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  Yes that. It had worked out quite well in the end. “Just a minor inconvenience with pirates. Pirates in our own territories. I’m sure it’s that rabble from the Edge coming here to terrorize us. They won’t be terrorizing anyone again, I promise you. My people are all very good with weapons.” There hadn’t been a single person left alive.

  “Good to hear. We need to be vigilant in our self-defense against the vulgarity of the Federation. Your tribute has been received, and we shall continue to endeavor to protect your people.” With that canned and emotionless commentary, Alem turned and held a hand out toward the dais. “Please do meet my lovely betrothed, Carina Fardelle.”

  An average man would have missed the slight narrow-eyed glare of disgust, just a brief, fleeting expression before her smile settled onto her mouth but not her eyes. This was no empty-headed woman. He hadn’t expected that.

  She moved to them with the grace he’d predicted. Regal. This woman was no fool, but she was a queen. Impossible not to find her breathtaking. He bowed over the hand she’d extended. Smooth, cool, scented of evening flowers. “It is an honor to extend my congratulations to you in person.”

  Her smile never changed, but he felt the tension in her muscles and again, wondered about the woman inside this facade. “Thank you, Minister Silas. I do hope you’ll be able to attend after we announce a date. Hartley still has some work to do. A lady does enjoy being courted.” The comments were meant to be coy, but he wondered if that’s what she’d intended. Wondered too much. Damn it, he had no call to be wondering anything about her. Mortimer would not care. She was not important here; he had to keep his wits about him, not fantasize about a woman most likely too soft and coddled to ever be of real interest to him.

  Alem tittered, and Mortimer, surprised by the violence welling inside himself, swallowed hard and took a sip of his drink.

  “Sweet flower, I am yours in all things.” Alem looked back to Mortimer. “Are we not all but puppets to dance for our ladies? Are you married, Silas?”

  “I am not, though I wait for that woman to fill my life with happiness.” Mortimer’s smile seemed to soothe Hartley Alem, though Carina didn’t appear as charmed.

  Carina sent him a last, cool look and stepped back. “If you two will excuse me, I see my mother asking for my attention. A pleasure to meet you, Minister Silas. Enjoy your stay here on Caelinus.”

  He bowed in response before she was swept away quickly by her mother, leaving that scent in the air and the soft swish of her gown in her wake.

  He ate and drank, refused the attentions of a young male who’d been sent his way for entertainment and the young woman who followed. He liked sex as much as the next man, but he didn’t like it with prostitutes and he didn’t like it with slaves. He had no need to pay or hold someone in bondage to get them to open their thighs. Not that kind of bondage anyway.

  He watched and learned. Found weaknesses and tucked them away. By the time he retired, he had a plan in place.

  He’d need to move quickly.

  After her escape from the dinner, Carina escorted her mother to her rooms, and they’d shared a cup of tea. Esta would be called to attend to Ciro when he finished with the reception, so they’d stolen those moments to try to decompress and pretend not to be concerned that the Federation hadn’t shown up yet. The walk back to her own rooms was quiet. Carina ignored her guards the best she could and went directly inside, locking the door behind her.

  Now finally alone, she brushed her hair and readied to sleep. She’d dismissed her attendants as she’d left for the reception, so there was no one else to worry about just then. Which was good since she had plenty to worry over as it was.

  The evening had left her unsettled, impatient. Time was running out! Hartley had managed to fondle her breast at one point, squeezing so hard he’d caused her pain. At the sound of distress, he merely smiled and stepped back, licking his lips and nearly sending her meal bolting from her belly. Thinking back, she should have thrown it up all over him. But knowing him, he’d have enjoyed it.

  Alone in the pale light, she realized no matter how crafty and brave she thought she might be, this was beyond her, and it could very well be her undoing.

  It would do no good to pace anymore. She needed some rest, or she wouldn’t be able to keep up the mask with her father. After a quick sleeping draught, she turned out the lamps and climbed into her bed. Sleep came quickly but was fraught with ugly thoughts and dreams of disappearing.

  Jolting her from a nightmare, a hand touched her and then pressed against her lips. She came fully awake, thrashing until a voice whispered to her.

  “Be still. Terra roses await you.”

  At the sound of the code words her mother had told her to expect, Carina obeyed.

  “Be still a moment until your eyes adjust.”

  Despite the curt nature of his order, she knew he was right. Slowly, her eyes adjusted to the dim light and she saw who’d spoken.

  Sharp green eyes took her in and she nearly recoiled. Him? Mortimer whatever his name was? That silly fop? They wouldn’t get five steps down the hall!

  When he spoke again, she began to realize her error. “We must move fast. Do you have a bag of any kind?”

  This man was not the same. His voice was different. Clipped. Hard. He had none of that softness she’d witnessed earlier that evening. No, the man in her room had perceptive eyes. His movements as he checked the room were predatory. Gone were the outlandishly silly clothes, the gaudy jewels on his fingers. In that man’s stead was one wearing dark clothing clinging to a body she was quite sure would be as magnificent without them as inside them.

  This man was not Mortimer at all, and she realized this man would get her free. Hope surged through her veins.

  Her dry mouth searched for words, stumbled and found her voice. “I . . . yes. My mother told me to. It’s here.”

  He looked her up and down and shook his head. “Princess, we cannot run very fast with you in that frilly gown. Do you have pants or boots? Those slippers will be a disaster.” The disdain was clear, and she felt anger rising within, hot and mighty.

  She wasn’t proud that her whispered reply was less than polite. “I was sleeping. I don’t sleep in pants. It’s not as if I knew you’d finally arrive today.”

  His mouth may have curved into a slight smile, but she wasn’t sure if it was hope or an illusion. “Whatever you say. Sorry my schedule wasn’t fast enough for you. Let’s move. Get your ass dressed. We have little time. Do you have the information?” He turned his back as she got up. At least he had some manners.

  She pushed past where he stood, taking up all the air in the room in a most disconcerting way. “My clothes are inside the passageway. The information is inside me, chipped. You can’t get it without me, so don’t get any ideas. How did you get in here?”

  “The passageway. Clever. Your mother assured us your father and his people do not know of it. I hope for all our sakes she’s right. Go on in and change. I’m going to do a few things.”

  She tried not to flounce off, but she probably did, and that only frustrated her more. Just as she reached the crawl space, he spoke again.

  “By the way, princess, if I wanted you dead, you’d be dead. I’m not a villain; I’m your only hope of survival. Don’t forget that.” He turned his back on her and began to fuss with the bedding.

  She stifled her urge to hit him over the head with something and instead, grabbed a photograph, one taken when she and her mother had been on holiday some years before. Once she’d squeezed into the passageway, she dressed quickly, leaving her sleeping gown behind. Carina leaned a note at the base of the wall, knowing her mother would find it eventually.

  The pain of that tore through her, sending her reeling as the loss hit her. The reality of what she was doing finally registered. She might never see her mother again.

  He came in through the crawl space and stood to his full height. His gaze went to the note and then back to her face. He took the note
and handed it back to her. “Don’t. I know it’s hard, but you can’t look back. If this is found, you will endanger whoever it’s for.” The words were hard, but he said them almost gently as he took her elbow. “We have to run, princess. Can you do that?”

  She nodded, grateful for the spark of anger he’d stoked and also that small thread of compassion in his eyes. “Yes. Physical activity is part of my daily regimen. In the future, don’t call me princess, Mortimer. My name is Carina.” It wasn’t very haughty, though she tried.

  He grinned, transforming his face, and an unbidden thrill rode her spine, sped her heartbeat. He was so breathtakingly overwhelming.

  “All right, Carina. I’m Daniel, and we have to go.” He held out a hand, and she took it, changing her life forever.

  Daniel. The name fit this man far better than Mortimer.

  Chapter 5

  They ran. Down the darkened corridor, following it farther and farther until he finally eased her out, shouldering her pack, on the other side of the outer wall. The air outside was still warm, but the still-dark sky would provide plenty of cover. Andrei waited there, as Daniel knew he would. The others he’d had in his entourage had melted back into society. He knew if he had need to call for them again in the future, there’d be fewer. Fardelle’s grasp had tightened. Security had become far more difficult to work around. Some of the operatives who helped them would be discovered; it was a basic fact of what they did. A fact he tried not to think about even as he appreciated and respected their choice to do right, no matter the cost.

  They could not take horses or any sort of vehicle while in the sight of the compound. Remaining on foot would keep them quieter and less easily sighted by the spotters who would most definitely be called up when she was discovered missing. If their luck held, they’d be off ’Verse by the time her disappearance was discovered.

  His cargo began to speak, but he shook his head. Her mouth firmed and her eyes narrowed, but she obeyed. He didn’t dare look at her mouth any longer; he’d already been too distracted by it. All his attention needed to be on the mission. On eluding their enemy and getting to the portal. He’d shaken off Mortimer and was fully Daniel again. He needed to keep focus.

  His field glasses showed Imperial troops along a nearby road. He pulled out the map and looked it over. There was no way around the path they were on. They’d been stationed on a narrow bridge over a dry gulley, far too steep to climb into and out of, and the nearest crossing beside that one would take them several hours out of the way and make it full day by the time they reached the portal. Their options were limited.

  “Stay here. Both of you.”

  Andrei nodded once and pulled her back into a more secure location.

  “Why? Is there a problem I can help with?” She kept her voice down.

  “There are troops between us and the portal. I have to take care of that.”

  Her eyes widened. “But . . .”

  “This isn’t going to be easy. If you want to live and get the fuck off Caelinus, you need to let me do my job. They will, without a second thought. They’re not going to let you pass; you have to know that. They’ll kill us and send you back. And then what? If you want that, tell me now before I risk my life or my partner’s life.”

  Hanging her head, she sighed heavily. Part of him felt bad for what she’d be seeing between that moment and the time she got off the transport in Ravena, but it was his job to make sure the latter happened. And his job wasn’t pretty.

  “They’re my people. I’m supposed to protect them.”

  “No they aren’t. They’re your father’s people. Those men are Skorpios. Do you understand the distinction here?” He took her upper arm, not to harm but to bring the point home. “Giving up now solves nothing. Making hard choices is the mark of a true leader. Be one now. You can’t help them here.”

  “All right.”

  Trusting Andrei to keep her safe, he moved quickly and quietly to the knot of soldiers. There were only three, and if he could have managed a good diversion, he would have rather than kill. Not because he cared about them particularly. They had their job and he had his. But it made far less of a mess. Bodies were a pain in his ass to deal with.

  These were Skorpios, Fardelle’s shock troops, and they weren’t likely to fall for that anyway.

  He planned how to take them all out as quickly as possible as he crept toward them. Once he began to work, he went into his head deeply. Part of him detached, entirely focused on the details of the job. It was like he watched a vid as he managed to take one out with a knife, hitting the other in the temple and grabbing his knife to finish the job and hit the third.

  With a signal to Andrei to get moving, he turned back to his work. Using the powder that would burn the bodies to little more than ash, he had cleaned up enough to cover their tracks by the time the other two arrived.

  She tried not to make a big deal out of looking around, but he could tell she did it nonetheless. She was freaked out, out of her element and, he had to admit, stronger than he’d thought she’d be.

  “Let’s move.”

  Though she was pale, she nodded and kept the pace.

  They had three standard hours until the first sun began to rise. This was not a time to walk. He was grateful she’d been telling the truth about being physically active daily, because she kept up as they continued their quick pace. He’d have carried her if necessary, of course, but it would have taken more out of him, and he was pretty sure he’d need every bit of strength and guile to get the hells out of the Imperium alive.

  Andrei took up the rear, watching their backs, while Daniel continued to run all the options through his head. It was so automatic, his mind wandered back to her again.

  Daniel knew she was on the verge of losing it. He’d probably never forget the devastation on her face when he’d told her to not leave the note back in the passageway. A note to her mother, he’d guess. Most likely it was becoming real for her. The cost of this decision. She was bound to grieve the loss of her mother. Even if she wasn’t dead, it wasn’t as if they could see each other again any time soon.

  And the soldiers. That lay heavy on her, he knew. It should, of course, but he’d been at this a lot longer than she. Her path had been far different than his.

  The woman had given up everything to get her daughter and the information out. He would not fail Esta Fardelle or Carina. Or, more important, the Federation.

  He’d already discovered Carina Fardelle was a lot more than he’d first imagined, but he wasn’t sure if he should be relieved or concerned. Both, he supposed. She wasn’t the kind of woman he’d have to tranquilize and carry back because she fainted at the barest whiff of danger.

  And damn it all, that intrigued him. Enough to make him wish she had been some silly, weak female, or at the very least, less attractive and capable, so he could stop thinking about her legs, her ass, the way she looked so caught between grief and concentration.

  She was so ridiculously, utterly beautiful. A man like Alem would have taken this gift and destroyed it utterly.

  He’d been thinking about how arousing the small slice of her bare legs had been when she got out of her gigantic bed earlier, when Andrei put a hand on Daniel’s arm to get his attention.

  They stopped, taking shelter behind a nearby outcrop of rocks. They’d be at the portal shortly; he could see the approach just off in the distance.

  “What is it?” Carina asked softly. She waited for his next instructions, and he thanked the gods for it. If she was at least that malleable, his job was easier. Some of her behaviors led him to believe she was fighting off shock. Should it set in at some point, he wanted to get them safely ensconced in their room on the ship first. It would be normal for her to fall apart—most would—but it had to wait until the time when he could shut a door and keep her safe while she did it.

  Andrei cut him a look, reminding him to keep gentle with her, as he handed a small container of water to Carina, who took it, sipping caut
iously. The look, and truth be told, his conscience reminded him he’d been a cad for not thinking that she’d need a bit of a breather and something to drink.

  “How are you feeling?” Daniel asked, pulling some dried fruit from his pocket and passing it her way. “That should help with energy.”

  She took it, eating calmly. “I’m feeling quite glad I am not a corpulent, lazy layabout like Hartley Alem.”

  She surprised him, this princess who could run like an athlete, with a sense of humor, too. He laughed quietly. “Me, too. We’d have never squeezed him into that passage. Let’s stay for a little while longer, and then we need to keep going. We should be at the portal within the hour. We have a berth on several vessels. We’ll decide which one to take when we arrive.” He didn’t want to probe on her emotional state. That had to lie untouched until it was safer to deal with. Preferably with someone who wasn’t Daniel.

  “All right.”

  Going over timelines, he looked back to her again. “When do you normally rise?” Once he’d allowed himself a look at her, he couldn’t tear his gaze away from her mouth and the delicate way she chewed.

  “Second sunrise. Claira is the one who comes in to wake me. She can be trusted.”

  “She can’t hide it forever, and she’s been instructed not to. The last thing we want is for her to be implicated in this. Still, we’ve got time then.” He dug in his pack again. “Take these pills.” He handed them over. “They’ll darken your skin a bit. That one there,” he indicated as she swallowed the pills, “will change your hair, just for a cycle or two.”

  She swallowed both quickly, looking wary but not hesitating.

  “Thank you. For this.” Her voice shook, but then evened out.

  “No need to thank me. It’s our job. Just follow our lead.”

  He stood and noted her skin was already beginning to darken. By the time they reached the spot where she’d need to change her clothing, she’d have made the transformation.