Running Scared (Sentinel Wars #3)

A dark man at Helen’s side lifted his blade and shifted his body so that it shielded Helen’s. “Stay back,” he warned, his mouth tight with anger.

“Forgive my lack of grace,” he begged. “I have no intent to frighten any of you.”

“Let me by, Drake,” said Helen. “He’s not going to hurt me.”

The crowd around them began to grow, and hushed voices repeated for the newcomers what had passed.

Helen reached out her hand and Lucien saw that it trembled. “Where did you come from?” she asked.

“Athanasia.”

Gilda hissed and pulled Helen’s hand back. “Liar. The gate is closed.”

“Not to me. Nor to a few of my brothers who also pass through to this world.”

Gilda didn’t believe him. He could see her mistrust shining on her face. “Why do you come now?” she asked.

“You’re losing the war against the Synestryn. My father’s anger barred the gate shut, but a few of us know the folly in that. We know that if you Sentinels fall, there will be nothing left to stand between us and the Synestryn. We have grown weak in our decadence. They would destroy us.”

Gilda’s voice trembled with rage. “So, you came here to beg us for help? To build our morale so we’d fight harder? Do you really think that we care whether or not your people are wiped from the universe? Do you think we’re willing to sacrifice more for you who shun us?”

Lucien’s heart ached hearing the bitterness spewing from this woman. Only the deepest loss created anger such as hers. A loss Lucien knew all too well. “How many of your children have died?” he asked in a tender voice.

Gilda’s jaw hardened, but he saw the sheen of tears brighten her black eyes for a mere second before anger burned them away. “Go back to where you came from. We have no need of you here.”

“But you do,” said Lucien, looking out to the desperate men gathered around him. “Your men are dying, and my brothers and I have been working for a long time to save them.”

The man bonded to Gilda caught on first. “You’ve come here and bedded human women, haven’t you?”

Lucien nodded. “We’ve sired daughters. It’s hard to know how many since we can’t travel here often, and time passes much more swiftly here on Earth.”

“My mother,” whispered Helen. “You were her one-night stand?”

Lucien frowned at the term, not understanding. “I lay with your mother, if that’s what you mean. And seeing you here, a grown woman. . . . I met her only months ago. Had you been born in my world, you’d yet be a babe.”

Helen looked at her husband, then back at Lucien. “I thought you’d abandoned us.”

“Never. If I’d been able, I would have been with you every day. But it is . . . impossible.”

Helen stepped forward and took Lucien into her arms. He stood there, stiff in her embrace, unsure of what to do. He didn’t know her, hadn’t seen her grow, and yet he loved her still. How could that be? How could so much love pour out of him and he still remain intact?

Lucien didn’t know, but now, in this moment, he didn’t care. Helen was here and safe. She’d found her place among these people.

She pulled away, sniffing back tears. “You said there were others. I have sisters?”

Lucien nodded. “Two. Jackie and Alexandra. Are they here?”

Gilda shook her head. “No. But we must find them. Assuming they are still alive.”

“Wait,” said Helen’s husband. “Alexandra might be Lexi.”

Helen’s eyes widened and she scrambled for something in her pocket. She toyed with it a moment. “Lexi. What’s your real name?”

Lucien’s daughter smiled and it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen in his long, long life.

“You should come outside,” she said. “We’ve got a surprise for you.”

C

hapter 27

Lexi and Zach rushed outside toward the commotion in the training yard. Lexi’s body was still a little weak and Zach was right at her side, his strong arm at her elbow, supporting her.

A throng of people had gathered around the engraved boulder on the training field, and at the center of that commotion was a man Lexi had never seen before.

He had odd liquid gold eyes and rich, dark hair. He was beautiful in the same perfect way the Sanguinar were—as if he’d been sculpted to sit on a shelf and be admired—but he didn’t have their pale, gaunt features. He looked healthy. Robust, like the Theronai.

Helen stood at the edge of the crowd, anxiously shifting her weight from foot to foot as she waited for Lexi to come near. She looked younger, and was glowing with a childlike glee.

Just seeing her friend look so happy made Lexi’s heart warm.

“What is it?” she asked.

“You’re never going to believe it,” said Helen. She clamped her lips shut like she was holding in a secret, then blurted out, “Our father is here. He came from this other world where the Sentinels all came from. He wants to meet us.”

Meet us? Us?

The import of Helen’s words finally sank in and Lexi had to grab Zach’s arm to keep from sinking to the ground. “We’re sisters?”

Helen nodded, making her braids sway; then she hugged Lexi tight around the neck. “No wonder I spilled my guts to you when I barely knew you. I guess we had a connection even then.”

Lexi was too stunned to speak. It was too much to believe. Her father was some kind of alien from another world. And he was here.

“Easy,” whispered Zach. His grip on her arm tightened and he slid his arm around her body to steady her. She hadn’t realized until then that she’d nearly fallen on her ass.

“I want to see him,” said Lexi.

Helen led her forward to the man with the odd swirling gold eyes. Lexi looked up at him, really looked. He stood there silently, letting her study him, not even blinking, but his eyes were liquid with emotion.

“So, you’re the guy?” she asked.

He frowned slightly for a second, then nodded. “I wish I could have found you sooner,” he said.

“Me, too.”

He flinched and Lexi wanted to take the words back.

“He couldn’t be here, Lexi,” said Helen. “On our planet.”

“I’m twenty-six. I think he could have found the time in there somewhere to make the trip. At least send a postcard.”

“Time is different there. Plus, he has to be careful. If his father finds out he’s here, he’ll be executed.”

Lexi’s father reached out his hand. “No, she’s right. I should have found a way. I’m sorry, Alexandra.”

“Lexi,” she said. “I go by Lexi now.”

He nodded and she saw his mouth form the word silently as if memorizing it. “I am Lucien.”

Zach’s fingers slid over her arm, soothing her. Lexi wasn’t sure how to feel about all this, but she knew one thing for sure: life was too short to hold grudges. Whatever his reasons for not being in her life, he was here now. She didn’t want to lose whatever time she’d have with him by being angry.

Lexi ignored his outstretched hand and hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her, and although he didn’t look old enough to be her father, she knew in that instant that he was. She felt his love surging through her, filling in all the empty holes her past had left behind.

“Mom’s gone,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry.”

“She was a good woman.” And Lexi knew then it was true. Sure, her mom had been wrong about a lot of things, but she’d gotten the big things right. She’d taught Lexi to be strong, to stand up for herself and to take care of the people around her. She’d given her love and taught her the important things, like treasuring every day and never giving up. She’d taught Lexi how to love unconditionally.

And now, standing in front of this man she didn’t know, Lexi let that lesson live on. She was going to love this man, her father, regardless of his failings. He hadn’t been there for her all her life, but he was here now. And he’d given her Helen. He’d given her a family.

“How long can you stay?” she asked him.

“Not long. Just until sunrise.”

Lexi’s hopes sank. “That’s only a few hours.”

He gave her a sad smile. “I know, but it’s the way it must be. If the Solarc learns I’ve come here, your life and the lives of your sisters will be in jeopardy.”

“Sisters? As in plural?”

“Jackie is not here,” he said. “You must find her.” He lifted his head and addressed the men. “She may be able to save one of you. And there are others. Daughters of my brothers and cousins.”

“How many?” asked Joseph.

“More than twoscore, though we know not if they all live.”

“And are you having more children?” asked one of the Sanguinar Lexi had not yet met.

Lucien’s eyes dimmed with sadness. “Not I. I cannot come back. Too many trips through the gate weakens us. It’s hard to shield our passage, and we must prevent detection above all else.”

“But there are others who are coming?” the Sanguinar asked.

“Yes. More join our cause every day. We know you are all struggling. Suffering. We seek to help you in any way we can.”

“We’re starving,” said the Sanguinar. “We need more blood.”

“I know. We do what we can, but we will not risk getting caught. Before I leave, you may have some of my blood. It will sustain you for a while.”

The Sanguinar’s eyes glowed an eerie silver, and Lexi felt a shiver of revulsion run through her father’s body.

Lucien reached inside his shirt and pulled out a photo. “Here are three more women you should find. Daughters of my brother, Eron.”

Beside Lexi, Helen gasped. “That’s Andra and Nika when they were young.”

Andra moved forward and took the photo out of Lexi’s hand. “It is. This was taken right before Tori was killed.”

“Tori?” asked Lucien.

Andra’s mouth tightened. “Our baby sister.”

Lucien held his hand out for the photo. “I would ask you let me take this token of remembrance back to your father. I would gladly issue him a message should you wish me to do so.”

Andra gave a tight nod. “Tell him I am fine, as you can see. Nika is alive, and Tori is dead.”

Lucien’s eyes shut and she heard a string of fluid, graceful words leave his lips. “I am sorry for your loss.”

“At least we had each other growing up,” said Andra. “You can thank him for that.”

“May I see Nika? Speak to her?”

“No,” said Andra. “She’s too . . . weak for that.”

“Is there anything I can do for her?”

“Are you a healer?”

“Sadly, no.”

“Send one,” demanded Andra. “If there is one of you who can heal her mind, then you can send him here.”

“I will try,” said Lucien. “I vow it.”