Ever since my mother died and left him alone, he’s become a controlling monster.
Back when my mother died, he’d sometimes just sit alone for hours and stare at pictures of her – pictures which he’d hide whenever I came near, never wanting to show me the weakness of his feelings for her.
My father always wanted to be strong for me after we lost her.
Now, he thinks he’s losing me, too.
I step into camera field of the holo-vid.
“Dad,” I plead. “Please. Accept the meeting. I don’t want there to be a rift between us.”
He stares at me blankly.
“Did you really do it? Did you really tell them to kidnap you? Did you really think I was holding you as a prisoner, against your will?” My father’s face is a mask of anguish. “Gods, Natali – I swear, I just wanted to keep you safe!”
“It doesn’t matter,” I promise him. “That’s all in the past now, father. Please – just meet with Brennan tomorrow. I’ll be there, too. We can find a way to move beyond this.”
The sadness in his eyes hurts me.
“Natali, I can never forgive the men who stole you from me – and I can never forgive myself for making you want them to take you away.”
A knot tightens in my belly.
“Please,” I beg.
He sighs. “Very well. Ten o’clock, standard time.”
Then, he abruptly cuts off the feed.
I didn’t want to think about him, or the rift I’d caused between us.
I’ve told a lie that paints him as a jailor and a control freak. Courtroom feeds can be seen across the planet. His reputation will be tarnished by my words…
…but I made my choice, and I have to live with it now. I can forgive him for keeping me behind those towering walls. He just wanted to keep me safe. Only, now I know what the world is like outside.
Now, I know I can never go back to the way things were.
I just hope my father can find a way to let me go, while still being in my life.
“You better know what you’re doing,” I say to Brennan – and suddenly, I need to be alone.
I walk down the hallways, finding a room with a bed small enough that it clearly doesn’t belong to an Aurelian. I lie on the bed, fingering that cursed Orb-Ring.
I know I made the right choice to be with my triad.
I just hope I made the right choice in setting up a meeting with my father tomorrow.
What if he snaps?
What if he massacres Brennan, Otho, and Lazar – before I can even feel the Bond again?
18
Brennan
I pilot the Reaver slowly towards the estate. Natali is a nervous, anxious mess as she sits next to me. As much as her mental state pains me, I wish I could feel it through the Bond, rather than just read it in her expression. I wish I truly knew how she felt – because I’m taking a great risk coming back here.
Her father has had barely a day to cool off.
The Bond disrupter is still affixed around Natali’s finger. This afternoon, it will finally be gone. It’s something that I know her father put on her – he wanted to control her.
He still does.
An old man’s rage festers. He’s still in his middle age, but with time, the wounds that we caused Mr. Carani will grow only colder and more bitter. Natali will never have the closeness of family again; something that even we cannot give her.
I need to convince him now, while his rage is still hot and raw. The metal is still being forged. When it’s finally cooled down, whatever form it takes will be forever set.
I open a comms-link, voice only.
“Requesting permission to land.”
“Granted.”
It’s Gerard’s voice that comes back through the comms-link, and it’s as thick with distrust as that of Natali’s father.
I land our Reaver in the courtyard, remembering when I first walked through the huge gates of this towering estate.
I never thought I’d find her inside. I’d never expected any of this.
Now, there are still mercenaries on the walls – humans standing sentry along with the robotic Sentinels.
Gerard is waiting as we get disembark. He smiles at Natali, then turns to look at me with a judgmental glare.
“This time, you won’t have the jump on me, alien.”
I grin at the old warrior. He’s a man who has fought and survived many fights – especially by human standards. He’s earned my respect, even if I’ll never earn his.
“Then it’s a good thing I’m not here to fight you,” I say, and nod in deference.
Gerard snorts. “Good for you.”
My lips curl at his bold retort.
Then, I demand: “Where is he?”
“In the dining room. Leave your weapons here.”
Natali pipes up. “Is that really necessary?”
Gerard turns to her, and the warmth is gone from his voice.
“Your father barely allowed them to come at all. Don’t argue this, Lady Carani. It won’t end well.”
I’ve already taken the hilt of my Orb-Blade from my belt. I place it on the floor before me. I can feel the gunsights of those human mercenaries training on me as I do so; watched by countless sniper rifles.
My battle-brothers follow suit. Then, unarmed, we follow Gerard into the dining room.
Mr. Carani waits for us there.
He’s looking so thin, he’s practically skeletal – his skin gaunt against the angular bones of his cheeks and jaw.
The old man looks at Natali – but even for her, he has no smile.
Then, he stares at us blankly.
“Why do you come, alien? To gloat?”
I can’t waste time.
“I’m not here to gloat, Carani. I have no desire to make an enemy of you.”
I pause and take a steadying breath.
“In fact, I’m here to give you the future you want. The future you once dreamed of.”
There’s a little life in his eyes now – fire at my words.
“Oh, I know Aurelians. I
