Invaded (Alienated, #2)(32)

Sharon’s eyes brightened and she nearly dropped her pen. “Which one?”

“The first. We used parasitic seedlings to stunt the crop growth in Midtown, Bordeaux, and Lanzhou.”

Eileen gasped beside him while Bill’s lips parted. Aelyx offered an apologetic glance before dropping his gaze to the carpet.

“Why would you do that?” Sharon asked.

“Because humans and L’eihrs have more in common than you think,” Aelyx said. “Stubbornness, prejudice, fear of the unfamiliar—my generation feels these emotions, too. We couldn’t understand why the Elders wanted to ally with humans. And because we opposed the alliance, we contrived to sabotage it.” The admission felt good, as if an invisible weight had lifted from his shoulders. “It was a decision we made together in secret, but we agree now it was a terrible mistake. We were wrong about mankind.”

“What changed your mind?”

“Basically, I came to know humans on a personal level. The more time I spent here, the more I learned that the criminals dominating your news stories are a misrepresentation of your kind.” Aelyx dipped his head and glanced into the camera. “And I fell in love. I wasn’t expecting that.”

“Ah, yes,” Sharon said, drawing out the words. “With Cara Sweeney, your host student. I saw sparks fly at every interview, but you both denied the rumors.” She paused as if waiting for a response.

“We wanted to keep our private lives to ourselves.”

“Hmm.” She shook her head and pointed that damned pen at him. “So many lies, Aelyx. So many secrets. How do we know you’re telling the truth now?”

“Because I have no reason to lie. I want to make up for what I’ve done—to help repair the damage I’ve caused so we can join together and—”

“Where is Cara?” Sharon interrupted.

Aelyx stared at her for a few beats, trying to discern her motive behind the asinine question. Sharon knew full well where Cara was. The whole world knew. “At this very moment? I imagine she’s in her cot, dreaming of hot fudge sundaes and debate tournaments.”

“Isn’t it true,” Sharon asked coldly, “that the other two human exchange students refused to leave Earth because they feel threatened?”

“I haven’t spoken with them, so I can’t say. But breaking the contract was their prerogative. The Elders would never force—”

“Cara was valedictorian of her class,” Sharon cut in. “Why would she leave now, four months before the end of the school year?” Sharon’s assistant handed her a piece of paper. She glanced at it and set it facedown on the sofa. “My records show that she failed to earn the credits she needed to graduate. I find it odd that such a dedicated student would simply walk away from her diploma, especially since her exchange wasn’t scheduled to begin until next fall.”

Aelyx fought to maintain a calm expression. “You’re forgetting an important detail.”

“Which is?”

“Cara and I fled her home because a riotous mob stormed the property—hours after the Patriots of Earth tortured and killed my best friend. We escaped in my shuttle and joined the main transport while her father stayed behind to distract the crowd.” Aelyx nodded toward the man. “He barely survived the attack.”

Bill spoke up from the other end of the sofa. “He’s right. Where are you going with this?”

Sharon ignored him. “But why not send Cara home the next day? It didn’t take long for the military to end the riots.”

Aelyx didn’t have an answer for that. In truth, Cara had wanted to return to Earth, but The Way insisted on sending her to L’eihr to punish him. It was one of their nonnegotiable conditions for continuing alliance talks in the wake of Eron’s murder.

“Isn’t it true,” Sharon went on, “that you kidnapped Cara to avenge your friend’s death—an eye for an eye, a life for a life? Maybe she refused to serve out the exchange, and you couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. There’s a thin line between love and obsession. Did you force her to leave with you?”

Aelyx sat bolt upright. “Of course not! I could summon her on my com-sphere right now and she’d tell you herself.”

“It’s true,” Eileen said. “We talk to her almost every—”

“Maybe,” Sharon interrupted. “But I imagine she’d say anything if she were scared enough.”

“This is ridiculous, even for you.” Aelyx should have known better than to listen to this relentless shrew. “Cara will visit Earth in the spring. Until then, the topic is closed.”

A chilling smile uncurled across Sharon’s lips. “Not quite.” She pointed her pen at the television. “A new witness has come forward. I think we deserve to hear his side of the story.”

One of the production assistants angled the television toward Aelyx and began attaching various cords to it. Then, like an image from a nightmare, Marcus Johnson’s smug face appeared onscreen, the caption below claiming, MIDTOWN ATTACK VICTIM TO SUE L’EIHRS FOR DAMAGES.

Aelyx’s body tensed and flashed white-hot. Victim? The last time he’d seen Marcus, the boy had broken half of Cara’s ribs and fractured her skull. Marcus was no victim, though Aelyx would welcome the opportunity to rectify that.