Read Saven Disclosure (The Saven Series Book 2) Online

Authors: Siobhan Davis

Tags: #Teen & Young Adult, #Literature & Fiction, #Action & Adventure, #Science Fiction, #Survival Stories, #Science Fiction & Fantasy, #Aliens, #Time Travel, #Fantasy, #Paranormal & Urban, #Dystopian

Saven Disclosure (The Saven Series Book 2) (5 page)

BOOK: Saven Disclosure (The Saven Series Book 2)
7.44Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

I nod. “Neve?” Neve flips her chin up and pins me with a quizzical look. “Is Alex aware?”

She pauses momentarily before shaking her head. Alex visibly stiffens beside her. “I was only trying to protect you,” she says, reaching for his hand.

I snort. Another episode of misplaced Saven protection. “I think it’s time Alex and Fern know the truth.”

I press my mouth to Fern’s ear. Quickly and quietly, I update her, making sure she understands how explosive this information is and that she can’t breathe a word to anyone else. Across the table, Neve is similarly filling Alex in.

The waitress emerges with our drinks and food, but my appetite is effectively slaughtered, and I can only pick at my chicken dish.

One look at Alex and Fern’s ghost-like complexions proves they are struggling as much as I did to grasp the implications of the reprehensible conscience transfer plan. I know full well that it’s a lot to take in.

“You need to eat, Sadie.” Haydn bumps me.

“I’m not hungry anymore.”

“You’ve barely eaten anything today. Eat.” He picks up my fork and forces it into my hand.

I brandish the fork through the air as if it’s a deadly weapon. “Or what? You’ll report me!” I lash out, expelling my simmering frustration.

Haydn plucks the fork from my stiff fingers and places it back down on the table. “Or you’ll get ill. That’s all I meant.”

Every pair of eyes at the table is focused on our conversation. I exhale loudly as I knot and unknot my hands in my lap. “I’m sorry, Haydn. I know you’re only looking out for me.” Neve stares at Haydn in that intense, glazed way that tells me they are silently conversing.

My chair scrapes the floor as I get up. “If you’ll excuse me.”

I all but sprint to the ladies’ room and padlock myself in one of the cubicles. Stress has corded my muscles into compact strips across my shoulders, adding to the anxiety hijacking my mind. Each worry intensifies the pressure I feel. I’m petrified for Logan, and concern for my sister is a new layer I’ve added to the pile.

The door swings inward and light footsteps enter the room. “Sadie? Are you all right?” Fern calls out.

I flush the toilet and open the door. “Not really.”

“What’s bothering you, besides the obvious?” she asks, hauling herself up onto the counter.

“An easier question would be what isn’t?” I wash my hands and scrutinize my reflection in the mirror. I’ve practically gained worry lines overnight. I look beyond exhausted, and it does nothing for me.

“Is it Logan? I saw the broadcast earlier.” She crosses her legs at the ankles.

“Kinda. I miss him so much, but it’s more than that. I’m fed up of being a virtual prisoner in the apartment, and there’s some work stuff going on, and now I’m worried about my sister. Logan never mentioned they were already moving people to Sector Twenty for processing. Why wouldn’t he tell me that?” I yank my hair out from behind my ears, hoping to deflect from the bruising shadows under my dull gray eyes and the sickly pallor of my skin. Even my normal cherry red lips lack their habitual luster.

“Ask him,” she says, hopping down in front of me. “You still speak with him at night, yeah?”

“Yup. And don’t worry, I fully intend to.”

I’m quiet the rest of the meal, but if Haydn notices, he doesn’t say anything. I think he’s afraid to open his mouth now. I’ve noticed the aliens fare far better when I’m yelling and mouthing off. Quiet Sadie is an unknown beast that sends them running for the proverbial hills.

When we get back to the apartment, I change into my sleep clothes and head out into the living area. Haydn has hot chocolate ready for me. He’s somehow managed to find some tiny little marshmallows and chocolate shavings to put on top. Tears glisten in my eyes when I think of all the ways he looks after me. “Thank you, Haydn. And not only for this,” I say, accepting the mug. “Thank you for everything you do for me.”

A faint blush blooms in his cheeks. “It’s my job.” He fidgets with the collar of his shirt, clearly embarrassed.

“Nuh-uh.” I shake my head as we both plop down on the couch. “You go above and beyond: You are freaking
amazing
at looking after others. I’m sorry if I snap at you sometimes. It’s still a lot for me to deal with. I’ve never had anyone take care of me before.”

“You deserve to be treated like a princess.” He says this so sincerely that I very nearly believe him. Instead, I roll my eyes, and he laughs.

“Let’s not go there. Not after the day I’ve had,” I plead. “Besides, I have something to ask you.” The mood turns solemn. “I need to go and see my sister tomorrow.
Please
. I need to ensure she’s okay. I haven’t been able to contact her these last couple of weeks, and now I’m terrified that I know why.” A messy ball of emotion travels up my throat, threatening to choke me. Tears prick the edges of my eyes.

Haydn takes my hand. “Okay. We can go tomorrow. But I think we should keep this between us.”

“Sure. Thank you.” I fling myself at him, hugging him tight. “I miss my sister so much. It feels like I’ve haven’t seen her in years.”

“I know the feeling.” Silence engulfs him.

“How long has it been since you’ve seen your family?” I ease out of our embrace.

“Eleven years, three months, and four days.”

I’d been expecting him to say nine or ten months or whatever amount of time he’s been away on Earth. Not eleven years. “Oh my God. That’s awful. How come?”

“I told you I made my choice. To serve my crown prince.” A muscle pops in his jaw.

“I don’t understand.” I frown. “What does that have to do with your family?”

“Once the decision is made, the crown prince is my entire life. My only family. Nothing or no one is allowed to interfere with my duty to protect him.”

I recall a previous conversation. “Is that the only reason why you were exempt from choosing a preferred earthen?”

“Yes.” He looks pensive. “The administration like the fact that the bodyguard corps have no conscience. It’s act first and think later. No bodyguard stops to question any required action. The only goal is to protect the mark at all costs. We all have blood on our hands.” He flips his hands over, staring at invisible horrors. “Imagine if we had a conscience? How many bodyguards would be loath to kill? How many would stop and consider all the options, and how risky would that be?” A look of supreme sadness washes over his face. “When I made that decision, I thought I fully understood all the implications. That I’d come to terms with my family situation …” He trails off, unable or unwilling to add anything further.

I cover my mouth and nose with my hands in a feeble attempt to mask my horror. “So you won’t ever see your family again?”

He closes his eyes and shakes his head. I reach out and hug him again, and this time his arms go around my waist as he holds me sternly against his chest. While there’s little love between my family and me, it doesn’t mean I can’t empathize. If I had to face the prospect of never seeing my sister Ella again, I don’t know how I’d cope. She has been my only center of gravity these last seventeen years.

I look up at him. “I can’t believe they let you make a decision like that when you were
seven
.”

“Remember we develop differently than humans. It was the equivalent of being fourteen or fifteen in human terms. It was old enough to know.”

He looks so sad and my heart bleeds for him. “Do you regret it?”

Mournful eyes penetrate mine. “I didn’t used to.”

His proclamation hangs ominously in the air. “But you do now?”

Slouching back on the couch, he sighs. “I don’t know,” he eventually admits, a few minutes later. “Being here, being around humans, around
you
, it’s making me question everything I thought I knew and wanted. Now, I’m not so sure of what I’m doing or what I want.”

“Jeez.” I lapse into the couch, heaving my knees into my chest. Haydn’s eyes momentarily scan my bare legs. “That’s some heavy duty stuff. Seems like we’re both having a right time of it lately.”

“What are you questioning?” He looks puzzled.

“Everything.”

Haydn stares into my eyes, and I stare right back at him. Unspoken words charge the space between us, but neither one of us shows a willingness to renew the conversation. The silence isn’t uncomfortable though. My jumbled thoughts weigh heavy on my mind as I finish my hot chocolate. “I’m going to call it a night. See you in the morning.” I rise.

“Sadie,” he calls out as my feet reach the corridor. “You won’t share anything we discussed with Logan, will you?”

“Of course not. That was a private conversation. And unlike someone I know”—I purposely quirk my eyebrows—“I don’t tell him everything.” Guilt surges in my gut as I acknowledge that truth, thinking of the many omissions I’m already keeping from the love of my life.

“Contrary to popular opinion, I don’t tell him everything either. And that’s becoming a problem.”

My forehead creases in confusion. I sense a double meaning, but I’m way too tired to figure it out or probe him for more detail.

Exhaustion finally does a number on me, and I drift into unconsciousness. For the first time in weeks, I sleep straight through the night.

It’s amazing how much better I feel after a proper night’s sleep. As I inspect my reflection in the mirror the next morning, I’m pleased to see some color in my cheeks, some radiance shining behind my eyes.

It’s only then the thought occurs to me.

Logan never contacted me last night.

“Haydn?” I ask, stepping into the kitchen. “How do I contact Logan on this?” I point at the black and silver comport strapped to my slim wrist. I’ve never had cause to use it up to this point, as Logan has always been the one to initiate contact. But today it’s going to be me. And it’s not that I’m one of those girls who freaks out if her boyfriend doesn’t call. I want to make sure he’s okay, and I need to ask him what he knows, or what he can find out, regarding stuff going on in Sector Twenty.

“Here,” he says, gently grasping my wrist. “Press this button here.” He jabs at a button on the side. “And select Logan from the private contact list. Then touch the screen, and when you see it vibrating, it is reaching out to make the connection.”

“Got it, thanks.”

His fingers linger a moment on my skin. “Is everything all right?” He scratches the back of his head.

“I didn’t get to speak to him last night, and I want to make sure he’s okay.”

“Of course,” he says, lips pursed. He backs out of the kitchen. “I’ll leave you to it.”

I touch the screen and feel the gentle vibration dancing invisibly through the air. He picks up pretty much straightaway. “Angel,” Logan’s worried voice greets me. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I wanted to check in, make sure
you
were okay.”

“I’m fine,” he says in a clipped tone of voice, which lets me know he’s anything
but
fine. “I’m sorry I didn’t call last night, but negotiations went on for hours, and I couldn’t find a gap to contact you.”

Stress punches through the holes in his prose, and I wish I could be there to support him. “Things aren’t improving then?”

I pick up on his frustrated exhale as he answers. “Definitely not. Things are tense. What they’re proposing now …” He makes a strangled sound before composing himself. “It’s bad. Real bad, because my father is considering it.” He whispers that last bit.

“Considering what?” Silence greets my question. “Logan? You there?”

“I’m here.”

“You’re not going to tell me?” I’m greeted with more silence, and frustration ripples through me. He doesn’t need to say anything for me to feel his fear, though I don’t understand what’s driving it.

I hate that he’s keeping stuff from me, but I’m hardly in a position to criticize. I purposely bury my unhappiness. “I found out yesterday that they’re already sending stars to Sector Twenty. Were you aware of that?” More telling silence and my patience is stretched to breaking point. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“I’m keeping an eye on it. There are no plans to send anyone to the underwater colonies yet, so there’s no need to panic. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to worry you unnecessarily.”

I bite down hard on my lip and try to calm the rampant fury building inside me. “I don’t need you to protect me from the truth, Logan. I need you to tell me what’s actually going on before it’s too late to do anything about it! And have you forgotten about my sister? Did you not think I’d be concerned for her welfare?”

“Of course, I haven’t forgotten about your sister! I personally spoke to the president and requested that none of your family were involved.”

His voice is like ice dripping down my spine. “Thank you,” I acknowledge, the edge of my anger evaporating.

“I told you I’d take care of you and I meant it. You’ve got to trust me.” Familiar frustration enunciates his words, and my anger bubbles to the surface again.

“I do trust you! I’m basically a prisoner in this apartment, and Haydn is effectively my shadow, all because you asked that of me. But I can’t sit around here doing nothing, Logan! Not anymore. Not when they’re making plans and actively moving things along. It’s not right. I won’t sit on the sidelines.”

BOOK: Saven Disclosure (The Saven Series Book 2)
7.44Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

Cold Pursuit by Carla Neggers
Abyssinian Chronicles by Moses Isegawa
My Immortal by Erin McCarthy
Echoes of Us by Kat Zhang
Reaper Mine: A Reaper Novel by Palmer, Christie
Powers by Deborah Lynn Jacobs