Chapter 29

Sophia paced the kitchen, glancing out to the shed every now and then. Megan had gone to bed, and Sophia didn’t know what to do.

It had taken her almost all day to work up the nerve to go into the shed, but she’d finally ventured out late in the afternoon. She’d cleaned up the vomit on the floor, and wiped away most of the vomit and blood from his torso. Again she wondered whose blood it was, as he showed no signs of injury. When she had peeked in on him just a little while ago, he looked as though he was sleeping and she didn’t want to disturb him. Blake was one very sick human, and sleep was most likely the best thing for him.

Sophia tried to put together the pieces of why Micah imprisoned him in the shed, as if he were no better than a rabid dog. Why would Micah keep a human imprisoned in such a cruel fashion? Unless he wasn’t a human. Perhaps Blake was a Colonist, and the thought that Megan had been in such close proximity to him made her shudder.

She simply couldn’t believe he was a Colonist. She’d seen firsthand how they killed at random, their horrible demeanor, their tortured souls when she watched her family slaughtered. Blake possessed none of that, but maybe when he was well he would exhibit such behavior.

If he were a Colonist, she would be happy to let him die. However, she lacked certainty of that assessment. When she’d visited him on her astral travels, he showed no signs of Colonist behavior. She considered calling Micah, but thought better of it. He would be angry they’d gone into the shed, and her senses told her that if she did speak to Micah about Blake, it wouldn’t bode well for Blake.

Checking her watch, she saw three hours had passed since she visited him last. She couldn’t allow the male to die on the property.

She needed to think things through before she phoned Micah and questioned him. Until then, she promised Megan she would help Blake, and she intended to keep her vows to her daughter.

Gathering her courage as she filled a bottle of water, she set her mind to nursing the male back to health, and then finding out who he was and why he was being held captive in her shed.

As she walked toward the small building, Sophia heard the low groans emanating from Blake before she reached him. Pulling open the door, the moonlight fell on him as he twisted and turned on the cot.

“Blake,” she said, entering the shed, her eyes illuminating the small space. She wondered what he would say about that.

His eyes opened slowly and finally focused on her. She glanced around the shed, happy to see he hadn’t been sick again.

“How are you feeling?” she asked, sitting down on the stool. She set the flashlight on the ground, the beam pointing upward. It cast a soft glow throughout the small space.

“I’ve been better,” he said in a raspy voice.

Sophia couldn’t help but smile. “I’m sure you have. Would you like to try some water?”

He nodded, and her hands shook as she brought the cup to his mouth. Water spilled down the side of his face; it would be easier for him to drink if he could lift his head.

She certainly wasn’t going to let him loose, so she put her left hand behind his head, his sweat-soaked strands of hair falling through her fingers. As she lifted his head a little, he took a small sip of water and closed his eyes. She sat back down, wondering why he hadn’t commented on her eyes. As a human, she would think he’d be very afraid, but he wasn’t. That only led to other questions. Perhaps he thought he was seeing things in his feverish state? Or was there something else? Perhaps he was one of those horrible government workers Micah had mentioned—the ones who’d cut him and stuck needles in his eyes. No matter what his story was, she was relieved he remained shackled.

As she studied his face, she noticed his strong jawline and high cheekbones. If it weren’t for his pale skin and cracked lips, she imagined he’d be very handsome.

He looked at her, and she studied the green-yellow color of his eyes visible in the bright moonlight. She was so used to seeing either dark or bright glowing eyes, and the soft color was unique to her.

“Thank you,” he whispered.

She nodded.

“You’re an SR44ian,” he said.

Sophia gasped. “Yes,” she answered. “How do you know about our race?”

Blake’s lips twisted into something resembling a smile. “I-I used to spend a lot of time with SR44ians.”

Intrigued, Sophia leaned forward. “In what capacity?”

Blake looked up at the ceiling and remained silent for a long time. Finally, he said, “I was aligned with the Six Saviors.”

Anger coursed through her. If those Saviors had done their job instead of surrendering as Micah had said, she wouldn’t be on this planet. She’d be at home living the life of royalty. By now she’d most likely be mated and in love. Perhaps she’d have many offspring as well.

Thinking along those lines was twofold. If that sequence of events had taken place, then she never would have given birth to Megan, and she couldn’t imagine her life without the girl.

“And how did you come to such an . . . alignment?”

Blake shrugged. “Sometimes the stars are in the right place and stuff happens.”

Sophia considered his words. Was the destruction of her home planet and the events leading up to it the stars being in the right place? No, she didn’t believe so. That was an unfortunate series of events, and Sophia wondered if that was what Blake meant. The Saviors had let their people down. They were not honorable males, yet her first impressions of Blake said otherwise.

“Micah is very angry with them,” she murmured.

Blake nodded. “Yep. He’s been mad at them since he first set foot on this planet, and he hasn’t been shy about letting them know. You’d think he’d have a little gratitude since they—or I should say we—broke him out of the government facility after he was captured.”

Sophia narrowed her eyes. That wasn’t how Micah had described it. He had told her that he fought his way out, killing many in his path. “I don’t know if I believe you,” she said.

Blake shrugged. “I was there. It’s the truth. It doesn’t matter to me if you believe it or not.” He shut his eyes.

Someone was obviously lying, and she had no reason to trust this stranger.

“That was the first time I met Annis,” Blake mumbled.

Sophia sat back in the stool, shocked, as his words sunk in. Micah had said that Annis had been killed in the government facility. How would Blake know of her existence unless he had seen her?

“I loved the way the beads at the ends of her hair sounded like raindrops when they knocked together,” he murmured.

Yes, Blake definitely knew Annis.

“Is . . . is she alive?” Sophia whispered, her heart beating wildly.

Blake’s eyes looked sad. “Of course she is. She’s mated to one of the Saviors.”

Sophia swallowed and covered her mouth with fluttering hands. Could his words be true?

“Liberty is also mated to a Savior,” Blake said, closing his eyes again. “Both Liberty and Annis are very happy.”

Standing, Sophia knocked down the stool and almost tripped over it as she staggered for the door.

“I don’t believe you,” she hissed. “Micah told me they are both dead, and he has no reason to lie to me. You, on the other hand, do."

Blake chuckled and shook his head. “Honey, I don’t have any reason to lie. I’m going to be dead in a day or two, and I don’t give a shit if you believe me or not.”

She stepped outside, her mind racing.

“Hey, Sophia?” Blake called. “Thank you. Thank you for everything. You’re a very kind woman.”

Her head swam with the information she’d learned. Liberty and Annis alive? Each mated to a Savior? How could this be? Why did Micah lie to her, or was it Blake who was lying? She needed to sit down and think things through rationally. Someone was lying, and she had every intention of figuring out the truth. Without another word, she shut the door and hurried back to the house.