Dovetailed (11 page)

Dervinias used Britorent to follow after the ambulance. He knew he needed to get back to Kelari, but first he had to make sure Chev was all right—and that she didn’t remember him.

Even though he wanted her to. Badly.

He’d been alone for most of his life but, now that Chev was gone, for the first time he felt lonely.

Chev’s parents checked her in.

Dervinias hung out in the waiting room and listened as the doctor talked to Chev’s mom and dad. He ordered tests and then they wheeled her away. It took some maneuvering, but he found her room and checked in on her.

Chev was hooked up to an IV. He ran a hand through her hair. It was soft and smooth and extremely beautiful.

“Chev. Can you hear me?”

She moaned. Her eyelashes fluttered, but they didn’t open.

“It’s okay.” He pushed hair off her forehead. “Just rest. Get better. When the time is right I’ll come back for you.”

“My baby,” she murmured.

Dervinias choked on his words. Tears welled up in his eyes. “Yes, she’s alive.”

“Harmony,” she whispered.

“Is that what you wanted to name her? I like it.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek. “Hold on to her. I’m going to find her and the three of us will be a family. I promise.” He left, climbing out the window, and used Britorent to get back to the Transport.

He opened the door. The cockpit lit up. “Return flight in T minus five minutes and counting.” Dervinias moved to get in, but froze. He’d been so busy thinking about Chev he’d allowed himself to be snuck up on. Not good. It wasn’t that they could hurt him, he was indestructible on Earth . . .

“Hello Dervinias. It’s been a while.”

“I don’t have time for you right now.” He climbed into the Transport, removed the Ostwallow sword, pressed the recorder button, and finally looked at Charles, the newest leader of the A.L.T. unit for the US government.

Physically the man wasn’t much to look at. He was barely five foot five and didn’t weigh more than one-hundred-forty pounds—even that was generous. His blond hair was thinning and his face was pockmarked. He wore the standard issue suit and tie, but somehow he still managed to look like he’d slept in it. Maybe he had. A.L.T. was his life.

Dervinias also knew his appearance was a charade, a farce used to allow his enemy to think he was careless, stupid, and untrained. Dervinias had seen first hand the cruel way Charles proved them wrong.

“Make time.”

Dervinias sighed. “What do you want?”

Charles took a solitary step forward. “I’ve read your file. I know what you are.”

Dervinias choked back a smile. Charles thought he could threaten him. Perhaps he wasn’t done killing after all. “What am I, Charlie?”

Another step forward. “It’s Charles, if you please, and I know you’re an alien.”

“Oooh, what gave me away? Was it the spaceship?” He couldn’t hide the smirk this time.

Charles returned his grin, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “You’re mine,” he hissed.

Using Britorent he came at Charles, lifting him off the ground by his wimpy little neck. “I think it’s time you learned your place. Right before I kill—”

A shot rang out.

Dervinias looked down and saw that Charles held a gun. Smoke and the smell of gunpowder tickled his nose. He laughed. “Your measly weapons are nothing.” As he spoke he realized pain was radiating from his stomach. It was dull, but there nonetheless. He glanced down again. His shirt was wet.

That’s strange
, he thought, letting go of Charles. The tiny man suddenly weighed a ton.

Dervinias touched his shirt and brought his fingers to his nose. There was a sweet scent. Shocked, he understood it was his Kelvieri’s blood. “Impossible,” he whispered, looking up. His vision wavered and Charles seemed to fade in and out. “How?” he asked, realizing that the human had somehow caught him by surprise. He’d found some kind of technology capable of wounding Kelvieri. Unable to stop himself, he fell forward. His body was too heavy.

“Your father, King Antyon, provided us with a poison capable of rendering you helpless.”

Anger burned. He should’ve expected something like this from his father. How could he have been so stupid?

“You are a peace offering,” Charles continued, “though we don’t make peace with alien species capable of harming us.”

“Your… First… Mistake…” He took a deep breath and realized the air was choking him.
So this is what Venus experienced
, he thought randomly. “First to go,” he added.

“Oh, don’t worry. King Antyon will get what’s coming to him.”

Dervinias tried to shake his head. Humans could be so arrogant sometimes. No, most of the time. For the most part their arrogance didn’t bother him. He knew how to use it to his advantage, but now that Chev and his daughter were here on Earth he wanted to protect them, and that meant he’d give the humans information to help them defeat his father—if they’d let him, anyway. It felt as though he would suffocate before he got the chance. “Stupid.” Dervinias fell face first to the ground. The dirt was dry against his skin. Pebbles pressed against his cheek. His body crushed his hands. He heard Charles kneel next to him and press something into his neck.

“The target is secure.”

Dervinias knew his mind was fading. He’d be unconscious in seconds. Forcing his eyes open, he watched a team of agents stalk forward. Their movements seemed silly and he wanted to laugh, but couldn’t.

“Get him into the van. Abe is waiting.”

The Chans continued to debate how best to handle Amberlee’s coronation. They knew it needed to happen. Following protocol, keeping at least the appearance of order, was in the best interest of Alayeah.

Venus stayed along the edges, trying to blend in, to let the leaders of Alayeah do what needed to be done. She also kept an eye on Amberlee. Venus knew the child was extra sensitive and she worried that her guilt over what had happened to her mom and dad affected her even more than she let on.

She wished she could take away her pain, help her understand that she wasn’t completely to blame. But it wasn’t something Venus could make her feel. Amberlee needed to arrive at the conclusion on her own.

A Formytian Venus knew as Ander rushed into the room. He was tall and thin, and his Ostwallow sword was strapped to his back. He paused a moment, searching. When his gaze landed on Venus, he bowed.

“I have news.”

Venus stood straighter. “Come and tell me.” She noticed Zaren began move in her direction and motioned for him to stay put.

“It’s about Dervinias,” Ander began.

That set her on edge. “What is it?”

He pressed a fisted hand over his heart. “His Transport returned a few minutes ago, but Dervinias wasn’t inside. We searched the cockpit and discovered this.” He handed her a clear strip that was the Transport’s recording device. “We believe Dervinias activated this.”

Venus took the strip and pressed it against her forehead. She listened in awe. When it was over, she pulled it off and crushed it. “Who else knows about this?”

“Only myself and Wilhelm.”

Venus placed a hand on his shoulder. “Tell no one what you discovered. Can I count on you to do that?”

“Yes, Goddess.”

“Thank you.” She smiled. “And please bring Wilhelm to me.”

“Right away.” The Formytian quickly left.

Venus would need to get things in order. “Modna, is the convoy prepared?”

“Almost. It should be ready soon.”

Venus hid her irritation. Modna was a good woman, but she was also cocky. Her innermost thoughts included her belief that she should be the next queen. All of the Chans thought anyone but Amberlee would be better suited. That thinking needed to change. “May I speak with you privately a moment?”

Modna was suddenly terrified. She seemed to be looking for an excuse to say no, but there wasn’t one. “Of course,” she said, her voice shaky.

“Excellent.” Venus turned and walked from the room while Modna reluctantly followed.

Once she was in the hall, Venus opened the door to the king’s study and went inside. The room was deathly quiet and a thin layer of dust covered everything. It was obvious no one had been in here for some time, but it still smelled of the king, like old books.

When Modna was inside, Venus closed the door. Modna seemed to shrink before her. “I know you believe Amberlee isn’t ready to be queen. And you’re right. She isn’t, but it is her right. Becoming queen is her destiny.” She paused, waiting for Modna to take in all she’d just said.

The Chan leader nodded. “I-I know,” she began.

“You may know, but you don’t agree,” Venus interrupted, upset that the Alayeahian leader thought she could deceive her. She crossed her arms and waited for the other woman’s response.

Modna started to sweat. “I’m sure you can understand. Amberlee is a spoiled child. She wasn’t taught how to lead. And she’s a traitor. It was because of her the king and queen, her own parents—your parents—were slaughtered. How can that be forgiven? How can you think the people will accept her as their queen?”

“I understand, and your accusations are valid.” Venus uncrossed her arms. “But I believe that will make her a more empathetic and personable leader.” She stepped closer to Modna. “Now I need you to understand what Amberlee went through. I want to show you something. You need to see what I know Amberlee is capable of.”

Modna swallowed, her knees quaking. “I guess,” she said, her voice quivering.

Venus reached out and touched the woman’s eyes, forcing them to close. The Chan was nervous, worried Venus intended to cause her harm “It won’t hurt.”

Modna nodded and her body relaxed, but only slightly.

Venus allowed the information she needed Modna to see to flow from her and into the woman. She let her see what Amberlee’s future as Queen would hold. Of course, what she showed was the absolute best future. There were always variables, but this was also the most likely future if they survived the war against King Antyon and the Leviathans. The information would also give Modna hope.

After several minutes, Venus stepped back. When Modna opened her eyes, Venus said, “You see?”

Modna’s mouth fell open. “Was that real? That’s what the future will look like?”

“Nothing is set in stone, but that is one possible future. It won’t happen, though, if you don’t grant your support to Amberlee. She needs you, needs your expertise. A lot of why she’ll be so successful is because of the things you’ll teach her.” Venus gave her a kindly smile.

Modna softened. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”

“You’ll help her then?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you. I’ll need you to start now because there’s something I must take care of. You must lead and help Amberlee lead. First and foremost, ensure she’s officially queen. Will you do that?”

“Goddess, yes. Whatever you need.” Modna grabbed Venus’s hand, bowed over it, and kissed it. The gesture made Venus uncomfortable, but she knew Modna was now an ally.

“Thank you. Go now. I’ll return as soon as I can.”

Modna bowed again and walked from the room.

Venus took a deep breath. “Ander and Wilhelm, please enter.”

They walked in, their eyes on the floor in front of them. “Goddess,” Wilhelm said while Ander stood beside him.