Chapter 16

Anya and Avila exchanged glances, assessing the situation.

“He doesn’t know,” Avila said, almost amused.

Anya’s weapon didn’t waver. “There wasn’t time.”

“There’s never time with you people,” Aeden muttered as he retrieved a small device Avila was holding out for him.

“Extor told me to give that to you if there ever came a day it was needed. I figured today was as good as any other” Avila said.

A blue light emanated from the device, forming a three-dimensional hologram. Extor appeared to be in a control room.

“Aeden, if you are watching this, it means things have gone badly and you’ve likely uncovered some unexpected truths. My responsibility was to protect you and Veronika and when your parents disappeared, I did not waiver from that mission. I’m unaware of why your father chose to keep your origins hidden, but that wasn’t my decision. Yes, you are next in line to rule Alnilam. Avila swore to me to protect you, and your safety is her utmost priority. She hails from a lineage of formidable warriors and is not to be underestimated.”

Anya snorted at the remark. Aeden looked at Avila in surprise, but she just shrugged.

“In short, your mother created four women who would become your wives to aid you in reclaiming the throne: Pavlina, Marketa, and Tara. There are only rumors about the fourth, because the mother vanished soon after receiving the embryo and nobody knows if she carried it to term or not.” Extor paused before continuing. “It is crucial that you heed Avila’s guidance and stick together. There’s a shuttle hidden on the far side of the estate that will transport you to the Eclipse. I’ve recently managed to repair the necessary parts for a journey back to Alnilam. They are located in the storage shed.”

Aeden looked between Avila and Anya as if trying to make a decision. He slowly turned his pistol towards Anya. “Avila has proven herself trustworthy, but I still don’t know who you really are.”

Anya resisted the urge to impose her will on Aeden and simply seize control. She was surprised that she hadn’t already done so.

As Aeden’s gaze darted between the two women, tension crackled in the air.

A violent explosion shook the building, this time dangerously close. Debris and choking dust cascaded down like a gritty storm.

“There’s no time!” Avila commanded urgently. It’s obvious Miss Jailbait here is logically the fourth wife Extor spoke of. I can tell by the way she looks at you and she is obviously not completely human. We need to get moving.”

Anya’s eyes narrowed as she considered what Avila just said. It was the most sensible thing she’s heard.

“Aeden, this is your inheritance,” Avila declared with fierce conviction. “Your birthright as the son of Prince Ja’mir. But, to claim the throne of Alnilam, you must first reach it!”

Avila’s green eyes blazed with ferocious intensity. “Look back at your life. You were always a natural leader, but never a gung-ho one. And now? Look how far Miss Jailbait over there went to protect you! You may not see it, but everyone else does!”

Anya only half heard the words being spoken because she was still wrestling with her internal demons.

Outside, engines roared to life. Heavy vehicles approaching.

“Reinforcements,” Anya warned, as her brain cleared itself. “We need to move now.”

Aeden’s mind raced. The motorcycle could carry two at most. The truck was slower but offered more protection.

“The components,” he said suddenly. “In the storage facility. What are they?”

“Parts of the Star-Drive,” both women answered simultaneously, then glared at each other.

“And without them?”

“The Eclipse is just a very expensive paperweight,” Avila replied.

Aeden made his decision. “Anya, take the bike. Get to the storage facility. Secure the components.”

She hesitated. “And leave you with her?”

“I’ll take the truck with Avila. More firepower that way.”

Anya’s face hardened. “You’re making a mistake. In case you forgot, the shuttle doesn’t work unless you’re alive.”

“Most likely,” he conceded. “However, those parts are currently more crucial than any of us. If things don’t go as planned, promise me you’ll protect Pavlina, Marketa, and Veronika.”

Avila tossed the keys to Anya, who sped away almost instantly. As they settled into the truck, Avila remarked, “This feels just like the old days, except without all the bad guys around.”

Aeden chuckled as the truck roared to life.

“Why do you trust her with those components? Aren’t you worried she might just run off and leave you?” Avila asked.

Aeden paused to think. “No, she had ample opportunity to take whatever she wanted while I was out cold. I think you’re right about her being wife #4. She has an unspoken loyalty towards me that neither of us can explain...”

“As do I,” Avila blurted out.

Aeden turned quickly to look at the striking redhead.

“Drive ... We can talk while you drive,” she said enthusiastically, gesturing forward with her finger.

Aeden shifted the gear into drive and stepped on the gas pedal. Their sudden exit out of the garage drew the Krell’s attention, and they aimed their guns at them. Aeden maneuvered the truck to make it a tougher target as Avila continued.

“I’m here because I’m bored. Extor released me from my contract when you graduated and became so well known. When I heard you might be in some trouble, I decided to return and see how I could help. Those were thrilling times back then. I’ll never forgive Saug for what he did to my father, and I saw this as a chance to give him a taste of his own medicine, so to speak.”

Aeden cocked his head, “When you heard?”

Avila laughed while she cheked the side mirror. “A little birdie told me. I was here on your property long before Miss Jailbait brought you here. The access codes Extor gave me still worked, so I spent some time on the computers to catch up with current events. I made myself scarce when you guys showed up. One of Saug’s henchmen approached me in the Outback and asked if I’d help round you up. I suspect the others are in danger, too.”

When Aeden felt they were no longer in immediate danger, he eased up on the gas and drove more cautiously.

“You have no clue where we’re headed, do you?” Avila said with amusement.

“I can always go back and ask those guys for directions if that’s what you want!” he replied with a smirk.

Avila grinned, realizing how much she missed having conversations like this with Aeden. Most guys were too intimidated by her presence to joke around like this. Just then, Anya zipped past them doing a wheelie on a dirtbike, sporting a rather large backpack.

“Seems like Miss Jailbait pulled it off. I suggest keeping her in sight if you want to avoid stopping to ask directions,” Avila joked, savoring the rare chance to enjoy a moment even in a life-threatening situation.

Bangkok, Thailand

Humidity surrounded Pavlina like a second skin. The night market’s neon lights gave her skin an otherworldly green tint, though no one seemed to notice. Bangkok’s chaos provided perfect cover ... to a degree. Three tall caucasian women will normally garner attention quite quickly, but with so many volleyball teams in town, seeing them was to be expected.

“Three matches in thirty-six hours,” Marketa sarcastically groaned, stretching her shoulder. “I’m getting old. How you old farts do it?”

Pavlina nearly snorted her drink out her nose.

Veronika nodded, sipping her mango smoothie. All three women had found a secluded corner in the bustling night market, tucked away from curious eyes and potential recognition. The volleyball tournament had drawn significant crowds, but here they were anonymous, just three tall foreigners among thousands.

A street vendor approached their table with skewers of grilled meat. Veronika waved him away with a polite smile. None of them had much appetite.

“My team thinks I’m distracted,” Veronika admitted, twirling the straw in her drink. “They’re not wrong.”

Team USA had nearly lost to Germany that morning—unthinkable with Veronika at outside hitter. She’d missed three crucial blocks and had too many unforced errors, her mind thousands of kilometers away.

“It’s been two weeks,” Pavlina said, checking her phone for the hundredth time. “Nothing from Anya.”

“Or Aeden,” Veronika added, the concern evident in her voice.

Marketa reached across the table, squeezing her sister’s hand. “Kinda hard for someone in a coma to send a message, besides; Anya knows what she’s doing ... I hope.”

“Does she?” Pavlina’s green eyes flashed. “We barely know her. She appears out of nowhere, claims to be protecting Aeden, and suddenly we’re supposed to trust her with—”

“With your future husband?” Veronika finished, her tone somewhere between teasing and serious. “Our future husband” Marketa added as she leaned over and shook Pavlina’s shoulders. As many times as she’d heard the plan, having to share her Prince Charming with other women was still hard to swallow.

The three women fell silent. Strange, how quickly their lives had changed. Six months ago, they’d been elite athletes with normal concerns. Now they sat in Bangkok, pretending to care about tournament standings while their minds fixated on interstellar politics and survival.

“I can’t believe I missed a serve today,” Marketa said suddenly. “Straight into the net. Coach benched me.”

Pavlina frowned. “As well he should. It was set point and we had to scramble to win after that.”

“I was thinking about home.” Marketa’s voice cracked on the last word. “Not Prague. Alnilam.”

“It’s a bit funny to refer to a place you’ve never visited as home,” Veronika said quietly.

“Yet it calls to us,” Pavlina replied. “The pull gets stronger every day.”

“You think we’ll ever make it there?” Marketa asked, “It’s not like we can just take a taxi.”

“I have no idea how we’d ever get there. It’s not like the rental car companies have spaceships available” Veronika replied.

“Two more days,” Marketa said finally. “Then we fly back.”

“Two days too many.” Veronika leaned back in her chair, nearly falling over. “I can’t shake this feeling. Something’s wrong.”

Pavlina felt it too—a persistent unease that had nothing to do with upcoming matches. “Have you tried reaching out to him?” she asked quietly.

Veronika recovered her balance. “Every night. Nothing. The distance is too great for clear contact.”

“Or he’s still unconscious,” Marketa added.

The thought hung between them, heavy and unwelcome.

“I should have never left,” Veronika said, her voice tight. “Not with him in that condition.”

“We all agreed.” Pavlina’s tone was firm but gentle. “Maintaining our public lives was necessary. And Anya—”

“Anya,” Marketa interrupted with a derisive snort. “You trust her?”