Letting out a sigh, he says, “We have to go now. I’m getting you out of here.”
I crawl out of bed and face him. “What has happened?” I’m starting to panic.
“The fight over you has begun, Kricket,” Trey says in a strained voice.
“The fight? What fight? You mean with the Alameeda?” My heart is throbbing painfully in my chest.
“No, this time it’s domestic. You’ve heard me speak of Skye, right?”
“Yes,” I reply in an apprehensive tone.
“Skye is the military branch of our government and they’re as powerful, if not more powerful, than the Regent and the Ateurs in the House of Lords put together…and now, they want you.” He watches my reaction.
“Skye wants me?” I ask, trying to figure out what he’s saying. “For what?”
“For what you can do. For what you did tonight…predicting the Alameeda attack.”
“How did they find out?”
“They intercepted everything we said on the communicators—everything,” he replies.
“But, I don’t even know if I can do any of that again!”
“I know,” he says gently, trying to calm me down. “They want to help you develop your skills—”
“What about Manus?” I ask in confusion. “I’m his ward and his adviser.”
“Yes, and he’ll fight to keep you,” Trey agrees. “He won’t want to relinquish you to the Cavars or the Air Brigade.”
“The Cavars? You mean I’ll be enlisted? Then, I might have a chance of being with you?”
“We’ll make it work to our advantage. You’ll probably be assigned to a special unit—intelligence,” he replies. “That will keep you off the front lines.”
“Will we be assigned to the same base together?” I feel desperate all of a sudden.
“If you’re drafted into the Cavars, there’s more of a chance of that happening. I have people working on it right now.”
“You do?” He nods. “When will you know?”
“Soon,” he replies, trying to reassure me, but I can see that there’s more.
“What aren’t you telling me, Trey?” I search his face as best I can in the dark.
“Manus has ordered our reassignment. He wants all the Cavars to leave in the morning,” Trey says in a tense tone.
“WHAT?” I whisper-shout, not able to control my reaction.
“Manus has assigned his police to guard you,” Trey replies, trying to remain calm. “They’re downstairs now—they don’t know I’m up here. They think I’m gathering my gear. With Skye demanding that you be turned over to them, Manus sees us as a threat. Skye wants you and he no longer trusts us. We’re Cavars—we follow orders from Skye. He sees the conflict of interest and has replaced us. By morning he plans to move you back to the palace.”
Stepping forward, I wrap my arms around Trey’s waist, hugging him fiercely.
“I’m not leaving without you, Kricket. We’ll go to Skye; I’ll find a way for us to stay together. I promise.”
Finding Trey’s lips, I press mine against his and what begins as a desperate act, slowly becomes something quite different. Returning my kisses, his hands slide from my waist downward toward my lower back. I fit against him like I was made to be there. “They won’t keep us apart, Kricket,” he promises. “We won’t let them.”
“How will we stop them?”
“When Skye enlists you, you’ll no longer be the Regent’s ward…you’ll be emancipated with all the rights of any other Rafe citizen,” Trey kisses me tenderly.
“So…I’ll no longer need Manus’s permission for…anything?” I ask. Warmth spreads through my body as Trey runs his lips over the soft skin of my shoulder. “And if I’m no longer his ward, then I can commit to anyone I want?”
“I love the way your mind works, Kitten. Have I told you that?” Trey’s words cause shivers of desire to dance over my skin. “But, there’s only one person you’ll commit to.”
“Do I know this person?” I ask innocently, feeling the strap of my tank top slide over my shoulder and rest against my upper arm. I bite my bottom lip when the rough stubble on his cheek follows the strap’s descent, causing my breath to catch at the intense desire it creates.
“I don’t believe that you were ever formally introduced to him, but he’s very tolerant and understanding…perfect for a saer like you.”
“He does sound perfect,” I agree, my fingers entwining in Trey’s thick, dark hair. “I think I know this Etharian…did he travel all the way to another world just to find me?” I tug on his lower lip with my teeth.
Trey groans and then smiles. “He’d go much farther than that for you,” Trey says against my lips, holding me and pressing me close to him.
“He doesn’t have to.” I trace my finger down his chest and see the growing darkness of desire in his violet gaze. “I’m right here.”
He captures my finger in his large hand, bringing it to his lips, he kisses the tip of it. “You have to change now. We’ll slip out your window. I have Drex and Fenton outside. Wayra and Jax will run interference.”
Trey leads me to my closet and I look for something to travel in. He turns his back as I hurriedly drag a sweater on over my cami. I whisper, “Talk to me Trey. I’m starting to freak out a little.”
“You live up to your name, Kricket,” he says softly.
“Are you calling me a bug?” I smile at his broad back,
“Your father was definitely a soldier…he understood the power within your name,” Trey murmurs. “And it takes another soldier to understand just what it means.”
“What does it mean?” I ask as I shed my pajama bottoms and pull on dark, tailored trousers.
“Pan knew about war. He spent a lifetime outside under the stars, in trenches or bunkers when the only sounds at night that will bring you any comfort are the songs of the crickets.”
“Why would that bring you comfort?” I ask, scurrying around in my closet and finding black boots with a low heel. I sit on the closet floor to put them on.
“When the crickets are singing, their music drowns out all the other noises in the night sky. You can have faith that the enemy isn’t moving because they’ll warn you,” Trey replies. “It’s when the crickets stop singing that you know the enemy is near and the battle is about to begin.”
“You’re a philosopher,” I smile up at him, lacing my boots.
“No, I just recognize what he was saying,” Trey whispers.
“And what’s that?” Despite everything that has gone on tonight, unbelievable happiness is creeping into my soul.
“He was telling us that your voice will give comfort when the night becomes its blackest,” he replies. “And I’ll protect that voice with my body, my mind, and my spirit…because without it, I’m alone in the dark.”
“Trey,” I say his name, not realizing that I have tears in my eyes until one slides down my cheek. “What if I just told Manus that I want to be with you?” I ask.