Nebula Nights: Love Among The Stars

by Melisse Aires

  Maybe running the household for the Planetary High Lord gave Iraku the right to be arrogant.

  But does he have to walk so damn slowly? Reining in her annoyance, Andi paced behind him.

  Iraku paused to adjust a spray of scarlet flowers in one of the urns beside the main doorway, shifting it an inch or two and bringing a second bloom up beside the first. Exasperated, Andi maneuvered around him. “I can get to the library by myself, thank you.”

  “Escorting you is not a problem, miss.” Sidestepping neatly, Iraku blocked her path. She had to stutter-step and let him go ahead of her to avert an unseemly collision. This hallway was too narrow for Andi to walk anywhere but behind the chief servant as he continued his ponderous march to the library wing. Reaching for the elegantly curved brass door handles, he pushed the panels open. Muttering a curse, Andi brushed past him to step inside the room.

  The Sectors Special Forces captain awaiting Andi in the library stood with his back to the door, hands on his hips, staring at one of Lord Tonkiln’s prized abstract paintings. Well over six feet of hard warrior, he’d rolled his camouflage uniform sleeves up, revealing muscular arms matching the rest of his physique. Andi glimpsed the hint of an intriguing tattoo, a black sword wreathed in comets, on one bicep. His hair was sandy brown, a bit shaggy for military correctness. He tapped the toe of his boot against the expensive mahogany floor. The captain’s whole attitude suggested a man poised for decisive action at a moment’s notice, reinforced by the way he wheeled at the sound of the door opening.

  “Finally.” His glance at the military chrono on his tanned wrist was an unconscious gesture of annoyance at time forever lost.

  Green eyes in a tanned, ruggedly handsome face. Andi’s knees went a little wobbly for a moment. My particular weakness in a man. Classic square jaw, straight nose, high forehead with a small scar on his cheek.

  His eyebrows drew together in a frown. “Miss Markriss?”

  “Why are you here?” Andi snapped out of her fascination with his features, feeling her cheeks grow hot. Wow, was I blatantly staring or what? “Has something happened to Dave Flintmay? The Loxton planetary agent?”

  Flashing very white teeth in that tanned face, he smiled at her, but the too-easy grin didn’t reach his tired eyes. “Don’t you people get the news out here? Comlinks broken?”

  She blinked, trying to follow this unexpected conversation starter. “What?”

  Lady Tonkiln received a stack of messages each morning, from either her husband or friends in the capital. Lysanda also had many messages, filled with inconsequential social gossip. Nothing for Andi, but then, everyone knew she was on an extended vacation from the office. The Loxton operation was on its summer hiatus along with most of Zulaire. “Of course we get news. What does that have to do with anything? Captain, what are you doing here?”

  Glancing at Iraku, the officer’s lips tightened as if he bit back some hasty comment. Unabashedly eavesdropping, the Naranti servant remained by the open door. “Thank you, I think the lady and I can manage.”

  Andi stifled a laugh. The gardener’s assistant had been right—the captain’s accent was pretty bad, soft on the consonants and missing the required prefixes. His hypnotraining must have been a rush job.

  Iraku stared at the outworlder, who glared back, jaw clenched, one hand resting on the butt of his blaster.

  I never tried outright dismissal on the old dictator. Avoiding him sure doesn’t work. Breaking the silence, Andi tried for a gracious note. “Thanks for escorting me, Iraku. Can you do me a favor and inform Lady Tonkiln I’ve returned to the house, since she was concerned?” Blinking at last, the servant bowed low. He left without another word but drew the door closed behind him in a leisurely fashion calculated to infuriate the impatient captain.

  As Andi watched in disbelief, Deverane crossed to the door. Opening it a few inches, he checked to be sure Iraku hadn’t lingered within earshot, before shutting the door again.

  Offering no explanation to Andi for the cautious maneuver, he gestured toward the overstuffed chairs grouped in front of the fireplace. “Would you like to sit?”

  “No, thank you, I want to know what’s going on.” She took a deep breath, trying to calm her frayed nerves. Is all this mystery necessary?

  “Captain Tom Deverane, Sectors Special Forces.” He walked to the chairs himself. To be polite, she joined him, shaking his proffered hand before seating herself. “Excuse my dust,” he said. “But I’ve been in the Western Plains and the Abujan mountain range for quite some time now.”

  “Why don’t you try telling me something relevant about why you’re here?” Many a slow-moving clerk at the Loxton offices had jumped at that peremptory tone from her.

  “I forget you’ve been out of the loop.” Sitting down, Deverane leaned forward, putting his hands on his knees and taking a deep breath. “Two days ago I got urgent orders, relayed from Sector Command, diverting me from my primary mission. The new priority was to come five hundred miles out of our way to extract you for a safe return to the capital city.” From the dry tone in his voice, Andi guessed how little he’d appreciated the change. “Now, if you could get your things together, I’d like to be on our way before dark.”

  She blinked. Today? He wants me to leave now? Andi shifted back into the chair’s embrace, crossing her legs. “Get my things—what are you talking about? I’m the guest of Lord Tonkiln’s family, and I’m expected to present a significant gift from Loxton at the reception tonight with due ceremony. I can’t ride off with you on literally a moment’s notice without some compelling reason. Why is your Command issuing orders concerning me anyway?”

  The captain got up in one smooth motion, like a great cat uncurling, paced to the fireplace and back, then half sat on the edge of a sturdy table. I bet he’s a person in constant motion—discussing anything in patient detail doesn’t appear to be his style. Well, I’m not one of his soldiers and I don’t take orders from him, so he’d better explain himself.

  “Miss Markriss—”

  “Call me Andi.” And let’s get this discussion on a less military, more personal level so you stop trying to give me orders.

  The quick, meaningless smile crossed his handsome face again, never reaching his eyes. “Andi. In case you haven’t heard, this entire planet is about to be embroiled in a devastating Clan war.”

  Andi didn’t hesitate. “Ridiculous. The Obati and the Shenti have been at peace for four hundred years. Everyone has been satisfied with the status quo for four centuries. How long did you say you’ve been on Zulaire, Captain?” She raised her eyebrows, drumming her fingers on the arm of the chair. “You’ve been here—what? Two weeks?”

  He drew himself up to his full height, probably a foot taller than she, hands clasped tight behind his back, and glared at her. “I’ve been here long enough to see that this place is approaching critical mass, which apparently escapes your scanners. You’re the only offworlder on Zulaire right now who isn’t military, diplomatic, or mining personnel. And all of them are either safe in the capital or behind the defenses of the West Vialtin mine. Except you.” His index finger stabbed the air in her direction. “Along with my men and me. I intend to correct that situation in short order. Now, if you will please get your things—”

  This is ridiculous. Not intimidated but curious, Andi shook her head. “We would have heard something out here. My office would have gotten in touch with me.”

  Deverane walked closer, leaned on the table. “Have you received any communications from the office, or anyone since you came out here?”

  “No, but it’s the summer slow period. Even the Loxton office is all but closed.” She gave him a challenging glare. “Look, on the basis of what you’ve said so far, I don’t appear to need rescuing. You still haven’t told me anything to justify leaving tonight, missing the reception, insulting my hosts, and driving back to the capital like a prisoner.” Wishing the deep upholstery didn’t make rising such an ungraceful process, Andi left the chair.


  “You aren’t getting the picture.” Jaw clenched, he took a few steps to stand next to her. The glare from his green eyes was scorching, and Andi recoiled from the intensity. Apparently taking note of her unease, the captain gentled his voice. “Though why that should surprise me, I don’t know, considering the warnings Lord Tonkiln and the other members of the Council have ignored.”

  “Warnings?” Andi took a step back, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “To get their families the hell out of this isolated, indefensible spot and into safety at the capital.” Deverane took a deep breath. He walked over to stare at the carvings on the mantel. Andi got the impression from the rigid set of his broad shoulders he was trying to control his temper. After a minute, he came to sit near her again. “I was told your boss made numerous attempts to get in touch with you, right until the moment he and the rest of the Loxton staff took a ship offworld.”

  “Dave left Zulaire? They’ve all gone?” Now Andi fell back into the chair, raising a small puff of dust from the plush cushion beneath her. A wave of nausea rippling through her gut, she ran a hand through her hair, looping the tendrils behind her ear. “I don’t understand any of this. Why would my boss and my co-workers leave without me? Why wouldn’t the Tonkilns tell me? You’re still not making sense.”

  Deverane came to hunker down in front of her chair, caging her with his arms, invading her personal space. Inhaling sharply, she caught a whiff of musk and forest and man, threaded with some delicious spicy note. She glanced down at his hands, strong, capable, locked on the chair close to her body. As if to calm an upset child, his voice was soothing and low. “Relax. We can get you offplanet in a military transport once you’re safely in the capital.”

  She lifted her head, gazing straight into his eyes. Half-formed thoughts chased each other in her mind. The longer he talked, the more nervous she got, but it was still all too much to take in. Loxton only pulled staff offworld in the most serious situations. I haven’t heard a whiff of trouble. Dave wouldn’t have left me behind. Would he?

  Deverane touched her arm lightly. “There have been incidents all summer. People disappearing, vehicles abandoned on the transportway with no sign of the occupants. There have even been some small-scale massacres in isolated villages, both Obati and Shenti. The violence keeps escalating. Command thinks a full-blown war is only a breath away, waiting for some convenient incident to touch it off. Lord Tonkiln and the others have chosen to keep things quiet, leaving their families at risk out here in order to demonstrate their belief in their own supremacy. Putting on a pretense of things going along as usual. Or else they refuse to see what’s coming. Civilians.”

  He might as well have said idiots.

  Deverane frowned at her, three deep wrinkles marring the strong sweep of his forehead. “Are you prepared to take the same risk?”

  He’s invading my personal space, damn it. I don’t intimidate that easily, pal. She pushed at his rock-hard shoulders. Standing, he moved away a pace or two, still keeping his eyes locked on her. Licking her lips, Andi smoothed down her silky skirt. “You’re insinuating my hosts have deceived me and deliberately put me in harm’s way? I find that insulting.”

  Eyes closed, he pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re a pawn to them.” Now he reopened his eyes and flung his arms out, hands wide open. “You mean nothing to them. If you’re going to refuse my offer of evacuation, then you’d better be ready to take care of yourself, because I guarantee you the Obati won’t.”

  “Give me some specifics to back up your claims, Captain,” Andi said. “So far I only have your word there’s a problem. No insult intended.”

  He nodded. “All right,” he said, his voice crisp. “Fair enough. One of your own Loxton agents was murdered in the southern region, along with all his Shenti guides and workers. The cargo wasn’t even stolen, just left to rot in the haulers. I’m told that was the incident that spooked your boss to close the office and leave the planet.”

  “One of the Loxton crew? Who?” As deputy agent, she knew and worked with all of the Loxton staff. Mentally reviewing who might have been in transit, seeing the faces of men and women who were her friends as well as co-workers, Andi felt a wave of nausea.

  “Someone named Kane. I’m sorry to be the one to tell you all this.”

  She felt as if he’d thrown ice water in her face. Kane was one of her favorite crew chiefs on Zulaire, always laughing, even while he ran a highly organized local operation. Massacred? Andi’s thoughts were racing and she began to tremble. She swallowed the bile in her throat and said, “When did this happen?”

  “Two weeks ago.”

  “And no one thought I needed to know? No one saw fit to tell me?” Her voice rose as she got angrier.

  “I told you, the Obati were keeping you in the dark, blocking your company’s attempts to communicate with you out here,” Deverane said. “I know it’s a lot to take in.”

  She shook her head. “Why would the Obati keep information from me?”

  Deverane shrugged. “Maybe it’s good propaganda to have the Loxton deputy agent still on Zulaire, still at the social event of the summer. Signals things aren’t as out of control as people might think.”

  “Using me?” The idea revolted her.

  He nodded. “There have been other incidents, although the slaughter of Kane’s caravan was the worst. The victims have primarily been Sectors citizens associated with either Obati or Shenti interests in some way. As a guest of the Tonkilns, you fit that profile.”

  “But if this is a Shenti attempt to take over rule of Zulaire, why did they kill Kane? He was honorary Shenti. It doesn’t make sense.” Andi’s stomach was in knots, vertigo making her senses swirl. A tragedy beyond anything I could have imagined.

  “Someone commits a crime, someone else takes revenge and the innocents get caught in the middle, because of who they are, who they were with, who they know. Sometimes being in the wrong spot at the wrong time gets a person killed,” Deverane said, his tone gentle. “I don’t want it to happen to you.”

  A vision of the atrocity committed on her friend battered Andi. What would I do if I got caught in a similar situation? I didn’t even bring my personal blaster.

  She stood, resting her hand on Deverane’s arm for a moment. “I’ll go back to the capital with you in the morning. And…thank you.”

  “In the—” He glared at her, eyebrows drawing together in an impressive frown, forehead wrinkles deepening even more. “Have you been listening, Miss Markriss? This planet is in a precarious state. We can’t wait for your convenience. We need to leave tonight. The sooner the better.”

  Andi walked to the door. “I don’t think we can leave tonight, Captain, no matter what you want.”

  The door handle moved under her hand. Startled, she released it, falling back a pace or two. When the door opened, Iraku stood there, condescending as ever, face contorted in a sneer, lips pursed in disapproval. Hands on their curved belt knives, two of the armed household guards stood a few steps away. Startled by their hostile expressions, Andi retreated a step.

  Addrerssing her but staring at Deverane, Iraku asked, “Is there a problem, miss? Lady Tonkiln wishes to speak with you regarding the presentation at tonight’s ceremony.”

  Andi shook her head. “No problem, I’ll be right there.” She turned to Deverane, holding out one hand, palm up. “Better ask your sergeant what’s wrong with the APC’s engine.”

  “What are you talking about?” Deverane strode to her side.

  “He told me there was an engine problem. The corporal said it was going to take all night to fix. Listen, assuming your men can’t repair the APC tonight, I’ll go to the reception, do my duty for Loxton, and leave with you in the morning. No problem.”

  What Deverane would have said next, Andi didn’t wait to hear. After all, the Tonkilns had a small army of Naranti servants and household guards. Every Obati household in the summer colony did. The well-trained security force ought to b
e enough protection from any hotheaded Shenti warriors bent on making mischief.

  Rolling her shoulders as she walked down the hall, she took a deep, calming breath. We can’t leave now anyway, so I might as well stick with protocol. Nothing’s likely to happen tonight, not here in the middle of the Obati stronghold.

  Chapter Two

  Although she packed a single suitcase with essentials before dressing for the reception and driving over with Lady Tonkiln, Andi refused to let herself worry too much about Captain Deverane’s dire news. Although the massacre of Kane’s team was a heartbreaking, shocking tragedy, the crew had been half the planet away. Surely whoever was trying to foment rebellion in the south didn’t affect the situation here. Dave always was an alarmist. Loxton won’t appreciate his abandoning the planet. Can you say career-ending move? Yes, she’d travel back to the capital with the Sectors soldiers tomorrow, but for tonight, she couldn’t find a reason good enough to shirk her duty.

  Despite a nagging headache, she got through the dinner and made her well-practiced, flowery speech as she presented the Loxton gift, which was well received by Lysanda and her groom. When the dancing began, Andi stood on the sidelines, remembering the end-of-summer party last year, when she and Gul Tonkiln had been together. Although their breakup had been mutual, she still felt a brief flash of regret, tempered by the sure knowledge nothing long term would have developed between them. Careless, handsome Gul Tonkiln, oldest son of the ruler, who’d sworn he’d be here this weekend. He hadn’t even bothered to show up for Lysanda’s handfasting ceremony earlier in the day. Well, what did I really expect? This is classic Gul behavior. Obviously, nothing’s changed.

  A deep, rich voice spoke to her in Basic. “Waiting for someone? Or will I do?”

  Deverane stood in front of her, his wide shoulders blocking her view of the room. He bowed very slightly, but his intense gaze never left her face.