essentially ruling at the palace in her absence while most of the planet believed she was dead. Vycor and Shaya, who had been conducting an illicit affair right under her father’s nose, could be doing any number of horrible things on the other side of the barrier separating the Dark Lands from the rest of the planet, but Kyr was powerless to stop them.
We’ll get through the protections, Kyr , Ty thought, stepping closer to her and caressing her cheek.
She leaned into his touch. How? We’ve been trying for so long. Nothing seems to work .
Don’t get discouraged. We’ve made good use of this time, haven’t we?
He was right, of course. It had taken them longer than anticipated to gather support on this side of the protections. Outcasts were scattered all over the Dark Lands. Those who weren’t being held prisoner in Vycor’s mine weren’t exactly eager to reveal themselves to strangers, and even if they did, they weren’t enthused over the idea of going up against the palace. Seeing as how it was Vycor and his Inquisitors who had gotten most of them cast out in the first place, Kyr understood their reluctance.
She and Ty had decided not to reveal their true identities to Outcasts in an effort to keep news of her survival a secret, so getting support was even more difficult. They were making headway, though. It was nice to know they had some allies now.
We’ll find a way to get through , Ty vowed, running his thumb lightly over her lower lip.
The caress made her forget about her troubles. Her gaze moved to his mouth, which turned up at the corners. He leaned down, and she rose on her toes to meet him halfway.
Geez. Can’t I ever pop in without you two pawing each other?
Kyr returned to the flats of her feet as Sem’s thought broke through the moment. She frowned as she met Ty’s gaze. They weren’t due to “chat” with Sem yet that day.
This couldn’t wait , Sem explained. I just got back from spying on another rendezvous between Shaya and Vycor .
Kyr’s eyes widened as she grasped Ty’s forearm. Her worry over Sem was bad enough when he was merely pretending to still be under Vycor’s influence so he could gather intel from within the palace. But this…
Sem , Ty thought warningly. We told you not to risk that .
Yeah, yeah. I was getting bored. I haven’t gotten you any new useful information in days. I had to do something .
Ty sighed. What did you find out?
The V’larians are still on Alametria .
Kyr’s brow wrinkled in puzzlement. She felt Ty’s concern, too. The V’larian ambassadors, Telad and Ravina, had gone back to their planet before Ty was banished to the Dark Lands.
I figured since you mentioned seeing some V’larian weaponry and supplies out there in the Dark Lands that you’d want to know , Sem conveyed.
Why would the V’larians return here so soon? Kyr wondered.
That’s the thing , Sem replied. I don’t think they ever left .
Chapter 3
As soon as they closed the connection with Sem, Ty and Kyr headed over to the chambers that Gren shared with Scarlyt. Ty figured that Gren already knew what they’d just learned. Not long ago, he and Kyr had used their combined abilities to join with Gren’s mind in the same way that they were joined with Sem so that they could hear each other over long distances. They had wanted to be sure they could remain in touch when Ty and Kyr broke through the protections and headed towards the palace while Gren and Scarlyt rescued the Alametrians being held prisoner in the Dark Lands’ tajeria mine, a plan that had yet to be realized.
Kyr’s continued worry flowed through Ty. He glanced down at the top of her head as they walked, reaching over and stroking the hair that she had changed to light orange-red before leaving the palace. When her gaze lifted to his, it wasn’t her usual light star-blue eyes he met, but disguised sapphire blue ones. He, too, had used the Tinker-made implements provided by Scarlyt so he could
We’ll get through the protections, Kyr , Ty thought, stepping closer to her and caressing her cheek.
She leaned into his touch. How? We’ve been trying for so long. Nothing seems to work .
Don’t get discouraged. We’ve made good use of this time, haven’t we?
He was right, of course. It had taken them longer than anticipated to gather support on this side of the protections. Outcasts were scattered all over the Dark Lands. Those who weren’t being held prisoner in Vycor’s mine weren’t exactly eager to reveal themselves to strangers, and even if they did, they weren’t enthused over the idea of going up against the palace. Seeing as how it was Vycor and his Inquisitors who had gotten most of them cast out in the first place, Kyr understood their reluctance.
She and Ty had decided not to reveal their true identities to Outcasts in an effort to keep news of her survival a secret, so getting support was even more difficult. They were making headway, though. It was nice to know they had some allies now.
We’ll find a way to get through , Ty vowed, running his thumb lightly over her lower lip.
The caress made her forget about her troubles. Her gaze moved to his mouth, which turned up at the corners. He leaned down, and she rose on her toes to meet him halfway.
Geez. Can’t I ever pop in without you two pawing each other?
Kyr returned to the flats of her feet as Sem’s thought broke through the moment. She frowned as she met Ty’s gaze. They weren’t due to “chat” with Sem yet that day.
This couldn’t wait , Sem explained. I just got back from spying on another rendezvous between Shaya and Vycor .
Kyr’s eyes widened as she grasped Ty’s forearm. Her worry over Sem was bad enough when he was merely pretending to still be under Vycor’s influence so he could gather intel from within the palace. But this…
Sem , Ty thought warningly. We told you not to risk that .
Yeah, yeah. I was getting bored. I haven’t gotten you any new useful information in days. I had to do something .
Ty sighed. What did you find out?
The V’larians are still on Alametria .
Kyr’s brow wrinkled in puzzlement. She felt Ty’s concern, too. The V’larian ambassadors, Telad and Ravina, had gone back to their planet before Ty was banished to the Dark Lands.
I figured since you mentioned seeing some V’larian weaponry and supplies out there in the Dark Lands that you’d want to know , Sem conveyed.
Why would the V’larians return here so soon? Kyr wondered.
That’s the thing , Sem replied. I don’t think they ever left .
Chapter 3
As soon as they closed the connection with Sem, Ty and Kyr headed over to the chambers that Gren shared with Scarlyt. Ty figured that Gren already knew what they’d just learned. Not long ago, he and Kyr had used their combined abilities to join with Gren’s mind in the same way that they were joined with Sem so that they could hear each other over long distances. They had wanted to be sure they could remain in touch when Ty and Kyr broke through the protections and headed towards the palace while Gren and Scarlyt rescued the Alametrians being held prisoner in the Dark Lands’ tajeria mine, a plan that had yet to be realized.
Kyr’s continued worry flowed through Ty. He glanced down at the top of her head as they walked, reaching over and stroking the hair that she had changed to light orange-red before leaving the palace. When her gaze lifted to his, it wasn’t her usual light star-blue eyes he met, but disguised sapphire blue ones. He, too, had used the Tinker-made implements provided by Scarlyt so he could
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