“Well,” Rex sat on the bed, stretching his leg gingerly. “We stay here until Jade is recovered. I hope to talk to Camden soon.” He went quiet, staring at his bandaged leg. “It’ll be so good to see him again. I didn’t think he’d be alive when I got here.”
Alina sat down next to him. “It’s wonderful news. I’m excited to meet him.” She paused. “But how does everyone know me?”
“They must know of the plan. Lance and Baylor seem to.”
“What plan?”
“There are some things I haven’t told you. Perhaps now is a good time.” Rex took a deep breath.
“As you know, Camden was my caretaker in Pria. He was one of the original founders and the last one to be banished. About thirteen years before you were born, Sampson approved Camden’s request for a ward, and he got me. His sole purpose was to train me for the resistance. All growing up, I knew that would be my life.”
“But I don’t understand,” Alina cut in. “There are so many who enjoy life in Pria, or at least seem to. Are there enough people to organize a resistance?”
“It’s taken two centuries to gather them, but yes, there’s enough. Sampson has made his share of mistakes and angered many people. When you live forever, it’s easy to get disgruntled and restless. His world hasn’t been as easy to rule as he anticipated.”
“Who is J’koby?”
Rex released a long breath and looked her square in the eyes. “He’s your father.”
Alina stared, her mouth hanging open. “But—Sampson didn’t kill him?”
“Apparently not. He must have been bluffing when he said that in the dungeon, maybe to catch you off guard. I admit, I believed him. I don’t know how J’koby survived.”
Alina clutched Rex’s arm. “Remember the room full of info-discs in Gordian? I looked at Jade’s disc after you left the room. I saw a picture of J’koby with her, and they seemed to be in love. But Jade can’t be my mother—you told me she died.”
“Yes. You’re right, Jade is not your mother.”
“But she and J’koby—”
“Yes, they were together,” he snapped. “J’koby came into Pria on a strict mission and got distracted by her. He couldn’t resist, I guess.” Rex seemed angry. “So many fell for her, you know, because she’s different from other women. But she didn’t give anyone a chance until he—” Rex broke off.
“What is it?”
He paused. “Nothing.”
“Come on Rex, you can tell me,” Alina prodded.
He stared at his hands, clasped in his lap. After a moment he whispered, “I also fell in love with her.”
Alina smiled, unsurprised by his confession. “Did she ever return your love?” she asked.
“I was only twelve when she came to our house for rebel meetings, and too young for her, but I hoped when I came of age her feelings would change. They didn’t. I had flings of my own, which distanced her further. So, I stopped dating altogether to prove how much I wanted her.”
“But she loved him.”
Rex nodded, tightening his jaw. “Which was cruel, because he knew he couldn’t stay with her. He broke her heart, and she was never the same afterward.”
“And now they’ll see each other soon.”
Rex stared blankly at the wall. “Yes.”
He looked tired, with dark circles under his eyes. Though still handsome, he no longer fit the dashing socialite from Pria. He seemed—older.
“Go take a nap, Rex. You need some rest.”
He smoothed the bed with his hands. “That’s right, I can sleep in a real bed and forget my troubles for awhile. What a great idea! Don’t plan on seeing me again today. I may sleep till morning. No, wait, I want to eat first.”
As if on cue, a woman knocked on the door and walked in holding a tray of food. She set it on the table. “You must be Rex,” she said to him. “I left your food in your room.”
“Thank you,” Rex said.
“You’re welcome. I’ll get some clothes sent up. Do you need anything else? Extra pillows, perhaps?”
Alina smiled. “No, thank you, one is fine for me.”
The woman left, and Alina glanced at the tray and sighed. “I’ll probably eat, too, just to stay busy. I don’t like being awake while everyone else sleeps.”
“Yeah, that’s rough, you’re on your own,” said Rex. “At least in Pria, company was around, even if they were boring and shallow. Maybe the monitor will pass the time?”
She glanced at the small, boxy screen. “Funny-looking thing, isn’t it? How do you turn it on?”
Rex pursed his lips and scratched his head. “Beats me.”
“Can you make it to your room okay?”
Rex rose carefully, testing his leg. “I’ll be fine. I feel much better.”
“Goodnight, Rex.”
“’Night.” He gave Alina a hug and limped out of the room.
The moment the door closed, Alina unzipped her uniform and retrieved Zaiden’s info-disc and the panel from the bodice of her gown. She reddened as she realized how often she’d thought of him that day. There were plenty of more pressing things to worry about. Perhaps she’d reverted to him as an escape.
She took the disc from its case and turned the panel in her hands. She’d waited for almost two days to look at it, terrified it wouldn’t work outside of Pria. She inserted the disc into the panel and clicked it on.
A rush of excitement surged through her as the panel lit up and Zaiden’s handsome face filled the screen. She smiled, then narrowed her eyes as she studied his features. His dark eyes looked troubled under his heavy eyebrows, and the smile on his lips forced and feeble. Alina suspected him of being somber and mysterious, but in this picture, he looked disturbed. She swiped the page and read the bold letters.
ZAIDEN
commenced: December 30
caretaker: Arton
His young photos showed an adorable boy with ash-blond hair and dimples when he smiled. His hair had darkened since then, but his eyes were the same—deep brown, the color of chocolate. He didn’t appear a happy child; he frowned more than he smiled. He was
