Cloud Rebel (R-D #3)(32)

"What do you think it would have been like—if you'd been reborn on the world meant for you both?" Katya asked.

"I don't know," I said. "I can only hope that it would be as beautiful as I have imagined it. Now, who told you these things?"

"Opal. I like her, Papa. She answered most of my questions, and some I didn't know to ask."

"I get the idea that Opal—and Director Michaels—are much more than most think," I said. "I've heard her referring to it often."

"I hope a day will come when you can say her name again, Papa."

"As do I."

*

Corinne

I understood that I wasn't wholly awake. I heard the voice anyway. The one that told me all wasn't lost. The words were spoken by a male but softly, while a kiss brushed across my forehead. At first I panicked, worried that Val had left my side.

No, dearest, he soothed. I am here. Someone else who loves you has come. Do not be afraid.

The hum that came was that of another Larentii—Val's song was different yet no less soothing. I fell asleep again quickly.

*

Valegar, Second Assistant

Larentii Archives

Secured Personal Notes

I hadn't expected Kalenegar to arrive. He'd ordered the other volunteers to stay on the Larentii homeworld and he'd come himself at my request for someone to guard us during energy sex.

Instead, there'd been no pleasure, only pain at a carelessly dropped name and the obsession that activated as a result. I'd assumed Kalenegar had muted his M'Fiyah with Corinnelar.

It became obvious that he'd unmuted it. I was surprised by the concern in his eyes as he soothed Corinne. Before he was done, Breanne, his first mate, arrived to help. I could see that both were worried about Corinne. I held her tighter against me as a result.

"She is weary," Breanne shook her head. "I'm considering calling for Kay to come, but I have no idea whether she can work through two sets of Ilya's aura lines to get to the proper ones."

"Remember he has to deserve the help," Kalenegar chided.

Breanne frowned at him, which made him hold back further comments. She was the Mighty Heart, after all, and her primary concern now appeared to be Corinne instead of Ilya, and whether he deserved a place among immortals.

"I will think on this," Breanne said after several moments of silence. "Will you stay or come with me?" she asked Kalenegar.

"I will come," he nodded. Both disappeared. I breathed a heavy sigh. My poor Corinne. Her suffering would continue while those far above me made a decision.

*

Corinne

The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike. I frowned as I stared out a window at Rafe's newly-acquired Italian villa. Outside, the rain poured down in sheets, spattering in waves against the outside wall, as if it were fiercely determined to make its way inside.

"Not the way I imagined a homecoming would be," Rafe walked up. Not close enough to touch or even nearly so—he stayed far enough away to give me space in case he frightened me.

He'd never frightened me before. He did, now. I'd seen firsthand how quickly the obsession could activate and how violent his rage could be—against me.

Yes, a part of me knew he didn't mean it. Not the real Ilya/Rafe. He couldn't control it, however, and it terrified me. Somehow, I'd fooled myself into thinking that his love would ultimately protect me against his rages.

It hadn't been Ilya's love that saved me and I mourned that loss. Yes, I was Larentii and should be able to protect myself easily from him. My heart wept that protection was necessary.

Without a word, I folded space to the outside garden. It wasn't until I was soaked through and shivering did Val pull me back inside. Rafe had disappeared into the master suite and didn't appear again until the following morning.

*

Larentii don't get colds. Only one of that race can be depressed for extended periods. That one was me. Opal made breakfast for the others; I was barely able to get myself out of bed. The moment I shuffled out of the bedroom, Matt handed a cell phone to me.

"Corinne," Auggie barked. "You need to pull out of this."

"Auggie, you're not my boss anymore," I pointed out. I sounded tired, even to my own ears.

"I'm still your friend," he said. "This is scaring me. Stop scaring me, Cori. I mean it."

"Yeah."

"Come, you need sunlight," Val took the phone from my hand. "We will contact you later," he informed Auggie and ended the call.

*

Notes—Colonel Hunter

"Shaw, what the hell is going on there?" I barked into the phone.

"To me, it looks as if her PTSD symptoms may be waking again. Evidently, this started when Rafe attempted to attack her."

"Fuck," I muttered.

"What's wrong?" Shaw asked. Somehow, he knew something was up—probably from my level of upset and the decibels in my voice.

"Those f*ckers who burned that town in Texas just fried two Corpus Christi Police officers. That's what. We need Cori's help. Fuck," I repeated while wiping a hand down my face in frustration.

"When did that happen?"

"Ten minutes ago."

"Fuck." Shaw echoed my profanity. "Val took Corinne away. I have no idea where. I can only assume he'll bring her back, although I couldn't blame him if he didn't. Rafe appeared to be doing so well, yet one mention of her name brought on a violent outburst. The family room at the beach house was destroyed—until Valegar repaired everything. I wish I possessed such power and talent."