Saven Defiance (The Saven Series Book 4) (36 page)

I swipe at my hot tears. “I’m not leaving until these people are taken care of.” I straighten up.

He kisses the top of my head. “Always so concerned for others,” he murmurs. “It’s one of the things I love most about you.”

I squirm a little, still struggling to accept his compliments. “I’d challenge anyone to see this and not want to help.”

“What do you have in mind?”

I welcome the opportunity to focus on something practical. “We need to remove these bodies immediately. Do you have coffins or something suitable we can transport them in? I would like to try to identify them so we can return them to their families.”

He steps back, releasing me. “I will arrange it. What else?”

“Then I need the lighting turned up and food, clothing, and medical supplies brought here. Medics too. And I’ll need a D-pad or whatever the equivalent is to try to register everyone and their preference. Though,” I say, looking quickly around, “I doubt anyone will want to stay on Saven after this experience.”

Logan looks ashamed, and I squeeze his hand. This isn’t on him. I send that thought through our connection.

The next few hours fly by. Gradually, all of our friends arrive to help. Haydn, Dali, and Win preside over the careful removal of the dead, while Fern, Alex, Neve, Ax, Izzy, Logan and I attend to those who are still living. Barely in some cases. A bunch of medics arrives to tend to injuries, and I nod respectfully at the nurse who looked after me.

I move around the room, explaining the options, and everyone, bar none, wants to return home to Earth. Logan leaves to talk with the Advisor in charge of the STSS, to set the wheels in motion.

When he returns a while later, most of the people have been cleaned and changed. Groups of guards are guiding them upstairs where Neve has organized hot meals for everyone.

As the last person vacates the warehouse, I slump to my knees exhausted. My hair sticks to my clammy forehead, and sweat has added a couple of unwanted layers to my skin. I feel icky and gross on the outside and the inside.

Wordlessly, Logan crouches down and lifts me up. Though I’m exhausted, I refuse to let him carry me out like an invalid. The people who have survived this ordeal have been through far worse. I wriggle out of his arms. “I can walk. I
want
to walk.”

He shakes his head. “You’re so stubborn.”

“Look who’s talking,” I retort with only a trace of humor.

“You did good here today, Sadie.” He takes my hand in his and squeezes. “You’ll make an excellent queen.”

Unbridled panic whips through me at his words. It’s all still so much to take in. But one step at a time. “It should never have been required in the first place.”

“I know.” His look is grim. “It’s a sore reminder of how much work I have to do. These Saven are different from Rylan and Neve and Haydn and me. They don’t have a conscience, and that makes this task so much harder.” He weaves his fingers through his hair.

“I know that, but it’s one thing understanding it and another matter entirely when directly confronted with the consequences of it. I don’t envy
our
task.” I enunciate the word so he knows we’re in this together. He ushers me up the steps and back into the palace. “Do you have any ideas?” I ask as we walk.

“I’ve set up a meeting with the Advisor in charge of medical and technical research. Remember I told you before that some of our scientists were certain they could develop a solution?” I nod, easily recalling that conversation. “I want to explore that as an active proposition.”

“Good,” I yawn, as we start climbing the stairs.

“Sadie?” Ax calls out from behind me. I pretend I don’t notice Logan rolling his eyes.

I pivot around, as Ax marches toward me, taking two steps at a time. “I overheard Haydn talking about you. You’re planning on returning to Earth?”

“Yes. I
was
going to tell you.” I shove my hands in my pockets.

“I’m coming with you.”

“Great.” Logan’s tone drips with sarcasm.

“You should stick to the plan, stay here, and hook up with Win and Dali to see what they’ve discovered about Torc.”

Ax rubs his chin. “They can spare me for a few days. You aren’t planning on staying long term, are you?”

“No, but—”

“Then it’s settled.”

Frustration rolls off Logan in waves.

“I can’t stop him if he wants to come with me. I’m not his keeper. And I know he’s not very comfortable here.”

“I know.”
Logan sighs as Ax watches us with an impassive face.
“I can’t believe I’m about to say this but … maybe it isn’t such a bad thing.”
I stare at him slack-jawed, and his mouth twitches.
“Haydn is sending his best guards, and you’ll have Rylan too, but it’s not the same. Axton will protect your life over his own, as I would. If I can’t be with you, then it eases my concern to know he’s there. I know he can handle himself and that he’ll do everything to keep you safe.”

“Wow.” I say it out loud, unable to keep it contained.

“What?” Ax asks, looking confused.

“It’s private,” Logan snaps. I give him one of my special looks.
“When are you going to tell him about us?”

Panic batters my chest. “
Now isn’t the time, but soon, I promise.”

“If he so much as lays a hand on you …”
Logan snarls.

“Simmer down, tiger.”
I plant my hands on his chest.
“He knows the score.”

Logan mutters something indecipherable under his breath as I address Ax. “I’m going to shower and change, and we’ll leave then. Can you let Izzy know we’re leaving and it’s up to her whether she comes with us or stays here?”

“Sure.” He smiles as if he’s won the lottery. I shift uneasily, hoping he isn’t reading too much into this. Jogging back down the stairs, he turns at the bottom step. “I’ll meet you in the hangar.” I nod as he flashes me another brilliant smile.

“Surely you could wait until morning? Another few hours isn’t going to make much of a difference.” Logan pulls me up the stairs with him.

“I think someone has ulterior motives,” I tease, doing my best to keep things lighthearted, because the closer I am to returning home, the more anxious I feel.

“That’s not it. You’re dead on your feet. You need to sleep.”

“And I can be dead on my feet back in Jarod’s lair,” I argue, rubbing my tired eyes. “I can’t delay this any longer.”

Logan stops me in the middle of the corridor. “It might be easier to deal with it if you aren’t so tired.” His sad, concerned eyes implore mine.

Settling my head on his chest, I wrap my arms around his waist. “It’s not going to be easy to deal with, period.”

He hugs me to him, his hand running a light path up and down my back. “I wish I could go with you.” He leans his chin on my head. “I’m going to miss you so much.”

“Me, too. But I’ll be back before you know it.”

I only hope I can follow through on that promise.

The others are already waiting in the Royal hangar when we arrive. Izzy waves, and I’m glad she’s decided to come with us. From her excited expression, you’d swear we were going on vacation. Not returning to whatever horrors await us on Earth. Ax leans against the side of the ship with a smug look on his face. It unnerves me a little, but I try to hide the emotion. Logan is already so torn over this; his torrent emotions heaping more anguish on top of my own.

Logan carts me into his arms, tilting my head back. “Don’t do anything to put yourself in harm’s way.” He kisses me sweetly. “Check in with me
all
the time so I know you’re safe.” His mouth sweeps fleetingly against mine again. “Stay out of range of his grabby hands.” He kisses me with his eyes pinned like laser beams on Ax, and I can’t help rolling my eyes at that. “And”—he kisses me again—“most importantly”—he caresses my face—“never forget how much I love you.”

Swinging me up off the ground, he’s done messing about. I wrap my legs around his waist as his lips consume me, and I devour him back, desperately trying to take my fill. Enough to tide me over for a few days. As his lips worship mine, he speaks romantically in my head, telling me over and over,
“I love you, Sadie. So, so much. Hurry back to me.”

Eventually, he lets me down and walks with me to the ship. The others have all boarded the craft. Insisting on staying with me until the last possible second, Logan steers me into the main body of the craft. He straps me into my seat and crouches down in front of me. “I hope with all my heart that Ella is okay.” He places his hand over my heart. “You are so strong, Angel, don’t ever forget that. Let me know as soon as you find out.”

I gulp painfully. “I will.”

The engine whirrs melodiously as it roars to life. Rylan nods respectfully at Logan, signaling it is time for him to leave. He’s as reluctant as I am to part, but it’s not like it’s forever.

“I love you. Take care of yourself, and I’ll see you soon.”
I reach out and pull him to me, crushing my mouth against his.

“Love you, too. See you soon, Angel.”
He tenderly strokes my face. “Good luck, everyone. Stay safe.” He casts a quick glance around the room before blowing me a sappy kiss. I reach up and faux-catch it in an equally sappy gesture.

I couldn’t care less what the others think. My eyes follow him like a hawk as he exits the ship.

Watching him walk away is one of the hardest things I’ve endured. I want to glue him to my side and never let him go. But I know we don’t have a choice. Sacrifice and duty are the name of the game now, and I won’t add guilt on top of his burden.

Besides, he is right, I
am
strong, and I
can
do this.

I straighten my back and loosen my shoulders, as I prepare myself to face whatever awaits me back home.

Rylan programs the craft to travel to the exact coordinates Jarod provided. We all attempt to catch forty winks before we land. Even though I’m exhausted, I still can’t fall asleep. My mind is in too much turmoil. I twist and turn in my seat, my eyes flickering open in the darkened cabin. Ax is unashamedly ogling me, and we stay locked in some kind of silent face-off. After a couple of minutes, he slips out of his seat and takes the one beside me.

“You’re worried,” he whispers, and I nod. There’s a fleeting pause before he speaks. “You used to talk about your sister all the time.”

“I did?” I look up at him as we converse in hushed tones.

“Yeah.” His lips thin. “You really missed her at the start, but over time, you stopped asking about your family.”

“Why Ax? Why did I accept it?”

“You told me once that it hurt too much to think of them. When you became older and you were informed of your mission, you knew you’d see them again. That you’d be a family again. That gave you great comfort.” Sincere eyes meet mine.

“Except we never were.” I dig my nails into my thighs. “They were scared of me. Your mother took away my family, along with everything else she deprived me of.” I look down at my feet. “Except for Ella. She always loved me, accepted me.”

A sneaky tear glides down my face. “What if she’s dead, Ax? She is the only family I have left. And it will all be my fault.”

He grasps my hand. “Try not to worry. Let’s find out what’s going on, and we’ll figure out a way to deal with it then. Okay?” He rubs soothing circles with his thumb across the back of my hand, and my eyes grow instantly heavy. In a heartbeat, I’m asleep.

Ax gently shakes me awake. My head is resting on his shoulder, and I’m turned into him, my arm draped across his stomach. I jerk back as if electrocuted. A red flush creeps up my neck as I notice the others trying to look circumspect. “You shouldn’t have let me fall asleep on you!” I hiss, embarrassed and annoyed with myself.

“You needed some sleep. I didn’t want to disturb you,” he counters.

I scoot over, wedging myself into the other side of the seat. “Yeah, well, next time, wake me up, please.”

He holds up his palms in a conciliatory gesture.

The craft rattles and screeches as we start to descend, sending my blood pressure soaring. It tilts from left to right, and my stomach churns unpleasantly. I’m flung forward in my seat and hair slaps across my face. Then the craft plops down with a boisterous bang and we all wince. I clutch my stomach, willing the contents to stay down.

“Sorry about that,” Rylan apologizes as he emerges from the cockpit. “It wasn’t the easiest terrain to land on.”

We check our weapons, sling our bags over our shoulders, and get ready to head out. “Jarod is outside, and he says the coast is clear,” Rylan confirms, tapping the comm-clip at his ear. “Let’s move out.”

The guards scout the area first before beckoning us forward. I look up. It’s nighttime and the dark sky is menacingly fluorescent. Seeing the skyline still cluttered with hovering enemy alien ships does nothing to quell my mounting anxiety. Beams of incandescent light beat a path from each alien craft, sweeping the ground below from left to right.

I trip over rocks and uneven debris, and Ax keeps a hold of my elbow to steady me. As my eyesight adjusts, I struggle to comprehend our environment. We are in a basin of some sort. Sharp, jagged, mud-coated walls surround us on all sides. There’s a damp, muggy odor in the air.