AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“For good. Your Highness, the deprogramming is complete. The false ideations implanted by the GJW have been removed. Your free will has been restored. Your mind is your own again.”
“Are you sure? I don’t feel any different.” I rubbed the base of a horn and scrunched my forehead as I tried to fill in the memory gaps. Events on Aurelia were even fuzzier than before. “I still can’t recall what happened on Aurelia.”
“It will come with time, I promise. Soon, you’ll remember everything.” She patted the top of her attaché. “The scanner doesn’t lie. You can’t judge by feelings. Only actions. Since returning home, you always felt normal, like you did before the brainwashing, correct?”
“Yes…”
“But, when triggered, your behavior changed; you acted on the implanted suggestions. I have removed the suggestions and the triggers.” Again, she patted the top of the screen. I would have liked to have seen what she saw, but I’d never been permitted. She’d insisted if I saw the readings, I could unconsciously manipulate the results. “The proof is right here. I’ll send a full report to my superiors and a redacted courtesy summary to the king and queen.”
She stowed the headband in the attaché, and, with a snap, closed the case. Closed my case.
I was stunned. Elated but stunned. Somehow, I’d expected fanfare, a startling epiphany, a harkening bugle, something. But if I hadn’t noticed when I’d been brainwashed, why would I notice when I was unbrainwashed? “So, what happens next?”
“Well, my part is done. After the investigative unit reviews my report, they’ll contact you with more questions now that you are yourself.” She raised her hands. “I can’t speak for the investigators, but, as I will state in my report, I detected no criminality. Based on that, I have every reason to believe you will be exonerated, Your Highness. All the unpleasantness will be behind you, and you’ll be able to resume your regular life.”
Now I felt different—effervescent with relief. I could have floated up and touched the mural on the domed ceiling. I broke into a grin so wide, my face hurt. “Thank you, Seeher.”
“No need to thank me. I’m just doing my job. I wish you all the best, Your Highness. Good luck to you.”
The door closed behind her, and I let out a whoop of joy.
Chapter Five
Kat
A bell rang, signaling somebody wished to see me. Jessie was the only person who ever dropped in, and I’d just seen her. We’d had lunch together. Millie? Holly? I opened the door.
“Nadir?” I stared at the king’s advisor.
“I have good news.”
“About Lomax?” My heart thudded. Had the king rescinded his order barring us from seeing each other?
He shook his head. “I came to inform you that you and Jessie are going home. A ship will arrive tomorrow evening to fly you to New Terra.”
“Tomorrow?” My heart hitched. No. No.
“Since Millie is staying on Nomoru as my bond-mate, they’ve realized they can send you and Jessie home now.”
Reeling in dismay, I gripped the inside of the doorjamb. I’d known this day had been coming, but I wasn’t ready. It’s too soon! I don’t want to go home yet.
Nadir went to inform Jessie, and I collapsed on a divan and burst into tears. I’m never going to see Lomax again.
I’d never expected the kisses we shared in the garden a week ago would be the last ones ever. After ditching the bodyguard, an edict had come down from on high forbidding us from seeing each other until after the deprogramming had been completed. I’d begged Holly to get Aeon to intercede on our behalf, but it hadn’t done any good. Or maybe Aeon hadn’t tried very hard. He probably felt the way my friends did, that I was better off not seeing Lomax.
At least we’d kissed and held each other our last time together, but if we hadn’t snuck away, maybe it wouldn’t have been our last time. I pulled my feet up onto the divan and hugged my knees.
Jessie would be ecstatic to be going home. She was anxious to alert our government about how the Copan-Cerulean Cartel was abducting people from our planet, the existence of the LOP, its embargo, and everything else that had been kept from us.
The bell rang again. Jessie got the news. I wiped my tears. “Just a minute!” I yelled, although she couldn’t hear through the soundproofed walls. I dashed into the cleansing unit, blew my nose, and splashed water on my face to hide the fact I’d been crying. It still stung that my friends considered me naïve. I didn’t need them to think I was a crybaby, too.
Ring! Ring! Ring!
“Coming!” She must be leaning on the bell. I pressed open on the wall screen, and the door slid away. “You heard—Lomax!” I gaped for a stunned second before launching myself into the prince’s arms.
Our mouths fused, and I kissed him with desperation, stroking his fur, fondling his horns, gripping his shoulders. “I missed you so much. I was afraid I’d never see you again.”
“No way,” he said. “Didn’t you get my message?”
