“Because I can offer you so much more than some common healer,” he insisted passionately. “We would have access to each other’s power. I have the blood of the ancients flowing through my veins. We will make each other stronger than your current partner ever could. And once the new bond is formed, we will work together toward mutual goals.”
He made it sound very civilized, but her goal was world domination. She didn’t want to restore the elite to power because she had no intention of sharing her authority with anyone. Still, if Indrex were willing to assist her, if his ultimate goals did not hinder hers, perhaps they could work together. The possibility of tapping in to an ancient power source was tempting as hells.
“If what you said is true,” she began, “and I’m not saying it is, what would you want out of the arrangement?”
He shrugged. “I want my life back. I want to enjoy all my favorite activities without worrying about rebels harassing me or threatening my life.”
That was the problem with so many of the Ayrontu. Their lives had been comfortable for so long that they lacked anything resembling vision. “And what are you willing to do if I guarantee that your life will be even more secure and comfortable than it was before the rebellion?” A leader could only lead if others agreed to follow. Indrex was, and had always been, the quintessential follower.
“You tell me,” he said with another shrug. “I suspect that your goals are more ambitious than mine.”
She started to tell him her plans, to explain that she would expect loyalty and discretion in exchange for wealth and security, but a flash of cunning sharpened his gaze and she hesitated. Each time this happened, she felt like someone else was looking out through Indrex’s eyes. The mind control device that his sister had used on him had been destroyed, but Zerna couldn’t help wondering if someone was still controlling him.
“Let me think about it,” she evaded. “I’ll be in touch.”
INDREX FOUGHT BACK a snarl as he walked out of Zerna’s apartment and hurried down the wide corridor toward his. That conniving bitch. Kantor had suspected that Zerna was up to something for weeks but Indrex wanted to believe that their shared childhood would equate to some form of loyalty. He should have known better. Zerna only cared about one person and that was Zerna.
Kicking the door shut behind him, Indrex walked to the middle of his living room and paused. All the luxury apartments in Riverside were similar. Each had a large living space with holographic library that could produce anything from a fireplace to an alien landscape. Some units had two bedrooms, but most had only one. Riverside was not designed for families. The focus here was building and maintaining power. Most of the Ayrontu sent their children to Lake Walker Village where they were cared for by staff.
Indrex triggered the communications system with a telepathic pulse and requested a secure link with Kantor Alonov. Unlike Zerna, Indrex routinely ensured his apartment was secure and free of listening devices.
Kantor responded with an audio-only signal, which was Kantor’s preferred mode of communication. “What’s the verdict?” he prompted, already sounding smug.
“We were right about everything,” Indrex stressed, knowing it would do no good. Kantor would take credit for everything. He always did. Indrex allowed the selfishness because it reinforced everyone’s belief that he was shiftless and lazy. “I should have listened to you sooner.” Kantor was easier to deal with once his ego was adequately fed.
“Oh, I like the sound of that.” Kantor laughed. “Could you repeat it?”
Indrex ignored him. “She denied everything at first, which was the reaction I expected.”
“Is she still accepting your lazy elitist act? I admit that you had me fooled for quite a while.”
Encouraging others to underestimate him was a longstanding strategy, but it was insulting that so many accepted the ruse so easily. “Most of the time she seems completely convinced, but once in a while I see suspicion in her eyes. She doesn’t understand the dichotomy of my deception.”
“How did she react today?”
Indrex wasn’t sure if Kantor was asking about her misconceptions or the outcome of the conversation, but he chose to address the latter. “She wouldn’t admit her ultimate goal, at least not yet, but she is participating in a kwaris with that yellow-skinned brute. There is no doubt about that.”
“Unbelievable. He is as incompetent as he is ugly. Why would she