The Rain: The End by Marietta Standlee (good summer reads TXT) 📕

and while also being a member of the ethical committee and rescuing us from the same corporations? I'm still missing something.

A tug on my arm gets my attention. "We need to catch up; I haven't seen you in so long."

I search Claire's green eyes. They seem to be pleading with me to go along. Which I do. I want to find out how she's doing. Her, and the baby. I need to find out why she is here, with Ka of all people.

"Is there somewhere where we can speak in private?" I ask.

She nods, "Follow me."

Quietly I let Colin know that I need a moment and point at Claire. He looks questioning at me, his eyes asking if I'll be okay. I kiss him on the cheek and whisper, "I'll be fine. I'll be right back."

Claire takes me to a small exit by the buffet that leads to a hallway with numerous other doors. She chooses one—she knows her way around here, I mentally note.

We enter a small sitting room, tastefully decorated with chairs, small tables, and some refreshments. She puts a finger to her lips and points towards my tablet. I take it off and place it into her outstretched hand.

The tables have small drawers, probably meant more for decoration than anything. I watch curiously, as Claire pulls one open to hide the tablet inside. Next—to my astonishment and amusement, she produces another tablet by pulling it from her bra of all places. I arch an eyebrow at her, James Bond has nothing on her. And in the next few minutes, I find out how true that sentiment really is.

"Take this, use it when you don't want to be monitored. You've probably already suspected that the Gorongiath use the tablets to spy on us?" Her eyes watch me carefully. I nod tightly, yes, that's exactly what we suspected.

"You can reach me on it anytime. It's private and untraceable." She explains.

I scrutinize the new gadget not looking any different from mine. Claire mimics for me to hide it on my body. "Only use it when you need to. They'll get suspicious if you don't wear it all the time."

I nod my understanding. "What's going on, Claire?"

"We don't have much time; I told Ka that I'll need some alone time with you. He's suspicious, but he couldn't deny me that request, but we can't push it."

"Okay." I drag the word out.

"You've probably realized that Ka isn't who he seems to be."

That's an understatement if I ever heard one, but I don't interrupt her, sensing that finally, some pieces of the puzzle will fit together.

"Ka's father is the head honcho of the biggest, most advanced corporation on the triple planets. In typical teenage fashion Ka decided to rebel against him and became a member of the Ethics Committee; that part is all true. Him rescuing us was the real Ka, the one that wants to fight injustices."

"So, what changed?" I ask honestly curious.

She laughs, self, depreciatively, “Me."

At my questioning expression, she continues. "Ka's people are fighting a huge infertility problem. I think he lied to us when he rescued us. He knew what we girls were carrying, but he assured us we would have human babies and we'd be fine." She collapses into one of the chairs, and I can tell how hard this is for her.

"Don't get me wrong, I love my baby with all my heart, but…. had I known…." Tears stream down her face at the impossibility of what she would have done.

I step forward and take her hand. "I am so sorry, Claire."

She swipes at her tears, irritated at her own weakness and rotates her neck as if to shake all these thoughts and feelings off. "It's alright. It is what it is, right? Anyway, we're all fine. Ka is actually taking good care of the babies and us. He asked me to marry him." There is something I can't quite place in her eyes as she looks at me.

"He wanted to marry you; you know." She asserts.

"So I've heard," I say dryly.

"Well, so Lala that's my baby, and I, we're sorta second choice, but once I said yes…."

I interrupt her, horrified, "Claire, you don't have to do this, you can come back with us…."

She interrupts me, "I know, but do you have any idea what Lala would endure on Earth?" Her eyes bore into mine, and I turn away. The problem is, I do.

"Here, they cherish her, her, and the other babies. Anyway, that's beside the point right now. Once he became Lala's father, he changed. He's to be the heir to his father's fortune. Plus, he figured out how to overcome the Gorongiaths infertility problem, gaining not only a fortune, but power. The people here treat him like a God, Viv."

Now I need to sit down, but I'm not letting go of her hand, which she clasps as if her life depended on it.

"Everything here tonight, your tribunal, all of it was just a farce to assert his newfound power. It’s like he’s on a power trip. I think he even had Vren killed so that he is the only heir.”

"I know he did," I fill her in quietly.

"I thought so. Most Gorongiath are good." She presses my hand, pleading for understanding. "They really are, and they don't like what is happening inside the Council. Even President Koralen has been bought by Ka's father."

My, my, Claire has been busy. "How did you find all this out?"

"I was approached by some Council members. They're working on an accusation charge that will bring Ka, President Koralen and the other corrupt members down, but they have to be careful, first they need to gather enough evidence, before it can be brought to the Council meeting. They only have one shot at this. Accusing a President, a council member, or even a Shadow is very dangerous, and in this case, it's all three. If they fail to convince their peers, they face severe punishment, even death."

"Was it the council members who