Autonomy: Book 2 in the Invasion Day series (7 page)

“What Tuka was on about—the human testing,” she said, staring pleadingly into Gage’s eyes. “It’s true.”

“How do you know?” Tanner interjected.

“Because I’ve had it done on me,” she answered, and he took a step back in surprise. Gage let go of her shoulders and did the same. He rested his hip against the counter behind, and looked Kyra up and down as though looking for some proof that what she was saying was true.

“Were you the one who got pregnant?” he asked, clearly remembering her story from the night before. Kyra shook her head.

“I’m the one and only person on the planet who was given the serum they’re working on—or whatever the hell that stuff was—and lived to tell the tale. I need to know what they know and how, otherwise I’ll never be able to live with myself for having accepted such a diabolical treatment.”

Chapter Six

Gage began spewing profanities, while Tanner paced the small room. They were both clearly taken aback by Kyra’s revelation, but she wasn’t sorry for having given up her secret to them both. It’d been hard keeping it to herself, and she felt like a weight had just been taken off her shoulders, especially after hearing that her race’s stolen unborn might be being used in conjunction with the serum she’d been plied with. That same serum had given her terrible hallucinations and almost killed her, so she knew it must be something pretty immense if it could do that to someone while effectively trying to heal them of any potential illness and elongate their life at the same time.

“You two go. Now, before the Besieger can do anything to stop you. I’ll tell them Tuka came here while you were packing up and gave you no other choice other than to go with him. But get your asses back here before dawn, is that understood?” Tanner instructed them, and Kyra grabbed him tightly while grinning from ear to ear.

“You wonderful man, thank you,” she replied. “This is going to be worth every second, I can feel it in my bones.”

Gage still wasn’t impressed, and had no qualms telling her so, but he still went along with her. En route to Tuka’s second choice of venue, he only grumbled a couple of times about how this was more than he’d bargained for when he’d signed up for their secret mission, and Kyra let him have his say. He deserved far more than just her appreciation, and she decided she’d make sure he was accredited with the success of the mission if and when the time finally came.

They arrived near to where the address Tuka had given them way too early, and didn’t have a good enough reason to go knocking on the door hours before they were supposed to, so instead the pair took up residence at a nearby coffee shop. Rather than be tracked using their fake microchips to purchase their drinks, they instead worked off their order and had soon whiled away the hours until it was time to go and meet their formidable new friend.

Kyra changed into another of her sexy yet sophisticated outfits, while Gage opted for a professional looking shirt and tie combo that really looked good on him. “I could eat you up in that outfit, Timmy,” she told him with a wink, and was glad to see the playful side of him return when he grinned back across at her.

“I’d eat you alive,” he replied quietly, and Kyra laughed as she took his arm, before heading over to the strange new location with their fun and madly-in-love personas firmly back in place. The place looked just like any other house in the city, much like the brothel had the night before, but the presence of numerous security guards on the door provided a vastly different dynamic to the relaxed and welcoming vibe they’d previously received from Tuka and his men.

Kyra was just about to give one of the burly guards her fake name, when he stepped aside and opened the door for them without a word. Evidently he already knew who they were. Tuka was inside, along with his usual entourage of rebel soldiers and leaders dressed as civilians, and a handful of what Kyra assumed must be some his favorite employees she’d met the night before.

“Welcome to my home,” he told them, and a stunning young woman offered the pair a glass of champagne. Kyra hadn’t seen such lavish existence of corruption and power in all her life as she had the past few days, but gladly took what was offered to her despite her previous reservations about Tuka and his lifestyle.

“Thank you for having us,” Gage replied, and the newlyweds followed their host through to a huge dining room where a meal fit for King Kronus himself awaited them. Tuka offered Kyra the seat directly to his left, and she took it with a gracious smile. He was being warm and generous again, but she didn’t trust it for a moment, and knew he was assessing them both while playing the part of the perfect host. His eyes burned with secrets she knew she might never dare to learn, but her intrigue was too overwhelming to ignore. Tuka had the answers to everything she hadn’t risked asking aloud her entire life, and she was drawn to that knowledge like a mouse to a poisoned square of cheese. She knew going forward would have potentially disastrous consequences, and yet she was willing to proceed regardless. She was ravenous for the truths only he seemed willing and able to provide.

Kyra chatted with Tuka for a while, and ate in abundance the many foods delivered to their table, some of which she’d never seen or even heard of before.

“I want you both to stay here now, as part of my team. What do you say?” he eventually asked, dispensing with the small talk, and the room went silent as the men and women around them listened for their answer.

“It would be an honor,” Gage answered, and he finished his glass of wine while he mulled over the rest of his response. “But I assume that means relocating?” he asked, and Tuka nodded.

“Of course.”

“Well then, first we have to go back to New York and pack up our old lives. We’ll leave first thing tomorrow and be back by the end of the week.”

“Oh, well then that’s such a shame,” Tuka replied, pouting his lips to make a show of displaying his disappointment. “This is kind of a now-or-never deal, and I was so sure you’d accept. Perhaps I was wrong about you…”

He leaned closer to Kyra, and she made a point to stare back into his domineering gaze with her head held high. She was sick of being told what to do and where to do it by Kronus, Thrayke, and even Gage. She yearned to have the ultimate knowledge at her disposal at last, but also to have discovered it without their help. There was so much more she had to learn than what they’d so far been afforded, and her gut instinct told her that Tuka was the man to give her the rest of what she craved.

“If we’re worth all this effort,” she said, and waved her hand to indicate the lavish meal and planning that’d clearly gone into their evening. “Then you can wait a few days, I’m sure?” she asked, and included a flutter of her long lashes for added effect.

“You drive a hard bargain, Mrs. Paynter. You’d better make it worth my while,” Tuka replied with a sly smile. Kyra leaned forward slightly, giving him a glimpse of her cleavage, and he bit his bottom lip as an almost inaudible hiss escaped him.

“I’m sure you won’t be disappointed,” she whispered.

“Very well then,” Gage interjected before their host could try anything more on with her, and Kyra jumped in her seat at his authoritative tone. She then let her pretend husband take her hand atop the table, and leaned away from Tuka so that she turned her attention back to Gage. Kyra knew he was playing the dominant card again, and she was glad he seemed able to do it so well. He and Tuka were butting proverbial heads left, right, and center. She knew it was only a matter of time before something kicked off between them, so figured it’d be better if she didn’t stir either of them up by coming across as too flirtatious. She had to stay on Gage’s side, while wooing Tuka enough so he might reveal some of his truths to her before she ran off back to reveal all to their Thrakorian leaders, and just hoped she was doing everything right. The consequences of playing the game wrong could be disastrous—even Kyra knew that.

After the meal, the party retired to a small room towards the back of the house, where they lit cigars and drank whiskey poured over chipped ice. Kyra joined in, and wasn’t once treated like she shouldn’t be there by Tuka and the other men he associated with in his close-knit group of comrades. It all still very much seemed like a man’s game, all the plotting and talk of rebellion, but she held her own during the conversations, and never once shied away from talking about the more difficult areas of their new and seemingly horrid world.

“What’s your Invasion Day story?” Tuka asked her when they’d been left with a far smaller audience a little later on, and Kyra’s hand immediately touched on the cross shaped scar on her cheek. She wanted to curse herself for inadvertently drawing attention to her scar, but knew it was already too late.

“I hid with some other children while soldiers killed our friends, families, and neighbors. We ran, and I fell down a ridge into a mess of barbed wire. I was taken to a hospital and patched up, and then taught to believe the events of that night were for my own good—just like all the other children my age. Now, I can see the world in a way I never imagined I might see it, and it scares the hell out of me,” she answered, and found it scarily poignant that her fake story had somehow been tinged with a lot of half-truths. The two lives she was living, but thought she’d kept separate, suddenly seemed to be merging, and it worried her more than she’d ever imagined. “I never saw any of them again—my friends. I always thought perhaps they’d gotten away, but now I wonder if their bones are just another set in another mass grave.”

“More than likely, I’m sorry to say,” he replied, and brushed the scar with his fingertip as he mulled over her tale, and he then began telling her his story. “I was a cocky teenager, and was so sure I could fight off the invaders. My friends and I picked up whatever weapons we could find and headed straight into the fray. They all died, and I dropped my gun. I hid, like a coward, and let the Thraks take me away. I then let them rule me, like all the others who had no choice but to comply. I was ashamed of myself for a long time, but not any more. Surviving that night was the best thing I could’ve done in resurgence, because now I can fight them in ways they won’t ever see coming.”

“How?” she asked hopefully, and leaned a little closer.

“In time, my dear. You need to be patient, but you’ll learn the truths as you go,” he replied, and kissed her cheek tenderly. Kyra blushed at his gentle touch, and sighed. She hated how fast the night was passing, and wanted time to stand still so she could carry on asking Tuka her questions.

“Kiki, it’s time to go.” Gage was standing a few feet away with a hard stare, and she instantly noted that his lips were pursed so hard she could barely see them. He was furious.

Kyra knew full well that when they left they’d never return again, despite what they’d promised Tuka. Thrayke would never allow her out of The Tower again once she was back there, and she begrudgingly stood to join her pretend husband. They said their goodbyes and then strode to the front door, where she let Gage walk ahead of her. Kyra hesitated with her palm pressed against the door handle.

“How?” she asked Tuka again, turning to look over her shoulder at him, and he grinned mischievously. He seemed to know exactly what she needed from him, and it appeared he was the first person who finally seemed ready to give her it.

“Shut the door, and I’ll tell you.”

She looked out onto the street where Gage had just turned to look back at her, having realized she was no longer right beside him. He was clearly surprised and concerned, but all Kyra could do was watch from the doorway. She wasn’t satisfied enough, and felt incredibly conflicted about to what to do next. Truth, freedom, and the promise of knowledge and settling her debts to humanity were stopping her from stepping over the threshold, but at the same time, she knew she shouldn’t stay. She shouldn’t want to stay, and yet…

“Will you help me leave all my questions behind? Can you finally help me figure out what I’m missing?” she asked Tuka, but stared out the door at her comrade. She was on the verge of stepping out to join him, but was still torn. The doting follower and loyal soldier inside of her wanted to leave and obey her commander’s orders. And yet, something private and previously docile was roaring deep within. It was a voice she’d never listened to before, but one that promised true independence and a chance to learn the facts for herself if she listened to it. She would never be truly free, but with the truth at her disposal, Kyra guessed she might at least sleep a little better at night.

“I’ll answer everything I can, and help you find the answers to the others. Together we can do great things, if only you’ll walk away from the old you and embrace the new.” Tuka stepped a little closer, and she could feel his eyes burning holes into her back.

Kyra didn’t say a word in response. She simply closed the door on Gage and his wide-eyed expression, and turned to face her host.

She didn’t want to be Kyra Millan any more. She wanted to be no one, Kiki if she must, but she certainly didn’t want to be ruled by any man or Thrak. Desire burned within for knowledge, regardless of how frayed she knew she’d undoubtedly end up because of whatever answers she found. Right or wrong, she knew she had to stay and see her mission through to the bitter end.

“Let’s get one thing straight. I’m not staying to be another one of your
employees
, Tuka.” She looked to her side where one of his stunning girls stood holding a tray of drinks, and he followed her gaze before focusing again on her face. “We’re colleagues, friends, and nothing more. Is that understood?”

“Loud and clear, but it won’t stop me from trying to woo you,” he answered with a sly smile, and he held out his hand for her to take. She took it, and then walked back to the den with him, while trying her hardest to ignore the commotion behind the door where Gage was clearly trying to get back inside. She wanted to go back and tell him to stop, to go to Tanner’s without her and let Thrayke know she was sorry. Kyra wanted him to tell Kronus that she simply couldn’t be what he wanted her to be. However she couldn’t tell him any of those things. There were so many things she hadn’t been able to say to both of her powerful allies, and it hurt her chest just thinking about them, so she pushed them all aside. She wouldn’t explain herself to anyone, and so wandered the house by Tuka’s side in stunned silence at what treacherousness she’d just committed.