What had her muttered words been? No maiming? His son had also warned Portia to restrain herself, or the rule would no longer apply…
Looked like the rule no longer applied.
Culan’s bones. He needed to get to the woman before his son’s new partner did irreparable damage. Portia was not under Audal’s authority, and harming a member of the royal family, however distant of a relation she may be, came with its own set of complications.
“Where are they now?” he asked.
“Miss Craine is with your wife, she joined her as soon as you left. Miss Faust, your son, and the other men are on their way to the front rooms. I suspect they are seeking out Miss Craine.”
“And Ekarill? The rest of Portia’s men?”
“They are being tracked.” His aide averted his eyes.
“Yes?”
“Except for one. We lost him moments ago as we responded to the emergency here.”
The general’s lips tightened but he held onto the rest of his response. “And how did this happen?”
“Our orders were to not interfere unless someone’s life was in danger.”
General Audal nodded his head to the body, brow raised.
“Understood sir. We will continue to monitor the others, and find the missing man.” The aide’s lip curled as he turned his attention to the body. “And I will see this… mess attended to.”
“Do try to ensure at least one of the men remains alive. We need to know exactly how involved Portia is in all of this, and what other connections Ekarill has.” General Audal clenched his teeth. This was not going how he had planned. He had a feeling they were heading down a path that would lead nowhere.
And it was that Blue Faust’s fault. She’d stirred things up and sent Ekarill into a panic somehow. It started with that first dinner, and talk of…
“Begin looking into Denver, Colorado.”
“Sir?”
“It is a city on Earth, in the region of the Americas. Find out for me exactly how Ekarill is connected.”
“Sir, we don’t have dealings in—“
He glared at his aide. “You think I don’t know that? Figure it out.”
An inclined head. “Yes, sir.”
The general spun around and strode back to the front rooms and his wife. Whatever Ekarill planned was coming soon. He needed to ensure Mira’s safety, and see this through.
Chapter 30
BLUE
They finally found Portia in the ballroom. Or what Blue assumed was the ballroom. She had no idea what it was actually called. A large, open space, with chairs and plants lining the walls and an overlook along the entire perimeter, it had a group of musicians playing at one end. Guests were already arriving, and Portia The Ichika had stationed herself in a sort of receiving room at the entrance, next to Felix’s mother who greeted the guests.
“Is your mother that in love with the idea of you and Portia together?” Blue had to ask. Since their arrival, she’d managed a few stilted conversations with the older woman. While Mira was polite, she had shown Blue none of the warmth she displayed with Felix’s ex.
“My mother is that familiar with Portia. She takes a while to warm up to people, but if she’s talking to you, she likes you.”
Levi appeared in a doorway a few yards away, supporting a shaky Forrest. When the two had made their way over to Blue and the others, they all started forward together.
Mira’s eyes widened and her lips parted as her gaze settled on Blue.
“What…?”
“Portia Craine, I, Blue Faust, challenge you.” Her voice shook, and it wasn’t all feigned. That was the longest attack she’d ever had, and while her heart rate and breathing were back to normal, her muscles were still recovering.
“What—“ Mira tried again, but Portia cut her off.
“I accept. As the challenged, I get to choose the challenge medium.”
Blue waited.
“Music.”
Forrest, the only one who knew how truly bad Blue was at anything that required being in tune, groaned.
“Very well,” she said, never taking her eyes from the other woman. “Forrest Decatur will be my second.”
Portia’s gaze cut to the blond man.
“Who is yours?”
“Felix.”
Blue’s brows rose. This girl really does have no shame. Damn.
“I refuse.”
Portia’s lips thinned. “You can’t refuse.”
Blue hadn’t heard that rule.
“If you push this, I will do everything in my power to ensure you lose,” Felix warned.
“You can’t. Your honor…”
“This whole Challenge is a farce, Portia. Blue is playing along with your schemes, quite deliberately. There is no honor for me to lose, because there is no honor in this Challenge to begin with.”
Portia’s lips tightened. “Fine. Avery shall be my second.”
Mira’s gaze bounced between Blue and Portia, to Felix, to Forrest, then settled on Blue. “Damien!” she called out. A servant rushed over. “Go find Avery.”
“Yes, mistress.” The man rushed off, face carefully blank.
Mira waved toward the far end of the room where the musicians played. “Let’s get this over with.” With a glare at Blue, she strode off, Portia on her heels.
“I’m your ‘second?’” Forrest whispered.
“You can sing for me. I just have to come up with some excuse.”
Felix shook his head. “Don’t even bother. Anyone watching this knows it’s a set-up by Portia. Just keep your eyes on her guards,” he inclined his head toward a man in armor, shadowing Portia’s movements from the perimeter of the room. “And watch for anything out of place.”
Mo’ata set Blue down near the stage. The servant Damien, Avery behind him in a golden gown, appeared at the main entrance to the ballroom. General Audal was just behind them. He slipped to the side of the room. Merrick, the eldest son, joined him. Soon, all of Felix’s family was there, watching the drama unfold.
“Portia?” Avery said when she reached them.
“You are my second for this Challenge, Avery.”
“What are you doing?” The youngest daughter frowned.
“Showing all of you just what kind of female Felix has brought among you.”
Avery frowned but nodded.
Never let it be said that in-laws are easy. Even Avery was willing to take Portia’s lead on this.
A new man joined Portia’s guard. He leaned in to whisper something, and the guard gave a short nod. The second man slipped out of the room.
“Felix,” Blue murmured.
“Got it.”
Levi nodded and slipped off after the man.
She continued to scan the room as Portia spoke to the musicians. The arriving guests gathered around the end of the room and whispers flowed behind raised hands and among bent heads. Elegant women and stiff shouldered men stared at Blue and Portia with expectant expressions.
“They’re like sharks,” Forrest said. “Damn.”
Blue nodded in agreement. She flexed her knees in subtle movements, working strength into them. Anticipation built and her blood rushed.
Portia sauntered over to her. “As the challenged, I’ll go first.”
Blue waved a hand, not caring. She scanned the overlook. Guards were stationed at even intervals. A few more early guests leaned against the balustrade and peered down at the crowd.
Frowning, Portia spun and marched to the musicians. With a nod to them, she began.
The woman was good, Blue had to admit. It was not a musical style she was familiar with, but the notes of the song Portia chose were haunting and beautiful, filled with yearning. Portia’s voice matched the style perfectly.
Around her, the men shifted. The guest’s eyes were locked on Portia, smiles forming. General Audal moved forward, away from the wall, though he kept to the edge of the room. The rest of the family followed, drawing closer to the stage.
As
Portia drew out the last verse, her guard moved. Blue focused on him through the shoulders of her men. His fingers flicked.
A signal of some kind? Blue wanted to turn to her guys, to make sure they saw that. But if the guard was signaling someone, there was no time. What was it? Who was it?
She scanned what she could see of the room, her eyes flicking over the occupants. Maybe it was simply to alert another of Portia’s goons to be alert themselves? The woman was on stage, in the spotlight, so to speak. It could be no—
A servant sidled through the crowd, a tray in his hands. Nothing suspicious there, servants carried trays and served drinks all the time. Only, there were no other servants carrying trays right now. So why… ? Metal glinted under the tray.
The man was only a few yards from the general. There was no time.
Chapter 31
BLUE
As the servant crept closer to the general, Blue made her decision. Slipping her hand into her skirts, she hoped it was the right one.
Six feet. The servant shifted. Blue drew out one of her lama, the throwing blades Levi had gifted to her. Five feet. No one stopped him. Was he a servant of the family? Surely the general would notice if something was off…
General Audal’s gaze was focused completely on the stage. As Portia’s voice died out, he shifted that focus to Blue. Who flicked her gaze to the servant now three feet away. Metal glinted again.
Blue raised her hand and threw the blade, just as she’d been practicing since Padilra. A half second later four blades were sticking from the servant’s body.
Hers was in his throat.
I made the throw. She couldn’t look away as blood flowed and the servant’s eyes went wide.
“Fuck, pet.”
Mo’ata’s arms came around her and she was spun away from the scene. He pulled her down and curled his body around hers. Voices shouted. Mo’ata rocked. Garfield and Vivi growled from feet away.
Keep safe, Garfield sent.
“Move aside,” a deep voice came from feet away.
“No, sir,” Felix replied.
“Move. She, the Prizzoli, and the Martikan just attempted to kill the general.” She knew that voice. Ekarill.
“No, sir, they did not.”
“Chief Audal, you will stand down.”
Voices rose, feet scuffed, a woman screamed.
“What are you doing?” Ekarill cried out.
“Damnit,” Mo’ata muttered.
“What is it?” Blue really wanted to see what was going on. This was worse than being stuck in the corner of a stall because Beast was in a tizzy.
Shit, Beast. He was going to be so mad that he’d missed out on the action once again.
“John Ekarill, you are under arrest for the attempted assassination of General Jackson Audal.”
“We just lost our best lead,” Mo’ata muttered.
Well, her assignment had been to stir things up.
“You can let her up now,” General Audal said over the excited buzz of the guests.
“They sound more like they’re about to see a rock star than that they just witnessed a guy killed,” she murmured.
A snort came from above her. Mo’ata stood and pulled Blue to her feet.
Felix, Trevon, Forrest, and the cubs stood in a semi-circle around them, blocking all access to Blue and Mo’ata. General Audal hovered in front of his son. Behind him, more of his soldiers blocked the guests from coming closer.
The general’s gaze met Blue’s over Felix’s wide shoulders, and he inclined his head. It was not quite a bow, but it was much more than a nod.
She could just make out John Ekarill being escorted from the room, his wrists bound behind him. Leaning to the side, she caught a glimpse of two more men removing the body of the servant, Blue’s blade still in his throat.
General Audal followed her gaze. “He was with the freelancers Ekarill hired. My men have now detained the rest, but we obviously missed one.” His head nodded to the side.
A scuffle at the edge of the room told her Portia’s men were also being taken away. A build up of four days, and it was over in a matter of a second.
And the whole thing even had its own personal soundtrack.
And I just killed a man. Or I think I did. Maybe it was one of the other blades that appeared in him like magic.
Why am I not more upset?
She’d probably have her hysterics later, that seemed to be her modus operandi. Right now she was too excited. Her blood surged, her senses were sharp. It seemed she could hear every whisper, see the slightest movement. Even the scents of roasted meat and vegetables that drifted from the buffet were strong enough to overwhelm.
“We found a third in the back halls.” The general’s finger flicked to the piquets. “Them, I assume?”
Blue gave him a careful nod. They didn’t look away from each other.
“Good work. Efficient.”
Vivi preened. That was the only word for it.
Blue’s mind whirled. She may be on an adrenaline high, but that didn’t mean she knew where to go from here. Levi returned from… wherever he had gone and joined the others in blocking her from everyone.
“There is no doubt something on that servant that would lead you to believe he was one of my men,” Zeynar said. His comm sounded and he looked down. “My man, Prin, has just confirmed there are no more of these freelancers here.”
General Audal glared at Trev. “This is my home, criminal.”
The word didn’t have the same ring to it as when Felix said it.
“And this,” Trev gestured to Blue and the rest of the men, “is my family. Ask your wife what that means, if you don’t already know.”
The two men squared off with each other.
Stupid male posturing. “What now?” Blue asked.
General Audal grinned, reminding Blue all too much of his youngest son. “Now you have a Challenge to finish.”
“What? Still? She’s not under arrest also?”
He looked behind her and Blue followed his gaze. Four uniformed men stood along the back wall, eyes on Portia.
“Oh,” she said turning back to the general. “But still…”
He shrugged. “No one is trying to kill me anymore—“
“Wouldn’t be too sure of that,” Forrest whispered.
“And,” the general continued, ignoring the blond man, “Challenges are a matter of great honor here on Cularna. To leave this unfinished, despite its… sensational nature, would be to admit defeat to Portia. Unless you would like to do that?”
“And if I said I honestly didn’t care about her version of honor?”
“But it’s not just her version. As his claimed partner, your actions reflect on my son—“
“We’ll do it,” Forrest cut in.
“Probably not a good idea to keep interrupting a general,” Levi told him.
Forrest waved a hand. “Just trying to hurry this along. Blue needs to rest after what happened, and we need to plan our next steps.”
Mo’ata opened his mouth and Forrest cut him off. “I need to rest. And after what just happened, do you think that scary-ass general doesn’t know every single thing that’s going on in his home? Hell, he probably knew the color of my favorite pair of pajamas the moment Felix sent the message to tell him we were coming. Plus, don’t know if you guys noticed, but there were four knives in that guy, and only three came from our direction.”
Mo’ata’s cheeks colored. Then he sighed and turned to Felix. “I suppose we should have cooperated with your father after all.”
Felix narrowed his eyes at his father. “We are going to talk after this is all over.”
General Audal ignored the last. “Your artist friend is correct. There is nothing that happens in my home that I don’t know. And there is nothing about my family of which I am unaware.” He frowned. “Unfortunately, you have all interfered with my investigation into Ekarill, and I fear the freelancers are going to be a dead end.”
Silenc
e fell at his words. Just as tired of the posturing as Forrest, Blue made a decision. I am on a roll with the decisions recently. Damn. Go me.
“As far as we have found, they may not be, not totally,” she told the general. “We can speak more on this later. I’m thinking you have information we could use, and I am sure we could answer a few of your questions as well.”
Forrest gave her a wide smile. Felix and Mo’ata stiffened. Levi shrugged. And Trevon slid her a look that said, I trust you, but tread carefully, little star.
“Shopa,” Mo’ata said with clear warning.
The piquets chirp-growled.
She sighed. “I’m done, honey buns. I’m riding adrenaline, I’m tired, and I’m done with all this dancing around the topic and vague hinting at things. I get there are rules and regulations and all that, but damn. You’re acting nearly as bad as Jason.”
They stared at each other, his expression stoney. Her breath caught. He allowed her to lead within their family. As they’d established, though, on assignments she was nothing more than a trainee.
It seemed they still had more to work out when it came to the team dynamics.
Finally, he nodded.
“Thank you,” she said. Then offered him a smile. “We all know how much I love it when things are overly complicated.”
That earned her a smile, even if it was tight.
Forrest clapped his hands. “All right,” he said, loud enough the rest of the room could hear them. “On with the Challenge. I assume I’m doing this for you?”
Blue nodded.
“You can’t do that,” Portia spoke up from the sidelines. “A second can only step in if the participant is physically incapacitated.”
“Can I hit her?” Trevon asked.
“Maybe later,” Blue told him. She turned to Portia. “You threw me in a shielded room, knowing full well I would not react… well to that. You deliberately provoked this Challenge. Your men, one of whom I just helped kill, were found to be conspiring to assassinate the general—and you are going to argue about what we can and can’t do? Screw you.” Blue turned back to Forrest. “Kick her ass, snookums.”
“You got it, pixie.” He pressed a swift kiss to her lips. “Any requests?”
Wild is the Blue Page 25
