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Olo will have his head.”
    “I blocked the communications. The pilot never received
them.”
    “Ship, thank you for helping us escape, but I’m afraid Olo
will be furious.”
    “As soon as I ensure that you and Saia are in the healing
tanks, I will inform Olo that our systems had a glitch and it caused
disruptions in the surrounding airspace. I will inform him that while testing
for errors, I came across the messages he had tried to relay to the pilot.”
    “But what about Taio? Can you keep this from him?”
    “I don’t think this is something that should be kept
from him, Saia.”
    Saia groaned. “I’d hoped he wouldn’t ever have to find out.
After Taio speaks with Ranuit Pi, I was going to try to encourage my intended
to have our bonding ceremony immediately following the engagement party.”
    “Saia!” Fainia exclaimed. “Why didn’t you tell me about this
plan?”
    “I don’t want to return to Drazlan. If Ranuit Pi wants me
sooner, then I’ll leave Sonis with him.” She looked away briefly. “And take you with us.”
    “Oh, my sweet baby.” Fainia grabbed her into a hug. “You
know Olo would never allow it,” she said in a whisper.
    “But he might, if he thought he had something to gain. We
would pretend you’d only be gone for two or three lunar cycles—to help me
acclimate to the Zumagala culture. I was thinking King Xochis would be so busy
counting his gold and enjoying his females that he wouldn’t notice if you
didn’t return.”
    Fainia pulled back slowly. “I think that plan just might
work.”
    Saia smiled at her mother encouragingly. “See, Ship? Taio
would never have to know that we’ve arrived with bruises.”
    “I’m still unsure,” Ship said.
    “I understand where your loyalties lie, Ship, but
please think of Taio’s. You know how protective he is of me. If he found out about
the abuse, there would be no reasoning with him. Taio would leave for Drazlan
tonight. Think about what that would mean for Sonis and Drazlan. We have a way
to avoid a war. Please, we have our worlds’ and Taio’s best interests at
heart.”
    Ship was silent for a moment. Then, “I agree.”
    Thank the Ancients.
    Fainia and Saia both let out a breath.
    “Thank you,” Saia said.
    “Come, we have a ways to go,” he said. “If Taio sees you
now, it won’t matter what plans are concocted.”
    Saia followed Fainia through the halls, on edge the entire
time. But thankfully, because of the lateness or due to Ship’s involvement,
there were no passersby.
    Relief was the only thing she felt as they finally reached
the medical center. Five white, body-size containment units were lined up along
one side of the room. Stopping in front of the first, Saia began to help Fainia
undress, laying her clothes across Aria’s forearm.
    When the last shift was taken off and her mother stood
before her naked, Saia gasped.
    Not only did bruises cover Fainia’s body, but she also had
long parallel welts, as though Olo had dug his nails into her skin and dragged
them over her torso and legs. Down her arm, around her shoulder and over her
collarbone were…
    Saia caught her breath.
    Bite marks.
    Olo had bitten into Fainia with such force that he had torn
through the skin.
    How could he do this to her?
    Saia’s stomach dropped. Bile rose in her throat.
    As she stared at her mother, horrified, Aria moved to shield
her from Saia’s view. “Here, let me finish this.” She looked to Milin. “Milin,
help Saia undress.”
    “No, Aria. I’ll take care of her. She’s my mother.”
    Aria tsked. “You should not hold this burden by yourself.”
    “I’ll be fine, Saia, let Milin take care of you.”
    Saia held back tears. “I can’t…I don’t…”
    Fainia pulled Saia close and held her in a brief but tight
embrace. “Aria has taken care of me since before you were born. We have many
secrets between us that only a queen and her trusted aide could share.”
    She reluctantly nodded and did as she was told. After