Devotion (Chosen by the Karal #5)(16)

“Unless I ask Elissa?”

“I don’t think that is a good idea. I am going to persuade Okil that the secret of the boy stays with us.”

“More secrets, more lies.”

“I’m afraid so. The less people who know, the better. I trust Elissa, I really do. But her child is growing in her, and I don’t want any of this to jeopardise her or the baby. We will work it out. We have access to the data we need; leave it to me and Okil.”

“I don’t want anything to happen to you, or Okil. I know you are risking your lives.”

“Not our lives. There has never been an execution on Karal.”

“Not even for treason?”

Darl shook his head. “No. And this is not treason. We are doing this for our planet, for our people.” He smiled at her, and the colour red flew across his skin. “I know how much Okil loves you, Tikki. I am relieved to see you love him in return.”

“Did you think I was playing him to get to Karal?”

“It had crossed my mind. I know how much you wanted to come to our planet, to escape Earth. Once your sister was there, the pull was always going to be stronger.”

She placed her hand on Darl’s, feeling the small static charges across his skin. “I swear I would die for him. I love him more than I can ever say, more than I could ever have imagined.”

“That is all I need to know.” He went to move away. “I understand now why Okil is so fascinated by your species.”

“I hope that is a good thing.”

“Yes. You are so complex, so emotional, and loyal to each other. And now to us.” He smiled at Tikki. “He is lucky to have found you.”

“Thank you, Darl.”

Darl glanced down at his communicator. “He’s back.”

The exit ramp lowered, and Okil came inside, breathless and dirty. “It’s done. Now we need to transmit a message to the lottery saying that we have picked up the winner and will be leaving shortly for Karal.”

“It doesn’t matter about the interview and everything?”

“No, no one cares too much. Those that do tend to be more jealous than anything, and with the new daily lottery about to start, it is about mean even less.”

“Thank goodness for that,” Darl said. “I was not looking forward to it at all.”

“Then I’ll send the message and request clearance.”

He went to the front of the ship, and Reja brought Charlie back to sit beside Tikki.

“How are you feeling?” Reja asked, her eyes constantly wandering back to stare at Darl as he packed everything away ready for their flight.

“Scared,” Tikki answered honestly.

“Hey, come on. We’ll get through this.” Reja sat down next to her and hugged her. “We’re in this together.”

“That’s what worries me, Reja. It’s putting you all in danger.”

“You didn’t do this. You didn’t ask for it. So let us help you. What’s the worst that can happen?” Reja lifted Charlie into his seat. “I have a soft spot for this young man, you know that.”

“That’s just it, we don’t know the worst that can happen, do we?” The realisation hit her: she was about to leave behind everything she had ever known. “We are about to travel to an alien planet. And only you are expected.”

“If you put it like that…” Reja thought for a moment. “Listen, between us we can get through this. Even if they send you back to Earth, at least by then the whole thing may have blown over, and they’ll think you are dead.”

“So, I will have no home and no friends to go back to.” Tikki normally could look on the bright side of anything, but there didn’t seem to be one this time. It seemed impossible that the Karal would welcome her and Charlie once they found out about him.

“We need to depart,” Okil said, coming over to them. “Sit in the seats and buckle up. We have a short window of time.”

“You look worried, Okil?” Tikki watched his face. Something was definitely wrong. “You can leave us here. You don’t have to take us.”

“It’s not that…” He looked down at Charlie and then back to Tikki. “They are questioning our cargo.”

“Cargo?”

“Yes, we have never had a problem before. Never been questioned.”

“You think they know?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. They are waiting for a supervisor. As soon as we get the go-ahead we are leaving. Please be sitting in your seats and ready for take-off. You too, Charlie.” He buckled the young boy’s seat belt, checking it was tight enough.

As he turned to leave, Tikki said, “I love you, Okil and I know you love me. But if anytime this gets too dangerous, let us out elsewhere. I can’t have you risk the future of your people for us.”

He bent down and kissed her cheek. “I would risk it all for you, Tikki.”

Although his words made her feel safer, they also worried her. She was putting an awful lot of strain on him. She only hoped he thought it was worth it and they could get through this whole thing. But right now, it seemed impossible.





Chapter Eleven – Okil


“Contact tower, are we cleared for launch?” Okil asked again.