Straightening in my seat, I reply, “At least five thousand Alameeda soldiers are there…there could be more, but Em Nark didn’t answer my last question.”
“How do you know this?” he asks, suppressing a frown while sitting in the seat adjacent to mine.
“I don’t know…instinct…intuition,” I say, feigning a casual shrug as my heart is pounding in my chest at the exposure of my secret. “I don’t know how I know…I just do.”
“You are a—what did Kyon call you—a diviner of truth. A soothsayer?” Manus asks, and he can’t suppress the excitement in his tone.
“No,” I sigh, shaking my head. “I can tell if someone is lying on purpose or bluffing, but truth is…harder to know,” I reply, lowering my chin. “Just because someone believes something to be true, it doesn’t make it so.” Seeing his confused expression, I exhale another sigh, asking, “Jax, does fazeria taste good?”
Looking over my shoulder at Jax, he smiles at me before saying, “Yes.” I nod.
My eyes shift to Wayra as I ask him, “Wayra, does fazeria taste good?”
He frowns at me, looking like I put him on the spot. He begins to hedge, “Well…it’s really sweet and I—”
“Just yes or no?” I ask, rolling my eyes at him.
“Well…then, no,” he admits, looking awkward.
“You see? They both answered me truthfully, but their answers are conflicting,” I explain, watching Manus absorb what I said.
“Yes, but if you were to ask the right questions, then you could divine the truth?” he asks me in a quiet tone.
“Don’t get it twisted…I know if you’re purposefully lying…but, here’s the thing—um, Trey, face away from me,” I request. Looking confused, Trey faces away from me on the sofa. “Okay, Trey, I’m holding up three fingers. Tell the Regent that I’m holding up three fingers.
Not looking at me, Trey says, “Kricket is holding up three fingers.”
“Ah,” Manus murmurs, nodding. Trey turns to look at me and sees that I’m only holding up two fingers. “Trey believed you and so he unknowingly lied to me.”
“Yes, and I can’t divine that kind of lie,” I reply honestly, “Because he believed it to be true.”
“If your gift remains secret, then you have more of an advantage? Less of a chance that someone could manipulate the information?” Manus asks, and I nod my head.
“But, now the Alameeda know to a certain extent what I can do,” I say sheepishly.
“They may not know the limitations of your gift,” he replies cunningly. “Kricket, you could be…an advisor for me. Sit in on affairs of state and foreign affairs as well.”
“Uh, you know…I’m not that familiar with Etharian politics,” I reply nervously.
“You’ll get familiar with them.”
“Are you planning on getting rid of our scene clinger…Kyon?” I ask. “We could talk business if I knew that this would be a more…permanent arrangement for me.”
Manus’s eyes widen in surprise, as a smile touches his lips. “Is that so?”
“Mmm,” I nod, trying to look like I don’t have a lot invested in this conversation. “You have unrest on the boarders of Peney. They’re not your allies, but if Alameeda is making a play for them, then you had better get in the game and find out who’s really on your side.”
“Had I?” Manus asks, watching me and looking intrigued.
“Yes,” I nod. “And I can help with that…in an advisory capacity…for a fee, say…double what you pay your top advisors now.” I toy again with the glass in my hands. “And if I knew that there would never be any…seduciary responsibilities for me where Kyon was concerned, then I would be more free to focus on…the affairs of state.”
“Seduciary responsibilities!” Manus hoots with laughter, as does everyone else in the room but Trey and me.
“You don’t like Kyon?” Manus asks with an amused smile.
“In a word: no.”
“You surprise me, Kricket,” Manus says, almost to himself. “Kyon is very connected. He could be a strong consort for you. You shouldn’t reject him without consideration...it would be unwise to turn him away just now. We will allow you both the opportunity of getting to know each other better,” Manus says in such a way so that I know that his decision is not up for discussion or contradiction. “Ateur Victus, you intervened in the corrective court on Kricket’s behalf. On who’s authority did you act?”
“Mine,” I interrupt before Victus can answer him. “I hired him to help me.”
“Since you have inserted yourself into Kricket’s affairs,” Manus says, ignoring me, “you will now be responsible for her entry into Rafe society. You will sponsor Kricket and accompany her as escort to every venue we deem important. This will help her by linking your family name with hers.”
Glancing at Trey, I see his jaw tighten, but Victus is taking this all in stride, saying, “I would be honored to accompany Kricket.”
“Good. You will attend a swank in her honor, announcing her arrival in town,” Manus says.
“Oh, you know…I hate parties…all those people and…more people…” I stammer, trying to slow down the propaganda train.
“Kesek Allairis,” Manus says, and my eyebrow arches at the strange title that Manus uses to address Trey.
“Haut Manus,” Trey replies in a military tone.
“You and your men will be reassigned in the capacity of personal protection for Fay Kricket,” Manus instructs. “I want you to be discreet—no uniforms. You will lead the team. I need trained Cavars for this—Ustus and his men will answer to you. Expect retaliation from the Alameeda and their allies. You’ll be briefed on what we know. Everything that Kricket does must be approved by you, is that understood?” he asks.
“Yes, I understand, Haut Manus,” Trey agrees. Glancing at me, he doesn’t smile.
“Is that really necessary?” I ask, rolling my eyes in exasperation, even as my heart picks up at the thought of Trey being here with me.
“Kricket, do not question my authority. I am the Regent and your guardian,” Manus replies sternly.
“Yes, but I’m really not a child,” I try to explain to him.
“You have enemies here and abroad. This can be a cold and violent world, Kricket. I will protect you from that...for now.”
Quirking my brow at Manus, I ask, “And who will protect me from you?”
Seeing his eyes darken, he murmurs, “That will be left up to you.”
“I’ll have to rise to the occasion, then,” I say, standing and recognizing that I need to quit now before this goes really, really bad for me.
Standing too, Manus says, “I will see you at the break of the next rotation. You will dine with me and we will align our…schedules.” Lifting my hand, he squeezes it lightly while I drop my chin in a nod.
“I need to assess Kricket’s quarters. I will escort her to her room.” Trey says, rising next to me and offering me his arm.
“Mmm,” Manus replies absently, watching me. Trey inclines his head to Manus and leads me to the door.
Once in the hallway, I sag a little, letting the mask drop as we continue walking. Glancing at Trey and seeing his eyes narrow at me, I try to smile, saying, “So, that went well…except for that huge part where it didn’t. What does ‘Kesek’ mean?”
“It’s a military rank,” Trey says stiffly.
“Oh, like Captain?”
“More like Major,” he replies. Pulling me out a side door and onto a lovely, lighted path leading away from the estate. He steers me into the hedge-enshrouded grounds. Stopping in front of a lighted fountain, he lets go of my arm and begins pacing in front of me. The dark evening makes his face look even more masculine as soft light near the fountain creates patterns on it.
“Kricket…you…” Trey says in a frustrated tone, continuing to pace. “You can’t...this is complicated, but…you need to appreciate the fact that you’re…and you can’t expect men not to respond to...Manus is…” He stops pacing
to glare at me.
“He’s what?” I ask, concentrating really hard on what Trey is not saying.
“He’s on a higher tier than you are and—”
“A higher tier?” I interrupt, narrowing my eyes at him because that sounds suspiciously like he’s insulting me.
“He’s the Regent and you’re…” he gestures at me.
“I’m what?”
“His ward,” Trey says evasively.
“So?” I ask him, seeing that there’s something he’s not saying.
“So, that position could change,” he replies sharply.
“Yeah, I know. I’m going to be his crappy advisor now…but what else could I do? I couldn’t just sit there and let Kyon and the Narc make a play for me,” I reply, crossing my arms defensively. “I had to get rid of the Narc and that meant exposing my secret. It was a risk, but Manus could’ve been swayed by them…I could feel it.”
“I agree. Until that point, you were like a beautiful piece of art to him, appreciated but easily bartered away. But, you went too far, Kricket! Manus will never make you his consort,” he says in a harsh tone.
“What?” I exclaim, feeling shocked because that hadn’t even occurred to me.
“He’d have you as his inamorata, but do not expect him to commit to you,” Trey’s tone is bitter. “He’s the Regent and you are half Alameeda.”
“Hold up,” I order, putting up my hand to stop him. “What is an inamorata?”
“A lover,” he says accusingly.
I blush. “You think that Manus wants me as his lover but not as his…wife because he’s on a higher tier than me?”
“Yes.”
“Because I’m not good enough for him.”
“That’s the way it would be viewed,” Trey replies, and my heart contracts painfully.
“Why are you telling me this, Trey?” I ask in a soft tone.
“I don’t want you to be…disappointed,” he looks away from me.
“Why would you care?” I ask, looking away too, toward the fountain so that I can blink back the tears in my eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to be having a commitment ceremony of your own soon?” I stoop to pick up some small stones.
“Who told you that?” Trey asks, sounding sullen.
“Does it matter?” I toss a stone at the pool and watch it disappear beneath a lily pad.
“I’ve known Charisma my entire life. She’s always been my friend.”
“That sounds ideal. She comes from a good family?” I ask, forcing myself to sound normal, but my heart really hurts now.
“They own the estate next to my family’s estate.”
“In the Valley of Thistle?” The perfect place that I created in my mind begins to crumble.
“Yes.”
“With the spixes?” I ask, my throat raw now, seeing the house where I had my fake commitment ceremony dissolve.
“Yes,” he says again, but softer.
“I’m such an idiot,” I breathe, squeezing my eyes shut.
“What?” Trey asks from behind me, sounding confused.
“Nothing…I wish…” I throw another pebble in the fountain.
“You wish…what?” he asks, coming closer to me.
Angry voices, speaking in hushed tones stop me from answering him. Trey’s arms wrap around my waist and pull me back into the shadowy edge of the hedge. I don’t make a sound.
“She is the prophecy,” someone hisses from the other side of the hedge. “We haven’t had a diviner of truth for hundreds of years—and she can already do it—at her age with absolutely no training.”
“That is an opinion, Nark. One you will not express again,” Kyon’s unmistakable voice responds, while they continue walking by us on the other path. Trey lets go of me, following their voices.
I follow closely behind Trey, kicking off my shoes so they don’t make crunching noises on the gravel. “This is not something that we should keep from the Brotherhood. If she is the prophecy, then she’s more dangerous to us than just having a rogue priestess in Rafe hands. If she is the one…then a house will fall.”
“I know the prophecy. You do not need to explain it to me! The house was not named. It could be Rafe that falls.”
“Or, it could be Alameeda…or Wurthem. Do you like those odds?”
“You want to maintain the status quo at the risk of greatness, Nark. That’s why you’ll always be where you are…at the bottom.”
The bluster in the Narc’s voice is unmistakable. “When I make my report, Kyon, I’ll be sure to mention that to the Brotherhood. My trift is being made ready. You should join me. There’s nothing here for you now.”
“No, I’ll stay. Don’t be surprised if the information you impart does not throw you into a favorable light,” Kyon says easily. “Safe journey, Em Nark.”
“Haut Kyon,” the Narc responds formally, before feet crunch away on the path.
“What’s the prophecy?” I whisper to Trey. He turns quickly and covers my mouth with his hand, pulling me back against his chest. I still and listen for a second for any sound that would signal this kind of reaction from Trey. A soft humming noise, like a low vibration, throbs near us.
Trey tenses for just a second, and then he lifts me off my feet, carrying me while running back the way we came. A static noise sounds behind us, and looking over Trey’s shoulder, a shiny, long, bullet-like thing is following us. It’s emitting a green beam of light, scanning everything in the vicinity…like it’s looking for something.
“What the—” I breathe the words and instantly, the green light flashes on my face. The silver metal thing turns as if it has locked on to me; it streaks toward us like a missile. Horrified, I can only clutch Trey’s neck tighter and watch it near, emitting a high frequency noise that makes every hair on my body rise.
Just as it’s about to pierce Trey through the back with a long needle projection, he dives forward, carrying me with him head first into the pool beneath the fountain. Submerged beneath the lily pads, Trey’s body holds me under, pressing me to him like an anchor. My lungs are burning. I try pushing him off of me so that I can get to the top for air, but he’s not letting me go.
Opening my eyes, I see the green light scanning the water above us. I stop struggling, trying to stay beneath the water as bubbles of air escape from my mouth. The light from above slips away and Trey eases me to the surface of the water. Breaking the plane, I inhale air greedily.
Shouts and running feet pound on the gravel path behind the hedge near us. Someone yells, “Squelch tracker!” Then, the rapid fire of weapons erupts and a huge explosion sends me back under the surface of the water.
Trey’s hands wrap around me. He hauls me up again, pressing me tightly against his chest and stroking my wet hair. Shivering, more from trauma than from cold, I rest my cheek against his chest.
“Kricket, are you hurt?” Trey demands, pulling me away from him so I can look in his eyes.
“No,” I say breathlessly, seeing water dripping down the sides of his perfect face.
His hand reaches up, cupping my cheek and pulling my lips to his. The moment his lips touch mine, I lose all thought of squelch trackers, prophecies, and regent police. Wrapping my arms around Trey’s neck, I press closer to him while my heartbeat drums in my ears. Trey’s lips slip from mine, trailing a path of urgent kisses over my cheek to my neck. A coil of heat collects in my core and spreads to all of my extremities in an instant. My knees become weak, while a gasp of pleasure comes from me.
“Kitten,” Trey breathes, causing shivers of pleasure to flow through me at the endearment.
Finding his lips with my own, I breathe against them, “Honey,” before kissing him deeply and with a passion I didn’t know could exist. I try to savor every moment of this kiss, only to groan as Trey pulls away from me, letting go of me completely.
“Trey” I say his name softly, as footsteps sound on the gravel. Regent police burst forward near the fountain, training their guns on us.
Brea
thing hard, Trey says, “Lower your weapons. We were the targets.”
CHAPTER 16
TELL THE TRUTH
Splashing out of the fountain, Trey turns back to me, extending his hand and helping me out of the water. He picks me up off my feet and carries me toward the palace. The police fall in step beside us. I rest my cheek against his chest, relieved that I don’t have to try to walk on my shaky legs.
Trey glares at the men near him, barking out orders, “I want to know where every piece of the squelch tracker was manufactured. I want to know where it was likely launched—check its heat signature. I want new rooms for Kricket in a private area that will be occupied by me and several soldiers of my choosing.”
“You want her moved from the west arcade?” Ustus asks, appearing next to us. Looking at me, his face loses color, seeing that I’m soaking wet. “What happened?”
“Squelch tracker,” Trey growls while glaring at Ustus. “How did it get in through your security?”
“Stealthily,” Ustus replies, and his sarcasm causes Trey’s scowl to deepen. Seeing it, Ustus quickly amends, “I don’t know.”
“Find out and look for more,” Trey says through clenched teeth. “Where am I going?”
Ustus thinks about it for a second, and then he smiles. “There’s the gaming lodge, on the far side of the property. You’ll need to take a skiff to get there—I’ll also need to clear it with the Regent.”
“Fine. Send me Wayra, Jax, and someone to drive us there while you clear it with the Regent.” In minutes, Wayra and Jax round the corner, looking angry.
“Sir, what happened?” Jax asks while Wayra stares down everyone in our vicinity.
“I’ll brief you later. We’re taking up new quarters. I need you to secure them. Let’s go.” We follow the Regent agent who directs us to a skiff on the drive outside.
Trey opens the door and places me in the back seat, squeezing in next to me and putting his arm around my shoulders. Wayra sits up front with the driver while Jax faces us. No one speaks on the slow, winding drive, but Jax is taking in every dripping inch of us, trying to assess the situation. Pulling up in front of a dark, imposing mansion, which looks like an estate all by itself, I shiver, feeling cold and damp.
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