Page 50 of Hope Forged
“Mudya didn’t want to talk to me.” Ziamee turned on the spot. “She’s not here, and north is all Ulta can narrow it down to. Let’s just fly that way.”
“Milady is right,” Coll said. “Once we get the exact coords, we will be closer than if we wait here.”
“Go ahead,” Brac said. “I will plant sec vids in case she returns while Coll powers up the kuta.”
Ziamee marched on, her spine stiff. Not once did she glance at her father. Illan didn’t blame her, and yet, he understood Amet’s need to protect her. A decision had been made when she was too young to understand. He was at ease, certain they would learn the details in due course.
She sank into her seat and strapped herself in.
Illan knelt before her and checked the latch. “We will find her,” he whispered and ran his hands from her thighs to her knees.
The pain darkening Ziamee’s eyes hit him hard. An unseen force squeezed his chest, almost snapping his ribs. He wantedto wrap his arms around her, to whisk her away from this…situation. She wouldn’t appreciate his efforts;thatshe’d made abundantly clear. Which left only one recourse: he’d train her to protect herself and trust his ability to teach her well.
The moment Brac leaped into the compartment, he smacked the button for the door to seal. Coll launched the kuta, and when they were high enough, he swiveled its nose north. They skimmed along the ground covered in green and orange forests. A few rivers headed toward the waterfall and lake, gleaming like slivers of mercury in the sunlight. Mountains in the distance were the palest lilac, but until then, just flat land rolled out as far as the eye could see.
“Uninhabited according to the kuta scans,” Coll said.
“I expected something…more,” Ziamee said, her eyes wide, her voice raw. “For so long, I imagined this as a different biome, but it’s…the same, isn’t it?”
“For the most part,” Amet said, coming to stand behind Coll. “All this is to be discovered, documented. We could spend our entire lives here and not capture it all.” He offered Ziamee a weak smile. “Which is what I proposed to your mother. No, she wanted off this world. It took us years to be granted permission to travel to a new world in another system. Not this…Vora.”
“Few were chosen per unknown planet to minimize the impact our presence made.” Illan clasped Ziamee’s fingers, giving them a squeeze. “I can understand why your mother wanted to leave.”
“Staying was our only choice,” Amet gritted out.
“One you made,” Illan said, trying to get to the truth. “You said the beacon stopped working?”
Amet held Illan’s gaze, unflinching. “Yes.”
Illan frowned. His instincts screamed that Amet was acting…odd. “And you did not try to repair it?”
“With what parts?” Amet shrugged. “The past is as it is. I cannot change it, nor do I wish to.” He glanced at Ziamee.“Except for those incidents where you were harmed. I’d give my life to not have you suffer.”
“Did Mudya know?” Ziamee asked, her voice small. “Did she choose not to return?”
“I hid that from her. Your anguish was mine to bear.” Amet faced ahead, ending the conversation.
Illan reeled. How had Amet managed to shield his truemate? Only a gifted few could do that. Illan had struggled when mind-fused with his brother. It had taken all his strength to do so, and yet, Amet stood there undaunted.
No, he couldn’t be a—
Nizena.
Illan activated his O.D.I. and typed a message to Iddan to investigate this further. If he had the time now, he’d delve into what archives he had access to. But his priority was Ziamee. And he’d like to return to Etteria with some news worthy of retelling.
Having found Ziamee and her family meant his mission was a success. Securing them all on the scimitar to Issneen would be the next step. If he could convince Ziamee to come with. She had to do so willingly. He’d never force her, even though he ached to show her a different world. Perhaps he should approach the topic from that angle?
“There,” Brac said, tapping the display vid where a point flashed for a second. “That has to be her location. Ulta?”
“I cannot confirm this,” Ulta said, his voice filling the kuta’s compartment. “What is your visual?”
Coll glided the kuta to a halt and circled the location. “An object is there, but the forest hides much.”
“Drop me. I will investigate.” Brac palmed his blaster. “Fly off as if abandoning the search.”
“Very well.” Coll lowered the kuta.
Illan drew his blaster. “I will join you.”
