Master snorted. “Right. Me.”
“I was actually talking about Vorah.”
I mumbled loud enough only for Nicah to hear as Master pulled the craft away from the docks. The craft rose into the air but not by much, maybe Ezah’s standing height, but not more. Nicah was stressed out with Asia’s crying, but my words were what brought tears to her eyes.
“I think he’s dead.”
My heart just about stopped.
“What?”
“Master was waiting for us when we entered my homestead.” Nicah rocked Asia. “My homemates were all out, so he broke in and waited. Vorah smelled his scent coming from the living room, but because he was unfamiliar with the scent, he didn’t realise the instant danger. Master stabbed him with a dagger in the chest. I think he’s dead.”
Tears meandered down Nicah’s cheeks.
“He attacked Nuni too.” I leaned close. “He crushed a part of her head. Blood was everywhere. I … I think she’s dead too.”
Nicah whimpered. “He takes everyone from us. He said he’d take Asia from me at New Farm and sell her if I ever disobeyed him.”
Rage filled me.
“He did that to my mother,” I said, wiping my cheeks. “She told me that he always used me as a pawn to keep her in line. He’ll do the same to you.”
Nicah cuddled Asia, who calmed down enough to look around. She was fairer than me but darker than Master. Her skin was lightly tanned, and while she had her mother’s dark hair, the rest of her face looked like Master, which meant she looked like me too. She had the biggest blue eyes I had ever seen.
“We’ll both do whatever he wants,” I assured Nicah. “He’ll never take her from us.”
“But Levi …” Nicah looked at me, helplessness dwelling in her young dark brown eyes. “You’re mated, so how can you stay here? You’ll never age. You’ll live as long as Ezah does.”
“Listen to me.” I huddled as close to her as the safety straps allowed. “We’ll follow every word Master says but only until he finds us.”
“Who?”
“Ezah,” I clarified. “He’s coming for me, for you and Asia. I know he is. I feel it in my heart. He won’t ever stop because I am his mate, and he loves me.”
Nicah gasped. “Love?”
“Yes.” I smiled sadly. “He hasn’t said the words yet, but I’ve heard his thoughts over the past two moon cycles. He wants to wait as long as he can, so it’s not rushed for me. But when we make love, he tells me he loves me in his mind without realising it.”
“Oh, Levi,” Nicah whimpered softly. “I’m so sorry you’re here. I know you came with Master because of me and my baby.”
“You’re my family, and Asia is my family.” I held her tightly. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do for either of you. You’re both my sisters. I love you both.”
“We love you so much too.”
We hugged as Master piloted. For a long time, we flew over the stunning landscape of Terra. A glance out of the small viewing pane revealed just wilderness around us. We had flown so far away that I could not tell which direction the city was in.
“Do you love him too?” Nicah asked as the craft began to slow. “You never said if you loved Ezah too.”
“I do,” I answered, my heart jumping. “I’ve loved him since the beginning of our mating, I think. Every day, I feel so much for him than I did the day before. I think there is no way possible I could love him more than I do, and the next day proves me wrong.” I looked down. “I should have told him. I knew he loved me and was waiting for the right time for me to say it. I should have told him.”
“He knows,” Nicah said, touching her fingers to my cheeks. “You feel his love, and that means he can feel yours. He knows, Levi.”
I took comfort in her words as we came to a halt.
“Home sweet home.”
Nicah and I shared a look of dread.
We unstrapped ourselves and exited the craft when the door rose into the air. For some reason, I wasn’t sure why, I was expecting to find myself back at The Farm on Earth. I was expecting to see Master’s broken, wonky wooden house and the slave pen not far off to its left with the small wooden fence that enclosed it. I saw none of that. New Farm was very … different. There was a large, beautiful home at the centre of the property and off to its right was a smaller building. Both were pure white with stunning black trim. I saw no pen in sight.
“The pen,” I said when Master rounded the craft. “Where’s the pen?”
“Haven’t had need for one since the property comes with a bunkhouse. It was made for any hands the owner hires, but I don’t plan on workin’ this land, so the slaves sleep there. Quite an upgrade from the pen back on Earth, huh?”