Chapter Thirty-Four
Vor
Lena wept as Vor escorted her back to their quarters.
Vor remained calm, but that was only on the outside.
Inside, he raged. He had known the Medeans and Aethari wouldn't be swayed easily, but he'd thought that once the truth surfaced, so would his people.
He never imagined they'd be cruel enough to fire upon their own people just to make his people look like the monsters they’d been labeled.
But what upset him the most was Lena's tears.
She has spoken so passionately of him and his people, even after Vor had abducted her.
She said she wanted to stay and help them.
And they applauded! Those fucking bastards applauded Lena's impassioned speech, only to turn around and destroy what she was trying to build.
They made Lena cry! For that alone, Vor wanted to burn that camp down. But that would only make her cry more.
The fortress echoed with fury, every soldier sharing their anger.
Vor guided Lena through the halls, avoiding the stares of Nethren men and women whose new emotions seemed to magnify their rage.
He could hear shouts and vicious conversations.
That evil act had done its job and turned the hope for peace into dust.
Vor ushered Lena inside their quarters, afraid for her safety. Yes, his soldiers had grown to like her, but after that terrible incident, they wouldn't be thinking clearly. They were no longer the cool-headed warriors they'd once been. Vor locked the door and leaned against it.
“What happened?” Lena wailed. “Did you have them shot?”
Vor gaped at her.
“Did you?!”
“No!” he roared. “How could you ask me that? You know that I only want peace. You've seen how hard I've worked to reach this moment only to have it thrown in my face! Why would I agree to release prisoners only to kill them on their way to freedom?”
“I don't know,” she whispered. “But it makes even less sense for my people to kill them.”
“And that's the beauty of their treachery.” Vor pushed away from the door and stalked to the window.
Staring down at the angry groups of soldiers in the courtyard, he grimaced.
“Those fucking bastards. They couldn't deny our request for peace outright, not when we were making such an effort.
So they made it look as if we're here to fight.”
“That's what you just vowed, Vor!” Lena shrieked. “If it wasn't you, why did you declare war on them?”
“I didn't declare war! I said that we were staying peacefully or otherwise. I could have vowed to destroy them for what they did. Tech knows I want to. But I didn't. I left it in their hands. Now, if they attack us, they are the ones responsible for continuing this war.”
Lena backed away.
“Don't, Lena!” Vor stomped around the table.
She kept backing up.
He grabbed her hand. “Don't be afraid of me. I would never hurt you. Damn it! Why would I do this? If I wanted to kill your people, I could march those prisoners out onto the wall walk and execute them in front of Paradefense. Now, that would be the act of a monster. An act of war. But to kill four people right after I release them? That makes no sense.”
“No, it doesn't,” she admitted.
Vor sighed, relieved that she was willing to listen.
“There's one more thing that speaks to my innocence.
Those soldiers are still alive. Not a single one was wounded.
How is that possible, Lena? My soldiers had clear shots at them.
If I had wanted to kill those people, they'd be dead. Only friendly fire would miss.”
Lena let out a shaking breath. “Then who did it? I don't think it was the general. He looked too shocked.”
“I wasn't paying attention to anyone's expression. I was too busy trying to protect you.” Vor let go of her and went to drop onto the couch. “All of this work. For nothing. Now we are back to being enemies. I was so close!”
Lena sat down beside him. “Vor, I'm so sorry.”
“I need to find out who tried to kill those soldiers. I need proof. Maybe then General Caden will believe me.”
“I believe you.” She took his hand.
Vor, his mind raging, suddenly went calm. He looked down at Lena's tiny hand in his and had the most horrible urge to run away with her. It would be so much easier to just leave. They could find a place to hide on the surface. Be together. Forget the war.
And condemn the Nethren to an eternity underground.
Vor sighed and bent his head as he clutched Lena's hand. “Maybe I should release you.”
Lena went still.
He looked up to find her expression shivering, going back and forth between relief and fear. “Lena?”
“No,” she whispered. “Not yet. No, I . . .”
“Lena.” Vor dropped to his knees before her and took her hand. “You don't have to explain it to me.”
“What?”
“What I feel. I know now. I want you to be happy. I want it more than I want my people to be free. I want you safe.” He lifted his hand to cup her cheek and wipe away the fresh tears that she wept. “I can't keep you here any longer. You need to be with your family.”
“Vor, no.”
“You tried, Lena. Despite what I've done to you, you tried to help my people.
And you did. You changed us. You spoke for us when they wouldn't listen to me.
You urged them to speak. Remember that when we're apart. You are brave and kind. And you changed me.” Vor placed her hand over his heart.
“I'm aligned with you. Stronger because of you.
I feel more than I ever have. It hurts, but I wouldn't give it up for anything.” He lowered his hand.
“Except you. For you, I would sacrifice everything. I understand now. I know what this feeling is. I love you, Lena.”
With a wounded cry, Lena fell forward, taking them both to the ground. Her lips found his, and their kiss was the most momentous and wondrous occurrence in Vor's life. Salty with her pain, but beautiful with the love he finally owned. This was his. And so was Lena.
Vor protected what was his.
He rolled Lena onto her back and eased out of their amazing, life-changing kiss.
Hand on her cheek, Vor memorized her beautiful face.
How could he release her now? How could he send her away?
The rest of his life loomed over him like a beast, foul breath heating his neck with the threat of pain unlike any he'd ever experienced.
“Lena, I can't put you in danger. I'm going to release—”
She stopped his words with a hand over his lips. “Vor, shut the fuck up.”