CHAPTER 18
A lora slapped her palm against the table. The wood shook from the force, rattling the vase of Coletta flowers against the polished grain. A single petal slipped from one of the flowers and landed gracefully on the table top. The delicate frond was a symbol of what could happen if she gave in to Zedron’s demands—her life would slip away.
Perhaps the war over Earth wasn’t worth the price.
Anlon’s giggles filled the room, along with Carine’s soft, encouraging murmurs. Her new friend gripped Anlon’s small hand, helping him toddle past the couch and into an open area of the room. His smile lit up his features, triumph gleaming in his eyes.
Alora’s jaw tightened. No, she couldn’t give up on Earth. Anlon’s fate, as well as all her characters on the planet, including the humans, depended on her to win the war. Otherwise, the humans would be enslaved and her characters would be marked as failures.
“He’s learning so fast.” Carine’s smile faded as she met Alora’s gaze. “What is it?”
Alora strode to her visus bacin and leaned over the still water. Her reflection stared back at her, and she couldn’t stand to look at the lines etched around her eyes, so she turned around. With a loud exhale, she leaned against the hard rim. “This war needs to end, soon. I miss Veromé.”
Anlon squealed. He raised his hands and smiled.
In mid-air, his red sunstone floated toward the character board. With a hard smack, the gem hit the display. The screen lit up.
“Anlon, no, honey, don’t do that.” Carine ran to the little boy and scooped him into her arms.
A loud, protesting wail rose from him.
The sunstone dropped to the ground with a loud thunk.
Alora rushed to her character board. The last thing she needed was a broken screen. She studied the display. Smooth and unblemished, the surface was as perfect as always. Red and green dots, representative of the characters in the game, congregated on the board. A quick shiver of relief traced down her arms.
“Anlon, stop.” Carine tried to contain the babe, but he stretched his arms and legs as he squirmed and slipped from her grasp.
He toddled to the couch and raised his hands. The sunstone rose in the air and smacked against the character board once again. This time, the display darkened, all the characters disappearing from view.
“No, oh, no!” Panic welled in Alora’s chest. “I need to see the character board!”
The board flickered, once, twice, three times. Words appeared on the screen. Alora inhaled.
“What does it say?” Carine whispered.
Alora took a deep breath. “Congratulations! If you can read this, you have unlocked a hidden level within the character board. As your reward, you may return one player from the deceased to the active section of play. Good luck!”
The words disappeared from view, and the display returned to its normal state, the red and green dots filling the screen.
Alora turned her attention to Anlon. He crawled to the sunstone and retrieved it from behind the couch. “I always knew you would be important in the game, but I had no idea you would help me in this way.”
She scooped him into her arms and hugged him. He squirmed, his arms and legs flailing like an octopus. Alora set him on the wooden floor. As if with a purpose, he crawled to the couch and drew himself to a standing position. His pure smile beamed from ear to ear.
Carine cleared her throat. “I’m not sure I understand. You get to bring back one of your characters?”
Alora’s chest swelled. “Sure seems that way. This could be a game-changer for me.” She tapped her finger against her mouth. “Who should I choose? There are so many fine warriors and kings that have come and gone during this war.”
Anlon cooed and slapped his hands against the couch. The innocence in his eyes broke through Alora’s glee, dampening it. Anlon had lost both his father and mother.
“I should bring back Noeh. He would help win this war…”
Carine’s brow furrowed.
“You don’t like that idea?”
Carine licked her lips and glanced between Anlon and Alora. “I’m sorry, but in my humble opinion, a babe needs his mother.”
“Melissa…” Alora whispered.
A soft cry filled the air. Anlon wobbled on his feet, then plopped to the ground. A mixture of pride and frustration crossed his features.
Alora’s mind raced through the possibilities—Noeh or Melissa. Before she could decide, a soft hum resonated in the air. Light shimmered as particles of energy coalesced in the middle of the room.
Alora glanced through the window. Clouds in shades of orange and pink dotted the Lemurian sky. Morning had come so quickly.
The molecules fused together and Veromé appeared. His shoulder-length brown hair needed a trim, along with his goatee, but that made him all the more manly and handsome in her eyes.
Alora ran to her mate, eager to touch him, hold him.
He wrapped his arms around her, tugging her close. “My love.”
Burying her nose against his neck, his cool, fresh scent washed over her. “Veromé, so much has happened. I have to tell you about—”
Waahhh…
Veromé flinched, his arms tightening around her waist. “What is—”
Alora pulled back to look at him. “That’s Anlon. Noeh and Melissa’s son.”
Carine picked up the babe, and he rested his head against her chest. “The little guy needs a nap. I’ll take him upstairs and leave you two alone for a few minutes.”
“Thank you, Carine.” Alora toyed with a lock of Veromé’s hair, enjoying how the silky strands tickled her finger.
Carine’s soft, retreating footfalls were the only sounds in the quiet room.
Veromé cleared his throat. “You ready to tell me about this?”
Alora drew away from him, her anxiety fueling her anger. “You assume I’ve done something, don’t you?”
He crossed his arms, and the muscles in his biceps bulged. “It bothers me that I’m unable to help you in this war other than to provide support. I love you dearly, but I don’t trust Zedron in this game.”
Irritation flared along her nerves. He’d reminded her of Zedron’s requirements. How could she tell her mate of her decision? She couldn’t, so she concentrated on the child. “Anlon fell through a portal. Carine found him and rescued him from a rhondo beast. We brought the babe here. What was I to do?”
He blinked. “A rhondo beast?”
She nodded, biting back the tears that welled behind her eyes. Her frustration, anger, and fear boiled over, and one slipped over her lash. Time was not her ally.
Veromé opened his arms. “Forgive me, my love. Come here.”
She melded into him, thankful for his acceptance and his loving care. “I don’t want to lose you.”
He stroked his fingers through her hair, petting her. “Sh…sh…I’m not going anywhere.”
…But I am… As much as she loved her mate, she couldn’t let Zedron win and enslave the Earthlings. She’d go to her nemesis come nightfall.
“Kiss me,” she said, tears streaking down her cheeks.
Veromé cradled her head in his palm and pressed his lips to hers. She gripped the edge of his shirt, her fingers curling around the material. The familiar tug started in her gut, and she disappeared to her dark place.