome,” I replied, feeling as nervous as a schoolgirl on her first date, before waving him in. “Come in.”
“Thank you.”
I stepped back to let him enter, the tray following him in. His gaze roamed with undisguised curiosity over the room as he headed towards the table to put down the tray.
“I’m jealous,” he said teasingly. “Your quarters are fancier than mine.”
“As it should be for a lady,” I replied in a similar tone.
