Chapter 66
Sixty-Six
A wave of relief coursed through Autumn’s body. Her limbs became as light as air. She couldn’t believe Dante had finally reached out to her. She was beginning to wonder if he was still alive.
“I missed you,” her cheeks warmed as she whispered into the speaker. Her entire body felt as if she was floating.
“I missed you too.” She could tell he was smiling on the other end. She closed her eyes, processing his words.
“I can’t talk long, and I need you to be careful what you say,” his soothing voice crackled through the speaker. It sent shivers down her spine as always.
“He’s been harassing me,” her bottom lip quivered.
A long silence followed. He huffed. She could tell he was furious.
“I heard your broadcast,” he changed the subject. “I think you did an amazing job smoothing out the situation. I knew I could count on you. You make me proud every day.”
He continued. “Under no circumstances are you going to see him. Do you hear that, Izzo? This is between you and me.”
A frequency hummed through her communicator, buzzing against her ear. They weren’t alone. As she was warned many times before, someone was always watching and listening.
“When I go, I need you to open what I gave you.”
The scroll. Her lips moved as if she meant to speak but then she thought better of it. She didn’t want to give the Grand Supreme what he was after.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive.”
Buttons bleeped in the background.
“I love you, Autumn.”
She pressed out a smile that burned her cheeks. “I love you t?—”
The communicator cut off before she could finish her sentence. When she went to redial, the tone was dead. She sighed—another missed opportunity to tell him how much she cared.
Instead of dwelling on the situation, Autumn reached into her pocket, feeling around for the scroll.
She pulled the paper out, holding it in the palm of her hand, before slowly parting the pieces with her fingertips.
The golden paper sparkled in her palms. As she began to read the contents, she chewed a fingernail, and her entire body went numb.
As Dante entered Universe 13, he blinked the fog away from his eyes, determined to stay focused on the task at hand. He couldn’t allow himself to succumb to his emotions. Not now. He had to stay sharp and ready for any obstacle.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t shake the feeling of regret. Regret he couldn’t talk to Autumn longer, regret that she wasn’t with him, regret he couldn’t hold her in his arms, and regret that he put her through this miserable scenario.
It was far from over. The fun was just beginning.
Most of all, he regretted that he’d never see her again.
He inhaled and exhaled slowly, navy-gloved hands sliding against the control panel as he rained fire on the ships surrounding his home world.
One thing was for sure, he’d make Emperor Izzo pay with his dying breath.