Devotion (Chosen by the Karal #5)(42)
“Okil, I think we are about to get to the very bottom of this. I only hope you will not lose your neck in the process.”
“I don’t understand.”
“It seems we’re are about to have a human invasion.” And with that the doors of the chamber opened, and five human females and a small human boy stood in the presence of the council. Well, half of it, at least.
Chapter Twenty-Eight – Tikki
Tikki stood nervously in the doorway to the chamber, with Charlie by her side, his hand grasping hers tightly, while teddy was hooked under his other arm. All her fears were met when she saw Okil already here, his face flashing red and green as their eyes met. It appeared their arrival had interrupted something, and that something was not good. Okil was in danger, which meant the five Earth females were too.
“Vanessa,” one of the Karal said, coming towards them. “What is the meaning of this?”
“We have some news that you should hear. Then we have a bargain to make.” Vanessa stood firm with the rest of the human females, and Elissa looked relieved.
“A bargain?” This man, the Hier Ruler, she guessed, looked unhappy, disappointed even. “What kind of bargain?”
“First you need to know that I love you, and this is not about me choosing Earth over the Karal.” Vanessa said, going forward and placing her hands on Lytril’s arm. “I’m asking you to remember your compassion.”
Lytril frowned. “If you are reminding me of my compassion, I can only imagine I am not going to like what you have to say.”
“Oh, I think you might.” Vanessa looked at Elissa, who nodded. “Elissa is going to have a baby girl.”
“What? She was pregnant before she came here?” Lytril accused.
“No. The baby is Marin’s. But the skin on her hands has done something to her DNA, and that has given your species new hope. Which is what we are bargaining for.”
“I don’t understand, stop talking riddles. Tell me what your demands are.” He took a step back from Vanessa. “And what all of this has to do with the boy.”
The Hier Ruler’s cold stare turned on Charlie, who tried to hide behind Tikki. Tikki squeezed his hand and then put a protective arm around him. They shouldn’t have brought him with them, they should have hidden him away somewhere, but if something had happened to them, if they all got detained or sent to the breeding house, then he would be all alone and die from lack of food and water. No, bringing him was the right decision.
“Charlie has nothing to do with this. That is a separate matter for us all to discuss,” Vanessa said.
“So again, I ask for your demands,” Lytril said.
“That you carry on with your search for a new planet for humans.”
“Ahh, so now it becomes clear.” He turned and walked away from Vanessa, who looked as though she were about to cry. She must love her Karalian mate very much, and now she saw him turning from her.
“Torac.” Celia came forward now and went to one of the other Karalians, a huge man, dark in looks, and with the hardened face of a soldier. So this was the Hier Commander, the man who controlled the guards and would be responsible for the warriors who were to travel into space.
“How long have you known?” Torac asked, sounding betrayed.
“We only told Celia this morning,” Elissa said defensively. “I have only just found out. There has been no deceit here. Only shock and confusion.”
“And you knew, Okil?” Torac asked, while Lytril still stood at the back of the chamber in silence.
“Yes,” Okil answered.
“And you chose to keep the information to yourself? And Darl. He knew too?” Torac pressed.
“He wanted to be sure. To come up with answers.”
“This is an act of treason.” Ishk came forward, his face blue with anger.
Evie went to him, touching him, trying to soothe the hot-headed man. “No, it is not. Okil has been acting with a level head. About everything, Ishk. He is the only one who can see these things from both sides.”
“And I cannot?” Ishk stormed.
“No, you act with the head of a Karalian, when you also need to temper it with the heart of a human.” Evie looked at him with pity.
“What does that mean?” Ishk demanded.
Okil answered. “That the knee-jerk reaction of the council will be to take the females you need from Earth and force them to have your children. The council will see it with a narrow view. The search for a new planet, saving humans, will no longer be a viable risk. But you would be wrong.” Okil stood tall and proud, and Tikki’s heart swelled with love for him. This was the hardest thing any person, human or alien, would ever have to do.
“You are turning against us, Okil?” Ishk rounded on him. “It all falls into place. Your knowledge of the child, meetings with the President to seal our doom.”
“That is not true.” Tikki stepped forward. “Okil has always sought out ways to make our planets work together.”
“And yet he stands here with a female and a boy he smuggled onto the planet. While you, Tikki Sergeant, are believed dead on Earth.”
“It would be hard not to see this as a conspiracy between Earth and Okil,” Lytril came back to them, his authority evident as Torac and Ishk stopped their questions. “However, I will allow Okil the chance to explain things.”