Page 45 of A Mate for Vasek
Nothing happened. She was still standing in Central Park, except the timer hovering in the sky had changed. It was now counting down from a new number, this one even shorter than the time she’d had left before. That sucked.
Oh well, might as well enjoy it while she could. She started back toward the bench, but things started changing. The leaves underfoot turned brown, and snow started to fall. Soon, Central Park was covered in a thin layer of white. When she tried to touch the snow, she found that she could no longer interact with the scene, and all the NPCs had disappeared. This must be what they meant by time-lapse.
So she just stood and watched as the seasons changed. But when spring arrived, the bench was gone. So were all the other benches. Then some of the other trees started disappearing. Seconds later, Bethesda Fountain vanished, and in its place was a grounded Dominion ship. But a minute later, that was gone too, replaced by tents with Dominion insignia. Dawn watched, her heart breaking as her beloved park turned into a Dominion base. But even that did not last long, because those too wererazed to the ground, and Dawn realized it was because the Dominion was being attacked.
The time-lapse ended suddenly, even though the date didn’t match the current galactic date. She was back in the training simulator with its sterile white walls. She walked back over to the screen and read the badly translated paragraph next to the selection, hoping to find some answers. She did. But it wasn’t the ones she wanted.
What better way to get rid of the alien invasion than to nuke their base?
The park was gone. Her home was gone. It was all gone.
She waited for the tears to come, but she’d already cried herself out at the bench, and there were none left. Or maybe it was because in her heart, she’d already known.
She used the rest of her time in the sim to make herself presentable, grateful for the reflective surface around the door. She didn’t want Vasek to see her a mess. Things were complicated enough between them.
But when the door opened, it wasn’t Vasek who leaned against the wall, waiting for her, but Morad.
Kean’s celebration must’ve been the event Kotch had been planning to head to Vosthea for. He’d said it was his chance to work with and meet someone very powerful. Morad must be here in his stead.
“I’d expected to see the medic here, but I never would’ve believed I’d see you dancing at Kean’s table.” He came to block her way. “I guess with Kotch gone, you had your sights set higher.”
Dawn stood straighter, hoping she projected confidence and calm she did not have. She was a free person now and still in Kean’s stronghold. “What do you want, Morad?”
“Straight to the point, I like that. I found the two Fietes. They have no idea what the code is. Now, I’ve tried threatening you. And I’ve tried ordering you. These tactics clearly did not work. I have clearly underestimated you. That is my fault. So let me try one more thing. I’m offering you a deal, Dawn.”
“I’m not interested.” She started down the hall toward the double doors leading out to the gardens. She just had to get out there; the guards wouldn’t be far.
He blocked her way again. “I have the physical key. You can’t do anything with your knowledge without it. You want that artifact Kotch has been hoarding? So do I. We can help each other.”
She tried to go around him, and he grabbed her by the arm hard enough to make her hiss.
“Is it the fancy dresses?” he asked, eyeing the gown she had on. “The parties?” He pulled her close and inhaled. “The Euphora? You can have all that. We can be partners.”
Dawn was certain that Morad would go back on his word the moment he got his hands on whatever was inside that safe. And she didn’t know the code anyway. Seemed like Kotch had taken it to this grave.
She moved quickly, not letting herself think too much, her knee coming up and making very solid contact with his crotch. At the same time, she brought the heel of her hand up and into his nose.
Morad roared, and Dawn used this crucial moment to make a run for it. She was glad she’d changed out of those sexy heelsSarah had lent her and was back in her only pair of shoes, flat sandals that many at the stronghold wore on a daily basis. She knew she’d never outrun him, and when he got his hands on her, she’d be in trouble. But her goal was just to get outside. She did, with Morad cursing and hot on her heels.
“You bitch! I gave you a fucking chance.”
Once outside, she screamed as loudly as she could, cursing the fact that she was so out of breath.
She almost ran right into a burly chest. She recognized the Tallean as one of the thugs who had worked for Kotch. He was all decked out in Tallean formal wear, the military style, not the gaudy, bejeweled style Morad had chosen.
She made a hard left, avoiding his grasp. But Morad was already there. He caught her by the arm, swinging her around. And fuck! He was pissed!
Vasek
Vasek grabbed Ranek and tore him off the human female.
“Fuck!” Ranek roared, throwing a blind punch in his direction.
Immediately, Vasek knew something was wrong. That wasn’t Dawn’s scent, and that wasn’t her indignant gasp either.
Ranek’s second punch caught him on the jaw because he was too confused to duck. But his brother must have sensed that something was wrong because that was the only punch that came.
“What is wrong with you?” Ranek yelled. “I’m here for another chance at life. I do not wish to fight.”
