Page 56 of Loving the Alien Spy

I cover his hands with mine. “This will work. I know it.”

“All right,” he finally says. “I’ll give you all of the details, and then I need to leave for my patrol shift. Comm your friends and arrange for all of you to go to the palace today if you are able. Tell Janik and Horek everything.”

Okay, maybe all this spy stuff doesn’t suck quite as badly as I first thought. The thrill I’m getting from knowing I could help catch Mohneek and the others is a lot.

“Is it wrong of me to want to tear off our clothes and head to the bedroom right now? All this talk is making me…horny.” My face is hot, but I don’t care.

Carrik groans. “You cannot say things like that to me right when I have to leave. I’m going to spend the next several clicks imagining you naked and in bed with your body flushed and your cunt wet. You are a cruel, cruel female.”

“I’m sorry.” I’m not in the least.

“Let me quickly tell you what you need to know so I can get going before I choose to forget where I am supposed to be and stay here to devour you throughout the night.”

I huff in disappointment but listen carefully as Carrik gives me all the details of this meeting he needs to convince Bannik to attend so that Ryvik can eliminate him. Nausea swirls in my gut knowing that this fucker is going to try to kill the real Bannik because he thinks he’s Carrik. Even worse is the fact that he’s most likely the one who caused all the death and destruction in Preska. And all because of Mohneek and Orvak.

“Do you have all of that?” Carrik asks when he’s finished.

I nod. “Got it.”

“Good. I have to go.” Carrik cradles my face. “Be careful. I can’t lose you.”

“You won’t. I promise.”

I rise up at the same time he bends down, and our lips meet for a kiss that is filled with love, worry, and hope. When it ends, I rest my forehead against Carrik’s.

“I love you.” I breathe against his mouth. “And I’m not saying that because I’m worried something’s going to happen. I just needed you to know. I should have said it before now, but I was scared. You’ve given me the strength to not be afraid anymore and to say how I truly feel. So, I love you.”

“Gods, Lindsey. I love you too.”

We stand there a moment longer, breathing in each other’s air before Carrik finally releases me. His gaze bores into mine before he inhales deeply and then walks out the door. A minute or two passes before I’m in motion. This time, I comm Olivia first.

“I need you guys to meet me at my apartment as soon as you can. There’s something we have to do.”

Chapter 27

Carrik

So far, everything is going to plan. Like she said, Lindsey was easily able to walk into the palace two days ago with her friends and not raise any alarms that I’m aware of. I arranged to cross paths with Tarrik in the barracks’ galley and let him know I managed to convince my brother to meet me. My patience was severely tested waiting to get final confirmation of the meeting with Ryvik, but eventually, it came. The only thing I have to do now is show up and wait for my brother.

I have to trust Janik and Horek are in place and that Ryvik will be alone when he arrives. I’m uncomfortable with the number of unknown variables, but I can’t do anything about it at this point except pray to our gods. After making sure I have several blasters hidden—one at the base of my spine and the other in a holster around my ankle beneath my trou—I make my way out of my room in the barracks.

The sun has set and the moon has risen, although the clouds that roll across the sky alternate between covering and exposingit. I casually stroll through the streets toward the far side of the city that houses the gated entrance leading out toward the rain forest. However, before I reach the gate, I dart down a narrow passageway between two buildings and walk behind one of them.

Buried within a large grouping of bushes is a small section of crumbling wall that isn’t visible unless a person knows exactly where it is. A quick glance around ensures I’m not being overtly watched as I duck into the bushes and through the open space. I stay within the shadows, blending in as easily as I always have until I reach the boundary of the rain forest.

It has been nearly an entire moon cycle since I was last inside the camp the rebels had called home for over two anums. I don’t suspect Mohneek or Orvak to be hiding close by. Not when Janik has had guards combing the area to ensure no one has remained behind or lingers here.

Despite the frequent lack of moonlight, the path I’ve traversed so many times is easy to follow until, finally, I reach the deserted rebel camp. The resemblance to the small bustling village where we all used to live is gone. It’s a barren segment of land with vacant buildings that already appear run-down. The camp is desolate and bleak in its appearance. Like a carved-out husk that lies rotting and empty.

Somewhere nearby are Janik and Horek. I don’t try to ascertain where. My only focus is on Ryvik and keeping my brother alive. Ticks go by while I stand in the center of camp beside the raised dais where Janik would speak to us all as we gathered, waiting for instructions or updates. It is the same place where he would divvy out the minuscule amounts of kanet powder the rebels paid far too much for, considering they were being shorted by Alik.

At least that is what the rebels were all being led to believe, when, in fact, it had been Mohneek and Orvak who had been keeping the excess as a way to control their followers. Not only had Alik not been charging his people for the kanet powder that keeps us alive, but he was giving the rebels more than what Janik paid for. Keeping the hatred burning for Alik had been how Mohneek and her consort manipulated not only Janik, but the rest of the rebels. If only I had discovered this earlier. Perhaps I could have saved lives.

A branch cracks, and I whip my head in the direction the sound came from. Several ticks later, Ryvik steps out of the shadows. I glance behind him, but no one else appears. Or is it merely a ploy? Does he have allies waiting nearby, somewhere in the darkness?

“You’re early,” he says.

“Perhaps you are just late.”