Page 55 of Loving the Alien Spy

“Okay, so what happened?”

He sighs. “I shouldn’t share what I learned with you. Not because I want to keep things from you, but because I want to keep you safe. The less you know, the less danger you’re in.”

Hadn’t I said the exact same thing about my friends? The less they knew, the safer they’d be? “Tell me what you can, at least. Please.”

There’s a short pause before Carrik finally talks. “I will answer your last question first. Ryvik was—or perhaps still is—a rebel. He was the strategist behind all the sabotage Janik and the rest of us implemented. He planned everything we did to disrupt the trade lines, including vandalizing the shuttles and equipment. He was the one who organized the tampering of the drilling machinery that accidentally killed the Bohnari in the mines. And itwasan accident.”

Oh my god. This guy—the one who’s been courting Cadence—was a rebel. Is she aware? “So he knows about Mohneek and Orvak, then? That they were the ones behind the bombing and attack on the cities? That they’re responsible for all those people dying? Did heplan those?” My voice breaks.

Carrik strokes my hair. “I don’t know for certain, but I have to assume he did. Unless Mohneek and Orvak had someone else working for them that I’m completely unaware of who coordinated the efforts.”

“If he did, then he murdered all those people.” Never in my life have I hated a person with the intensity that I do Ryvik. I’m not sure I could have kept my feelings locked up when we saw him come out of the dormitory if I’d known this beforehand. “Maybe this makes me a bad person, but I hope he gets whatever punishment he deserves.”

Carrik kisses the top of my head. “If I discover he is the one who planned the attacks, I swear I’ll make him suffer the consequences of his actions.”

I snuggle closer to him. “Thank you. So, what else did you two discuss?”

“Ryvik still believes me to be Bannik, so everything he told me was in relation to the male he knows as my brother. Which is that our father shared with Carrik a damaging secret of some horrific thing he’d done. A secret that cannot get out to anyone, but especially to the royal family. Ryvik showed me an encrypted correspondence allegedly from Carrik to his handler that said he is going to—and will—kill anyone who possesses this knowledge and might expose it.”

I lift my head to gape at him. “Wait.You’re saying that your father shared some deep dark secret with you and you’re planning on murdering every single person who might also know what this deep, dark secret is just so Janik doesn’t find out about it?”

Carrik nods. “That is what Ryvik believes, yes.”

“I’m going to guess then that it’s not true? I mean that your dad told you whatever this shameful secret is?”

“He did not. I am also not certain thereisa shameful secret.”

My forehead scrunches. “Then what’s this guy trying to do by telling you all this?”

“He wants Bannik to betray Carrik and get him to meet at a specific location. After that, Ryvik will…take care of things.”

I might be even more confused. “What do you mean ‘take care of things’?”

Once more, Carrik hesitates. But this time, it lasts much longer than the first time. “He plans on killing Carrik.”

The silence hangs for a minute while my brain processes what he just said. When it does, I jump to my feet.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” My whole body shakes as I stare down at him. “Absolutely not. You’re not going to meet up with this psychopath so he can try to kill you. He’s already most likely killed countless Bohnari. You’re out of your goddamn mind if you think I’m going to let you do that.”

Carrik reaches for my hand and tugs me back onto his lap. I fight halfheartedly while he strokes my back and speaks softly to me until I manage to semi-calm down. “You forget, my heart’s fire,that Ryvik believes I am Bannik. It is not me he wishes to remove from this planet, but my brother.”

I sag a little. “Oh. Obviously, you’re not going to let the real Bannik meet with Ryvik under the pretense that he’s there as you, are you?”

Carrik tightens his hold on me. “I do not know what I’m going to do. My brother has only been called to the palace four times since he became a guard. Once was when he was accepted into the guards and swore his oath to the king and queen. The second time was the day after the attack, and I entered as him seeking forgiveness from the queen for my betrayal as a rebel. The third and fourth times were in the last two days when my brother escaped and he learned the truth of my identity.If I attempt to gain entry into the palace again so soon, I worry Ryvik will get word of it. He has an associate who works as a guard there, so if he sees me, they will wonder why.”

I make a hmm sound. “You live in the barracks, and Horek is often there. Can’t you talk to him then?”

“Possibly. My one concern is if Tarrik is still entangled with Ryvik, are there other guards who are as well?” Carrik sighs. “I also still have no information on where Mohneek and Orvak are hiding. If Ryvik is still working with them, I need to figure out a way to get this information from him as well.”

“How have you been doing this for so long? All this cloak-and-dagger shit? Keeping secrets and pretending to be someone you’re not?” I card my fingers through his hair and draw them out to feel the strands slide between them before repeating it. “How is it that you are still this kind and generous when you’ve had to live as a different person your whole life?”

Carrik doesn’t say anything. He only tightens his hold on me and kisses my head again. Out of nowhere, an idea pops up in my brain, and I jerk upright.

“What if I get a message to Janik and Horek from you about all that’s going down with Ryvik, you, and Bannik? I mean, my best friends are their heart’s fires. It would be so easy for us to walk right into the palace to meet with them. No one would think twice about it, especially considering Olivia already lives there. You tell me everything I need to pass along, and I’ll make sure the guys get it.”

Carrik studies me. I can almost see his wheels spinning. It’s the perfect plan. My body hums with excitement, and I get antsy waiting for him to say yes. If I can help bring Mohneek and the rest of them to justice, I’ll be more than happy.

Slowly, he nods. “I think that could actually work.” Carrik palms my face. “I have no wish for you to be in danger, though. If anything were to happen to you, I would destroy everything and everyone.”