Page 36 of Loving the Alien Spy
“Ryvik said his father passed the information on to him, but he refused to give me any more than that, including a name. Any exchanges we had over the last two anums of my infiltrating the rebel camp were about strategy and the raids we organized and enacted. We never discussed anything of a personal nature.”
“Perhaps,” Ivik pauses. “Perhaps your brother might know something?—”
“No.” I cut him off from saying anything else. “I will not involve Bannik in this. I’ll arrange a meeting with Janik in a few days and see if he can offer more insight. He had been the leader of the rebels after all, despite Mohneek’s involvement.”
“And if he can’t?”
“Then I will have to convince Ryvik he can trust me. My instincts tell me he knows where Mohneek is. Perhaps Orvak as well. They are my main concern at the moment, not whether I’ll be exposed as working for the prince. Her initial plan had been for Janik to take the throne and, as his alleged mother, she would reap the benefits of that. Her revenge against King Danik would be complete.”
Ivik huffs out a breath. “Except now that Janik is aware of her schemes and deceit, he is useless to her.”
“Which means she has to seek her revenge against the royal family another way.” I finish for him. “There’s no way for me to stop her if I don’t know what her new endgame is.”
“And if Ryvik isn’t loyal to Mohneek any longer, but rather has his own agenda?” my adviser asks.
“Then I’ll deal with it.”
Ivik is silent for several ticks. Long enough that I fear the connection has been lost, but at last, he speaks up. “Maybe it’s time to give up the secrecy.”
“What are you saying?” I can’t contain my shock.
“Stop keeping the secret of the role your father and your ancestors played. Janik, Horek, and now this Ryvik know—along with whoever his father is. The chances of this news spreading across Bohna are highly likely. Which means whatever cover you might have had is gone. Besides, you have a heart’s fire,” Ivik says as though I’ve forgotten. “What happens if, and when, you’re assigned a task that takes you off-planet? What excuses will you give her? You certainly won’t be able to take her with. And if you leave her here alone, people will begin to wonder. Perhaps the time has come.”
His words have me speechless.
“Just…think about it,” he says softly and, before I can reply, ends the comm.
I stand there for several ticks before placing the device back in its hiding place, and then I stare at myself in the mirror in front of me. No matter how long I remain there, no answers come tome. I pivot, turn out the light, and get into bed, already knowing sleep isn’t going to happen.
Chapter 18
Lindsey
I stroke the leaves of the postikar plant, but whereas two days ago that would have brought me a lot more comfort, today I’m feeling…blue, I guess. Maybe a little annoyed as well. Truthfully, my emotions are all over the damn place, and it’s Bannik’s fault. Just when I tell myself to stop holding back, something happens that makes me question the decision.
Every time I close my eyes, I replay the image of him pulling away. He’d given me the best orgasm of my life, and I’d swear we both experienced something special and a deeper connection. Then, out of nowhere, he got weird. Closed off. I’m doing my best not to overanalyze it and trust him like he’d asked me to. It might help if I had someone to talk to, but everyone’s been MIA, most especially Bannik. I haven’t seen him since he left the other night.
“Coming to Bohna was supposed to be this great and wonderful thing.” Except here I am, talking to a damn plant.
I mean, being on this planet is far better than being back on Earth and working at the sanitation facility. And living in the bottom tier. Women would kill to be where I am, and guilt eats at me for not appreciating more the opportunity I’ve been given.
It’s also not really like me to be so whiny and morose, and I hate it. Maybe I should take a page from Devon’s book and find a hobby besides my plants and flowers. Something that will force me out of my apartment and my mind off Bannik and the way he left the other night.
Determined to find the thing that gets me out of this funk, I store my watering can under the sink, check my reflection in the hygiene room, and head out of my apartment. I take a quick glance out the windows toward the palace. The sun shines brightly on the copper building and makes it sparkle. Foot traffic moves quickly through the massive courtyard in front of the entrance. It’s the greatest number of people I’ve seen since the attacks on the cities. No one is rushing around or appearing frantic, so I don’t worry anything might be wrong.
The ride down to the first floor is quick, and I step out of the lift seconds after I entered it. Several people loiter in the atrium, including Cadence and a Bohnari male I don’t recognize. They sit close, leaning into each other’s space with their heads together and their knees almost touching, and my heart pinches at the sight. The flush that covers her cheeks is visible even from this distance. I’m happy for Cadence and her guy but envious as well when she laughs at whatever it is he says.
I slam open the doors, barreling through, and collide with a hard body. One that smells achingly familiar. Warm hands grip my hips, and I tip my head back to gaze up into Bannik’s eyes. Flames dance in their ebony depths, and my heart races at the heat in them.
“Lindsey.” His voice is rough and rumbles through my chest and lower.
“Hi.” I’m frozen in place, basking in the way he watches me as though he wants to devour me. A fact I’m not in the least opposed to either.
“Apologies. You appear to be on your way somewhere in a hurry.”
“Not really. I was only…” My laugh is awkward. “I didn’t really have a destination in mind. Just thought I needed to get out of my apartment.”
Bohnari don’t blush that I’ve ever noticed, but Bannik does appear to be ill at ease. “Once again, I must apologize. I have been a neglectful mate. My duties have kept me busy, but I should have sent a message telling you I have missed you.”
