Yolanda Sfetsos - Alex Wales - Promise

“Excellent, that’s good to hear. Never have your weapon too far away. You never know who’s going to sneak up on you or try to jeopardize your situation by stealing it because you weren’t careful.”

She nodded, and several long curls tumbled over her shoulders. Alex hated having long hair. When she’d been in space with her father, he’d let her cut it herself, but her mother insisted she let it grow out. She’d been here under a year, but it had already grown almost halfway down her back.

“Daddy, I miss you. I don’t like it here.” She sucked down the sob trying to tear out of her mouth. “She’s going to make me marry a stranger.”

He fisted the silky sheets into his right hand, as if he was as enraged as her. “I know what she’s doing, and that’s why I’m here.”

“Are you going to take me away from all of this?”

His features darkened. “Well, yeah-”

“I can’t wait for us to leave this place, together. We make a good team. Don’t you think, Daddy?”

“We make the best team, honey…but I can’t go with you.”

“What do you mean?”

Tears blurred his face.

He let go of the sheets and grabbed her left hand. He opened it and dropped something into her palm, before trying to close her fingers around it. “I want you to have this. Promise is yours, now. She’s hidden in the bushes behind the stables. If you get there before daybreak, you should be able to make a swift getaway, but you have to be quick.”

“What? No, I can’t leave without you.” She’d already known what he’d put in her hand before he’d said a word. The edges rubbed her skin, and the long end stuck out between her fingers, because they weren’t long enough to hold it entirely.

“Alex, honey. Listen to me. I wish I could go with you, but I can’t. Your mother likes to play hardball. You know I didn’t want to leave you with her in the first place, but she made sure I got caught in a position that would ensure you were taken from me. She’s just too politically and financially powerful, compared to me. It tore my heart out, but it was no contest.” He paused, once again looking over his shoulder. “I’ve managed to fill the tank, left enough credits onboard, and even sufficient food to last you months. You need to get to Promise and get the hell off this planet, before she manages to ruin your life like she has mine.”

Tears slid down her cheeks. “Daddy, I can’t do this on my own. I need you.”

“You and I both know that you’re strong enough to make it on your own. I’ve got faith in you. I’ll find you one day. I promise.”

Somehow, she managed a nod and suddenly realized her father had been grooming her for this situation for years. Had he known Lorraine would try something this ruthless one day? He probably had. I have to be strong for him.

She wiped away the tears with her other hand, cleared her throat, and nodded. “Okay, Daddy. I can do it.”

“Good.” He squeezed her hand. “Now, I have to go. I have to make sure that I provide enough of a distraction for you.”

“What about clearance? How am I supposed to get off the planet without it?” Her mother had told her enough times that she’d never get away without detection. Everyone who left and entered Wells needed clearance beforehand.

“Don’t worry. You just need to get to the ship and off this planet by daybreak, and everything else will work out. Okay?” His eyes were shiny, as if he wanted to cry as well, but he was determined to stay strong.

Alex nodded again, hearing commotion outside her door.

“That’s my cue to leave, honey.” Louis stood up. He leaned over, gave her one last hug, and kissed the top of her head, before he stepped away and headed for the window. “I’ve got faith in you, Alex. I know you can do this. Don’t let your mother win. Don’t let her ruin your life and force you on a path you’re not ready to take.”

“I won’t let you down, Daddy.”

“I know you won’t.” He stepped over the windowsill, and she wondered how he was going to get down from the sixth story. “Honey…”

“Yes?”

“I left a photo on the dash for you.”

Her heart fell. Not exactly what she’d expected him to say.

“Also, keep the key with you no matter what. It’ll protect you.” With that final, cryptic comment, he was gone.

Guards charged in through the door, and Alex jumped, but she sneaked her hands under the sheets before any of them noticed. She stuck the key under her thigh and held the sheet in front of her body, as if she were trying to be modest, instead of hiding her ticket out of this hellhole.

“What’s going on? Who said you could charge into my room?”

“I’m sorry, Miss, but where is he?”

She shook her head. “I don’t know what you mean. Didn’t I tell you that I’d punch you if you came in here without my permission?”

One of the guards watched her while the other stepped in front of the window and leaned out.

“Can you see anyone?”

“No, there’s no one out there,” one guard said to the other.

The guard watching her lowered his head. “Sorry to interrupt your sleep on such an important night. We just feared for your safety.”

“You two better get out now, before I blast you away.”

They both snickered on their way out. If she was them, she’d be more concerned about how stupid they looked in their uniforms. Who wore feathers on their helmets and thought they looked threatening, anyway? Funny how they didn’t take her seriously, but she wouldn’t hesitate to bust their kneecaps.

Once they were both out of her room, she pulled the key out from under her thigh. She held it in her left palm. It felt warm and tickled her skin. It still smelled faintly of her dad, and oil. She ran her fingertips over the intricate swirls around the bow of the skeleton key and turned it over. There was the inscription her father had made when she’d turned ten-when he told her Promise would one day be hers.

I guess today’s the day. She sighed, traced her fingertip down the barrel, and into the rectangular tooth.

She couldn’t help but smile as it buzzed inside her hand. This old key was the only way to get into her father’s ship, Promise . As well as the only way to get it started. She always teased him about it being old-fashioned and rusty, but he insisted it was perfect. He also said it was rustic, not rusty.

Alex untied the knot on the end of the leather cord, wrapped it around her neck, and retied it. The key hung down to her stomach, so she stuck it under her shirt.

Daddy, I promise. I’ll never take this off.

She jumped off the bed, grabbed a bag from under it, and started filling it as quickly and quietly as she could manage.

Ulric leaned into his back legs and leaped onto the window sill. He landed with a huff before scrambling inside. The last thing he wanted now was for someone to spot him. He’d been watching this room for a while, and he knew Alex was finally alone.

As soon as he stepped into the room, his animalistic features receded into his pores, and he became a man. With the last caress of the moon against his spine, he was able to suck in a deep breath of the early morning air and welcome the man he’d always believed himself to be.