AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I don’t give a damn about the reasoning. This is the opportunity I’ve been looking for in order to get back to my Sophia! I can barely keep the tension out of my voice as I continue. “Who are you planning on bringing with you to guard the ambassador?”
“There’s a few I’ve got in mind. Ryxor and Jo-nas have had experience with this sort of thing before. Quincy and Pa’dish are solid in a pinch. They’ll each grab a man they can trust, and I’ll scoop up a few of the newer cadets, to get their feet wet, as the humans say. That should round things out nicely,” he finishes.
“And me,” I reply, glancing back at the dossier.
“Excuse me, Private?”
“I’m going as well,” I return sharply. I won’t be left hanging in the dark like I have been for the past six months. “You’re not keeping me out of this one, sir.”
“You don’t give the orders around here, son.”Kyltic bows out his chest as he laughs sharply in response. “Look, I’m just telling you so that you know we’ll handle it. We’ll look into it and see where she is, and we’ll make arrangements if we can.”
“If you can?” I bite back. “Just let me go myself and bring her home. There is no if you can and I’m the only one who’s going to actually give it my all to make sure it happens. You know that. Why should anyone else care about my mate?”
“There’s no way I can bring an at-risk soldier into this, knowing he’s going to AWOL once we land on solid ground. I only showed you this classified information I might add, because you’ve been pacing this base like a caged animal since the military decided to retreat from Armstrong! I wanted you to know we’re working on it!”
“At-risk!” I slam my hands down against the armrests of the chair, kicking out in protest. “When have I ever put anyone in my unit in danger? I’m as good a soldier as any, and I’ve got every reason to make sure this mission is a success!”
“Given your unique situation, I would be well within my prerogative to determine you as a flight risk,” Kyltic responds harshly. “You’ll abandon the mission the moment we touch down. Worse still, you may even try to rope one of your fellow officers into this quest to find your woman, compromising valuable military resources and assets in the process.”
“That’s a load of Trekellian dung, and you know it!” I shout, my temper flaring. Without warning, I haul myself out of the chair, only to pick it up and slam it against the wall. “Argh!” I yell, agitated, stalking around the room in frustration.
“Stand down, Private Drex.” Kyltic raises his voice in warning, throwing a strong glare my way. “You’re borderline insubordinate as it is. Relax soldier, don’t make me throw you in the brig until after we’re back to cool your heels.”
The Odexian commander has seen me lose my temper on rare occasions, but he didn’t come to command an entire regiment by getting enraged at every hot-tempered corporal or cadet that passed through his ranks. The warning reminds me of where I am, and I suddenly deflate, despair overwhelming my frustration.
“Look, I give you my word that I will look up this Sophia personally. Once we secure the ambassador –”
“Sir, please,” I beg, cutting him off. “Please let me go. I won’t be a burden to the team, I promise, and I won’t compromise the mission. But I have to find my Sophia. She’s my fated mate, I am half a man without her!”
Something in my desperate tone must reach him because he settles back in his chair after staring at me for a minute. He pinches the wide bridge of his blue nose and sighs resignedly.
“Alright, Drex, but don’t make me regret this. You’ve got to stay on point, no distracting the crew, and you’ll respond immediately when I issue orders. But as long as you promise to stay in line and leave my men to do their job, I’ll give you free rein to find your lady love.”
“Done, sir.” I stand at attention, saluting as I give my word. “I won’t let you down.”
“Make sure you don’t, or even I won’t be able to protect you from a court martial. Remember, this is a mission and not your own personal wild chase,” he adds.
“Sir, you have my word. Will we depart immediately?”
His glare this time is more exasperated, but his words have no bite. “Pick your battles, Private, and don’t make me regret this. You’re dismissed.”
I exit his office with new energy and purpose. My thoughts are still full of anxiety and worry as I wonder about Sophia, but now they’re coupled with something I haven’t felt in months.
Hope.
19
SOPHIA
Mama barely recognizes me and Isa now. She mumbles to herself, talking to her parents and to Dad and to everyone else she’s lost in her life. It’s been like this for almost a week.
“It won’t be long now,” Isa says, gently sponging Mama’s brow. “I think she’s hanging on until she knows you’ll be okay. My grandfather did the same when he died.”
“But I won’t be,” I reply, unshed tears burning my eyes. “I can’t do this alone.”
Isa raises her eyebrows. “Who says you’ll be alone? I’m still here. I’m with you, no matter what.”
Mama’s breathing is weak and rasping, and the time between breaths feels like it’s getting longer and longer. Isa uses the sponge to wet her lips and mouth. “And she’ll be with you, too.”
