Chapter 50
Fifty
Ronan’s temples throbbed as he came to a shaking stand. His eyes burned, tears rolling onto his cheeks. His heart raced as he searched around the destroyer. Hints of dark purple smoke lingered in the air.
How long had he been asleep?
A wave of panic consumed him. Where’s Sean? He stumbled over his own two feet searching as his vision focused. He raced over finding his body crumpled on the floor.
He knelt in a frenzy and attempted to rouse him. “Sean! Sean!” He shook him gently, to no avail.
He slid his black glove from his hand and pressed his index and middle finger against his throat. Thankfully, a pulse remained. He was alive.
Sean groaned then let out a haggard cough. His bloodshot eyes opened, and he cast him a lazy glimpse. Ronan leaned over and brought him up to a seated position. He held him in his arms, resting his head against his shoulder.
“Are you all right?” he dared ask, waiting for his response with bated breath.
Sean’s lips moved. “Yes, I think so.” He attempted to rise to his feet, but his body gave out, landing back in Ronan’s lap. The sedative effects of the gas wore off, but he still needed to rest.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Ronan gently lowered his mouth to his, catching his hand in his soft hair.
When he pulled away, through the corner of his eye, he watched as an orb-shaped spacecraft burned its way through the atmosphere trailed by sparkles and embers, landing into the ruby-red dirt. Particles spewed everywhere, scattering against the exterior of the destroyer. Adrenaline seeped through his veins; he could barely breathe. Had the imposter returned? He rested Sean’s slouched back and head against the passenger seat and made his way outside the ship.
This time he was ready to defend himself and his boyfriend with every ounce of strength he had. He wouldn’t be taken by surprise, nor would he be deceived. Not again. He waited before the door, his arms crossed. His mouth twisted to the side.
The door opened and smoke seeped out in thick white puffs.
Armienti exited the craft wearing a navy-blue uniform, alien in nature. A white velvet cape hung over his shoulders.
He scrutinized him. “Identify yourself.”
Armienti stopped dead in his tracks, golden eyebrows furrowed against his rich blue complexion.
“I don’t have time for this, Ronan. Where is Autumn’s father? I need to collect him at once, it may be my one and only chan?—”
Ronan blocked him with his body, heart racing. He refused to fall for the same trick twice.
“Identify yourself,” he repeated, fists trembling.
Armienti rolled his brilliant blue eyes. “Are you drunk or something?” he demanded, but Ronan refused to let up. He was prepared to fight to the death to keep Sean safe.
“Tell me one thing only you would know.” Ronan assumed a fighting stance.
Armienti sighed, running a hand through his golden hair, tousling the strands. “Very well then, if you’re going to make me say it then so be it. I kidnapped Autumn, suffered betrayal at Valdez’s hands, and got us stranded on planet First at the far end of Universe 18. I confessed my feelings to Autumn several times—kissed her even, and it was wonderful,” he mused, his mouth tilting. “I know now what I did was wrong, but the fact of the matter remains that I still love her and this is my only way back into her good graces. So please, let me through, I don’t have another second to waste.”
His eyes widened. Come again? “I’m sorry did I hear you correctly?”
“Yes, every word of it.”
Ronan withdrew his stance. It was indeed his brother; only Armienti would get himself into a mess as ridiculous as this one. Unfreakingbelievable.
Dante was going to be furious.
Ronan turned on his heel and raced back onto the destroyer. He had to tell Dante Autumn’s father had been abducted as unpleasant as the conversation promised to be.
Armienti sprinted after him. “Wait, where are you going?”
When he entered the ship, Sean had taken a seat. He sipped on a glass of water. The color had returned to his face and his brown eyes grew lively again. He jumped as Armienti entered the destroyer, his glass of water shattering against the cold metallic tiled floor—splattering water in every which direction. He moved back in his chair as far as he could go, teeth chattering in his mouth.
“It’s okay,” Ronan assured him. “This is my brother for real this time.”
Sean extended a hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Pleasure, although we’ve already met,” Armienti winked. “I never forget a face.”
Ronan grabbed hold of his sleek black communicator. His throat grew dry. He punched Dante’s number into the device in slow motion. It rang and connected. He placed it on speaker so his brother could hear their conversation.
“When were you going to tell me about the kidnapping?” Dante spoke in little more than a whisper. Ronan supposed Autumn was within earshot.
“I—” Ronan began.
“The Grand Supreme has him. It’s been a nightmare.”
Adrenaline pumped through Ronan’s body. That was the worst news he could ever possibly hope to hear.
“It doesn’t matter anymore. I have to get him back.” Dante seemed cold and distant like always. “When are you coming home?”
“I’ll be there as soon as possible,” Ronan reassured him.
“Not if I get to him first, brother,” Armienti interjected.
Ronan placed a hand over his mouth and gasped, eyes widening. A long moment of silence followed. Brother , he thought. But how was that even possible?
“You dare speak to me after the stunt you pulled?” Dante hissed. “You’re no longer welcome here. There’s a price on your head?—”
“We’ll see about that,” Armienti smirked, pushing a golden strand of hair behind his blue pointed ear.
“You’d better be prepared for me if our paths ever cross again?—”
Armienti grabbed the communicator and clicked off the signal mid-sentence.
Ronan shook his head. Armienti was in a world of trouble, as usual . He had to figure out a way to bail him out.
Again.
A gasp erupted from across the cabin. Ronan whirled around and raced over to Sean, who covered his mouth, eyes wide with shock. His sketchbook flipped by itself through the pictures of the monsters he drew and settled on the image of the creature with inky scales and lifeless purple eyes. Then the pages erupted in flames, evaporating to dust.