Chapter 26
Twenty-Six
“Will this night ever come to an end?” Ronan groaned beneath his breath.
He sighed as he carried Marcela and Tyler in his arms, careful not to drop them. They soared over the township of Monroe. Evening lights flickered and blinked. The trees swayed in the warm post-midnight summer breeze.
One more stop, just one more stop, he kept reminding himself, before he could see Sean again. He hoped their meeting would go well. His hands sweated within his gloves. He’d traveled far and wide across the universes for him.
Finally, he exhaled a deep sigh of relief. They arrived at coordinates 41.3652778°N, -74.1822222°W. His communicator beeped and buzzed in his palm, indicating the correct location.
Ronan lowered the remaining humans from the sky to the same dwelling where he had attended the party a day after the crash-landing when he had first come to Earth. It turned out Sean had been there as well, but they hadn’t met until a few suns and moons later. It had to be destiny.
His boots touched down on the green. He placed Marcela and Tyler upright on their feet.
“Wait, you can’t be serious,” Marcela’s eyes scoured the premises. “My ex lives here with his new wife. I don’t want to see him ever?—”
“Save it—not my problem,” Ronan said matter-of-factly, a smile tilted on his lips. As far as he was concerned, he’d completed his task and then some. Autumn would be pleased.
Marcela groaned and crossed her arms. It was ridiculous how little gratitude anyone expressed. No human had told him thank you or otherwise for the elaborate rescue mission and year-long trip to bring them home he’d organized.
Ronan turned toward Tyler. “I’m not sure why Autumn allowed you to breathe, but for whatever reason, you have her to thank for your second chance at life.”
“Once again, I am so, so, sorry,” Tyler’s bottom lip quivered. Tears spilled from his deep brown eyes as he inhaled a shuddering breath, “I didn’t mean to kill?—”
Ronan turned on his heel and levitated in the air. “Unfortunately, sorry doesn’t fix the situation. Sorry can’t bring her mother back to life. Be more responsible in the future.”
Tyler hugged himself and glanced away.
Marcela crossed her arms and scowled at her son. “If you’re not sorry now, you will be, for putting us through all this misery and for hurting that poor girl. As much as I don’t care for her, she deserved better,” she paused. “After we wake up from this horrible dream, we’re going to the authorities. You can explain to them what occurred.”
Tyler nodded mechanically.
At least he’d finally get what he deserved. Ronan jumped into the air and soared off into the night. He’d had enough of the humans and their drama for a lifetime.
Dante closed his eyes, resting his chin on the ball of his fist. Stars whistled by the windows and miniature comets scraped against the steel exterior of the destroyer. He tried his hardest to get some rest. Planet Joule was a fruitless mission, and he’d worked himself to the bone. He was no closer to finding his wife and still had forty-nine more planets to conquer—in less than thirteen days’ time.
His nap, if he could even call it that, was interrupted by a warm wet sensation that formed on his lap. He glanced down. Drat .
Mr. Hiss.
“You can’t be serious,” he said to the baby ling.
Mr. Hiss purred, rubbing his head against his ribcage. His hot-pink striped tail slid across the wet spot on his leg, puffing.
Dante sighed, coming to stand, cradling the baby ling in his arms, then sauntered over to a side compartment and grabbed a cloth from the cabinet. He blotted Mr. Hiss’s soft underbelly before wiping the wetness from his pants.
Autumn would’ve wanted him to be taken care of.
He stroked Mr. Hiss’s head with his finger before pouring him a bowl of water. Probably not the best idea considering his track record. Afterwards, he crumbled and laid out bits of freeze-dried meat for him to eat.
“When we find your mom and return home, you’re getting trained,” he scratched behind his ear. Mr. Hiss purred and he could’ve sworn he smiled at him beneath his fluffy muzzle.
A lump formed in his throat after he spoke. If he found her . No, he couldn’t allow himself to think negatively. Everything would be all right, it had to be. He inhaled and exhaled slowly.
“You’d make a good father,” Kyo said as he lounged against the wall staring out into space. The stars flew by in streaks and waves. A strand of his moonglow mohawk fell over his eye. His neck tattoos flexed in the shadows.
“Come again?” Dante’s eyes met Kyo’s, who watched him from the darkness.
“Sorry, I hope you don’t mind me saying so. The way you take care of that animal?—”
“Mind your own business,” Dante crossed his arms. “Don’t be so familiar—I’m still your emperor.”
“Geez, sorry I said something nice,” Kyo rolled his eyes. “You don’t know how to take a compliment, I guess.”
Dante huffed a breath and took Mr. Hiss back to his seat. He closed his eyes, attempting to resume his nap.
Kyo cleared his throat. “I didn’t get a chance to say thank you for freeing me. That place was beyond terrible. But I can’t help but wonder why you changed your mind? I committed high treason.”
Dante’s eyes shot open, and he sighed. He’d never get to sleep at this rate. The questions from this guy. Why couldn’t he be thankful in silence?
“I don’t owe you an explanation. A simple thank you will suffice. Unless you’d prefer I return you to Planet Joule,” he threatened, although it was a lie. He had more pressing matters to attend to, mainly finding Autumn. Traveling back would put him off schedule.
He continued. “The only reason you’re still alive is because of the love I bear for my sister, although I have no idea what she sees in you.”
Kyo’s face paled and he turned away.
Dante sighed. “Don’t worry, I won’t send you back to the cells. I promise.”
“Your promises are worthless, you’re an elitist pig,” the words slipped from Kyo’s lips, and he threw a hand over his mouth.
“Your pardon?” His eyes widened.
“Sorry, I don’t know what I was thinking. I didn’t mean to be?—”
“So honest?”
Kyo stared at him strangely. “Yes.”
He had a new insult to add to the long list of slights that had been spewed at him throughout the years. Elitist pig , he chewed his cheeks. He had to admit the name was rather creative.
He sighed, refocusing on his current situation. He didn’t have time for this. He needed to get some sleep so he could be ready for the challenges ahead. Autumn needed him more than ever. Determination singed through him to make matters right. He couldn’t deal with the burning agony of another loss and could never imagine life without her.