“No.” Give up Natalie? Never. “There is no confirmation that she’s dead.”
“They found her dress.”
“It’s not enough. I can’t give up so easily.” I rose from my desk and came to stand before her. “I gave her my heart, Mother. Give me some time to heal.”
My mother was quiet long enough to think she would not respond. “No. I would not be able to give up your father. I am sorry. I did not realize what she meant to you. I only saw her for a brief moment and she was not even awake. It is easy to dismiss her very existence, although I see now how much you long for her.”
“I admit, I was skeptical, but the match…it was perfect. I want—”
My father ducked into the tent then, his eyes wide, his face full of… something I couldn’t determine.
“Commander Loris is here. There’s been a ping on your medallion. It’s been activated.” He was breathing hard, as if he had just run a great distance. I knew differently and it could only mean he was excited.
I straightened, renewed strength in my limbs, although I hadn’t even realized I’d been weighted down with frustration, longing and despair. “What?”
Crossing the room, I joined my father, my mind spinning with questions. Possibilities. Hope.
He angled his head out the doorway. “Come, son. He’s in the command center.”
“A ping? I thought you wore your medallion about your neck?” My mother questioned.
While I should have let them lead, as a courtesy, I could not wait. I almost pushed my father out of the way and ran out of the tent. The sand kicked up beneath my feet and I squinted at the bright double sunlight. In the entry of the command center stood the commander, the one I recognized from the day before.
“You have news.” I didn’t form it as a question.
Commander Loris gave a curt nod. “Central command in Xalia sent an urgent alert. Your medallion has been activated. I was sent immediately to ensure your safety. Although, seeing you, I will inform them that there must be a malfunction, as you are obviously alive and well.”
My heart rate accelerated, my fingers itched to grab something. Anything. “I don’t have the medallion. I gave it to Natalie.”
“Natalie? Your mate? You gave it to her?” The commander stood, wide eyed. “Why would you do such a thing? Do you have any idea the value of that medallion to this planet?”
I knew he wasn’t trying to be disrespectful, but I still couldn’t hesitate to speak in a sharp tone of voice. “Yes, quite aware. Do you have any idea the value Natalie holds for me? She is the mate of a councilor, commander. I’d advise you to watch your tone with me.”
He shifted to a formal ready stance, focused and fixed his gaze over my shoulder. “I apologize, Councilor.”
“At ease, Commander.” I stepped past him then and into Outpost Nine’s command center.
Within the large tent were three guards. They stood and bowed at my arrival. Based on their uniforms, the commander was the highest ranked man in the room.
If the medallion pinged, then that meant—
“She’s alive,” I said to myself, my heart pounding, eagerness making me ready to rip the tent flap open and go get her, wherever the hell she was. I knew everyone was watching me pace back and forth across the tent.
“Only your DNA can activate the medallion, councilor, not hers.” The commander paused.
“She had the medallion.”
“That doesn’t mean she’s alive,” the commander countered. “Only that someone in your family has the medallion now.”
My father stepped forward. “Other than you or I, your sister and her children are the only living members of the family who could unlock that medallion.” I hadn’t seen him enter the tent, but he spoke true. “Your sister is with her husband and High
Councilor Tark. There’s no chance Natalie ended up with them. Tark would have notified us.”
“How could she have gotten there? Or known who Sari was?” my mother added, referring to my sister, Sari. And it was true. I’d never mentioned either High Councilor Tark or my sister to Natalie. Everyone looked baffled. The three guards manning the communications units remained silent. It was clear they were messengers and could offer nothing additional.
“Your speculation is irrelevant. The ping didn’t come from Trion,” the commander added.
I spun and faced him. “No one leaves this tent until I have answers. Commander, what, exactly, are you talking about?”