Chapter 75: Chapter 75

Soi-Ji

The journey felt like the longest he’d ever endured. His eyes were glued to the map, watching for any sign of change or movement. They’d been flying all night, and dawn was about to break.

Soi-Ji was determined to be the one to bring her and the younglings back. He was equally determined to make those traitors pay.

He had a special punishment in mind for Rize-Ji. One that would burn into her memory and remind her never to cross him again.

“We’re getting close, sir,” a recruit informed him.

“Land a bit away from them. We’ll catch them off guard. Kill the traitors on sight,” Soi-Ji ordered.

His ship was as quiet as a grave. Even if they landed right next to the traitors, they wouldn’t hear a thing. But he didn’t want to risk it.

The recruits geared up and grabbed their knives, leaving their guns behind.

“Why aren’t you fully armed?” he questioned.

They exchanged glances. “Even traitors deserve an honorable death, to see it coming,” one of them replied.

“What would you do if a man ran off with your mate and younglings?” Soi-Ji challenged.

Their angry expressions gave him the answer before they even spoke. “Unmarked graves.”

The recruits quickly grabbed their guns. As the sun began to peek over the trees, they moved in on the silent ship. The four inside were likely still asleep. No lights were on. He wondered if they’d spent the entire night in each other’s arms and if she missed him at all. Then he remembered her warning from that one night before he confessed his love. ~I’ll hurt you~.

She was right. But she was about to learn that he could be vengeful and petty when it came to matters of the heart.

“Who can open the door?” Soi-Ji asked.

“It’s a newer model, but the system should be similar,” the younger recruit replied.

Soi-Ji nodded. “Then don’t keep me waiting.”

The recruit sprinted towards the ship. Soi-Ji was impressed by his light footwork. He didn’t stomp around like a wild animal. But as the recruit got closer, the ship roared to life.

The lights turned on, and the heat from the thrusters flared up. Luckily, the recruit was quick and managed to dodge into the bushes.

He signaled that he was okay, just a little singed.

“Forget him. Don’t let them get away. If we’re close enough, we can still dock and board them,” Soi-Ji commanded.

***

Raven

Raven was grateful that Ro was a night owl. Otherwise, they would’ve been in serious trouble. She was trying to coax Ro back to sleep when she felt a slight rumble.

At first, she thought it was Bellamy and Valdis moving around. But when she looked out the window, she saw a grey-skinned man running across the field.

Laro, always thinking ahead, had gotten car seats for the younglings. Raven quickly strapped Ro in and started the ship, just like Dhol had shown her.

She pulled back on the wheel, and the ship jerked upwards. Ro was not happy about the sudden movement. Things crashed into walls, and a chorus of curses echoed from the back.

“Raven, what the hell! You can’t just take off like that, and we haven’t finished the diagnostic tests,” Dhol shouted.

“Are you crazy? The younglings weren’t strapped in,” Laro yelled, holding one in each arm.

Raven wasn’t concerned about any of that. If they were caught, it wouldn’t matter. It was a risky move, and she hoped the little ones were okay, but it was an emergency.

She didn’t know what that man would’ve done to the ship or if Soi-Ji was with them.

All she knew was that Soi-Ji was not the forgiving type. If he caught them, Arenk, Laro, and Dhol would be killed, and she’d be thrown back into Midnight until her last breath.

“What’s going on?” Arenk asked, making his way to the front.

“A soldier from Tarea was approaching the ship, and now we’re being followed,” she explained. “Can we communicate with the other ship?”

“We can do more than that,” Dhol said, pressing some buttons.

Part of the windshield turned into a screen filled with static. Almost immediately, the screen cleared, and a pair of angry violet eyes stared back at them.

“You’re a terrible pilot,” Soi-Ji remarked.

“Maybe, but you’re not doing any better at catching up,” she retorted.

“Come back, and all will be forgiven,” he offered.

“No, thanks. I don’t trust you,” she replied.

“As if you’re the picture of honesty,” he shot back. “Running off with a man’s heirs is the lowest of the low.”

Her heart sank. The prince must have betrayed them. He was the only one who could’ve followed them. It seemed he’d gotten something else he wanted from the negotiations.

“I didn’t know. Just like you didn’t know my sister wasn’t dead, right?”

He looked away for a moment. “I’m going to hunt you all down. You won’t escape my wrath.”

“You won’t have time. I saw the files, thanks to our friend the prince. I saw the names on the list of humans. Commander Cole sent you nothing but spies, soldiers, and criminals. He’s planning to take over. You should’ve included me. I could’ve helped,” she said.

It was true. The first planet the humans had moved to hadn’t lived up to their expectations. Now they’d found one that could sustain them. The edge of the atmosphere was coming into view.

“Maybe.” He sighed. “What’re their names?”

Raven glanced to her side. Ro had finally calmed down, but her eyes were wide and alert.

She offered a small smile. “Her name is Ro-Ji, and he is Kai-Ji.”

“You’re a poet now?”

“I borrowed from our names. Love and hate, but together—”

“Forever yours,” he completed her sentence.

In that moment, the anger drained from his face, replaced by a profound sadness. Her eyes stung as a wave of guilt flooded her chest.

“E kai ju ti, Soi-Ji,” she said as they entered open space.

The call ended abruptly, and Soi-Ji’s ship halted at the edge. A heavy silence hung in the air.

Raven wiped her face. “I input the coordinates like this, right?”

“Yes,” Dhol confirmed, moving Ro’s seat towards the back.

Dhol claimed the co-pilot seat.

“Everyone, buckle up,” she instructed.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Arenk asked.

“Maybe later, but I’ll be okay.” She managed a smile.

Their ship shot into hyperspace.

***

Soi-Ji

“Your orders, sir.”

“We retrieve our soldier and head back. Once we’re home, rest and prepare for a lengthy mission. I’ll assemble a team to track them down.”

“Kill on sight?”

“That hasn’t changed. Kill the traitors and bring my mate and younglings back,” he ordered.

If Rize-Ji was being honest, he needed to plan for the incoming shipment of humans and rethink his strategy for dealing with Commander Cole. At least he had one small consolation amidst all this.

He’d fathered two heirs, one of each, in one go. His crown was secure now. If anything, they would bow in awe at his feet.

Captain Oito had messed up big time by losing sight of her, and he was going to rectify that, along with his friends.

They could spend the rest of their lives making amends for all he cared. The recruit was exactly where they had left him. His injuries were minor and could be healed within a few hours.

As they returned to Tarea, Soi-Ji had a brainwave, a plan that would give him an advantage with the humans and force Rize-Ji to come running back to him.

Arenk, Laro, and Dhol would meet the same fate.