All For One [Nuworld 3] (34 page)

was created.” Tara’s blue eyes turned dark as he watched. “And now, once again, that

child has come into the picture.”

“You wanted to tell Andru and Ana about that child, didn’t you?”

“I don’t think they need to know—yet. Maybe never. I hate to admit to this, but we

need to remove that child. He’s too big of a risk.”

Darius didn’t say a word for a minute. A picture of Beel appeared in his mind. This

child was so different from Andru but yet looked so much like him. Could he make the

boy Gothman?

It bothered him that he even considered the thought. There was no way Beel could

remain among them, was there?

“Darius, what is it?” Tara’s body stiffened.

One of the Runners working up in the landlink room knocked on the double doors.

“Come in,” Darius said, relieved at the distraction.

“There’s a transmission from Sorg of the Tree People,” the Runner said solemnly.

“It’s a written message requesting your immediate response.”

They followed the Runner upstairs and Darius and Tara stood at the monitor

reading the message together.

“Lord Darius and Lady Tara,

I’ve learned that you have found your daughter in our Seergoon tribal land. I also know you

are now safely returned to your home. I’m dismayed, however, to find that my brother, Roth, is

accused of abducting your daughter and is now held within your nation. Please return him to us

and we will hear your charges and reprimand him accordingly.

I also find to my dismay that my mama’s personal servant, Beel, a young lad who’s been

with her since his infancy, is now missing. Our servants are close to us and the boy is missed. If

you discover such a lad, who looks Gothman but came from the Lunians, would you return him

as well?”

Tara read the message once then read it again. Fury in her mounted slowly as she

realized the source of the unknown look in Darius’ eyes. Slowly, she turned and looked

at Darius’ profile. He studied the screen, his expression stone-cold.

“Where is he?” She spoke quietly and with such severity that he turned quickly to

glare at her.

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“I know he’s a risk, my lady. The matter is being taken care of, it is.” He

straightened and she watched muscles tighten. “The only matter we’ll discuss here is

what to do about Roth, yes.”

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Chapter Eighteen

“What do you mean you can’t find him?” Torgo stood in the yard outside Reena’s

house. The old lady swept her front porch, seemingly indifferent to the misplaced child.

The Gothman guard stood at attention facing Torgo.

“It’s not exactly that we can’t find him, my Lord,” Arien spoke up from the yard.

He was Darius’ first commander, and a pompous ass in Torgo’s opinion. “He was out

with several of our soldiers at target practice, he was, and he’s disappeared. I’m sure

we’ll find him momentarily, I am.”

“I’m sure,” Torgo muttered, and then turned in time to see an infuriated look from

Reena. “I’ll go up in my glider and see if I see him, I will.”

Arien pointed toward the direction the boy had last been seen and then spoke into

his comm, making his men aware that Torgo would also be looking for the boy.

Torgo took to the air but didn’t see Beel anywhere. He circled around toward

Bryton to see if he’d headed that way. Reena had followed her instructions and taught

the boy Gothman history and folklore, being careful to mention nothing significant

about his personal history. Torgo knew this was a necessary step, but couldn’t help

feeling sorry for the position the old woman had been put in.

Darius was preoccupied dealing with the Tree Person that Ana had taken off with,

and relied on Torgo to handle this matter with Beel. Several guards were assigned to

teach the boy how to shoot and learn the basics a Gothman with thirteen winters should

know. Torgo knew Darius’ goal was simply to make Beel look like a normal Gothman

boy—then find him a home—far away from here.

He saw Tara, Andru, and Ana fly toward him heading in the direction of the Blood

Circle Clan site and waved, trying to look friendly and unconcerned. If those three were

out and about with Beel running loose somewhere, he’d have to tell Darius the boy was

missing sooner than he planned.

* * * * *

“Is it all right if I stop in to say hi to Syra?” Ana climbed off her glider and walked

over to their mama. “Her glider is parked outside her trailer. I know she’s home. I can

meet you at Crator’s temple later.”

Tara turned to stare at her beautiful daughter. Long blonde curls fell past her

shoulders to her waist and deep gray eyes studied her cautiously. She had more curves

than a young lady with sixteen winters should have. Every man’s head turned as they

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walked through the clan site and it was worse when they walked through Bryton. But

now that Ana had made it known she was willing to be with a man, Tara’s desire to

protect her grew stronger.

Andru also seemed more alert around his sister. Tara didn’t fool herself. She knew

her son was all too aware of how Gothman men treated women, especially one as

young and beautiful as Ana.

They stood in an open area at the bottom of the hill where Crator’s temple was. She

could see the jail past a group of trailers on the other side of the open field.

“The guards at the jail have orders to make sure you stay away. If you harass them

they’ll contact me.” Tara raised an eyebrow at her daughter. “I’ll contact Syra and tell

her to expect you.”

“That’s fine.” Ana tossed her head indifferently. “Tell her it won’t take me a minute

to get there.”

“I also want you to see Dr. Digo today,” Tara said as Ana started to walk off.

“I know, the anti-conception pills. Mama, I can take care of that myself. Please don’t

show up while I’m there.” She looked over her shoulder as she spoke but then hurried

off toward Syra’s trailer.

At the jail, Roth stood inside the room-size cage that had been his home for a week

now. Large tarps hung down the outside of the bars preventing him from seeing most

of the clan site. He’d been given a small gap to serve as a window and provide fresh air.

He stared out the gap and watched Ana walk across the field. Her hair was back to its

natural color and her long curls captured the rays of the sun.

She held her head high and looked indifferent to everything and everyone she

passed. The way her firm body was outlined in her Runner clothing reminded him of

the times it was pressed against him. He wished she would at least turn and

acknowledge that he was there. He assumed she wasn’t permitted to visit him, but she

had to know where he was.

Just then, Ana jumped and then ran after a ball some children played with. Ana

managed to kick the ball so that it came even closer to him before apprehending it. As

she bent to grab the ball she looked up and made eye contact with him. She must have

learned a thing or two about him because as their eyes met, her message came to him

loud and clear.

I want to see you. I want to get you out of there. I don’t know what to do. Her thoughts

almost slapped him in the face with their intensity. Well, he’d show her another trick he

knew.

Ana suddenly got a surprised look on her face, which she recovered from quickly.

She froze, however, a moment too long.

“Ana, may I have my ball back?” A Runner boy of eight or nine winters stood next

to her.

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“Sure, here.” Ana stood and handed the ball to the child. She then stared at Roth.

She had just heard a voice in her head.

Get your brother and convince him to come here with you. It was Roth’s voice and she

heard it in her head as plain as if he’d just spoken to her directly.

I miss you, sweet lady. The next thought she heard in her head made her smile so

genuinely Roth knew her feelings for him hadn’t changed. The smile also gave her

away because one of the Runner guards began walking toward her.

Ana looked at the guard and then turned and hurried away before he could say

anything to her.

“There you are. Come on in.” Syra stepped to the side and allowed Ana to enter the

trailer.

“Why haven’t you come around lately?” Ana plopped down on the couch. She had

planned a wonderful conversation with her old nanny but now powerful emerald green

eyes distracted her thoughts. Just thinking about him warmed her inside.

“You’re not the only outlaw in your father’s eyes.” Syra sat across from Ana and

draped her long legs over the side of the chair. “You look distracted, though. Is this a

casual visit?”

Ana eyed Syra cautiously. “Can I trust you? Will you tell my mama everything I tell

you?”

Syra smiled. “I’m not so old that I don’t remember my sixteenth winter. You can

talk to me.”

“I’m going crazy, Syra. I miss Roth and no one believes that I really want to be with

him.”

Syra laughed. “That may be what they’re telling you, but I think they believe very

much that you want to be with him and it scares them to death.”

“What do you mean?” Ana leaned forward, hopeful to learn something from her

wise cousin.

“Ana, you’re young and you’re very beautiful. Your mama and papa like to think of

you as sweet and innocent. They aren’t ready to think of you otherwise.”

“I am sweet and—” Ana paused, and then blushed. “And I’m innocent.”

“Really? You didn’t do anything with Roth?”

Ana felt her face turn crimson and covered it with her hands as she smiled shyly. “I

wanted to,” she whispered. “But Roth said we should wait. He wanted to, um, he said

he wanted to make sure I loved him.”

Syra leaned forward and looked hard at the young girl across from her. “I’m really

glad to hear that. Did you tell your parents this?”

“I tried to but they didn’t want to hear any of the details.” Ana stood and paced the

room. “I’m going crazy, Syra. All I want to do is be with him. They’ve got guards all