He trails off, unable to say the words.
Breeding chattel.
A fucktoy.
A pleasure slave.
I know the words rattling around inside his tired, wounded mind.
Mr. Carani slowly shakes his head. Then, his eyes focus, honing in on Natali.
“You have no idea what the future could have held, my sweet. You could have been great. You could have been so much more than what you will be now.”
Natali’s eyes are wet. She looks at me, her heart broken. I realize that if I can’t make this right, there’s going to be a wound between us forever.
Was I wrong to schedule this meeting? Will this sour our future?
I push on.
“She’ll still be more than you ever imagined. This is not the end, Mr. Carani. You had ambitions for your family to grow and become a superpower in this universe. Now, that’s not just possible – it’s inevitable.”
The old man sits up.
“It’s a certainty,” I tell him. “Just think of your grandsons.”
Carani turns his head away, staring at the wall. Then, he snaps his gaze back towards me so fast that I think it might hurt his neck to stare at me.
“What is this? Some ploy to take control of my Orb-Deposits? To take the last thing I have of value from me?”
I shake my head.
“No – never. Guide your daughter, instead. Teach her to lead your business empire. We’ll always stand behind her. We’ll always provide protection for the Orb-Mines. We’ll guard your investment with our lives – for the sake of our Empire, and your daughter.”
Carani licks his lips. Then, he turns to his daughter, addressing Natali directly.
“Don’t you understand? The Bond is going to corrupt your mind. It’s going to turn you into something you don’t even know yet.” He sniffs bitterly. “Gods, please, Natali – don’t take that ring off. Please.”
She looks at him with big, sad eyes. Then, she proudly juts her chin up.
“The Bond does not corrupt, Father – it only enhances what is already there. If you thought I was capable of leading the family business a week ago, after you’d trained me, then know that I’m now twice as capable. It’s you who doesn’t understand, father. My mind is sharper than ever.”
She pauses.
“Name a company.”
Mr. Carani blinks. “What game is this?”
“Just do it.”
“Aldron Robotics,” he spits – the name of a famous conglomerate from the Human Alliance.
Natali concentrates for just a second.
“Revenue 1.3 billion, but that includes 400 million in intangible assets that are overvalued based on the judicial decision passed thirteen days ago. 6,435 employees.”
Carani blinks, astonished.
“How… How did you know?”
“I walked by you working in your study, a week ago, and I glanced over your shoulder. I saw the screen for three seconds and I didn’t even remember the name Aldron Robotics until this moment.”
She smiles proudly.
“I-I’m smarter now, father – and my mind? It’s like it’s working at a hundred percent. The Bond is only going to keep getting stronger. If you trusted me then you should trust me now. I’m not just going to be Bonded to these Aurelians. I’m going to have my own life.”
Natali steps forward.
“I’m tired of people telling me what I can and can’t do – and now, I can do anything.”
I’m surprised. I’d never heard of the Bond enhancing someone’s mind in such a way; but I latch onto what she said, and it makes sense.
She continues:
“Think of your grandsons, Father. They’ll be mighty warriors, and will live thousands of years – and they’ll carry on your legacy. You won’t just be the patriarch of a human family. You’ll be the patriarch of a dynasty – a powerhouse in this universe.”
Her father’s eyes widen.
“Because of you,” Natali continues. “It’s all because of the Orb-Deposits that you found. This is your legacy, Father – and you’ll record holo-vids and lessons for your grandsons to watch long after you’re gone; and for their grandsons to watch into eternity.”
Mr. Carani’s eyes fill with tears. Then, he stands up unsteadily.
The thin, gaunt man walks to his daughter, hugging her tightly.
“I trust you, Natali. I’m… I’m so sorry you didn’t have the childhood you deserved.”
“It’s okay,” Natali embraces him tightly. “You did everything you had to do. Now, it’s time for me to find my own way.” She pulls from his arms. “I’m going with my triad, Father – but we’ll speak with you soon, okay?”
He pauses for a moment. Then, it’s like a switch flicks in his mind.
Suddenly, he realizes he can’t hold onto her anymore.
“Okay,” the old man sniffs. “Be safe, my sweet.”
“I will.”
We walk out, not certain when we’ll return; only that we will.
Natali says a tearful goodbye to Gerard at the gates, thanking him for everything he’s done over the decades. He has tears in his eyes as he hands her a bag packed with her clothes, giving her one last smile. Then, Natali follows us into our Reaver – and into our new life together.
The doors of the Reaver close behind us, and I take off into the atmosphere.
The last wound is patched.
Now, we can truly go anywhere.
19
Natali
I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders as we soar up into the air above my father’s estate.
“Where are we going now?” I ask.
Brennan turns his head. There’s a sly grin on his face. “You’ll see. There’s a place I’d heard about during my hundred years of service. It’s going to take a couple hours to get there without Orb-Shifting, so get comfortable.”
I walk to Brennan, squeezing his shoulder.
“Thank you. Thank you for convincing my father.”
Lazar laughs. “You’re the one who did it, Ms. You’ll-Be-the-Patriarch-of-a-Dynasty. You played your father like a violin.” He laughs. “Gods, I was used to being the smart one in this triad.”
Otho booms in laughter, filling the Reaver with the comforting sound
