AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“And in a few minutes, it will be after ten a.m. What’s your point? Do you want a drink? Yes or no?”
“No, I don’t want a drink. I have to get back to the governor’s council.”
“Well, by all means. I don’t mean to keep you.” I knock back the rest of my water and give him one of my trademark smiles.
He returns it with a fierce frown. “You know, just because you live in Titus’s dome doesn’t mean you need to turn into the old fossil.”
“I have no plans—no, I have plans. Don’t worry about me, brother. And I don’t know who told you about my relationship with the security council, but the less we talk about it, the better it is for both of us.”
“Fuck you.” Michio shakes his hand, standing.
“Tell Mother I said hello.” I give him a friendly wave.
He shoots me the middle finger. “Tell her yourself.” He stands at the door to the internal corridor that leads back to the main dome, the dome where he still lives with our parents and siblings.
“I will.” I suppose I’ll have to go to dinner now. I love my sister, but I’m not going to tie myself to some boring pod because she wants to get mated. There is another way around this problem. I’ll just have to add it to the list of things to fix. But not right now. Marina is a spunky and, I guess, attractive mermaid. When I have the time, I’ll go talk to her. I’m also guessing that she doesn’t have a clue that either Michio or Mother are trying to help her. And she’s not going to like it when she finds out.
The door clicks into place behind Michio. I hit the lock, alarming the security measures. Titus didn’t believe in the spirit of the good character of the Dorian people. He believed in good locks. But then again, that might have been because of his lifestyle. I hit the button that tints all the glass of the dome, locking me in with the paper envelope in my pocket.
I open the envelope. This is not a little errand. I pull the brass bowl from the center of the table, crumple the paper, and set it on fire. Watching it turn to ashes, I hope to hell that my life doesn’t go up in flames with it.
30
Nico
As I wait outside the government building, I resist the urge to rub my wrists where the ties used to be.Free for now, the governor of Koralli said, while they review my case. He gave me detailed instructions on staying inside the city’s dome. That the outer dome was set to electrocute me if I tried to escape the barrier. I’m many things, but a male who runs from things isn’t one.
Holter pulls up in Castor’ssolo,and I climb in. “Where’s Annabelle?”
“Belle is back at the apartment. There’s a new security system.”
I nod.
“There was a break-in.”
“What the hell?” My pulse soars.
“It’s fine. We’ve gotten it under control.”
“We?”
“Drakos arranged to put the system in.”
The roof slides into place, and Holter jockeys through the waiting vehicles outside of the government building to a small airlock. But that’s when I catch it. “We’re being followed.”
“That’s to be expected.” Holter tilts his head to the window.
“Right, but see it? The Gorsca. It’s not government-issued.”
“I know that vehicle. It’s Eros. He gave me a ride after the docking ceremony when I was trying to find Alder.”
“I should go see him.” I unconsciously rub my wrist.
“You should. He’s not awake yet.”
I turn my head, staring out over the city toward Glyden, and then back to where the hospital is. “As much as I want to see Annabelle, take me to the hospital.” I nod at Holter. Honestly, I didn’t think I would have this reprieve. And I don’t believe it’s anything but a momentary blip. A power play from one side to the other. I’ll take it, and every minute I have to get Annabelle settled, the better. “Take the long way. I want whoever is following us to show themselves.”
“Can do.” Holter shoots down the stream away from the government section of the city and takes a hard left, away from both the hospital and Glyden. Ten minutes later, he’s still there. “Eros is still on our tail. Oh, he’s just out of sight. He’s disappearing around each corner. But he’s there.”
