by S. E. Weir
The woman froze for a second. “Greyson is the other person who knows?”
Phina nodded solemnly, reading concern, confusion, and the pang of hurt in the other woman’s face. “Yes. We decided those in the know needed to be a small number.”
“Without notifying even his beta agents?” Masha snapped, pain and anger making her tone harsh.
Leaning forward, Phina rested her elbows on her knees and got close enough to whisper and be heard. “When dealing with unknown traitors to the Empire within your organization, what would you do?”
Chapter Sixteen
Gaitune-67, Spy Corps Headquarters and Base, Upper Levels
Surprise and horror crossed Masha’s face. “I would trust no one and investigate everyone.”
“Exactly.”
The beta agent sighed, deflating. “I understand.”
“You should tell him how you feel, you know,” Phina ventured gently.
“How... Tell who what?”
Phina bit back a grin at having caused the longtime agent to become so flustered. She reached out and squeezed the other woman’s hand. “I’ve seen the way you look at each other, and I’ve known him long enough to know what he’s thinking.”
The woman sat frozen in surprise before frowning. “It wouldn’t work with our positions.”
After a final squeeze, Phina straightened and gave her a kind smile. “Of course. It’s your decision if you ever do approach the subject. But I think you both deserve happiness, and nothing says that you can’t restructure things around here.”
Masha’s lips tilted down. “It’s a thought. I’m not sure it would work.”
“That’s because you are only using your own perspective,” Phina told her. “You and Greyson need to work together on it. Perhaps with Jack since he’s part of the leadership here?”
Masha stared at Phina with barely repressed hope before sighing and rubbing her forehead. “That’s assuming something even happens to make it necessary. I’m not convinced he cares about me. He’s never shown any sort of partiality.”
Phina gave her a sharp glance as she straightened. “You’re a smart woman, Masha. I think you’ve just been afraid to see it. It’s there. He just doesn’t do overt displays of affection when he isn’t sure he’s wanted since he always assumes he isn’t. Also, with his position, if he shows partiality, he can be accused of favoritism. If he shows interest, it can be construed as sexual harassment.” She offered her a rueful smile. “Puts him in a tight spot, right?”
Masha frowned. “I hadn’t thought about that. I suppose I have been waiting for him to approach me if he was interested.”
“Perhaps this might be a good time to exercise that female empowerment thing?” Masha appeared confused, so Phina clarified. “Where the woman asks the man. Alina was always telling me it’s a thing.”
Masha winced. “Yeah, that’s hard for me. Opening myself up to rejection, ridicule, or being fired? I’ll have to think about it.”
Nodding, Phina leaned back and crossed her ankles. “I understand. I couldn’t do it either. In this case, it might be your only option.”
After another sigh, Masha nodded seriously. “I’ll think about it. Have you...” She hesitated. “Did you ever think of Greyson that way?“
Phina made a face as she shook her head. “What, romantically? Oh, no. I love the man, but the way you would your older brother, or your uncle, or a surrogate father. We had to act as if we were on a date one night and it just felt wrong, like we’re meant to be family.”
She didn’t miss the relief that crossed Masha’s face as she nodded in understanding. “I get it. I just had to ask.”
“Because we’ve been spending a lot of time together, seem close in some ways, and protective of each other?” Phina monitored her closely. “Or because I’m the first woman he’s taken on as a personal recruit since you, and you know how drawn you were to him?”
Masha cleared her throat in surprise, then nodded, smiling with amusement mixed with embarrassment. “Yes. All of that.”
Phina scratched the back of her neck as she tried to figure out what to say. She settled on a shrug. “You’ve got far more in common with him than I do, and your personality is a better blend with his. I understand him because I was him. We are very similar in how we respond to things due to our backgrounds.” She grimaced. “That’s also why we tend to bump heads. We both respond out of fear and a desire to protect the people we love and care about, even if it’s not the best decision. Trust me. Even if I was interested and available, which I’m not, we would not be good for each other. He needs someone like you.”
Masha stared in astonishment. “You really believe that?”
Phina nodded and stood, grasping Masha’s shoulder when she followed. “I do. He’s my family, and he deserves love and a family of his own. I think it could be you, but I’ll let you guys figure that out. Just...don’t give him hints. He’s not a hint kind of person. You have to be blunt so he knows you are serious.”
Masha appeared to be overwhelmed. Phina gave the woman’s shoulder another squeeze before heading for the door.
“Phina?”
She turned and saw that the beta agent’s confidence had returned and stood with her arms crossed.
“I’m taking what you told me on trust,” Masha told her, “but there’s a reason for that. I’m going to check on your story. If I find that any of what you said was a lie, I’m going to come down on you hard.”
Phina flashed a grin. “I’m counting on it. Talk to the boss. Just make sure he’s in his office when you do.”
“I will.” She nodded. As Phina went to leave, she added, “And Phina?”
She turned back to the older woman as she reached up to pull the mask down. “Yes?”
Masha smiled, and one eyebrow rose. “Try not to get caught.”
Phina gave her a cheeky salute before pulling the mask down over her face. Within moments she was gone.
Again, the dedicated and devoted man came into the presence of his Empress, the woman who had saved his soul.
“Report, my loyal subject.”
“Yes, my Empress. Trainee Waters has been learning quickly and well.” He told her everything he had observed since the last time his Empress had come.
After considering everything the man had told her, the Empress gave him a sharp glance. “Are you certain of everything you have described to me? There were no exaggerations?”
“No, my Empress. Everything is as accurate as my words can express.”
She stared at him for some time before finally nodding. “I understand.”
He bowed his head in relief. “Thank you, my Empress.”
“Continue to observe, but I need you to do one more thing for me.”
He turned his face up eagerly. “Name it, my Empress.”
A smile graced her lips before they pressed together. “We have traitors in our house. You will kill Phina for me.”
“What?” He straightened in surprise. “Why would I kill her?”
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “Are you questioning my orders?”
He swallowed roughly but shook his head. “No, my Empress. I just don’t understand why she needs to die. I think she is an asset to the Empire.”
The woman blinked in annoyance at the devoted man. “She is not who you think she is. She’s a traitor and a liar. If she finds out that you are loyal to me, she will kill you. I am certain she plans to kill or overthrow me.”
His jaw tightened at the news, then he nodded. “As you command, my Empress. It will be done.”
“Do not reveal yourself, my loyal subject. Greyson Wells will turn on you, not understanding the situation, and I still need him. Work through others to achieve your goal.”
“You are wise, my Empress.” He bowed his head. “I will complete this task for you for the good of the Etheric Empire.”
“That is all I ask,” she replied, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
Gaitune-67, Spy C
orps Headquarters and Base, Phina’s Room
Phina paused while removing her thermal bodysuit, her gaze darting around the room. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary yet sensing something, she continued removing her clothing as she reached out mentally.
She had just finished tugging off the last leg when Sundancer streaked into the room. He jerked to a halt, a strange expression of horror on his feline face.
Phina! he yowled as he jumped onto the bed and dived under the blankets. Put some clothes on over your hideous body. I must protest over your cavalier manners.
“Yes, it’s a shame I took off my clothes in my own bedroom when I was completely alone.” She sighed as she pulled out comfortable sleepwear to put on. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”
You probably weren’t. It’s a common problem with you humans, as well as a general lack of respect and decency. He sniffed.
Phina sent him the equivalent of a mental glare as she finished by pulling her shorts up and tugging her shirt down over them. “It’s my room, my privacy, and my body.”
A hideous body with no wrinkles or tail. The mound on the bed wobbled with the force of his shivers of revulsion.
She shook her head, stepping over to poke the Previdian with her finger through the blanket. “It’s a good thing I have a relatively decent body image and a boyfriend I believe when he tells me I’m beautiful, or I could begin to develop a complex.”
Ow, ow, ow! Careful with your hands on the merchandise, woman. He scrambled out of the blankets to glare at Phina.
She cocked a hip as she raised an eyebrow. “Just how many hours have you been spending watching movies when you said you were searching for our traitor?”
He froze, then nonchalantly glanced around, avoiding her gaze. I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Phina peered at him skeptically. “Uh-huh. Sure you don’t.” Deciding to drop the subject for now, she moved on. “So, what were you running in here all fired up about?”
Sundancer straightened up in alarm. I felt Etheric energy being used.
“I thought I felt something, too.” She frowned and put her hands on her hips as she mentally probed for Etheric energy. “You’re sure it wasn’t me you noticed?”
He gave her a scathing glare. I know my charge’s energy, thank you. I’m not a half-century old.
“You act like an old curmudgeon,” Phina murmured, continuing her scans.
She frowned and brought up the mental grid she used to understand what she sensed within the Etheric. When no activity existed, the lines remained square and straight. Sometimes Phina was able to tell who it was that shifted the energy, but she was still learning all the nuances.
She saw some lines had been pulled, and others were warped. The Etheric wasn’t active anymore, but someone had been using it.
The signature wasn’t hers.
Gaitune-67, Spy Corps Headquarters and Base, Greyson Wells’ Office
Masha pushed the alert for the door, letting Greyson know someone wanted to come in.
She heard him sigh and approve the entry.
Greyson glanced up as she stepped in, the face she had come to know and love utterly serious. “Come in, Masha. Have a seat.”
She swallowed as she took the chair opposite his desk, feeling nervous. Much to her relief, she didn’t have to figure out how to broach the first topic on her mind.
He leaned forward with his arms on the desk. “Phina told me she had a chat with you.”
She searched his face for any sign that Phina was right about his having feelings for her. Her heart sank when she didn’t find what she hoped. Forcing herself to continue, she pushed those feelings aside—for now.
“Yes, she told me you both had come searching for a traitor?” She spoke crisply, clearly, and confidently.
“That is what our intel leads us to believe.” He nodded sharply. “Do you have any questions?”
Masha grimaced. She had so many questions. She would just have to narrow them down. “Where did the intel come from, and how credible is it? Does the Empress really know about this and approve? Why is Phina doing the bulk of the work on this? Do you have any leads?”
Greyson waited for her to finish. “All right. Finished now?”
She pursed her lips as she tilted her head to the side in thought. “No, there’s more. What was Phina doing in the corridor outside our rooms last night? Does this have anything to do with what happened to Blayk? How did she know she could trust me with this when you hadn’t decided to trust me before now? Speaking of which, why wasn’t I told about this?”
He raised his eyebrows in surprise but nodded in approval. “Those are the right questions to ask. Here’s what we know.”
Greyson launched into a tale that could have come out of a novel. Alien assassins, secrets, and treason? The idea boggled her mind.
“As for what Phina was doing last night... Well, that rolls into how she knows we can trust you not to be the traitor.” He peered at her seriously, clasping his hands together. “I won’t share everything since those are her secrets. However, what is relevant here, and what you won’t talk about outside this room, is that she can see into other people’s minds.”
“What?” Masha’s mouth fell open as she struggled to put her thoughts into words. “Seriously?”
Greyson nodded. “As a gas attack.”
She wrinkled her nose, then froze in shock. “Wait a second. She read my mind.”
“Yes.”
“So she saw...” Masha stopped before she said something embarrassing.
He lifted a shoulder and sat back with a smirk. Stars, Phina hadn’t been kidding when she’d said they were too much alike.
Greyson’s voice held a thread of amusement. “She saw whatever was in your head at the time and your recent memory. Possibly more. I don’t ask her about that.”
Masha evaluated him. “So, she doesn’t tell you what she picks up?”
The amusement fell from his face as he leaned forward. “There are only three mind readers in the Empire that we know of, and Phina is one of them. She’s talked to the Empress about this, as far as where to draw the lines and what is ethical for her to do. She’s struggled with it a lot, believe me. She doesn’t read minds lightly, and frankly, she’s not entirely comfortable with her ability to do so.”
She frowned at him, concern and confusion swirling inside. “Why are you telling me this? Just to ease my mind?”
He straightened, and his face dropped most of its emotion. That pang in her heart turned to an ache that concern for her probably wasn’t on his mind. Phina must have been wrong to think anything else.
“I’m telling you this so you understand that if you want anyone to know your secrets, Phina is the best person. She wouldn’t share them unless she had a very good reason to do so.” He sighed with exasperation. “Between her mind-reading and hacking skills, she knows practically every secret in our whole government, except those only the Empress knows. She could have some of those, too.”
“She doesn’t talk about any of it with you or her friends?” Masha asked curiously. She had seen how close they were during the events around the wedding.
Greyson shook his head. “She may act on what she knows, but she’s not likely to share it. Phina blocks everyone out when she doesn’t need to know something, anyway. It’s not like she actively tries to pick up every single thought. From what I can tell, it can be difficult to make the effort to block it all out and would be much easier if she just let herself listen.”
Masha sat lost in thought for a moment before nodding. “Thank you for telling me, even though your purpose was to explain and not ease my mind.”
She studied the man she tried not to care so much about as he stifled a chuckle. Staring seemed to be the only thing she was currently capable of.
“Of course,” Greyson answered, only a hint of his amusement coming out.
Masha decided to change the subject. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
He nodded. “Now that you know a traitor exists or is highly likely to, you can keep your senses open. You know what to search for. See if anything pops up.”
Masha tried not to feel irritated. She was capable of a lot more than had been expected of her. She had grown tired of always proving herself to Jack and wanted Greyson to take her abilities into account so she could do more. She opened her mouth to demand to have a bigger role to play but stopped. Phina had said she was running the investigation.
Masha contemplated Greyson. So, the man didn’t seem to be interested in her. That was fine. She had lived as she had been long enough. But, she would be damned if she sat around waiting for others to do the job. That wasn’t who she was or how she wanted to be.
Masha surprised Greyson by nodding and dismissing herself, ignoring the way his gaze followed her as she left. The man was just a curious cat with a hound’s nose for trouble. It didn’t mean anything and she wouldn’t read into it.
She knew exactly who she wanted to talk to right now, and when she found her, she wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Chapter Seventeen
Gaitune-67, Spy Corps Headquarters and Base, Phina’s Room
Phina was exhausted. She had spent hours in a specialized spy skill class taught by a female agent named Genevieve, learning about—how did the woman put it?—using the illusion of intimacy to elicit information. In other words, becoming far more used to using a woman’s sensuality than Phina felt comfortable with. Thank the universe her relationship with Todd was growing and healthy, or she wouldn’t even have a place to start.
Of course, before and after that class she’d had weapons training, environmental awareness, tailing and tagging, and even a lesson out in the solarium in the desert terrain.
Phina looked down at her pants as she began taking them off, noticing the bits of sand and dust pouring onto the floor. She sagged and shook her head.
