Chapter Forty-Four
Lena
Lena walked into the lavish bathroom and shut the door.
Rallorival was just outside, waiting for her to freshen up before dinner—his exact words.
She grimaced at her reflection in the massive mirror hanging above the sink.
The man was insane. With a snort, Lena realized she had thought the same thing about Vor once. But he was the sanest man she knew.
“This time, I'm right,” Lena muttered as she sat on the edge of the bathtub to take off her boots. She was tired and filthy, in the same clothes Vor had given her the day before. She was going to take a long bath and make that asshole wait.
One boot came off without a fuss, but the other proved more difficult. Something was digging against the side of her foot. Lena frowned as she got the boot off and then dug inside the boot for what had impeded her. She pulled out a small packet.
“What in the world is this?” Lena's heart sped up as she unfolded the packet to discover that it was a note from Vor.
Something slid out from the unfolded paper and clattered onto the tile floor. Lena bent to pick it up. It was a metal disc, but when she scrutinized it, she saw a bisecting line. She laid it on the tub rim beside her and read the note.
My Lena,
If you're reading this, we've been separated.
I understand if you've left me. I won't try to sway you with words of love.
You know how I feel about you. You changed me, and I will always adore you for that, even if you choose to leave me.
I wish you the best life possible, full of laughter, music, and love.
But if something beyond our control has taken you from me, I promise that we will not be parted for long.
The enclosed disc is a tracking device. Twist it, and it will summon me.
I will come for you. No matter how long we've been apart, if you want me or should you need my help, I will come for you.
Forever yours,
Vor
Lena's breath shivered out of her, and the despondency that had been weighing her down vanished.
She inhaled deeply, her shoulders straightening, her mind clearing, and her chin lifting.
Vor, always preparing for any circumstance, had provided a way for them to reunite.
Her brilliant Nethren commander would come for her if she called.
All she had to do was activate the tracker.
Lena picked up the disc and peered at it.
She had to twist it to activate it; probably to align internal wires and complete a circuit.
She shook her head. The things Nethren could do without convergence were astounding.
If she twisted it, would the wires align and send out a signal?
Oh, who the fuck cared how it worked as long as he came for her? !
Then Lena paused. If she summoned Vor, he might come alone. And a team of Aethari would welcome him with pulsers. He'd never defeat them by himself.
Lena slumped, the metal warming in her hand.
Then Vor's image appeared in her mind. She saw his determined gaze and knew that he wouldn't be unprepared.
Vor would inspect the scene before he swooped in to save her.
How he'd get to the surface, Lena didn't know, but she had faith in him.
It was that faith that drove her to clasp the top of the disc between the fingers of one hand and the bottom with the fingers of the other.
A soft click came as she spun the top and bottom halves to bring them back together again, looking as if nothing had changed.
But Lena could feel vibrations coming from it.
With a smile, she tucked the disc back in her boot, undressed, and took a long bath.