Tiva Boon: Heir of Abennelp (Tiva Boon Series Book 2) (29 page)

He glanced up at her, his eyes reflecting a quick change from yellow to his natural blue. “You loved him?”

“Yes, I…did.” Her heart jumped within her chest. He was angry.

“You were so young…”

“I was,” she replied.

He rose from the couch and bridged the distance between them. “Those bastards really did a number on you, Tiva. I’m sorry.”

“As am I, Adam.” She turned away. “I do not think I can do this anymore.”

“What?”

“I am damaged, cursed…everyone around me dies.”

“Huh? Wait, are you breaking up with me?”

“I do not know…” She shook her head and wrapped her arms around her stomach. “I cannot tolerate anymore loss and I do not want to inflict this burden on you. It is too painful. We both know I will die before you.”

“Don’t you think I know that? That’s no reason to break up. I’ve lost loves, too, it’s part of life, and we can’t control it.”

“We can save each other the agony…”

“This is ludicrous, you love me. I love you. We can’t act as if it means nothing. The pain of loss is the price we bear for the joy love brings. What we have is right now, no past, no future, just this time here together. If it’s another day or a hundred years, we’ll make the best of it. I’m not going to let you call this off because some old boyfriend is haunting you.”

“He is not, Adam,” she snapped. “He deserves to be remembered. I was too selfish or immature to deal with it then, I must do it now.”

“Fine, then do it, but you don’t have to push me away, you don’t have to deal with it alone. I know what you’re going through. I’ve been there…many people have. Let me help.”

“How?” She turned meeting his eyes.

“Talking, being here…whatever you need.” He shrugged.

“I appreciate you trying to help me, but…”

“Tiva,” he whispered. The wings on his back drooped slightly and he held out his hand. “There aren’t many things in this universe that make me happy, mostly because I’ve lived through the worst of times. But there comes a point when you have to move on. You have to create your own happiness. Surround yourself with people you care about, who love you, who need you. I’m sure Litru wouldn’t want you to wallow in grief. If he loved you as much as you say—and I’m sure he did—he’d want you to be happy. I’ll make you happy; you just have to let me.”

His words hit her like a blast of plasma fire. Tiva reached for him and took comfort in his arms. As Adam stroked her back gently, she relaxed against him and listened to his heart beating as they stood in silence. Yes, despite the fact she had loved before, she needed Adam. They needed each other. Like Aries balanced those who could feel on his world, she and Adam balanced one another.

She could not risk losing him because of her own weaknesses. Though she didn’t want the burden of her death on his shoulders, she wanted him to outlive her. At least then, she knew her memory would live on, just as Litru’s would now do within her.

Glancing up, she smiled and his eyes flashed purple. Her markings were white in an instant, and all the troubles of the last few days faded away. She was thinking only of him, and the love flowed between them as their lips touched.

I am sorry.

It’s okay. You just have to tell me these things sooner, Tiva…I can’t help if I don’t know.

Tiva broke the kiss and nodded. “I know, it is just with all that has been going on…”

“Hey, that doesn’t matter,” he replied and lifted her chin. “Me and you, we’re in this for the long haul. Unions, Triunes, Rebels…or whatever come and go. We have to survive this ride together, we’re a team.”

“I felt like I did not deserve to love since I had forgotten another.”

“Everyone has to love, Tiva…without it, we’re nothing.”

“I do love you, Adam. I will until the last breath escapes my lips.”

He smiled and kissed her again.
Solaeshyl.

Pardon?

My treasure.
He chuckled and scooped her up into his arm. “And you’re very tired, so we’re going to lie in bed for a while, talk, and then get some sleep.”

“You did not bring your clothes…”

He shrugged and laid her down on the bed then smirked. “We’ll manage.”

There were no nightmares to wake her. Soundlessly, she slept wrapped in Adam’s arms. When the chirp of her wrist-comm forced her from her sleep, Adam stirred behind her. “Monkeys?”

Tiva chuckled and reached on the stand, activating the comm. “Boon speaking.”

“Get to the captain’s office quick, and if Cooper is there, drag him along…we’re having a meeting.” Aliri’s voice cut through the room.

“We will be there shortly,” Tiva responded and turned back.

“Seems like we never get any time,” he grumbled and jumped out of bed, adjusting his boxer shorts. “Don’t worry, I’ll take you on a real vacation one of these days.”

“I look forward to it.” She got up and moved to the lavatory to change. “I have something else I need to tell you before we leave.”

“Oh?” he called back.

When her uniform was on, she freshened up and exited. Adam walked past to do the same. “Yes, it seems that the crystal’s side effects on me have become permanent.”

Adam stepped out with his finger stuck in his mouth, the vibrant blue and white froth of the teeth cleaner on his chin. “You’re not hurt or sick are you?” he mumbled.

“No, not exactly.” She moved toward him and held out her palm. Concentrating with all her energy, she forced a small ball of fire to appear in her hand. Allowing it to linger for a moment, she curled her fingers around it to extinguish it and met his eyes. “Aliri believes our people have similar traits and consequently I have this ability now, like some of her own people.”

“Nifty,” he said, grinned and went back inside to finish.

Surprised at his non-reaction, she asked, “You do not find it strange?”

“Strange, sure, but still neat. I’ve seen enough amazing abilities in this universe to last me several lifetimes. Pyrokinesis isn’t on the top ten list of strange in my book.” He exited and shrugged as he fastened his tunic. “Second would be this lady I met on Urinko Major. Not only was she eerie looking with three arms and four eyes…she didn’t have regular bones. It was like she was made of silly putty—longer story—anyway she was able to remove her limbs and morph them into clones of herself giving her the ability to be in more than one place at the same time.”

“Fascinating…” Tiva answered aghast.

“Yeah, she was great for practical jokes…”

“What is the first on your list then?”

He stopped short and turned to her. His wings flared, and he flexed his arms as he smiled. Tiva rolled her eyes; she didn’t find him strange considering everything else she had seen.

“So, what are you going to do with your new fiery skill?”

“I will learn to control it, like my other abilities and only use it if there is a need,” she said exiting and walking beside him down the corridor.

“Well, that’s no fun.”

“No, but it is safe.” She sighed and grabbed his hand. “Thank you for staying. You drive the nightmares away.”

“Any time you need me, I’m there, you just say the word.” He kissed her cheek just before the doors opened, and pulled her into the hall.

When they entered the captain’s office, everyone except Aliri and Emerala was present.

“Good m-morning,” Aries said.

“Mornin’,” Adam replied, and Tiva nodded before taking her seat.

Maar slid over two datarecorders, and she picked hers up giving it a quick review before the meeting started. They needed another three hours to finish going through the data. Ninety-six percent of the information transferred to Ovvella. The Ambassadors had already begun to respond. They were sending ships to the neutral planets and to the previously unknown sectors where the Triune Syndicate congregated. The Union was wasting no time. They wanted this war to end, and they were using every bit of information they had.

Aliri entered, the captain called for everyone’s attention and began going over details of the Union’s orders. As it stood, the
Tolox
would be heading up a task force to replicate and test out jumper devices. Once they were through with the transmissions, they were to meet two other ships near a planet in the Aillo space; a week-long journey from their current location. They were moving back toward her home.

The captain also informed the crew of his interrogation with the Syndicate officers. They offered no information and were handed over to security on Bizub, their fate was no longer in their hands. The Union would be dealing with them directly.

Suddenly, Emerala rushed in, her face drawn. “Sir!”

Everyone turned. Maar stood up. “What is it?”

“I cracked the last file. It was the most difficult for the computer so I had to do it manually. Stupid computers…it pushed it back in the queue because of the difficulty. I should have realized it- I could have made it priority.”

“Ms. Teer.” Maar gritted impatiently.

“Sorry! Yes, they’re planning several attacks on Union planets. They’re starting with Earth.” Gasps from the crew followed. Adam and Raife both jumped up from their seats. Emerala handed the captain her datarecorder. “As soon as I saw it, I sent the transmission to Ovvella. They have to know.”

“When is it planned for?” Raife asked.

“What are they planning?” Adam followed.

Maar held up his hand, still reading. Tiva sensed the anxiety of the entire room elevate.

“It says here they’re planning to take out all the colonies on the outer planets, then force the sun to a red giant state and destroy Earth.”

“Are they nuts?” Aliri growled.

“They must be,” Emerala said.

“We have to warn them!”

“Of course w-we do,” Aries replied. “But a message to Earth t-takes two weeks at least…”

Captain Maar fell back to his chair and sighed. “We don’t have that much time….they are executing it in less than a week.”

“We have to do something. It’s a month long journey to Earth from here!” Adam leaned forward on the table in protest.

“Do you have any ideas?” Maar asked. “Anyone?”

“We could use the relays, maybe speed up a message. We’re closer from here then Ovvella. If we can get a ship that’s near the Milky Way, we might have a chance,” Emerala suggested.

“We don’t have any s-ships out that way, other than Earth’s fleet… and all of them are w-within the system,” Aries sighed.

“If we leave now and travel by full speeds we’d get there after the attacks began…” Raife snarled in disgust.

Tiva glanced at Ewan then turned to the Captain. “Perhaps we can use the wormhole device to shorten the journey. The engineers were able to install it on a cargo ship. I am sure they can make it work on the
Tolox
.”

The room went silent for a moment. Aries and Maar looked at Ewan, who already seemed to be going over the idea within his head. Adam had a smile on his face, beaming with pride. The engineer began nodding his head.

“With a few modifications and some extra power grids attached to it, we should be able to do it.”

“Get started now, we have no time to waste. Nassut, Caedm, help him,” Maar ordered and stood up again. “Teer contact Dival directly and tell him of our situation. I’m sure you won’t have to stress the importance.”

“Doubtful, sir. I’m on it.”

Good work, Tiva,
Adam spoke softly in her mind.

She smiled over at him.
Thank you, Adam.

Everyone moved like lightning. By the time Dival responded to Emerala, Ewan had the wormhole device attached to the ship’s engines. The council agreed to send the ship to Earth immediately after a successful test of the device. Ovvella ordered the
Venture,
Hill’s ship and three others, to meet them in the Milky Way, though if the plan worked, the
Tolox
would arrive much earlier.