Chapter 17
Carrik
This day has only gone from bad to worse.
I’d hated leaving things with Lindsey the way I had last night.
All I’d wanted to do, for the first time in my life, was confess everything.
All the secrets. The lies. But already one person too many knows the truth.
My father would be disappointed that I have not followed the rules we have lived by since our earliest ancestors.
Rules I never once questioned until Lindsey.
My patrol rotation has ended, and I weave through the streets of Preska—artfully dodging bodies—as I make my way from the barracks to Warik’s tavern. Night has long since arrived, but considering the number of people who wander the streets—Bohnari and other species alike—one wouldn’t know it.
The city lights glow on each corner, although many dark passageways between buildings offer any number of hiding places for those waiting to cause trouble.
Up ahead lies Warik’s tavern, its brightly lit sign beckoning those who pass by to enter.
It’s a well-frequented place by residents and off-world visitors alike.
Warik serves generously poured drinks for a fair price.
And although none are Bohnari, a few females of varying species reside upstairs and offer short-term companionship.
If one has enough credits. Has Bannik ever sought their services?
I hope not, because I have no intention of taking my brother’s identity that far.
Inside, the tavern is warm and friendly.
It smells of fermented fruit and ale. Tables lie peppered throughout, each of them close to fully occupied from the one nearest the door all the way to the one that sits in the farthest dark corner.
Stools line the bar, and only two or three currently remain empty.
No one pays me attention as I make my way through the room in search of Ryvik.
After a complete circuit and still not spotting him, I find an empty table near the back and wait.
If he isn’t here within fifteen ticks, I’ll return to the barracks despite my insatiable curiosity for what knowledge he possesses.
While I wait, I scan the tavern, taking in the variety of patrons.
Over the many cycles I’ve traveled off-world to other planets, taverns are where I’ve gathered the most intel.
Too much ale tends to loosen tongues and inhibitions.
If I had not been so focused on gaining Horek’s trust, along with the queen’s, I would have sought out this place much sooner.
But maintaining a low profile at first had been my priority.
Moments later, Ryvik approaches carrying two mugs. He sits and places one in front of me.
“You look like you could use this,” he says with a smirk that makes me uneasy.
I don’t offer any thanks, merely fold my hands around the mug without lifting it to take a drink. His grin grows as he clearly notices my refusal to partake before he lifts his gaze to my face.
“What is it you wished to discuss?” No matter that I desire to discover what Ryvik knows, I also don’t feel like playing any games.
“Are you in a hurry to get somewhere? Perhaps to see someone…special?”
My claws extract and my fangs lengthen. I clench my jaw hard enough to make it ache, and the flames of fire lick at my veins. The cracking sound of the mug held tightly within my grasp is loud in the din of conversation drifting around the tavern.
Ryvik laughs. “Relax, Bannik. No one is threatening your heart’s fire.”
“If I thought for a moment you were, you’d be dead right now.” I will my body to stop reacting. “Why don’t you tell me why we’re really here? You mentioned something about my brother.”
The male across from me sighs in an exaggerated fashion. “Since when have you become so serious, Bannik?”
I say nothing. Just continue glaring at Ryvik, who raises his hands in surrender.
“Were you aware your brother has been keeping secrets from you?” he begins.
“My brother and I haven’t spoken in over ten anums. I’m sure there are many things he has kept from me.” I maintain my level breathing and the bored appearance I have perfected over the last countless anums.
“Ah yes, that’s right,” Ryvik says with heavily laced sarcasm. “That means it would surprise you to know he’s not quite who you think he is.”
“What do you mean?”
The other male glances around, and I do the same. It doesn’t appear as though anyone is paying attention to us, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t. I should know. It’s a technique I have perfected during my time as a spy.
“Are you aware of your family’s history?” Ryvik asks in a low voice.
“Our history?” Surely he can’t know. Never before have I been worried about giving my emotions away.
He cants his head like he doesn’t fully believe my confusion. “The House of Deqan holds a lot of secrets.”
Irritated by the game Ryvik appears intent on playing, I get to my feet to leave. “I have better things to do than waste my time on whatever this is.”
He stands—blocking my exit—and leans in close. “Did you know your father was a spy, and when he died, Carrik took his place?”
Slowly, without taking my eyes off him, I return to my seat, more in shock from the knowledge he appears to have than I want to admit. Ryvik sits as well.
“What do you mean, my father was a spy? A spy for whom? And how do you know this?”
“For the king, of course.”
Of course. “Again, how do you know this to be true?”
He chuckles, but it’s an ugly sound. “My father discovered it.”
I have known Ryvik for two anums. Ever since I infiltrated the rebels as Bannik, I’d never asked if he had family. He never voluntarily spoke of them either.
“Who is your father?”
He smirks. “That’s not important. All that matters is that your father—and now your brother—are spies for Alik. Or perhaps Janik, considering our former prince has been locked away.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I thought you would like to know who your family truly is. What they’ve withheld from you since the time you were born.
Did they not trust you enough to share this with you?
” Ryvik continues. “That your brother has amassed a fortune that more than half the population of our people could never dream of is bad enough. But to spend his entire life lying to you? The same brother he shared a womb with. That isn’t how you treat those you’re supposed to love.
King Danik and then Alik are complicit in the secrecy as well.
They helped drive the wedge between you and your brother.
Not to speak of your father. He always treated Carrik differently, didn’t he? ”
Pain strikes me deeply, because what Ryvik says is the truth. Our father did treat us differently. I was the one he spent time training to take his place. Far too often, he dismissed Bannik. Pushed him aside, because I was the one he devoted all his attention to.
“How is it your father discovered this if it is such a closely guarded secret?”
Again, he waves off my question. “You seem far more concerned about how the information was obtained than the disloyalty your family has shown you.”
“Perhaps I wish to confront my brother and gloat over the fact that he isn’t as smart as he thinks he is.”
Ryvik flashes his teeth in the way that gets my back up. “There are better ways to do this.”
“Which are?”
He tilts his head slightly and takes far too long studying me. “I’m not sure you’re ready to hear them yet. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
With that, he stands, and before I can even think about stopping him, he turns and is swallowed up by the crowd of people that have since gathered around the tavern.
Gods’ blood. I sit at the table for several moments longer before leaving my untouched drink and heading out of the tavern toward the barracks.
The streets are emptier than when I walked them earlier, although I pass several patrolling guards who acknowledge me with a short nod that I return.
A part of me wishes to detour to the females’ complex and knock on Lindsey’s door.
Not because I want a repeat of last night—not only because—but her presence soothes me as well as the beast inside.
The part of me that feeds off the fire coursing through my veins.
It itches to be released, and the control I have on it to either fight or fuck is a frayed thread.
Also, I can finally admit how lonely my life has become.
Finally, I arrive at the barracks and quietly make my way through the corridors until I reach my room. Inside, I locate the private channel comm device used to keep in contact with Ivik from where I’d hidden it in the hygiene room beneath the vanity. Less than a tick later, he responds to my ping.
“Is all well?”
“One of the former rebels arranged to have me meet him tonight. Somehow, he knows my father and I are spies for the prince. Or rather, that Carrik is. He still believes me to be Bannik. At least, that’s how it appears.”
“How is that possible? Your father never spoke of his duties to anyone,” Ivik defends fiercely.
“Ryvik said his father passed the information on to him, but he refused to give me any more than that, including a name. Any exchanges we had over the last two anums of my infiltrating the rebel camp were about strategy and the raids we organized and enacted. We never discussed anything of a personal nature.”
“Perhaps,” Ivik pauses. “Perhaps your brother might know something—”
“No.” I cut him off from saying anything else. “I will not involve Bannik in this. I’ll arrange a meeting with Janik in a few days and see if he can offer more insight. He had been the leader of the rebels after all, despite Mohneek’s involvement.”
“And if he can’t?”
“Then I will have to convince Ryvik he can trust me. My instincts tell me he knows where Mohneek is. Perhaps Orvak as well. They are my main concern at the moment, not whether I’ll be exposed as working for the prince.
Her initial plan had been for Janik to take the throne and, as his alleged mother, she would reap the benefits of that.
Her revenge against King Danik would be complete. ”
Ivik huffs out a breath. “Except now that Janik is aware of her schemes and deceit, he is useless to her.”
“Which means she has to seek her revenge against the royal family another way.” I finish for him. “There’s no way for me to stop her if I don’t know what her new endgame is.”
“And if Ryvik isn’t loyal to Mohneek any longer, but rather has his own agenda?” my adviser asks.
“Then I’ll deal with it.”
Ivik is silent for several ticks. Long enough that I fear the connection has been lost, but at last, he speaks up. “Maybe it’s time to give up the secrecy.”
“What are you saying?” I can’t contain my shock.
“Stop keeping the secret of the role your father and your ancestors played. Janik, Horek, and now this Ryvik know—along with whoever his father is. The chances of this news spreading across Bohna are highly likely. Which means whatever cover you might have had is gone. Besides, you have a heart’s fire,” Ivik says as though I’ve forgotten.
“What happens if, and when, you’re assigned a task that takes you off-planet?
What excuses will you give her? You certainly won’t be able to take her with.
And if you leave her here alone, people will begin to wonder. Perhaps the time has come.”
His words have me speechless.
“Just…think about it,” he says softly and, before I can reply, ends the comm.
I stand there for several ticks before placing the device back in its hiding place, and then I stare at myself in the mirror in front of me. No matter how long I remain there, no answers come to me. I pivot, turn out the light, and get into bed, already knowing sleep isn’t going to happen.