Cali & Drake (The Alliance Book 1) Read Free Page A

ramifications.”
    “It gets worse,” Cali cautioned him. “My mother is working with yours to
force us into a life-partnership. She canceled my placement as captain of The Reliant , escorted me off the
transport to Thalesti and brought me here to Regency City. After telling me her
decision, she had me escorted by guards to my room.”
    Vathral’s eyes widened and Cali heard his teeth clack together. After a
moment he composed himself. “I haven’t heard any news about you being taken off The Reliant, but it’s still early and
could make the rounds today. This is an interesting development.” His eyes
swept over her tucked into the blanket, “That explains your appearance and the
timing of your arrival at my doorstep. How did you get away?”
    Cali smiled, “I jumped out of my bedroom window.”
    “By the old gods Cali! How could you do something so dangerous?” Vathral
staggered to his feet and then sat back down. “You could’ve been killed.”
    “I had to do something,” Cali snapped. “Would you prefer to be having our
commitment ceremony?”
    “I would’ve come up with something that didn’t involve you courting death.”
Vathral looked at her.
    “I refuse to let my mother dictate my life.” Cali shrugged, “I’m doing
this for you and Diandra too. If I’m out of the way long enough, you’ll be able
to figure out a way to be together.”
    Cali could feel her body absorbing the heat from the fire. It felt good
to feel safe, even if it was only for a moment.
    “So, we need to find a way to get you away from your mother for…how much
time are we looking at?”
    “I’m not an expert on politics and life-partnership, but six months to a
year? That should be enough time to thwart her plans.”
    “Six months to a year? That’s a long time to be on the run on Cestori.”
Vathral rubbed his chin and muttered, “Do you have any ideas?”
    “I have one, my father left me a holo that started me thinking of a plan. I don’t think you’re going to like it, though.” Cali responded. “For starters, we
need Vareen, but nobody else can know where I am.”
    “I think she’s in Thalesti. She may have traveled with Diandra and Nellia since they are assigned to The Reliant as well.”
    That didn’t surprise Cali. Their group was still tight knit and loyal
even after graduation. “Okay. We need to get to Thalesti.” Cali was feverishly
working details in her mind.
    “I don’t like the gleam in your eyes, Cali.” Vathral eyed her suspiciously, “That’s the same look you got at the
Academy when you were about to get us all into trouble.”
    “I never got you into trouble,” Cali protested. “Name one time!” Her face
ached from trying not to smile.
    “How about the time we papered the campus with all those forbidden
romance pamphlets.” Vathral accused with laughter in his voice, “Or the time
you convinced Vareen to hack into the
computer systems and changed the orientation handout from Five Commandments of
Logical Living to the Five Feelings for Content Living.”
    “I never—” Cali couldn’t continue the lie, then she started laughing with
Vathral. “O-okay. That one almost got us expelled.”
    “Oh, there were a lot of times we almost got expelled.” Vathral wiped the
tears of mirth from his eyes.
    “You’re right.” Cali was unrepentant. “But if anyone asked, I would do it
the same all over again.”
    “I would too,” Vathral vowed happily. “I wouldn’t change a moment of our
time at the Academy.”
    Cali swallowed at the sudden lump in her throat, “Why couldn’t it be you
and I who wanted to be life-partners? It would make everything so much
simpler.”
    “It wasn’t meant to be us, Cali.”
Vathral stood up and grabbed her hands. “We need to get you to Thalesti. I’ll
get dressed and then you can tell me your plan as I drive. The auto ticket machines
will catch me, and it’ll cost me quite a few money units, but if I break the
speed laws we can be there in