Mia swallowed, a cold chill snaking down her spine. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about . . .”
Saret smiled – the same friendly smile that had made Mia like him before. Now she found it frightening instead. “What made you look at Saur’s files today?” he inquired casually. “Don’t you know it’s against the lab protocol to access other apprentices’ projects?”
Mia shook her head. She hadn’t known, in fact. Staring at Saret, she felt like she was seeing him for the first time. He was Korum’s friend. Why was he doing this? Why had he misled everyone about Saur’s abilities? And, more importantly, what did he intend to do to keep Mia from telling everyone?
Thinking furiously, she realized that denial would be useless at this point. Somehow Saret knew about Mia’s discovery. “Why?” she asked him instead, keeping her voice steady despite the fact that her hands were beginning to shake. “Why didn’t you tell the Council Saur couldn’t have done it?”
Saret’s smile widened. “Because it was convenient to have them think he did,” he explained, and there was something triumphant in his gaze. “It wasn’t what I originally intended, but it worked out regardless.”
Her fear growing by the minute, Mia took a step back. Her every instinct was screaming for her to get out, now. Maybe there was still a good explanation for Saret’s actions, but she couldn’t take that chance. Casting aside all remnants of politeness, Mia swiftly lifted her wristwatch-bracelet to her face. “Call Kor –”
But she didn’t get a chance to complete her request. His hand was suddenly around her wrist, holding it in a steely grip. Strong fingers ripped away the device, crushing it in the process.
“Oh, no,” Saret said softly, dragging her toward him until she was pressed flat against his muscular body. “You don’t get to call him anymore, you understand?”
Stunned and terrified, Mia stared at the K who’d been her boss and mentor for the past month. His hand was wrapped around her wrist, twisting it in such a way that she couldn’t move at all. To her horror, Mia realized that he was hard, his erection pressing threateningly into the softness of her belly.
“What are you doing?” she whispered, hot bile rising in her throat. “Korum will kill you for this, you know that . . .”
Saret’s eyes glittered. “Oh, will he, now? He’s more than welcome to come find you here. The lab is set up quite nicely for his arrival.”
“What?” Surely he wasn’t saying –
“I mean, when your cheren arrives, I’ll have a little surprise for him,” Saret said, giving her a gentle smile. “You see, Mia dear, it’s about time you knew the truth about your lover. Come, let’s go into my office and we’ll talk.”
And without giving her a choice in the matter, he pulled her toward the back of the room, his fingers wrapped firmly around her wrist. Upon their approach, one of the walls dissolved, creating an entrance into the space Saret used for private projects.
Her knees weak with fear, Mia stumbled as he tugged her into the opening, the wall sealing shut behind her. Before she could fall, however, Saret caught her, lifting her up in his arms.
“There,” he said soothingly, sitting down on one of the floating planks with her held tightly in his lap. “I’ve got you . . . No need to worry – you’ll be all right,” he added, apparently feeling the tremors shaking her frame.
“Let go,” Mia whispered, pushing at his chest with all her strength. She could feel a hard bulge pressing against her thighs, and her stomach twisted with nausea. Her voice rose hysterically. “Let me go, right now!”
He didn’t reply, his eyes darkening as he stared at her. The expression on his face was almost . . . enraptured, Mia realized with horror. For some reason, he wanted her, and there was nothing she could do to stop him if he decided to act on that inclination.
“You said you were going to tell me something about Korum,” she said in desperation, her voice shrill with panic. “What don’t I know about him?”
Saret blinked, his gaze clearing a little. “Oh, yes,” he said, a self-deprecating smile appearing on his lips. “We were going to talk, weren’t we? Here, you better have a seat . . .” And lifting her off his lap, he placed her next to him, keeping one hand wrapped firmly around her arm.
Mia immediately tried to scoot back further, but his grip tightened, preventing her from moving from the spot.
“Listen to me, Mia,” Saret said, a small frown creasing his forehead, “I know you don’t understand why I’m doing this right now and it all seems crazy to you. But, believe me, it’s for your own good – for the good of all humanity. What your cheren intends for your people is not pretty, and he needs to be stopped. Do you know what he’s trying to get the Elders to agree to?”
Mia shook her head, her stomach churning as his grip softened on her arm, his thumb gently massaging her skin.
“He wants to take your planet from you. Did he tell you that?”
“No,” Mia managed to say, her heart pounding so hard she could barely think. Saret was lying to her, of course. He had to be.
“My so-called friend is a power-hungry monster,” Saret said, his gaze hardening. “It wasn’t enough for him to achieve the highest standing on Krina. Oh no, Mia dear, he had to extend his reign to another planet – to your planet. If it hadn’t been for him, we would’ve never come to Earth. He was the one who convinced the Elders it was necessary to control your planet, to save it for the future generations of Krinar. And now he plans to take it from you completely. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Mia nodded, wanting to keep him talking. She would listen to his lies for as long as necessary if it would only buy her time. In another few minutes, Korum would realize that she didn’t come home as promised. Would he come looking for her then? Walk into whatever trap Saret seemed to be setting? Please don’t let anything happen to him. Please don’t let anything happen to him.
“You see, Mia,” Saret continued, “all I want is what’s good for your people – what’s goo
d for the greatest number of intelligent beings. I want to liberate Earth, free it from the tyranny of Korum and the Council. I want you to have your planet back.”
“Why? What does it matter to you?” Was Saret one of the Keiths? And if so, how had he managed to escape detection for so long?