Page 84 of When Eden Falls

I rushed over to the railing. My eyes strained against the distance, but I recognised the stretch of beach. It was where I had landed the Parvos weeks ago. Even Sym’s grave sat near the cliff face, confirming the area’s identity. But the ship wasn’t there. Neither was the mass of metal and cables littering the sand.

I glanced back at Dybgo. His eyes were as wide with confusion as mine.

“Where is it?” Rooke hollered.

“Are you sure these are the correct coordinates?” Dybgo asked.

“Yes!”

Dybgo looked to the ship’s captain, who also seemed in agreement.

“I…” Dybgo stammered, an obvious panic building within. “Idon’t know.” He met Rooke’s raging stare. “I don’t know.”

The Akquarians ambling nearby began to stir, exchanging whispered comments and disconcerting looks.

Rooke lowered his voice and stepped closer. “Is this part of Havav’s plan?”

“What plan?” Dybgo snapped.

“You tell me?”

Marching over to me by the railing, Dybgo continued to scan the beach and cliff horizon. He genuinely looked baffled. When it was apparent he wasn’t going to answer Rooke’s snide question, Rooke exploded.

“Where’s my damn ship, Dybgo?!”

Through gritted teeth Dybgo replied, “I. Don’t. Know!”

“I doubt an Igknamai, with its small animalistic brain could move it. Your people are the only ones intelligent enough around here, so stop lying and tell me where…”

“That’s not entirely true.”

Rooke paused, narrowing his eyes. “Which part?”

I watched Dybgo carefully. He continued to watch the horizon, clearly analysing his options. “I don’t know how much Havav has told you.”

“Uh, you know exactly what we’ve been told. You’re always present. Always guarding, chaperoning. Whatever the hell you do. No doubt listening.”

“There have been times I was not present.”

Laced with anger, Rooke chuckled. “You mean the time you were banished to your room because you couldn’t restrain yourself around the opposite sex. Around the same time you savagely assaulted my lieutenant?Don’t look at her!”

Dybgo’s eyes drifted to me for a brief second before removing them at Rooke’s demand. “That was an accident.”

“An accident?” Rooke snarled. “Do you think I haven’t noticed your eyes wander every time she’s present? Do you not think I see your lingering gaze? I’m well aware you put your disgusting claiming token on her last night…”

“Rooke,” I pleaded gently, trying to stop him from making a scene. I didn’t like the way this conversation was going. But Oz pulled me a few steps away and softly said, “Let him.”

It seemed Rooke had every intention of putting Dybgo in his place. I grimaced as he continued, Rooke pinning Dybgo with a vengeful stare.

“Let me tell you, buddy, if this situation hadn’t been forced upon me, and I wasn’t obligated to abide by Havav’s rules of conduct, I would’ve gouged your eyes out for what you did and tried to do to her. I don’t care how much you are respected here, or how tall and powerful you are, if you ever touch her again, I swear, I will inflict so much pain upon you, you’ll wish you were dead.”

Surprisingly, a small smirk graced Dybgo’s lips. “So, you humans do protect your females?”

“Of course we do! We protect them! Not lock them away, then drug them every few months when they’re needed for sexual pleasure and breeding. It’s absolutely sickening!”

Dybgo’s smirk vanished. He shook his head and glanced at me.

“I said,don’t look at her!”