The news feed on her screen flashed up as a bulletin came in. Honor’s eyebrows shot upward, as an image of Kade Ember and some of his brothers came into view. It was as if the State had read her mind and were projecting a warning: go near these guys and life as you know it is over.
She smiled when she saw Kade’s face, despite the news feed declaring him a criminal. According to news reports, he was an enemy of the State. Honor certainly didn’t consider him one. Sure, what the Ember brothers did was ridiculous, claiming dragons once ruled the world and kept order. And beyond that, they were trying to bring them back. As if such a thing were possible. But she knew Kade, He certainly wouldn’t do anything against the State.
They’d worked together on a couple of projects in the past. He was super-smart and all sexy-geek—full of muscles, mumbled apologies, and mega-brain ideas that had left Honor weak at the knees. But they’d only been friends, and lost touch after he’d been fired for implanting viruses into the State mainframe.
Honor still couldn’t believe that accusation. But the State had solid evidence against him. And she’d seen how Kade had disappeared overnight. Then, mere hours later, his image was splashed all over the feeds, with a bounty on his head. He’d messed up somehow, but she couldn’t figure out what had gone wrong. It was a shame; few people could match her in genetics and coding. Kade had been one of them.
She’d discreetly kept track of what Kade and his brothers had done over the last year, as best she could. And she still liked him, still thought this had to be some big misunderstanding. The State declared they would kill him on sight if they found him, but Honor couldn’t believe he was all bad. He was nothing short of a genius.
The news report described Kade and his brothers as dangerous mavericks who were wanted for questioning on multiple law infractions, including murder. All were described as lethal and unpredictable.
Honor snorted out a laugh. She would never have described Kade that way, although she knew he’d served time in the armed forces. Bizarrely, she found his bad-boy persona added to his allure. The broadcast finished with the usual shadowy image of their leader, Emperor Endrir.
Kade Ember, a wanted man. Honor grinned and shook her head.
The click of heels on the marble floor made Honor look up. Her smile faded. It was Clarice’s assistant, Beth, come to take her to the meeting. “Miss Nolan will see you now.”
Honor nodded. “I’ll just be a minute.” She closed the old-style, encrypted comms system she’d used to send Kade the message. It was a moment of rashness that made her send it. But Clarice was vicious. Honor needed to know she had backup, if she needed it. She just hoped the comms address she had for Kade was still active.
“Miss Nolan will not be kept waiting,” said Beth, her nervous gaze shooting around the room. As Clarice’s assistant, she was often on the receiving end of her venom, so the woman had a right to be skittish.
Honor nodded and stood, smoothing down her skirt as she did so. “Let’s go.” As she walked behind Beth, she fought with her nerves. Maybe it would be nothing; a slap on the wrist for some smart-mouthed comment Clarice had overheard her making.
The wait for the elevator felt like an hour. Honor’s palms sweated. “What does Clarice want with me?”
Beth’s large blue eyes widened a fraction. “She will let you know why you’re having this meeting.”
“I could have prepared, if I knew the subject.”
Beth stepped away from Honor as the elevator arrived, as if being too close would infect her with whatever trouble she’d gotten herself into. “Best you find out for yourself.”
Honor rolled her shoulders as she stepped inside, her nerves hitching up a gear and her mouth going dry. Whatever this was, it wouldn’t end well.
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Heath (Ember Quest Book 1) Page 24
