Chapter 59
Fifty-Nine
Autumn shot up from her bed in the dead of night, sweat soaking her plain white cotton cami and satin cloud shorts. Her long, coiled hair matted to the back of her neck. She inhaled and exhaled, followed by a dizzy spell. Her heart raced as she jumped to the floor and sped to the bathroom, vomiting up her guts into the toilet. She knelt, resting her head against her arm, laying along the cool metal bowl.
Something was wrong; she could feel it deep in her bones. Dante was in trouble, and her dad—she hadn’t heard from either of them in months. Every time she was tempted to text Dante on his communicator, she stopped herself for his safety.
Leyla came sprinting into the room, her features drawn and solemn. Mr. Hiss trotted after her. He nuzzled her ribs with his wet velvet nose, before sitting in her lap, purring. His hot-pink and black striped tail swayed against her leg.
“I shouldn’t have let him go alone. I should’ve insisted on coming with him,” she groaned before flushing the toilet. The contents swirled and disappeared. Why did she have to be sick on his departure date? Life wasn’t fair.
Leyla knelt beside her, pressing the back of her hand to her forehead. “You don’t look so good—you feel warm. You need to rest. You’ve been pushing yourself too hard.”
Leyla helped her to a trembling stand, and she walked over to the sink to gargle and brush her teeth before climbing back into the warmth and comfort of her bed. Aircraft zipped and twinkled through the city, their lights sparkling along the glass of her French doors leading to the balcony.
Leyla sat cross-legged beside her on the floor. She’d been sleeping on the couch for weeks, although she insisted it wasn’t necessary. Mr. Hiss climbed onto the covers rolling against her side.
“I know the wait has been long, but we need you here. I need you, Autumn,” she squeezed her hand. “I’m sure my brother is okay. He knows what he’s doing, and he always has a plan to succeed. I know your father is okay as well, so please don’t worry. Everything is going to work out.”
“I hope so,” Autumn yawned, her eyes fluttering closed before staring back at Leyla through the darkness.
Her sister’s large brown eyes widened. Her pink lips twisted to the side. “If anything, I’m worried for Armienti. I mean, what is he thinking, trying to play the hero after what he did to you?”
Autumn gulped. She was officially going to be awake all night. What was he thinking? Was he going to Universe 24 to try to win her over? Did he think if he rescued her father, she’d choose him over Dante? She couldn’t help but dwell on the gory details of their last conversation.
He wanted her by his side more than anything, to be his empress.
Another bout of sickness rattled through her, but she managed to will the sensation away. Great, now she had to worry about him too.
Armienti’s spacecraft rattled with an SOS signal that he promptly ignored. As soon as the frequency started bleeping through the cabin, he hit the silencer on the control panel. His lips flickered with amusement. The message emitted from the planet Dante occupied. He wondered if he’d gotten himself into some kind of trouble.
What a shame that would be if he died. It would serve him right.
He shrugged, biting back a smile. How he hoped so. If that was the case, then it was his lucky day. He’d be the one to retrieve Mr. Ramon and return home victorious. He’d be the hero in her eyes, and she’d have no choice but to love him back. How he desired her.
He touched his navy-gloved fingers to his lips; he wanted her more than life itself. If only he could stop screwing up. If only he could get this right, for the first time in his life.
He deserved her more.
Stars flashed across the glass of his vessel as he entered Universe 23. It wouldn’t be long. He’d go straight to the Palace of Despair and request an audience with the Grand Supreme.
He’d only been this far out in space a handful of times, and he’d been to the palace maybe once—if he remembered correctly.
One time was all he needed to forge a relationship. The Grand Supreme couldn’t be as bad as everyone claimed. Could he? A hard lump formed in his throat.
Poor Dante was forced to serve out his formative years in this miserable place. For a fleeting moment he pitied him, but then he came to his senses.
His brother always won, but not this time. This time he was determined to come out on top no matter the cost.