The soldiers hesitated.
“The general is—” Briggs began.
“I’ll take you someplace where you can wait for him,” Rigger interrupted. “He is entertaining guests tonight.”
“Thank you,” Grier acknowledged.
Rigger thrust the scanner at his partner. “Wait here. I’m not going to be the one to get in the way of the general and his pleasure droid. Maybe if he’s got this thing he’ll ease up a little. I’ll stick them in the holding room closest to his office, report it, and be back. Do not abandon this post.”
Rigger placed his hand on the wall scanner to open the door to the facility. Inside, the halls were pristine white with no welcoming décor. The doors along a corridor looked to be evenly spaced down to the tiniest measurement. Federation buildings were not meant to be beautiful. They were functional. They were predesigned to precise specifications and used wherever the Federation quickly set up a base.
“I do not know what the order requirements were for this unit, but you might want to reconsider her programming,” Rigger said. “The general does not strike me as the type of man to want a…”
“Yes?” Grier prompted.
“An eager partner,” Rigger finished. “I’m not sure why I’m saying this, but I think it might help when the time comes for the droid to cool the general’s desires.”
“Hmm,” Grier answered. She walked behind the two men and saw Grier’s fist tighten slightly. It was the only indication that he was not enjoying this conversation. His voice was tight as he ordered, “Droid, when you meet General Sten, activate fear mode.”
Salena pressed her lips tightly together and was unable to think of a proper answer. She hated her ability. That was one statement she did not need to hear, and an image she did not want in her head.
Rigger paused and looked back when she didn’t answer.
Grier did not turn to look at her. “Droid, did you hear me?”
“Yes. Fear mode,” Salena said.
Rigger again looked her over. “Does she bleed?”
Before she realized what was happening, Grier had pulled his arm back and punched Rigger on the side of the head. The soldier slammed into the wall and slid to the floor.
“Disgusting,” Grier muttered.
Salena looked up and down the corridor. “What are you doing? What if someone saw you?”
“He asked if you’d bleed,” Grier said by way of defense. He lifted the man over his shoulder and began carrying him. He paused by a door. “I don’t hear anyone in here.” He opened the door and carried Rigger inside a supply closet. “Find something to tie him with.”
Salena tried not to think of the danger and did as he asked. The shelves were arranged neatly with an array of items. Most of it appeared to be medical supplies for field kits. The only thing she could find to tie someone with were the cords from a couple of handheld medical units. They were connected to a portable power source. She pulled the handhelds free and brought them to Grier.
“This is all I could find.” Salena handed them over.
“This will do.” Grier made quick work of binding Rigger’s hands.
Salena took one of the handhelds and activated it. She injected Rigger with something that would make him sleep for a long time.
“Good thinking,” Grier said. He took the unit from her and tied the man’s ankles.
He paused to listen at the door. After a few seconds, he motioned that the coast was clear. He led her back into the hall.
“What now?” she asked.
“I’m going to listen for signs of an event and we’ll try to slip in to join the festivities,” he said. “From there, it should be easy to see if your sister is attending.”
“How did you know that thing would work with the general?” Salena hurried to keep up with him as he strode through the halls.
“I have known men like General Sten for a long time. He is not the kind of man who would want the entire base knowing he had to pay for female company. I hoped his men would assume the same thing.”
Grier held up his hand for silence and leaned against the wall. He placed his hand over her waist and pushed her next to him. They waited as the sound of footsteps moved around a turn in the corridor and faded.
He let loose a long breath. “I hate that you are in here.”
“You don’t have a choice,” she answered. “I’m not leaving.”
“It’s too late for that anyway.” He threaded his arm around hers and escorted her through a series of turns. The sound of voices became more pronounced as they walked. Music played, a soft undercurrent to discussions.
Salena felt a shock move over her and she gasped, holding her chest. “I feel her.”
“What?” Grier pushed her back around a corner in concern.
“I feel my sister. She is close.” Salena pressed her hand to her chest. Tears welled in her eyes. “I forgot what it felt like to be near them. She’s really here, Grier.”
Grier held her tight to his chest. “We will. Try to breathe.”
She took a deep breath and nodded. Grier swiped his thumbs over her cheeks to wipe away the tears. “I’ll be fine. The feeling took me by surprise, is all.”
He studied her as if to ask, are you sure?
“I’ll be fine,” she insisted.
“Once we join the party, you cannot react like that. If we see her, don’t stare. Smile and pretend you belong.” His hand shook slightly as he lifted hers and placed it on his arm. “Whatever you do, don’t let go of me.”
The large hall was as white and sterile as the rest of the building. Men in black uniforms acted the part of servants carrying trays of various liquors and foods around to the guests. All of those in attendance appeared to be from off-world. They carried themselves with importance.
There was an unexpected mix of at least six dozen aliens, and ones she would not have expected to be in the same room with each other. Salena knew the Dokka traders by their green skin and oval-shaped heads. She had never heard of a pleasant run-in with that particular alien. They spoke with a G’am gentleman.
This was her first time actually seeing a G’am, and she couldn’t help but stare. He—she assumed it was a he—was a willowy creature, his thin, white-tinted body nearly transparent. G’am did not wear clothing, and the light shone through him to accentuate tiny, pulsing organs and the seemingly random pattern of vessels beneath his skin. Though he walked upright with humanoid legs, he had long, thin, wiggling tentacles instead of hands at the end of four cylindrical arms.
Many of the humanoid creatures looked like humans but with varying differences, like protrusions along the cheeks, disproportioned features, or an extra eye in the middle of a forehead.
“What are they doing here?” Grier frowned.
A Fajerkin nobleman, the rank evident by the two feathers hanging from his hat, stood with his arms crossed in displeasure.
“What?” Salena asked.
“The Fajerkin people own several fueling docks and have deals with us for several hundred-thousand space credits worth of fuel orders a year,” Grier whispered. “I find it curious that they are here to speak with the Federation. They would have no business here, except to arrange a deal for galaxa-promethium.”
“That’s the fuel ore the dragons mine, right?” Salena questioned, remembering Jaxx had said something about it.
Grier nodded.
“Do you want me to ask him?” she offered. “I can make him tell us.”
“No. We’re here for your sister. Let’s keep looking. I’ll deal with the Fajerkin later.” He guided her through the throng, acting as though he was above speaking to the others even though they received curious glances. Since Grier’s alien disguise was wholly made up, there was no way for them to know what manner of creature he was. This caused them to stay back. It did not, however, cause them to stop staring openly at Salena.
She searched the crowd, desperate for a sign of her sister. She still felt her but began to wonder if it was
wishful thinking.
Seeing General Sten, Grier changed direction to avoid him. They moved across the party. He grabbed a glass of liquor off a passing tray and sniffed it. He made a slight face of displeasure and did not drink. Musicians played in a corner, not making eye contact with any of the guests.
Suddenly, Grier stiffened.
Salena gripped his arm tighter and looked to see what happened.
“She sounds like you,” Grier whispered.
Salena inhaled sharply. All she could manage was a weak, “Where?”
Grier nodded as he led her through the crowd. The gathering became dense and harder to maneuver through. That didn’t stop her husband as he pushed his way to see what everyone was watching.
Salena gripped Grier’s arm for support as she finally found Fiora. Gazing at her sister was like seeing a piece of her childhood come to life. Their time apart had been so long, so filled with fears and regrets, and now here they were.
Salena started to move toward her, but Grier pulled her back and gave a small shake of his head. She glanced around, seeing all eyes on her sister.
Fiora wore a white tunic and pants as sterile as the facility that held her prisoner. Her hair was pulled up and covered with a white cap. Her eyes were closed as if she concentrated. She sat in a large chair, unchained but watched over by two guards. When she opened her eyes, the gaze appeared lifeless.
“After the moon sets for the last time, you will journey to a tree and there you will find the key to your victory,” Fiora told a Slit’therne. He was a snake-like alien whose kind favored remote, swampy locations. The upper half of his body was humanoid, except with green-yellow scales in place of flesh, and his hands were webbed. When it looked like he’d protest, a guard stepped forward in warning and the Slit’therne propelled himself backward on a large tail that replaced what would have been legs.
“Next,” the guard ordered.
Fiora sat up straighter and looked around the crowd. Her eyes scanned in Salena’s direction but did not stop on the disguise.
“Next,” the guard repeated.
A Lykan stepped forward, his fur brushed flat and sprayed into place. His voice was gruff as he said, “What of my wife?”
Fiora closed her eyes only to open them quickly. She frowned. “You don’t have a wife.”
A tiny growl sounded in his throat. She held up her hands and closed her eyes. “I see a bride in your future. Two space years.”
He grunted and nodded, stepping back as if pleased by this news.
Salena frowned. They treated Fiora like the main attraction in a traveling carnival ship.
Grier moved her to the side.
When a human woman made a move to step forward for a turn, Grier touched the lady’s arm, let his eyes swirl and shook his head. She made a weak noise and stepped aside. He pushed Salena forward. No one tried to stop him.
Salena approached Fiora. Her hands shook as she reached out.
“Don’t touch,” a guard warned.
Fiora lifted a hand to stop him from moving forward. “No, it’s all right. She won’t hurt me.”
The guard did not seem pleased but nodded that Salena could approach.
Salena took her sister’s hand, unable to believe it was true. Fiora stared for a moment before her grip tightened as if realizing what was happening. Her breath caught.
“You poor thing,” Salena said in her high-pitched whine. “I have seen fortune-tellers before. You look as if you need a break.”
“That’s enough,” the guard said. “Step back.”
Fiora sighed. “I think she’s right. The images become clearer when I am rested. I need a small break. There are many futures in this room.”
Salena began to pull back into the crowd.
“Don’t you want your prediction?” Fiora asked.
Salena nodded.
“You will find what you are looking for,” Fiora said.
Salena smiled. “Thank you.”
Fiora stood and swayed on her feet. “I must excuse myself for a moment.”
Grier escorted Salena through the crowd while keeping an eye on Fiora. The guards followed her as she left the festivities.
“She’s leaving. Now what?” Grier asked.
“Get me to her. I have a plan,” Salena said.
Grier led Salena in a random pattern through the party before slipping her out the door the soldiers had walked through. They saw them stationed near another door.
When they approached, the surly man from before stepped in their way. “Turn around. This area is closed.”
Salena wasn’t sure what came over her. She started to give a sweet smile, but decided seduction probably wasn’t her strongest con—so instead, she hiked her tight skirt and kicked the man in the balls.
He doubled over in pain.
Instantly, Grier punched the other soldier before he could sound an alarm. Then he backtracked and kneed the first man’s face as he was still doubled over.
“I normally won’t kick a man while he’s down,” Grier said, “but in this case, I think rendering him unconscious is actually a kindness.”
Salena pushed inside the door. Fiora was there, pacing the length of the room.
“Who are you?” Fiora demanded.
Salena turned the ring on her finger before ripping it off. Her body changed back, and she ignored the discomfort of the transformation. She practically slapped the morphing ring against Grier’s chest before running to her sister. She wrapped her arms around Fiora and held tight.
“Salena?” Fiora whispered, shaking. “I didn’t know if I could believe it. How?”
“There will be time for questions later,” Grier said. “We have to figure out a way to get you out of here.”
Fiora looked at him, eyeing the strange markings on his face.
“It’s all right. This is—” Salena started to explain.
“No. Don’t tell me. You shouldn’t have come,” Fiora said. “I can’t leave here. If I don’t show back up soon, they will send people after me. They will find me. And, if they ask me who you are, I’ll have to tell them because I cannot lie. So don’t tell me anything more. Just put that face back on and get out of here.”
Fiora tried to push her from the room.
Salena resisted and instead motioned at the door. “Grier, hide those men. We don’t want to draw suspicions if anyone looks this way.”
Grier nodded and left to do as she asked.
When they were alone, Salena said, “Take your clothes off. I have a plan.”
Fiora frowned and made no move to do so. “Salena?”
“You can’t lie, but I can. We’re going to change places. I’m going to tell fortunes and you’re going to walk out of here dressed as a pleasure droid bimbo.”
“What about you? That means you’ll be stuck here. I can’t do that. I can’t leave you here. You don’t know what it’s like to be locked in a cage by the Federation. I’m a toy to them.” Fiora shook her head even as Salena began stripping.
“I do know what it’s like. I’m here because the Federation brought me. They came for both of us. I was lucky enough to escape. And that man with me is my husband. He’s a prince on this planet. If anyone can protect us, it is him and his family.” Salena stood naked and tried to give her sister the dress. “I’m here to rescue you. You’re coming with us. My lies will create a distraction in there. And once started, you know they will not be able to resist telling each other the truth. I have a feeling that crowd has a lot of secrets they do not want told. I also assume they have strong opinions about some of their fellow partygoers that they will be only too willing to share. You can’t have that many alien races in one room without someone holding a grudge or feeling superior.”
“You haven’t changed,” Fiora said.
“Yes, I have. I will not hesitate again.” Salena shook the dress. “Now hurry.”
“Is Piera with you?” Fiora asked, pulling her shirt over her head.
“No. I hope
d you knew something about her.” Salena took the shirt and tugged it on.
Fiora slipped out of the pants and began wiggling into the dress. “What do you mean, you won’t hesitate again?”
“That night they killed our parents. I hesitated, and we were captured.” Salena took a deep breath and pulled on the pants. “I’m so sorry. I will not hesitate again.”
“You can’t honestly blame yourself for that night.” Fiora pulled the hat off her head and the string holding up her long hair. “We were children.”
“Not according to Noire law.” Salena looked at the hat and string.
“We were children,” Fiora repeated, not leaving room for argument. “Kneel.”
Salena knelt on the floor as her sister tugged at her hair to get it off her face. The door opened, and both women instantly turned to look.
Grier stood with his hands over his eyes. “I heard your plan from outside. Are you dressed?”
“Yes, you can look,” Salena said. “Do you have the ring?”
“Here,” he answered, holding it up.
“Show Fiora how to use it. You’re going to escort her back to the party. I’ll be out shortly.” Salena paused only long enough to kiss him.
Fiora placed the cap on Salena’s head. “Don’t forget to speak in riddles. I never tell them their futures plainly.”
“I remember.” Salena had helped Fiora come up with a way to hide the predictions. Fiora might not be able to lie, but she didn’t have to speak in plain truths. People thought they aspired to know the future but in reality they sought to be told only what they wanted to hear.
When Salena stood, Fiora grabbed her hands. “I still cannot see my own destiny, so if this goes poorly, I love you and thank you.”
“Nothing is going to happen to you,” Salena said. “Stay by Grier. You can trust him with your life.”
28
Grier did not like this plan, for it took his wife from his side. However, since he did not have a better one to offer in its place, he went along with it.
Seeing Salena next to her sister had been surreal. Aside from Fiora’s hair being longer, and the scar on her forehead, they were identical. His dragon-shifter eyes could barely tell the two of them apart by just looking. Yet, when he used his feelings, he knew who his wife was.
Dragon Prince Page 23
