Page 27 of Sevan

“Yes, I overheard some of the others, ones that wandered near the outer edges of our village.” Jacquelyn glanced at Sevan. “They spoke of the prophecy and the warriors from the sky who would come to aid in the fight against evil. Stegian tells them that the prophecy is a lie but they aren’t so sure.”

Christian exhaled loudly as he set Jacquelyn down to stand on her own. “I see. What else did they say?”

“Nothing,” she said quickly.

Nina ran a hand over the markings on her left forearm again. “Jacquelyn.”

Jacquelyn’s face scrunched up and it was easy to see the resemblance to her sisters. “I hate that you can sense a lie, Nina.”

“Yes, I know. Now, what else did they say?”

The young girl glanced nervously towards Christian. “They said that they know of Lorelei’s mate coming from the vessel, and that Stegian tried to control his mind fully but failed.” She pointed at Jordan. “They know of you as well, and believe you to be a great threat. Their instructions are to kill you on sight and capture Sevan if at all possible. Stegian no longer wishes Lorelei dead either.”

“What?” Christian asked, putting his hand on Jacquelyn’s tiny shoulder.

“He wishes her brought to him alive so he may have his hags drain the life force of the child she now carries. Stegian refuses to acknowledge that the prophecy is true, yet he is going out of his way to assure that the child of light be brought to him immediately.”

Christian stepped back quickly, clenched his fists and tipped his head back. “Lorelei is with child?”

Oh shit. It’s about to get ugly in here.

Sevan took a fighting stance, ready and willing to fight Christian if need be.

Much to his surprise the attack didn’t come from Christian. It came from Nina.

She kicked out fast, catching him in the gut, sending him tumbling back into a wall of computers. He struck it hard and then hit the ground. He clutched his stomach and fought for breath.

Nina came at him fast, her eyes burning with a fury he’d never seen a woman hold before. “How dare you show up here out of nowhere and use my sister? You’re nothing but an outsider, an off-worlder who doesn’t belong here and cannot wait to be rid of us. Off-worlders are all the same.”

Sevan refused to fight back. There was no way in hell he was going to strike Lorelei’s sister.

She came at him again and Jordan stepped in front of her, blocking her path. “Enough.”

A slow smile crept over her face as she swept her arm out. The next thing Sevan knew, Jordan was airborne. He hit the floor with a thud and moaned.

Christian appeared and wrapped his arms around Nina. He lifted her off the ground as he rolled his eyes. “Nina, control yourself. Do you not see what has happened?”

She snarled. “All I see is a fast-talker who couldn’t even wait an entire day before sinking his cock into my sister. He used her, Christian, and now she will bear his child and spend her life protecting it from Stegian and his people while this…this,” she spat at him, “outsider goes back to his Commission life. It is my sister who will give her life for his need to sate his sexual appetite. You were to be her mate, Christian.”

Christian shook his head. “No, Nina. I was not originally chosen. Samson was, and I think we learned a hard lesson about pre-selecting mates from that, do you not agree?”

“Samson?” Jordan asked, rubbing his head.

Jacquelyn moved in close to him and touched his forehead lightly. A spark of light emanated from her hand and Jordan’s eyes widened. “Thanks.”

She smiled. “You’re welcome. And to answer your question—”

Nina snarled again. “Tell them no more. They are leaving. I do not care if their ship is airworthy or not.”

Jacquelyn giggled. “I never understood why Christian mumbles about the Janelle girls’ tempers until now. He is right. You are the worst of the lot of us.”

Jordan chuckled, earning a rather threatening look from Nina in the process.

“I am not the worst of us all. Lorelei is.”

Sevan got to his feet slowly, a bit achy and bruised. The woman packed a hell of a kick, that much was for sure. “Speaking of Lorelei, does she normally spend this long getting ready for her day?”

All eyes fell upon him. Nina’s expression went from livid to concerned. “What do you mean?”

---