Freeing Luka: The Clecanian Series Book 2 Victoria Aveline (story read aloud TXT) 📖

matehood until now. Did that mean Luka would want to be with her forever? Her heart leapt into her throat at the idea.

The Queen’s face became serious. “The news of Theo and now Luka recognizing their true mates must be kept secret until we decide how to proceed. Jade and Theo have been in hiding for months now, claiming their absence is a traditional Earthling custom.” She looked into each of the women’s eyes, willing them to take her words to heart. “If word got out that humans can be recognized as mates, I feel your world, Earth, would be in danger. Clecanians of all genders would flock to your planet, hoping to find their mate, and unless the laws change very rapidly, they would be doing so illegally.”

A flash of weariness crossed the Queen’s face. “Most of our people are good, law-abiding citizens, but I worry the allure of a mate may cause some to ignore our laws and take humans by force.”

It was curious that the Queen wasn’t mentioning the incredible news that Jade was pregnant. The fact that Earth women could become pregnant and possibly solve their extinction issue was even more reason for the Clecanians to venture to Earth looking for partners, but the Queen hadn’t made this point. Did she not know? Or was she keeping it to herself? Izzo had said that Jade wanted to keep it secret.

Rising, the Queen pinned Alice with her stare. “Metli will be available to answer any more questions you have. I have other business I must get to. Alice, would you please join me?”

Alice blinked for a moment, then realized the Queen had, in fact, been addressing her. Vanessa’s curious gaze met hers before Alice rose to join the Queen, who’d retreated through a door on the far side of the room.

She rushed over to Rita and Vanessa and leaned in. “Make sure to ask about how we get Daisy’s hearing fixed, and also I’d appreciate it if they have a spare watch or something that I could have. My head is all messed up from being underground.”

Vanessa nodded. “I’ll get to that, but first I need to figure out when we’re going to be able to get out of here. Hopefully, the next ship to Earth is soon.”

Alice hurried away, averting her gaze from a glaring Metli.

Go back to Earth?

It sounded so obvious when Vanessa said it. They’d been taken against their will; it made sense that they’d be returned. But was that what she wanted? There were so many possibilities here. Alice felt like she’d finally grown into who she was supposed to be. Brave, respected, and confident—mostly confident, anyway. On Earth, she was just a quiet, older-than-her-peers college student with mountains of debt, no family, and a crappy job. Here, she was the woman who’d just broken seven people out of a secret facility and was about to have a meeting with a Queen. And one other problem—Luka was here.

The room the Queen led her into was dark and almost windowless. A round section of glass in the ceiling allowed a beam of refracted light to dimly illuminate two comfortable chairs in the middle of the small room.

The Queen sat in one and waited patiently as Alice sat in the other.

Without pretense, the Queen said, “I need you to tell me everything you remember since your abduction.”

Alice considered the powerful woman before her. Mere weeks ago, she’d have wilted under the intense, confident gaze of a person like this, but not anymore. She refused. “I’ll tell you everything I know if you agree to answer my questions.”

Her chin rose, and she stared down at Alice for long moments, but her gaze was more curious and assessing than angry. Alice waited until finally the Queen gave a tight nod. Mini fireworks erupted in Alice’s mind, and she silently patted herself on the back.

As she recounted everything she could remember from the previous weeks, the Queen listened silently, never interrupting or asking questions. When she tried to delicately describe her interactions with Luka, she felt her face flush.

“And then that’s when Izzo brought us here,” she finished.

The Queen looked skyward for a moment, her eyes darting back and forth, working through all of the information Alice had provided. “You said Helas believed they were running out of time.”

Alice nodded. “Yes, he said when they…you found Jade, they had to make progress more quickly.”

“That is quite distressing,” the Queen said with pursed lips.

Alice thought all of Helas’ actions were distressing. Why was this one so bad?

Before she could ask, the Queen explained, “If what we have learned from your escape along with Jade’s escape, is true, then there are many Insurgent facilities all over our world, all working toward similar goals.” The Queen spoke to Alice but seemed to look through her. “To find a descendant species to procreate with and to eliminate hybrids entirely.

“Izzo informed me you discovered Jade’s secret.”

She already knows about Jade’s pregnancy.

“We have been keeping the discovery of human females and the pregnancy of Jade very quiet, but…” The Queen’s eyes flashed with concern, the first real glimpse of emotion Alice had seen from the woman. “What will the Insurgents do to the countless humans they are currently holding when they discover their theory has proved successful, and what will they attempt to do to all the Clecanians with mixed ancestry?”

Alice’s jaw slackened as she realized what the Queen was getting at. If the Insurgents were attempting to find a descended race that could successfully procreate, then their work was done. Her blood ran cold. They’d no longer need to hold the human women captive, but that didn’t mean they’d release them.

What would they do to all of the illegally obtained humans, and God knows what other species, being held in those facilities?

“I can see from