Chapter 7
Gavin
As soon as we boarded my chaser, I made a beeline for the pilot’s chair and initiated take off.
Despite the worry gnawing at me, I couldn’t help the wave of gratitude that swelled within me to discover that all seven Braxians had joined me.
I never thought that Nolar or the other four males would risk expulsion by tagging along.
Maybe I had misread the depth of his disdain of me.
Whatever the case, his presence here felt right… needed even.
I braced for the possibility that the control tower would override the locking mechanism of the doors. To my pleasant surprise, no one attempted to stop us or demanded that we land as I flew my vessel out of the ship hangar.
“So much for doing our clans proud,” Nolar muttered behind me, clearly shocked that he had followed. “We’re all getting expelled.”
There was an odd resignation in his voice. It dawned on me that the same thoughts that just ran through my mind about him were now bubbling in his own head. He didn’t understand why he had followed me, and yet he seemed resigned to whatever outcome would result from it.
“Go suit up,” I grumbled. “We’ll need ram lasers and pressurized shields.”
I didn’t know why I said that, but that, too, felt right. Glancing over my shoulder at the three males, I locked eyes with Vintor.
“Take them to the armory,” I ordered.
He nodded and gestured for the men to go with him. They all complied except for Curok who stayed before settling in the copilot’s chair next to me.
“Where are we even going? Do you know where they’re training?” he asked.
I shook my head. “No, I don’t. I just let my instincts lead the way.”
He opened his mouth before closing it, pressing his lips to hold back the words burning his tongue.
His doubts made sense. I had grown accustomed to people questioning what reasonably would be deemed irrational behavior for a Braxian.
Aside from our Berserker powers, my people didn’t normally possess any type of psychic or psionic abilities.
I was an oddity that few knew how to handle.
I was just grateful that he didn’t attempt to argue or convince me to backtrack.
A part of me believed that his trust was largely fueled by the rescue mission on Haven.
The entire crew had thought me insane and couldn’t fathom why Magnar Ravik and my Grappa Krygor had indulged my crazy ravings about rescuing Keran on a whim.
But my intuition had proven right and saved countless more lives.
Like now, I hadn’t known where he was held captive on that planet. It felt like a thread tugging me in the right direction. Whenever I strayed from the right path, the magnetic pull would tug even harder. But nothing compared to this specific instance. The pull had never felt this strong.
It baffled me to the extent that I normally only ever got premonitions about people I knew.
The stronger the friendship or bond, and the more powerful the pull.
This one luring me towards my mate was far more potent than the one that had taken me to Keran in his time of need.
Considering she and I had never physically met, how did that even work? Was it because she was my soulmate?
Our souls did touch every night for the past fifteen years.
Although that connection had faded with time, we had indeed met spiritually. Whatever the explanation, I was just grateful to be able to come to her aid.
“Any idea what we’re even going into?” Curok asked at last.
I shrugged and shook my head. “No clue. Unlike the Oracles and Seers, I don’t have visions. All I got to work with are feelings.”
Curok scrunched his face. “So we technically might be running into a trap with a massive army waiting for us.”
I paused and reflected on his words. Another wave of unease swirled in the pit of my stomach. As much as I wished I could have the clear visions of an Oracle, I still responded with a conviction I couldn’t explain.
“Major danger awaits us there. I cannot say what it is, but I know it’s not a bunch of enemies or an army. Don’t ask me how I know. I just do,” I added in an apologetic tone.
Before he could reply, an incoming call request flashed on the giant screen of the vessel.
My stomach dropped when it stated that it was coming from Khel.
I hated that I had publicly disobeyed his direct command.
I hated even more the rudeness with which I had thrown my recruit insignia in an almost disdainful fashion.
But nothing would ever come before the safety of my mate.
I just hoped we could mend things once all of this was over.
Bracing for what would follow, I accepted the call. For now, we had to save Zhara and the others. I would grovel for mercy and forgiveness later.
“General,” I said in greeting, stunned to see Amalia and Venya standing next to Ghan on the bridge of their ship.
“Where are you going?” he asked, his voice calm and professional.
“To Zhara,” I responded, distressed that I didn’t have anything more specific to say.
In his shoes, I would struggle to take me seriously as well that I would just run off without a clue as to my final destination.
“Do you even know where she is?” Khel asked as if he had read my mind.
“No,” I conceded. “But I can sense the way to go.”
He clenched his teeth, clearly battling the urge to tell me to get my clueless ass back to the base. Instead, he gestured with his chin at the pilot who tapped a few instructions on the navigation board. Seconds later, his message appeared on the bottom right corner of my screen.
“These are their coordinates, on Talabor,” Khel said.
“The abandoned pirate lair?” Curok asked.
“Yes,” Khel replied.
A slimy sensation twisted my insides, and I immediately shook my head.
“The name of the location is right, but those coordinates are not,” I replied.
As one, everyone aboard his ship and Curok on mine recoiled at my statement.
“What?” Ghan asked.
“They are not where the General said,” I replied carefully, my eyes flicking from side to side as I analyzed the emotions my strange powers were provoking in me. “But they are indeed in that lair.”
“I know where I sent them,” Khel countered with a hint of irritation in his voice. “Sohr confirmed their location before the start of the mission.”
“But it has changed since,” I replied stubbornly. “Go to the coordinates you have, and I will go to Zhara.”
He opened his mouth to further argue with me. Venya placing a hand on his forearm stopped him. He gave her an inquisitive look, but she was staring at me.
“Is this what you want, Gavin?” Venya asked.
I blinked, unsure about what she meant. “What do you mean?”
“Do you want to go where you believe Talabor is currently located and for the General to actually go to the coordinates he mentioned?”
That gave me pause. The intensity in her voice as she asked the question implied that each element played an important role.
There was no question that I needed to go to where my gut said Talabor would be.
But did I want the General to go to those other coordinates or to come with us to the secret base?
To my shock, as soon as I asked myself that question, the answer resounded loudly in my mind with the clarity that left me reeling.
“Yes. I want him to go to the coordinates he mentioned,” I replied.
I didn’t know why, just that it would be important later.
The Oracle’s eyes glazed over, and we all quietly stared at her as she prodded the future.
Korlethean females with the power of foresight could examine a specific moment in time in someone’s future to see the potential outcomes.
But the deeply troubled look that settled on her face as she refocused on me twisted my innards.
“What did you see?” I asked, tension audible in my voice.
She didn’t answer. Her wheels spinning, the Oracle appeared to be looking for her words.
“Venya?” Khel insisted as the seconds stretched.
She jerked her head towards him, as if snapping out of a daze. She shook her head before glancing back at me.
“Do you love her, Gavin? Do you love Zhara?” she asked.
“Yes,” I replied in an imperious tone. “I love her with everything that I am.”
“Then obey your instincts,” she said firmly.
“What did you see?” I insisted, irritation seeping into my voice.
“Just follow your instincts,” she repeated stubbornly. “You only have one chance to save them all. There is a single path with a positive outcome.”
“Then tell him which one it is, female!” Vintor growled, startling me.
I’d been so focused on the conversation that I hadn’t sensed their return. A major failure on my part.
“I cannot say more without influencing him in a way that could be extremely detrimental,” Venya replied apologetically before shifting her attention back to me. “All I can say is that whatever path you choose, there will be pain, Gavin. An incredible amount of pain.”
“For Zhara?” I asked, my chest constricting with fear for my woman.
“Some for her, but an unbearable amount for you,” she replied.
I waved a dismissive hand as relief washed over me. “I don’t care about that, so long as I can bring her home.”
“Then follow your voice. You are an Augur. You will know the way,” Venya said.
“What is that?” I asked, realizing she had pronounced it in a way slightly different from Ogre.
“If all goes well, I will explain it to you once everything is settled,” she replied dismissively. “Just be steadfast, young Gavin. The lives of Zhara and her brothers are in your hands.”
I frowned. “Her Grappa Eryon saw the Great War. They live!” I argued.
My blood turned to ice when she shook her head.
“Eryon saw you, the Dervhen twins, and Lenora. He cannot see his own bloodline. None of the other Seers have seen the three siblings in any of their visions during battle. The only visions were of Vahleryon building the coalition that we now have.”
“No,” I replied with unshakable certainty. “Vahl will lead this war with his Gem and twin by his side. Ancestors take me, I will not fail.”