Forbidden Rule (An Alien Love #2)

Chapter Ten

Skyler's POV

A few "days" went by (if you could call them that with no night fall, but I would for my own sanity) and the only thing we got from Jace was a formal letter sent out to all of the fighter visitors. It stated the next screening was on the third suns set from the day received, and would be followed by a mass invitation to a feast at the fortress. Lirah visited a few times between then, saying she had planned to stay with her kin but it wasn't working out well, so she was now staying at the fortress in a room near Jace's. She also came the day beforehand to give the message to Mom and I.

With an intense look, she gazed at me and took one of my hands in her own. Her green eyes were bright, almost feverish, clashing with her sad and worried aura. 

"You must listen to me, Sidie. Jaceannel has sent me with a secret message."

I swallowed as my heart jumped with excitement. Deep down, I knew that I was hoping that he would say something like what was usually in typical romance books-meet me at midnight, or I'll sneak to wherever you are as long as I can spend a few more moments with you type of thing. My heart ached at not seeing him for this long. It had been me and him nonstop for the last half year, and now all of a sudden...poof. But I straightened up and pushed those ridiculous notions from my brain, because it would solve nothing to mope about what I couldn't have in the case of keeping my family safe.

"You must show to the screening intoxicated," Lirah continued. Her eyes, replicas of Jace's, were utterly serious. If it was Rayne or Rowan giving me this message, I'd probably think they were joking. "Drink pulpai right beforehand, because you need an excuse for why they cannot access your thoughts."

"Access my thoughts," I echoed. "Why are they doing that? How?"

She squeezed the hand she held. "The Scientists will administer a serum to all in the screening, that will allow them to see your memories of the incident on a screen. The serum will not work on you."

Dawning horror crept over me. I glanced over at Mom, who was sitting by one of the glass walls staring out. She met my gaze and nodded. "It's true. The pulpai will effect the test readings, giving the excuse for why the memory viewing will not be clear."

Oh God, this would not go well, I could already tell. And it was tomorrow. I was screwed, done for. I'd be under a microscope of sorts, trapped like a rat with no real excuse other than pulpai. What if they didn't buy it?

Lirah nodded, seeing the conflict flicker over my face. "It will be okay, philia.  My cousin will sort it out afterward, he is gifted in the technology manipulation realm. He will alter or erase the results for your file immediately after you are let go, because any later will result in the kings' notice. He has already requested you be at dinner specifically."

"Won't he notice anyway? I'm already under his radar, won't he look for my results regardless?" My voice cracked nervously. Of course he asked for me to be there. I doubted he even knew my name, the one everyone was going by here. 

Lirah shook her head. "That is why he will replace the results with fake notes. I will tell him that is the only option, I believe he has been scrambling to do anything at this point. He has been very...stressed to say the least."

"I know, I feel bad I can't do anything to help," I muttered. 

She patted my hand and let go. "You are, as long as you stay disguised and do not get found out. Same goes to you, Maeris."

Mom looked over once more and nodded. "Of course. I of all people know the consequences. I am not fond of the idea of my family knowing I have returned."