Invaded (Alienated, #2)(22)

“Yes,” she admitted. “I didn’t know what else to do. I was afraid no one would believe me.”

For the next few moments, Jaxen said nothing. Then he held out his palm. “Give it to me. I’ll turn it in to the headmaster. That will settle the matter.”

“But what’ll you say when he asks where you found it?” L’eihrs couldn’t lie through Silent Speech.

Jaxen took the tablet from her. “The headmaster doesn’t question me. I answer to none but Alona.”

Cara averted her eyes and thanked him. She hadn’t expected him to believe her.

Using an index finger, Jaxen tipped up her chin. “You’re welcome. I want you to come to me if this happens again.” His touch made her uneasy, but she held still. “Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” He released her and gestured toward the cafeteria. “I’ll take care of this. Go shower and calm yourself.”

As he strode away, Cara tried to pinpoint why her stomach was still turning somersaults. She’d discovered the tablet in plenty of time and had managed to dodge a potential death sentence. She should feel ten pounds lighter, not weighed down by dread.

It wasn’t until she reached the showers that the reason for her unease became clear: she now owed Jaxen her life, and deep down, she knew he’d ask for something in return. But what would he want from her, and when?





Chapter Seven


“I’ll bet it was Jaxen.” Aelyx climbed into bed, nearer to Cara’s image. He wished he could pull her safely beneath the covers and wrap her in his arms. “It’s too convenient that he came to your rescue at the last minute. Why wasn’t he in the dining hall with the assembly?”

“I don’t know.” Cara sat cross-legged atop her own bed, finger-combing her loose red waves of hair. “But Jaxen likes humans. He doesn’t have a motive to hurt me. I mean, I don’t really trust him, but—”

“Good. You shouldn’t.” Jaxen wanted Cara for himself—Aelyx had felt it weeks ago when he’d engaged in Silent Speech with the bastard. What better way to win Cara’s affections than to become her savior? Aelyx wasn’t there to intervene, and no one would question a member of The Way. “I don’t know him well, but there’s something—”

“Different about him,” Cara finished. “Yeah, I get that, too.” She twisted her hair behind her head and pinned it in place. “Which Aegis did he grow up in? Nobody here knows.”

Aelyx shrugged. He didn’t want to talk about Jaxen anymore. “You need to recalibrate your keypad so only you and Elle can get inside.”

“I did.”

“Try again. And make sure you’re never alone.” Jaxen would certainly try to put Cara in his debt again. “You need a constant alibi—someone like Elle who can use Silent Speech to confirm your innocence.”

Cara began chewing her thumbnail. “I knew living here would be an adjustment, but I wasn’t expecting anything like this.” With a sigh, she pulled her pillow into her lap and curled around it. “I mean, a constant alibi? Is this my life now?”

“No.” Aelyx couldn’t let her think that way. His greatest fear was that she might change her mind and return to Earth. “This is only temporary. Once we’re on the colony, everything will change. You’ll see.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“I understand how you feel,” he said. “I’m under constant guard. They don’t even let the L’annabes near me.” Not that he objected to that decision. “Every day it’s a new city, but I don’t get to see much. Syrine and I just sit in our hotel all night.”

A shadow passed over Cara’s face. “So you spend every spare minute together?”

Before he could answer, Syrine knocked twice and opened the bedroom door, bringing with her the smell of charred beef from the kitchen. She announced in their native language, “Our l’ina is ready,” before noticing Cara’s hologram and switching to English. “Oh, I’m sorry. Hello, Cah-ra. How are you enjoying L’eihr?”

“It’s fantastic,” Cara said tightly.

Syrine backed out of the room and told Aelyx she’d keep his plate warm until he was finished with his call. Once she left, Cara turned her glare on him.

“Syrine made l’ina for you?” she asked.

“If you can call it that,” he said. “She does the best she can with local ingredients…” He trailed off when he realized Cara had interpreted Syrine’s words. “Hey, your L’eihr is improving!”

“Since when?”

He didn’t understand. “Since when is your L’eihr improving?”

“Since when,” Cara said as if he were obtuse, “does she cook for you?”

“I don’t know.” Aelyx counted the nights since Syrine’s visit to the children’s hospital. “For the past two days, I suppose.” She’d insisted on serving him l’ina both nights in an obvious effort to “extend the olive branch,” as humans said. He’d forced himself to choke down her meals in the interest of rebuilding their friendship, but it wasn’t easy.

“Why does she do that?” Cara asked.