Aleigha watched from a distance as they built a funeral pyre for Keirn. It was made with replicated logs that were so close to the real thing you would never know by looking at them. It surprised her that they used such primitive methods to build the funeral pyre. She would have expected an electronic-type pyre that shot flames from the platform, incinerating the body. Once it was completed, they set Keirn's linen-wrapped body carefully onto the platform and then lit it with a large old-fashioned torch. The body went up in flames, a black smoke lifting into the air. The smell of burning flesh wafted around her. She had to struggle not to sneeze and give her position away since she was still cloaked.

They had to open the dome to let the smoke rise into the sky.

Aleigha looked around at the crowd. The only one who seemed touched by his death was Vernisa. Tears poured down her cheeks as one hand caressed her swollen belly. It was Keirn's child inside her. She had nearly forgotten about that mess. Keirn had been Jada's mate. He had rejected her for being a half-zombie. Aleigha smiled. Jada was the winner in that situation. Orik was deserving of her. The two were good together.

Vernisa's human mate, Julian, had one arm wrapped protectively around her, trying to comfort her. She was sobbing uncontrollably into his shoulder.

Although cloaked, she raised one eye. "And they said my friendship with Vorik was inappropriate," She hissed to herself. She shook her head in disgust. Clearly, Vernisa still loved Keirn. The only thing Keirn was deserving of was what he had gotten.

Sighing, she turned her gaze back to the pyre. She wanted to see his body turn to ash. You can't resurrect ash. She still needed to go after the other two, but not until Keirn was gone completely.

Scanning the people in the crowd, she found Rask and Merrick. Both were holding their children, Drake and Finn. Their death would have to wait. She couldn't kill them while they were holding their infant sons. She stared at the bundle in Merrick's arms. She missed her son. She could do nothing about it until the two men were dead. It wasn't the infant's fault that their fathers were traitors.

Once the pyre had burned enough of Keirn to her satisfaction, she decided to find a replicator to get something to eat. She had to be careful of what she ordered and which replicator she used.

She turned and headed toward the tavern. Aleigha planned to use the replicators while everyone was distracted. It paid off. The tavern was unlocked, and everyone was in what would be considered a breakroom. She was alone in the main part of the tavern, free to order what she wanted.

Using the replicators, she quickly ordered as much food as she could carry underneath the cloaking shield and rushed off so she could eat. She couldn't chance going back into the tunnels. If they noticed the door open and close, it could get her caught. Not only that, she figured the replicators in the tunnel city were monitored to catch her if she tried to use them.

Finding a safe place to eat, she sat down and ate what she could, keeping an eye on her surroundings while she did. She didn't want to get caught. She still had work to do. Once finished, she found another replicator and dematerialized the containers and leftovers that she couldn't keep with her.

Aleigha looked over at the site of the pyre. The funeral pyre's fire was thinning. It was almost over. She figured most people would have left by now. She didn't really know for sure because she was too far away. She could only see the thinning smoke rising up and out of the plasma dome.

Going back to her own home, she passed the site of the funeral. She was correct. Everyone had gone except Vernisa and her mate. Aleigha kept going, passing the remains of the funeral. She didn't care to see the remainder of Keirn burn. As long as he was gone, without a doubt, she couldn't care less.

Just after she passed the pyre, she stopped short. Merrick was exiting their dwelling with their son in his arms. She watched the direction he was heading. He was walking toward her sister Niki's home. "Good," she whispered to herself. "That will put him alone after he drops off Finn." She could help but smile in anticipation.

Silently following him, she prepared a syringe, ready to jab Merrick with it. All she had to do was take the cap off and stick him. She also needed to pick the perfect place and time. She didn't want anyone to notice that he had collapsed. She wanted whatever was in the syringe to have time to do its job. The medics already knew not to try and siphon the poison; she didn't know what else the medics would try. Medic Kaul was too good at his job. She was afraid he would find a way to save him.

Aleigha watched Merrick walk up the walkway of her sister's home and press the call button. Rask opened the door, letting him inside.

Aleigha stood, still cloaked and watched the dwelling, waiting for him to exit. The door remained closed for a while.

Aleigha waited patiently, scanning her surroundings. She wasn't sure how long the cloaking device lasted. For all she knew, it ran out of power, and she would need another one. She started to wonder if that was why Jada had given her so many. Maybe they ran out of power after a while. The thought made her worry.

When the door of the dwelling finally opened, Merrick and Rask left; the children were inside with her sister. She smiled and followed them, being as silent as she could.

She followed them as they walked to the tavern, sitting in a corner booth. She stood nearby, close enough to hear their conversation.

"Did the medic figure out what happened with Keirn?" Merrick asked after they received their drinks. They ordered a pitcher of beer. They called it a Jug of strong beverage. She still liked the sound of a pitcher of beer better.

"No, whatever happened is undetectable. Whatever was in his system had bound to his tissue when they tried to siphon it out, making it worse," Rask stated, taking a large drink of his strong beverage.

Aleigha stepped back and readied her syringe. All she had to do was take the cap off. She wanted to jab both of them with it when she had the best opportunity. Whichever of the two men gave her an opportunity, that's the one who would die next.

She smiled; both were downing the beer like it was water. They would be drunk enough not to feel the syringe go into their skin.

Aleigha held up the bare needle, waiting for the best time to stick one of them. She didn't want to get caught being the reason for their deaths. Even cloaked, she still had to be careful.

After hearing that what the medic had done made it worse, she didn't care how fast the medic got there. She waited for an opportunity and listened to their conversation.

"Did your mate help Aleigha escape?" Merrick asked Rask, downing another glass of the strong beverage.

"She was home with the infants. There is no way she could have helped her sister escape," he responded, downing his own glass and then refilling it with the jug in front of him.

"What about Jada? Did she help?" Merrick asked, holding up his glass, waiting for an answer. He wanted to know who helped her escape. He wouldn't let the subject go.

Rask quickly downed his glass. "No, she was with Orik. She's too distraught. Orik hasn't left her side since Council Leader Vorik let her out of the cells."

Merrick growled. "We need to find Aleigha and end her. Aleigha could be anywhere. She's a traitor to the bond. I want to find him and have her executed as soon as possible."

Merrick's words made Aleigha flinch.

Rask chuckled. "Why, so she doesn't find out you've been sleeping with Termera. You do know, don't you, that you're the one that went against the bond, not your mate. I don't believe she and Vorik have that kind of relationship. She protects him." he paused, then laughed. "I guess not anymore. I've seen her around him. She hates him."

"Like your any better. You've known for weeks and haven't said anything. It sounds like you want Aleigha dead as much as I do," Merrick hissed. "I don't see you trying to save her."

"She has too much influence on my mate. They are too alike. I would rather your mate die than mine as long as Niki doesn't find out I was involved." Rask shot out, downing another drink.

Both men were getting sloshed. Their words were starting to slur.

The door of the tavern slid open, and a shorter, thin Ramesian walked in. She looked right at Merrick. He turned and looked at her. "Speaking of," he grinned, holding a hand up to gesture for the woman to come to him.

She did reluctantly. She walked up to the table, his hand going to her ass. She quickly backed away. "What if someone sees?" she whispered. "They'll know the rumors are lies."

Aleigha heard the girl's whispers. She suddenly was glad she had brought an extra syringe. She needed to add another to her growing list of those to kill.

"She'll be dead soon, just like I promised," Merrick told her seductively, squeezing her ass again.

Rask chuckled, taking another drink.

Aleigha tried not to gasp at this new information. The only way she would survive this was to make sure all of this was known. She had to go to Vorik. She didn't trust Vorik at the moment, be he was her only hope. He would have to interrogate them. She would try to order his execution instead.

Quietly placing the cap back on the syringes, she shoved them back into her pocket, then made her way out of the tavern. She had to wait for someone to enter or exit, but it wasn't long before someone did. She rushed out of the establishment to look for Vorik. When she found him, it couldn't be anywhere that would confine her. He could lock her in a room, and she would be as good as dead. It had to be outside.

Once out of the tavern, she didn't have to go far. Vorik was alone, heading toward the tavern.

Aleigha quickly went between two dwellings and waited for Council Leader Vorik to pass by. When he did, clicking the cloaking shield off, she pulled his sleeve, forcing him to go between the dwellings.

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