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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Visla

My entire world had tilted on its axis yet again, but this time, I chose not to run. Now that I knew what I was up against, I wasn’t afraid anymore. Not that I was ever afraid of that witch, Sanjit. She was jealous and spiteful. I knew exactly what she wanted. Power. And I was willing to bet anything that she also wanted complete control of the Xihran brothers as a whole. As long as Khol and I were together, she couldn’t have that, so she had lied and conspired against those who stood in her way. But maybe I was wrong…

Days and nights had gone by and Khol still hadn’t returned. I worried about him. It wasn’t as if I could just go back to Dretis and openly wait for him. Although that had been the plan before Sanjit ruined everything.

I got up from the table and took my bowl over to the washing bin. My temporary living quarters were just as big as the home Khol gave to me back in Dretis. Almost no one knew me here in Mandia, but that was the point. With the temporary armband that Thanu gave me, I came and went as I pleased with a stern warning dissuading me from going back to Dretis or removing my cloak while I was out in the village before Khol returned.

I set my bowl on the drying rack. On the left side of the counter, the bag of coins that Thanu left caught my eye. Thanu had made it known that he didn’t have the authority to prevent me from getting the hell out of dodge after what happened to me, but he had earned my complete trust—and somehow, I had also gained his. He was extremely loyal to Khol and I had since forgiven him for suspecting me of accessory to murder in the beginning. He was only trying to protect his king. As he should.

I could leave and make this easy for both of them. After all, there were enough coins in the bag to catch the next spaceship off this planet with plenty left over. Yet, nothing made me want to leave Khol behind. Certainly not with that wench. If she got her way, she’d see that anything she touched was ruined, including the colony.

Just as I was about to change into something lighter to sleep in, I heard the sound of ground floater engines approaching. I ran over to the window to look out and saw not just one, but two floaters landing about a yard or so in from of the hut.

I rushed over to a closet and grabbed a heavy battle ax from the corner. There was no way I was going back to that gloomy, dark prison. With fingers trembling, I gripped the handle of the weapon as tightly as I could and made a firm stance a few feet away from the door.

The Aurrakians occupying the floater were loud as they spoke. Someone mentioned something about a medic and then another talked of getting more supplies.

And then I heard it—Khol’s voice. I almost dropped the ax and flew out the door, but after being tricked a few days ago into thinking the princess meant well, I wasn’t going to let down my guard so easily. I stopped short of opening the door.

“Visla.” Khol’s voice was low and strained through the wood. “It’s me, Visla.”

I gasped, peered out through the peephole to confirm, and then unlocked and pushed open the door.

Standing in front of three guards was Khol, who looked like he’d been through hell. One blood-smudged hand was pressed to his abdomen and the other arm was down by his side.

He held my gaze. His lips twitched and he smiled, even though he appeared to be in pain and bleeding. His pride would not allow him to reveal that he was suffering, but like me, he couldn’t hide the fact that he was elated to see me.

We both moved at the same time, closing the distance until my arms were around him and his palm was against my face.

“Khol…you’re back. I…” I didn’t get a chance to finish or tell him about the mistake I made. He leaned down and kissed me.

“I owe you a million apologies, Visla,” he started. “I wish I had never left you.”

He already knew what happened.

“You had no idea. Let’s not talk about that now. You’re hurt. You were injured in battle?” The last statement came out like a question. I couldn’t believe for one moment that Sanjit had somehow hurt him too. “Did Sanjit…?”

“Yes. And no. The injuries are from battling beasts in Nunbar. I’ll be okay. Let’s go inside.”

As I brought him inside, I noticed he was walking with a slight limp. His face showed no signs of pain, but he was good at hiding things. As I assisted him to a chair, he spoke, “Things have changed. For me. I have to do something, and I don’t want you to be anywhere near the colony during this time. It’s too dangerous.”

“I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying here with you,” I said.

“It’ll be better for you.” He stroked my face with his calloused hands.

I sighed. “How?”

“Just trust me. The Princess has ulterior motives—”

“I’m tired of talking about this princess bitch. I’m not leaving. If she wants to play dirty, I can play too. Yet, I hope I never see her again. I could kill her for what she put me through,” I said, surprised at the sound of my voice wishing someone dead.

Khol cracked a faint smile. “I should have known you’d object and fight me every step of the way. But I want you safe…I…it’s…”

His breathing became weathered and his words drifted off. If I hadn’t been quick enough, he might’ve fallen flat on his face to the floor. Instead, I caught his fall and he collapsed in my lap.

“Medic. Medic!” I screamed, trying to haul him off my lap to get him to the bed.