Invaded (Alienated, #2)(48)

When the treatment was complete, Aelyx sat up and faced her. Thank you. I’m sorry you had to do that—any of it. I shouldn’t have put you in that position.

Syrine gaped as if he’d told her the Sacred Mother wore combat boots. You’re apologizing to me?

Yes, it was my fault.

No. She shook her head and burned a glare into his skull. Don’t say that. I hurt you, not only last night, but months ago on the transport. And I never said I was sorry. Now I’m saying it: I’m sorry.

After last night, Aelyx didn’t need to hear it anymore. He held out a hand. I just want my friend back.

Tears spilled down Syrine’s cheeks as she took his hand in both of hers. She gave him a watery smile. I never left.





Chapter Twelve


“No crying,” Troy ordered. “You promised.”

Cara dabbed at her eyes with her tunic sleeve. “Who’s crying?”

“You are, dorkus.”

“Nope, not me.” Tears didn’t count unless they spilled over, so she hadn’t violated their deal. “Must be something in the recycled air.”

Troy had wanted to say good-bye at the Aegis, and when Cara begged to tag along to the spaceport, he’d agreed on one condition—no sniveling. He’d said it was hard enough leaving her behind, and he didn’t need one more reason to feel like crap.

“Well, get it in check,” he said. “Or I’ll have Jeeves take you back early.”

The capital guard who’d shuttled them to the spaceport—whose name was Aloit, not Jeeves—pointed to the station manager and gave Troy a command in L’eihr. Troy looked to Cara for an interpretation.

She translated for him. “You need to turn in your orders and get a travel band.”

“Impressive,” Troy said with an appreciative nod.

“I know, right?” Cara never imagined how quickly she’d pick up the language. Cultural immersion really worked.

That didn’t mean she wanted to stay. Her decision to leave Earth was starting to feel like a knee-jerk reaction, and she would stow away inside Troy’s duffel bag if she could. She wondered if The Way had sensed it. That would explain why they’d sent a guard instead of a mere pilot to shuttle her to the transport.

“Okay. I’ll make it quick.” Troy backed away by slow degrees as if the two of them were tethered at the waist by a bungee cord. Cara could tell this was hard for him, and she suddenly regretted dragging out their good-bye. She should have given him a clean break at the Aegis like he’d asked.

“Take your time,” she said, hitching a thumb toward the spaceport window. “I love the view from up here.” To make it easier on him, she turned and strode away.

Once she reached the window, she darted a glance over her shoulder and found Troy making his way to the transportation official, orders in hand. Aloit had joined two other middle-age guards in browsing goods for sale along the vendors’ corridor.

“Huh,” Cara said to herself. “Shopping.” She hadn’t considered that. Maybe she should send home some presents with the credits she’d earned from all those nights sanitizing the kitchen. If she hurried, Troy could stuff the gifts in his bag and deliver them once he arrived on Earth. But just when she’d taken two steps in the other direction, her com-sphere buzzed to life. She rushed to a quiet corner to answer it, careful to keep Troy in sight so she could wave him over when he was done.

After whispering her password, she set her sphere on the floor and sat cross-legged facing it. The floor’s steely panels chilled her bottom, so she pushed to her feet and crouched low, hugging her knees.

Tori’s upper torso appeared in miniature from Mom’s kitchen table. Cara smiled so widely it hurt. If anything could make this day bearable, it was a call from her best friend.

Tori’s ebony eyes beamed against skin the precise shade of toasted caramel, her jet-black hair cut in a meticulous bob that followed her jawline. She still had that familiar spitfire in her gaze, the kind that warned a zinger was coming. “You’re in the fetal position,” Tori quipped. “I would be, too, if I were on Planet Freak.”

Cara laughed, drawing a few glances from nearby crew members. “I was literally freezing my ass off. I’m at the spaceport saying good-bye to Troy.”

“Good,” Tori said. “Now get on board with him.”

Cara figured her friend couldn’t talk long, and she didn’t want to waste one minute arguing for the hundredth time about the exchange or listening to a litany of complaints about L’eihrs. “You know I can’t do that, so drop it and tell me how much you miss me.”

Tori answered with her middle finger, a strangely welcome sight.

“Are you okay?” Cara asked. “Is it safe to be at my house?” Tori and Eric had joined HALO before they’d understood the Patriots’ violent nature. Since then, they’d had to pretend not to associate with Cara’s family or face the same “accidents” that had befallen those who openly supported the Sweeneys.

“Safe and sound.” Tori’s face broke into a grin. “You’re not gonna believe this.”

Cara noticed Troy scanning the room for her, so she stood and waved to get his attention, then crouched low again. “Believe what?”

“Isaac Richards is backing the alliance.”