The Two Towers (37 page)

Alec turned to look at her and said quietly, “Kayla, I’m not trying to force you into anything. If there were another option, I would do it. But we’re running out of time.”

Kayla nodded, her gaze falling on Carl. The hurt and frustration in his eyes wounded her but she didn't see any alternatives. Even if she ran, the backlash could affect Carl and everyone in his camp. She couldn't let that happen. They'd put everything on the line for her, risking themselves and their livelihood, to rescue her from the towers. At least if she did this, she could protect them from that.

“Do you mind if I have a minute alone with Carl?”

Alec inclined his head. “Very well. I’ll be in the living area. We’ll need to leave soon if we’re going to do this though.”

When they were gone, Kayla turned to face Carl. He put his arms around her and drew her close, pressing his forehead against hers. She clung to him, relishing in the security his arms offered. “This doesn’t change the way I feel about you, Carl. I’m just doing this to save my ass.”

“I know.” His voice was hoarse as though the words pained him.

“I told you before that I never told Pretz I loved him,” she admitted, touching Carl's face with her fingertips. She wished she could stay in his arms forever. “I don’t want to make the same mistake again.”

“What are you saying?”

Her eyes softened as she looked up at him. It was time to let go of the past and consciously reach toward a future. No matter what happened, she wanted that future to be with Carl. He'd been her anchor, grounding her when she needed a reality check, protecting her when her impulsiveness got her into trouble, and forcing her to consider possibilities she'd tried to ignore.

He wasn't perfect. Far from it. He was cocky, arrogant, and probably one of the most devious people she'd ever met. But he'd also touched her in a way she never thought possible. She might go through with this plan of Alec's but she wouldn't do it without telling Carl how much he meant to her. Gathering her courage, she poured everything she felt into three little words.

“I love you.”

He froze, and then his arms tightened around her. “As I love you, Kayla.”

Her heart fluttered and he bent his head, capturing her lips with his own. She felt herself get lost in his kiss and the tenderness of his touch. On some level she recognized she wouldn’t be able to share the same sort of connection with him that she did with Alec, but she didn’t care. Right now, this is what she wanted and the energy stuff could go to hell.

He ended the kiss with a look of regret. “You should probably go. You need to arrive with Alec. I’ll bring Veridian, Xantham, and Cruncher with me to the meeting. We can talk more when we get back.”

She ran her fingers lightly across his chest. “I’ll hold you to that.”

He let her go and they went back into the living area. Alec looked up when they entered. “You’re ready?”

When Kayla nodded, Seara stood up. “I’m going with you too. As your mother, it’s my right to be present during the appeal.”

“All right,” Kayla agreed. She gave Carl one last look before Alec led her to the door. Once they were outside, Alec took her hand in his while Seara followed behind them. She could sense Alec’s irritation and realized he knew what happened in the safe room. He was trying to dampen his emotions so she wouldn’t pick up on them. She bit her lip, wishing there was a way to ease his hurt.

Alec squeezed her hand and thought toward her,
“It’s all right, Kayla. I understand.”

He led her toward the priority elevator and they stepped inside. Alec keyed in the code to give them access to the top of the towers and explained, “The High Council meeting hall is on the top level. It’s above where we had dinner when you first arrived.”

Kayla took a deep breath when the elevator door slid open. Several people stood in the hall watching their approach with interest. Alec ignored them and led her to the large double doors of the meeting hall.

It was a large room with a broad semicircle-shaped table serving as the main focal point at the head of the room. Numerous rows of seating were set up facing the table. Several seats were already occupied.

Alec walked down the carpet toward the table with Kayla on his arm and turned down the row closest to the front of the room. This area was roped off and he pressed his thumb against a small panel. The rope retracted and the three of them stepped through and sat down.

“The hall is open to the public during trader bids. The High Council will listen to the trader bids first and then we’ll be called up to appeal. Only the High Council and Inner Circle members will be present during our testimony. Be honest, say as little as possible, and we’ll get through this. I won’t leave your side.”

Kayla nodded, resisting the urge not to squirm in her seat. A chime sounded and people began filing inside the room. She glanced around, realizing she was sitting in some sort of priority area. The general population and many other Inner Circle members sat behind her. Her back straightened and she shifted a bit closer to Alec, feeling the weight of several curious stares on her.

After several minutes, the High Council entered the room and took their seats at the table in the front. Four of the chairs remained empty and she silently asked Alec about it.

“The High Council hasn't been full in years. Only certain lineages are permitted a place in the High Council. They accept one person from each family and it’s usually a lifetime commitment.”

She studied each of the members of the Council. Each one carried himself with an air of authority but most were much older than Alec and closer to Edwin's age. It was difficult to imagine him sitting up there.
“Carl said you’re next in line for the High Council. How is that possible if your father is already on the Council?”

“My mother was the last of her family’s line. She was killed in the ruins with your father. With the shortage of High Council members, they’re planning on appointing me to the Council as a representative of her family’s line within a few weeks.”

Kayla was distracted when Edwin stood to address the room. He welcomed everyone and introduced each of the High Council members and explained the final trader bidding process. The two traders would receive fifteen minutes to state their case and qualifications before engaging in a brief question and answer session. Based on their responses, the High Council would make a determination and announce their final decision that evening.

“This is just a formality,”
Alec explained. “
They’ve already made their decisions.”

Milo stepped up to the podium first. Kayla resisted rolling her eyes as he detailed his qualifications and expertise. There was no question about his intelligence. She just doubted he possessed the skills to handle living on the surface.

When the question and answer session began, Kayla sighed when he stumbled awkwardly through the questions. Based on the reactions of the other council members, Kayla figured it was pretty safe to guess Rand had this nailed.

After Milo stepped off the platform, Rand took his place. Kayla leaned forward intently, curious to hear what he had to say. He rattled off his qualifications and experience, and then the High Council began interviewing him.

Kayla recognized Keith from dinner the night before as one of the High Council members conducting the questions. “There’s been a question recently introduced about whether formal training in our pre-war history is relevant to the trader position. What are your thoughts on this matter?”

Rand paused for a moment before answering. “It is, but only to a degree. Studying history gives us a strong foundation regarding our past, but more importantly, it gives us a better understanding of human nature. I recently had the honor of meeting someone who used to live in one of the surface camps. She shared some of her experiences with me. It quickly became apparent that some skill in social engineering, diplomacy as well as formal training in core subjects, is necessary to succeed in this appointment. Only with these skills will we be able to bridge the rift between the traders and the surface camps so everyone benefits.”

“And do you believe you have these skills?”

Rand smiled and winked at Kayla in the audience. “I do. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be standing here before you at this moment.”

Kayla bit back a smile. One of the other council members asked a general question and Rand neatly responded. She watched while he replied confidently to the remainder of the questions before stepping off the platform.

Edwin announced, “Thank you for your responses. We’ll confer with one another and the official announcement of the trader appointment will be made this evening.”

He paused, his eyes resting on Alec and Kayla as he said in a loud voice, “The next order of business involves an appeal of the issuance of a security bracelet to an Inner Circle member. Will the appellants please step forward?”

Kayla's heart pounded. Alec held out his arm for her and they walked to the front of the room. She noticed the whispers and shocked looks when the audience recognized them. They stepped up on the podium and Kayla felt a trickle of energy around them. She realized this was what Alec meant by not being able to lie. They had somehow erected some sort of truth barrier.

Edwin leaned forward. “Please go ahead with your argument when you’re ready.”

Alec’s gaze swept the room before formally addressing the High Council. “My name is Master Alec Veritan, member of the Inner Circle, and applicant to the High Council. The woman beside me is Mistress Kayla Rath’Varein, member of the Inner Circle, and daughter of Andrei Rath’Varein, former leader of the High Council.”

He paused for a moment, aware he commanded the attention of everyone in the room. “In support of our endeavors to acquire additional resources, many Inner Circle members are wearing bracelets to pool their combined energy. Due to the nature of my talents, it was previously determined by the High Council that I should be exempt from participation in this energy pool.”

Many members of the High Council nodded in agreement. Alec continued, “I formally declare that it is my intention to claim Mistress Kayla Rath’Varein as my wife and partner. As such, I ask that she also be exempt from this request.”

Many people in the audience gasped at this news. Kayla could see the shocked expressions of many of the High Council members.
Wife? Oh, shit.
Seara wasn’t kidding.

The reality of the words made her want to bolt. As though sensing her panic, Alec gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

Keith rapped the desk to bring everyone's attention back to him. “She didn’t grow up learning our ways. Does she even understand what this means?”

“She does,” Alec replied confidently. “I have explained it to her. Her mother, Mistress Seara Rath’Varein, has also explained it to her.”

Marcus, Celeste’s father, and the other dinner companion from the evening before, asked, “You haven’t known her more than a few days. How can you be sure you’re compatible?”

Alec smiled at the question. “When Kayla was born, it was our parent’s intention we eventually marry and the Rath’Varein and Veritan families merge together. As far as compatibility is concerned, we have already determined our energy levels are highly compatible. A bond has already been formed. It just has not yet been completed.”

Several of the council members looked shocked by this news and Edwin leaned forward and demanded, “Calson, verify this so-called bond.”

Kayla could sense Alec's annoyance when a middle-aged man with dark hair stood up. He left the council table and walked toward Kayla and Alec, holding out his hands to each of them.

Kayla looked at Alec questioningly and he nodded. They each placed one of their hands in Calson’s and the man closed his eyes for a moment. Kayla felt his energy float around her and Alec. She didn’t like it, but resisted the urge to pull her hand away.

After a few moments, he opened his eyes and turned to Edwin. “There is definitely a bond. As Alec indicated, the bond is not complete, but it is there. Even now, there’s an energy connection established between them.”

Edwin frowned at the news. He studied the two of them and asked, “Kayla, you’ve been silent during this appeal. I can’t help but wonder if this is an elaborate ruse to get out of your duty as an Inner Circle member?”

Kayla hesitated, cognizant of the lie detector field pulsing around them. She may not be able to lie, but misdirection was part of the life of a ruin rat. She lifted her chin to meet Edwin's gaze, refusing to let him intimidate her. The man was nothing but a bully and had been using his position to take advantage of innocent people just like Ramiro. “Elaborate ruse? I've been in these towers for less than two days. During that time, I've been attacked, imprisoned, and hunted down.”

Alec shot her a warning look but she ignored him, focusing solely on Edwin. “Alec, with the exception of my mother, is the only member of the Inner Circle who’s tried to do what’s in my best interest. If you’re asking if this is a ruse, I’ll tell you this much. I don’t want that damn bracelet on me. You use those things to imprison the Inner Circle and force them to your will without regard for anyone else.”

Several members of the High Council looked nervously at Edwin. His eyes narrowed and he warned, “Those are dangerous accusations to be making.”

He was probably right, but after everything she'd been through over the last few days, she wasn't going to stand by and let some big shot Omni dictate to her. Someone needed to stand up to him. “Don’t piss me off, Edwin. I’m running out of places to put the bodies.”

“So this entire charade has been nothing more than an elaborate attempt to avoid doing your duty for the people of these towers? You don’t intend to allow Alec to claim you?”

Kayla glared at him. As far as she was concerned, it wasn't any of his or the Council's business who she slept with. Unfortunately, telling them that wouldn't help get her out of the current situation.

“I’ve asked Alec to claim me twice and he’s refused twice because he wants to make sure I fully understand what I’m asking.” There. That was honest and yet, in true ruin rat fashion, dodged the question. She tossed her hair back, not finished making her point.