My quarters smell like wet iduos, and I almost knocked myself unconscious upon entry—I’ve got to watch the low beams since I’m nearly two meters tall—but I’ve successfully made it on board the Midway. I’m not actually leaving Drawx for another few days, but I’m going to count this as a win.
I take in the small space. And I do mean small. To my right, there’s a thinly padded sleeping platform with a pillow and blanket. My skin itches just looking at it. To the left, I’ve got a wash station, small table, and cubby space. Not that I have anything to stow, since my armor is currently in Talie’s closet. I feel naked without my blast pistol, but it’s a small price to pay for anonymity.
The space is covered in muted tones of dark gray duraplast and is about as cold as Drawx’s frozen ice cap, but I’ll take it because at the far wall across from the entrance is a dome-shaped window or viewport. I’ve never enjoyed space travel, something about the confinement and lack of direct control, but having access to a star-side view is an acceptable remedy.
Infinite space interrupted by planets and stars. A good reminder there is a vastness beyond what I’ve known. And that there are people counting on me.
I pace toward the viewport, fingers resting against the cool sio-glass. With a twinge of sadness, I see it’s not stars before me but Drawx sprawled out below. Dusty beige cloud cover hides most of the planet from view, but in an ironic twist of fate, I can just make out the continent where the capital is located. My home.
The reality of the distance from here to there terrifies me, but fear is something I’ve learned to embrace.
“Knock, knock,” a deep voice says from behind me.
Without my armor’s heightened senses, I feel unprepared and curse myself for not paying better attention to my surroundings. I turn, unsure of what to expect.
“I should say welcome aboard, but I’m not sure if you are yet. Welcome, that is.” A tall man wearing a black onesuit with silver edging steps into the room.
Talie stands behind him. She’s still wearing that distracting teal and orange gown, but her eyes hold a wariness I don’t expect. It makes my pulse kick up.
“And you are?” I stand up straight, eye to eye with this man.
“Delmar. Ringmaster of the Circus Phenomena.” His piercing black eyes narrow. He’s a striking figure, what I’m sure women call handsome, but there’s also sharp intelligence in the way he looks over me. He’s got to be in his early twenties, not many cycles past me, but he holds himself like a much older man.
“Renner.” I extend a hand without blinking.
He ignores the greeting. “Talie tells me you’re looking for a job.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Maxon seems to think you can handle it. I’ve my doubts.”
I swallow past my unease.
“Tell me, Renner.” He leans forward. He’s got intimidation tactics down.
Too bad for him I’ve trained for this.
“What is it that you can offer my circus?”
“Well, sir, I—”
“Because I don’t see much about you that would lend itself to usefulness.”
Ouch. If this guy would let me finish a sentence, then he’d find I know a lot more about exotic animals than he does, compliments of my former position in the royal palace. But before I can open my mouth to tell him that, Talie moves.
It’s like watching some parallel version of my life. She comes up next to me, grips my arm, and leans in. I think my mouth starts to fall open, but I snap it closed. Why is Ice Princess honeying up to me now?
“Delmar.” Her voice oozes with sweetness. “As I was trying to tell you on your way to Renner’s cabin—you remember, just a few moments ago when you wouldn’t listen to me? Renner is more than just a stable hand.”
Delmar’s gaze snaps to mine, and my gut clenches tight. Is she going to tell him I’m a soldier? That cannot happen.
“He’s my intended.”
I choke on air, trying and failing to cover it with a cough that turns into a wheeze. Did she just say intended?
“It’s okay, sweetie.” She winks at me and turns back to the ringmaster. “I think it’s time our secret came out.”
Secret? This is more like headline news on the holo—to me.
“Delmar knows I don’t make rash decisions.” I catch the look she gives him, and it’s weighed down with so much meaning, I can’t begin to guess all she’s conveying.
Then she looks at me, smiling like I’m in on this whole thing. And it occurs to me, I should be. If this is her way of getting me on the Midway, I need to go along with it.
“Of course. We’re intended. For one another.” I look down into her ice blue eyes and decide to have some fun. “I mean, who wouldn’t want to marry this sweet Solarius night blossom?” I cup her cheek and lean down as if I’m going to kiss her, but she flushes and twists away.
“What do you say?” Talie asks.
“Yeah, Del. What do you say? Will you let me stay on as an early wedding present?” I flash my most charming smile, trying to match Talie’s confidence, but Delmar’s lips form a thin line.
“It’s Delmar or Ringmaster to you. And this is a bad idea. One I can’t get behind.” His gaze cuts to me like he sees all my flaws and is cataloging which he’ll list first.
“I,” Talie pauses. “I really think it’s the best way.”
I catch the look they share. There is more going on beneath the surface of their words. Things left unspoken but shared nonetheless.
“I can’t risk it.” Delmar’s words are written in durasteel.
“Delmar.” Talie’s tone softens, and a funny twist grabs my midsection at the velvety texture of her voice. She looks at me, and I’m lost. To the thought that she cares for me and we’re ready to build a life together and—
Snap out of it, soldier. It’s a ruse.
“Please.” Talie holds the ringmaster’s gaze. “He needs to be on this ship. I never ask you for anything, but I’m requesting this.”
That’s when I see it. There is more going on here than a simple ploy she’s trying to sell to the obviously sharp ringmaster. He doesn’t believe it, but I see his resolve falter.
“Talie.” Delmar says her name like a curse. Hope surges to life as his shoulders slump in defeat.
Somehow, she’s done it. Persuaded the ringmaster I need to stay. I assumed she could be persuasive, but stars I had no idea how right I was. This one is dangerous. This is a girl to watch out for.
“I promise to work hard, sir.” I straighten, meeting his gaze. “And I’ll,” I search for things I’ve heard at court, “honor this woman in word and deed.”
The look he gives me says it’s definitely over the top, but maybe he thinks that’s just part of my Drawxian culture.
“I accept your request to stay until such a time as I don’t.” There’s an edge to his words, but he continues. “Everyone pulls their weight—even the Staress’s intended.” He all but rolls his eyes at that. I’m not sure what I missed, but he knows our relationship is fake, and he’s still letting me stay. I’m not going to question that.
“Of course.” Her fingers are warm on my arm.
“Get him set up with Nia for a suit and Mika for security access. I expect you to make sure he stays out of trouble.”
“I will. Thank you, Delmar,” she says.
He dips his head to her and then nails me with a look. “One wrong move, and you’re gone.”
“Yes, sir.” I move to salute before stalling. Military habits die hard.
Delmar spins on his booted heel and exits my quarters. In the moments it takes him to leave, Talie is across the room and looking out at the sio-glass as if she can’t stand to be near me.
“Intended?”
She turns to face me, and I catch the pink spots on her cheeks. She can’t meet my gaze, and I wonder why she said what she did if it causes her this much distress. Surely there had to be another way.
“It was the best story to keep you on board.”
I rub the back of my neck. “But he knows it’s fake.”
“Yes.” Her eyes pour into mine.
I want to ask why he would go along with it, but I see resolve behind her gaze. I instinctively know she won’t explain what just happened to me. And does it matter? This is what I wanted.
I shift toward her, resting back on my humor to break the tension. “I feel like there’s one important question I have to ask.”
Her light blue eyes are the color of the Drawx polar moon when she finally looks up.
“Exactly how many kids do you want?” I hold in my smile.
She surprises me with a laugh she quickly covers with a hand. “You’re impossible.”
“That’s what my mother always says.” I shrug as if I don’t get it, but it’s hard to be casual when it comes to my family.
“Are you ever serious?”
My mind flashes to the real reason I’m here. The weight of the knowledge I have and must deliver and what it means for the galaxy. And the danger I’m potentially placing her in. The less she knows, the better.
“Nope. I can’t say that I am.”
“We’ll see.” Her look pierces through me like too many laser blasts to center mass. I’ve got to watch myself with her. She’s trying to see past my façade, and that will only end in danger.
“Trust me, Le’è.” I lean in, my gaze dipping to her lips before I rein myself in. “You don’t want to see my serious side.”
More pink colors her cheeks and, with a shake of her head, she rushes past me to the door. “Breakfast is at zero six hundred.”
“On the tenth floor, mid-deck. I know.”
“Don’t be late.”
“I’m never late for food.”
The corner of her mouth twitches before she whirls away in a cloud of perfume that makes my head swim.
From kidnapper to intended. I’d say this day has certainly taken a turn for the better.