give a shit about his meager possessions right now. He only wanted to
find Callie.
“ You have no choice,” said Lesha. Jakara startled at
the sound of her voice. He hadn’t heard her approach. “You have to contact him.
No one else will help you.” She was right. He had no one else to turn to. He
couldn’t go to Logan, and as soon as he landed near the compound he’d likely be
apprehended. If that happened, there was no chance of finding or saving Callie.
It
was time to contact Eldon once more and ask for help, but he’d never asked him
for anything this monumental. But he had no choice. He needed a Regum to help him save the woman he loved.
Chapter
Eleven
Jakara
took the long way around to Sera so it was less likely he’d be tracked by Logan
or anyone else watching. It took over an hour to land, and way too long to go
through the security checks before he was allowed off the landing pad. He tried
not to think about what might be happening to Callie, but it was impossible not
to.
When
they finally decided he wasn’t there to murder one of the Regum, they escorted
him under armed guard to the palace where Eldon and his family lived. Jakara
knew how they lived, and he’d been inside their homes before, but coming
face-to-face with the ridiculous display of wealth after so long made his
stomach turn. Most of the Regum lived as if there was
an endless supply of money and resources, and yet wouldn’t allow him and his
kind to enjoy basic comforts.
What
the hell was he doing here? Eldon would turn him away at this request. Working
behind the scenes was one thing, but would he actually help Jakara save an Earth woman? The fact that Eldon was his only hope had made him fearful
and paranoid, and Jakara didn’t like it.
Eldon
left him waiting in a drawing room for ten minutes. Jakara paced the entire
time, knowing that if this failed he’d have to risk it and fly to the compound.
He couldn’t leave her there. His own life wasn’t worth anything without her,
and he’d be damned if he’d simply place her in their hands without a fight.
The
door finally opened, and Eldon greeted him like he always had. As an old friend
he was happy to see. Jakara did his best to return
the greeting, but he was ready to jump out of his skin.
Eldon
glanced at his face, and then frowned. “What you have come to tell me is of
great importance to you.”
Jakara
took a deep breath. “I’m in love, and she’s in danger. A person I thought could
be trusted has taken her, and my Section Chief will likely throw me in prison
or kill me if I try to rescue her. I have no one else to turn to.”
Eldon
raised his brows. “You’d better start from the beginning.”
After
Jakara told him the story, Eldon nodded slowly. “This situation grows more
precarious each day. You know I share your views on this, my friend. I don’t
agree with treating the Earth women like animals or nothing more than sex
slaves. Does the girl know your views on this?”
“ Yes. That isn’t how I’ve treated Callie. Not even at
first.”
“ And does she love you, as well?”
Jakara
ran his fingers through his hair. This was taking too damn long! “I don’t know.
I know she cares for me. And right now she must be frightened beyond her
limits.”
“ I’m sure she is. I find it fascinating that you
risked so much to hide her.”
“ What I did was foolish but I cannot change that now,
and I would make the same choices again. I know that much. Please, I need your
help.”
“ You come to me for help, and yet you realize you
disobeyed a direct order in taking her for your own, and in hiding her.”
He
swallowed hard. There was nothing to say in response to that. Eldon was right.
This had been a mistake. A mistake that had cost him valuable
time.
“ Our ancient laws, while useful at one time, have
become outdated. They are far too restrictive. If they weren’t…” Eldon smiled
and waved his hand toward Jakara. “If they were less severe,
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