The Chosen One Read online

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  About The Author

  Books by Siobhan Davis

  Copyright

  CHAPTER 1

  “How long do you think it’ll hold him off?” I ask Glennev as we stare at the face-off in outer space on the large screen. We’re seated in the large conference room in the secret society’s underground compound in Egypt, having teleported here immediately after the meeting concluded with Director Tanner and his team of advisors.

  “A few days. A week, at most,” Glennev suggests, standing in front of the screen and facing us. “Arantu won’t risk losing ships or allies by actively engaging those ships protecting Earth’s airspace.”

  “He’ll rally the troops and call in reinforcements,” Dane says, injecting himself into the conversation.

  Glennev nods. “That’s exactly what he’s doing. I’ll wager he was already on that before I called in some favors.”

  After a heated debate with the authorities back in Iowa, it was agreed that Glennev would reach out to some loyal supporters in the galaxy for help while we work to put protective mechanisms in place on the ground.

  “So, we’ve bought ourselves a little time is all,” I say, rubbing a tense spot between my brow. Director Tanner seems to think I can single-handedly make this go away, but we are ill-equipped to cope if Arantu mounts a full-scale attack. Zorc destroyed most of the government’s supply of alien high-tech weapons, leaving Earth vulnerable and exposed, and our supporters are thin on the ground. But what if…

  Dane’s gaze darts to mine as he picks up on my internal thought process. “It’s the only logical move,” he projects into my mind, spurring me into articulating my idea.

  “What will it take to win more allies on our side? And is it achievable at short notice?” I pose the question to the room.

  “Several nations will support you,” Tav says, leaning his elbows on the table. “But not Earth by default.”

  “Earth is insignificant to most races in the galaxy,” Ellya agrees. “Even if they have given you safe shelter.”

  I stand, pacing the room as my mind churns. “How many alien prisoners would you estimate the government has in their facilities?” My gaze bounces between Tav and Donovan as they are the only two who might know the answer.

  “They have approximately eleven hundred alien prisoners.” Donovan is quick to reply.

  “How many of those are hostile?” Dane questions.

  “About fifty percent.”

  I continue pacing. “Okay. So, there are five or six hundred prisoners incarcerated who may be on our side. How many species do they represent if you had to guess?”

  “There were fourteen different races in our compound,” Ellya confirms.

  “And there are two other compounds,” Donovan adds, looking contemplative. “I’d estimate anywhere between twenty to thirty different races.”

  I lift my eyes to Glennev. “That’s twenty to thirty potential allies if we can free their people from incarceration and promise them safe passage home.”

  He nods, and a slow smile creeps across his mouth as he latches on to my train of thought. “If we can get them here, and you win them around, they’ll act as ambassadors with their home governments and do most of the work for us. Because otherwise the process will be protracted, and we don’t have time for that.” He turns to face the screen, jabbing his finger at the row of ships supporting Arantu in space. “Arantu has spent years planning this. He’ll turn this around fast.”

  “Haven’t you?” Dane says, distrust underscoring his tone. “How is it Arantu has all these allies on side and you’re still trying to win supporters to Alinthia’s cause? What the hell have you been doing all this time?”

  Donovan glares at Dane, and Dane cocks his head in silent challenge.

  “We’ve been preparing too, but our agenda was harder to champion while Alinthia remained hidden,” Glennev confirms. “I propose the first thing we do is stream a live communication introducing Alinthia to the galaxy. That will set things up nicely when we make advances for formal support.”

  I stand behind Cooper’s chair, placing my hand on his shoulder. “Set it up while we’re gone.” I look at Dane, and he nods in agreement. “We’ll handle the conversation with Director Tanner.”

  “I’ve assigned a small protection detail,” Glennev confirms. “Headed up by Denzil. They’ll accompany you whenever you leave the compound.”

  “That won’t be necessary,” Dane responds, standing with his arms folded across his chest, before I’ve even opened my mouth. “We are Alinthia’s chosen protectors, and we’ll keep her safe.”

  Cooper gets up and wraps his arm around my shoulder, and I lean into him briefly. “And after what we witnessed on Xzanthar, I think it’s obvious to everyone in this room that Alinthia can more than hold her own.” Maddox and Beck rise, coming to stand behind me so we present a united front.

  “She’s the savior of the galaxy, and too much is at stake to negligently risk her safety.” Glennev looks cool as a cucumber as he levels a solemn look at my four protectors. “I don’t doubt your abilities, but your love compromises all of you. This isn’t just about protecting Alinthia, it’s about keeping all of you safe too.” He eyeballs me as he continues. “I know how important you are to her and how far she’s prepared to go to ensure no harm comes to you.”

  He glances purposely at Dane, ensuring he conveys his message.

  Glennev wasn’t wholly supportive of my plan to ride to the rescue when the guys were imprisoned on Xzanthar. Not when I’ve still so much to learn about my powers. But he gave me the freedom to make my own choices. And he had my back even if he didn’t agree.

  Dane’s frustration and anger filter through our connection, and he’s primed to explode. He doesn’t enjoy being told what to do, and he’s used to calling all the shots. This scenario is new and unwelcome. I don’t need to be in his head to understand that much.

  “We don’t have time to argue.” I butt in before this turns nasty. “Extra protection seems smart to me.” Dane’s head whips to me in obvious annoyance. “And I’ll need your help with the government,” I add. “Your negotiation skills are superior to mine.”

  “Don’t try to mollycoddle me,” Dane hisses in my head.

  “I’m not. I’m speaking the truth.”

  “Our sole purpose in life is to protect you. It’s only a job to them.” He sends a scathing glance in Denzil’s direction. “We’ve trained our whole lives for this.”

  I wish I could move closer to him, peer deep into his eyes, and touch him affectionately as I plead for his understanding, but I’m keeping my distance from Dane since the awful encounter in his office.

  The pain of his rejection is still too raw, mixed with the knowledge of how deeply he’s hurting, and I don’t want to do anything to make things worse. I feel utterly helpless, and I hate I’m second-guessing myself, but the truth is, I’m terrified of doing or saying the wrong thing, and it’s like walking on eggshells around him.

  “Things are changing, Dane. We must adapt. Glennev is not our enemy. He’s on our side
. And Denzil’s a good guy. Sharp as a tack and skilled in combat. Just let them come, and take some time to get to know them.” My eyes penetrate his. “You’re still in charge even if the dynamics have changed.”

  A muscle ticks in his jaw, and tension bleeds into the air. “You’re still the only one I trust one hundred percent with my life.” I look at Maddox, Beck, and Coop. They’ve purposely stayed silent while listening to our debate. “The four of you are the only ones I always want by my side.” Coop threads his fingers through mine, squeezing softly.

  “Fine.” Dane looks at me as he speaks to the room. “The team can come.” He eyeballs Glennev. “But they report to me.”

  Awkward silence descends on the room, and the tension in the air elevates further. “Agreed,” Glennev consents after a few beats. “But I suggest we reconvene first thing in the morning to discuss allocation of duties and roles. We have enough pressing problems without arguing among ourselves. If we set clear parameters, everyone will understand their role, ensuring we focus on priorities.”

  “That’s a good idea,” I blurt before Dane detonates. “Perhaps you can line up the live communication first, and then we can talk afterwards? It’s late so we’ll stay in our house in Eaton Lake tonight, but we’ll be back here first thing.” I release Coop’s hand and walk to Ellya, pulling her into a hug. “I’ll catch up with you when I return.”

  “Stay safe.” She hugs me back, smiling.

  I face Tav next, and he draws me into his arms despite the hostile glares being shot across the room. I haven’t had time to fill the guys in on stuff yet, and I’ve noticed their protective, possessive instincts naturally flare in Tav’s presence. “He’s a friend,” I protest, picking up on their emotions through the bond that binds us.

  You’d think after all this time, with my declarations of love and my daring rescue mission, they’d be secure in my love and move beyond petty jealousy, but they’re stubborn guys, and I guess I still have more work to do.

  Maddox snorts.

  “Try telling that to someone who can’t see the glyphs roaming his skin,” Beck says.

  “You can see that?” I ask, smiling at Tav as I gently pull out of his embrace.

  “I can’t,” Coop says, and I hear the pout in his inner voice.

  “Neither can I,” Maddox confirms.

  I don’t need to ask Dane to know he doesn’t see it, even with his supersight ability, because he’s too closed off. Tav told me only those who are true empaths can see the magical glyphs on his skin. Glyphs that betray his emotional status. It isn’t surprising that Beck is the only one of my loves who can see them. “What are you reading?” Maddox asks.

  “He’s in love with her,” Beck unhelpfully supplies.

  “Let’s just add him to the list,” Dane snarks, but I deliberately ignore him.

  “I want to get those medical procedures out of the way first,” I tell Glennev as I move toward the door. “They’re still expecting us in the hospital wing, right?”

  “They are.” He nods. “And the procedure won’t take long.”

  “I’ll log the paperwork for our journey and meet you at the teleportation hub,” Denzil says, bowing his head. He wears his long black hair tied in a neat man bun, highlighting the stripes of red running through the sides. With his high cheekbones and strong jawline, he’s a very striking man.

  “Thank you. We’ll see you shortly.” I’m grateful for his professionalism and his formal manner with me, because it means he keeps a respectable distance and the guys haven’t added him to their shit list.

  “Yet.” Cooper winks at me, and I throw my shields up, forgetting how easy it is to project my thoughts without realizing it.

  I step out into the hallway, releasing a long breath. The guys follow me, and Beck steps up beside me, projecting a map of the compound into all our minds. A fine red line marks our path, and a goofy grin slips over my mouth. “Did I tell you I projected from my mind?” I say, lacing my fingers in his as we walk.

  “Yeah?” His eyes light up.

  “Yeah.” I nod eagerly. “I was in my cell, explaining some stuff to Tav, and this image just popped out of my mind onto the wall.”

  “I think you should keep your distance from that guy,” Coop says.

  “He’s been a good friend to me, and he’s loyal. I’ve told him how much I’m in love with all of you, and he understands. He’s not a threat, and I need you to let it go, Coop. We’ve bigger fish to fry.”

  “Then tell him to stop putting his hands on you,” Maddox says.

  “Don’t you start with the jealousy.” I roll my eyes, and Beck grins.

  “You’re ours,” Maddox grits out. “No one else gets to touch you.”

  “Spoken like a true Neanderthal.” I lean back, slapping a quick kiss on his cheek.

  “We can work on that,” Beck says, deliberately changing the subject. “And I need to get my hands on the true prophecy. I still can’t believe Arantu manipulated us. That I’ve spent years trawling through all that documentation for nothing.”

  “Not for nothing.” I squeeze his hand as we approach the double doors leading to the hospital. “There was still some truth in the public version of the prophecy, and I’m betting it helps you get up to speed with the real prophecy quicker.” I stand still in front of the scanner, and a red line flits across my retina. The door glides open a couple seconds later, and we walk toward the reception desk.

  “Can I help you?” the woman behind the desk asks as we approach. Thin silvery scales cover her skin, and her eyes are the most startling purple.

  “Glennev sent us. I’m Tori and these are Dane, Coop, Beck, and Maddox. We’re here for chip detection and removal.”

  She smiles wide, displaying a set of silver teeth. I try not to stare, but I’ve never seen her kind before. “The doctor is expecting you.” She stands, unfolding spindly arms and long, long legs. Her head almost hits the ceiling as she guides us through the main area and out into another hallway.

  “She’s from Elvar,” Beck confirms. “They are one of the tallest races in the galaxy.”

  “I love having a personal encyclopedia,” I joke. “Who needs Google when we have Beck?”

  Warmth floods his cheeks, but pride filters through the line, and I know my compliment pleased him. I lean into his ear. “Your smarts are a huge turn-on,” I whisper, “and you’re sexiest when you’re explaining something. It never fails to get me going.” His cheeks stain a darker shade of red, but his eyes glimmer with resolve as he grabs me by the shoulders and pushes me into the wall.

  His mouth is upon mine before I know it, his tongue sliding into my mouth. I grip his hips, angling my head and opening for him as he deepens the kiss, palming both sides of my face. His kisses are frenzied and needy in a way he’s never kissed me before, and his growing confidence is another big turn-on for me.

  Something’s changed in Beck during our separation, and I’m excited at the prospect of exploring it.

  “Ahem.” Cooper clears his throat, but he’s grinning when Beck and I pull apart. “Hot as that was, there’s a time and place for everything.” He gestures toward the open door up ahead and the Elvar lady, who is waiting for us, with an incredulous look on her face.

  I’m guessing she doesn’t see many couples making out before they’re undergoing invasive surgery.

  “And this is neither.” Coop offers me his arm, and I loop mine through his on one side and Beck’s on the other. “Ready for a little slice and dice?” he quips, and I elbow him in the ribs as Beck sucks in a sharp breath.

  “A little more sensitivity, please.” I gesture toward a nervous Beck, cautioning Coop with my eyes.

  “It’s all cool, bro.” Coop waggles his brows at Beck. “Look on the bright side,” he adds, letting go of me as we step foot inside the theater. “Once they remove these chips, Arantu can’t kill us at the press of a button anymore.” He flashes us a mad grin. “We’re lucky he hasn’t tried that already.”

  I r
oll my eyes. “If that’s your idea of a pep talk, it sucks.”

  “Guess a career in PR is out, huh?” He looks unfazed as he hops up on the cot beside Dane.

  “There are better uses of your skills,” I agree before realizing how my words can be misconstrued.

  “Happy to demonstrate when we get back to the house,” he says with a wink, and Maddox snorts.

  “You’ve unleashed a demon,” Maddox says as the machine lowers over his head. “I hope you’re ready.”

  Jumping up onto the cot beside Beck, I reach out and take his hand, lacing my fingers in his. “As ready as I can be,” I reply, looking Maddox directly in the eyes as I prepare to succumb to the first of many unpleasant things.

  CHAPTER 2

  “It feels weird.” I gently prod my neck in the place where the language translator chip was installed.

  Glennev felt it prudent to have me checked out too as no one really knows what they did to me in the government compound, but a full body scan revealed nothing foreign in my body except for the sliver of metal in my hip.

  I was the one who suggested they implant the translator chip now rather than having to schedule another time for that procedure. But I can feel the little round disc under the surface of my skin when I press my fingers to my neck, and it’s a little disconcerting.

  “It’ll take a day to properly embed,” Beck clarifies as we make our way to the teleportation hub. “Then you’ll forget it’s even there.”

  “I still don’t think you’ll need it,” Dane says. “That time on the ship, when you recited the curse the Herassan used to infect you, your pronunciation was perfect. I believe you’ll obtain that ability naturally once you awaken.”

  “You may be right, but I’m covered now either way. And I’m so glad they removed those devices from all of you...” A shudder works its way through me at the thought Arantu had that much power over my guys. Although, until the device is analyzed, no one can say for sure whether he could’ve killed them. All we know with certainty is it was the reason for the black spots the guys sometimes experienced in their abilities.

  “Hey, Tor.” Daniel greets me outside the hub with a warm smile and a big bear hug.