Eventually I’d gotten over my initial jitters and no longer froze when Alex pulled me into an impromptu embrace. We looked natural enough to fool everyone at the party except maybe for Ying Yamado, the only person who knew me well enough to be suspicious. I could always pull her aside and ask her to keep it quiet if she got too curious.
“We need to get our basic story straight,” I said. “Things like where we met, how long we’ve known each other, and who you are.” We were standing close together, getting used to each other’s presence.
“Simple lies are the easiest to remember. When was the last time you were away from Earth?”
“Three months ago.”
“Then we met three months ago. Bianca introduced us. We hit it off and now we’re enjoying each other’s company outside of the watchful eye of your family. I’m friends with one of Bianca’s business associates, but we’re keeping it very hush-hush. You’ll introduce me just as Alexander, which will add to the whole illicit affair vibe.”
“If I do that, the other guests will be insufferable to you.”
His smile stopped my heart. “Catarina, I could not care less what a bunch of pompous Consortium types think about me. Present company excluded, of course.”
“Of course,” I agreed drily. “And call me Cat or everyone will know we’re faking.”
“Cat,” he agreed, smiling down at me.
I very firmly reminded my stomach that this was fake and therefore it had no business flipping over. I distracted myself with more questions. “What should I tell people that you do for a living?”
“I’m a partner at a private security firm.”
“Is that true?”
He shrugged. “True enough. What are you hoping to find at House James?”
“A detailed journal of their treachery, openly laid out on a convenient side table.” I said it with a completely straight face.
Alex’s eyes gleamed in amusement, but he gamely nodded in agreement. “That would be ideal, but assuming they’re not quite that accommodating, do you have a plan?”
“I do.” First, I planned to attempt to crack into one of their terminals. That would be my best chance of success, but I also planned to poke around in an office or study if I got a chance. Some people clung to hard copies of blackmail material because even a skilled hacker couldn’t delete paper and data chips. And being in the house would give me a chance to eavesdrop, snoop, and skulk about.
I doubted Alex would approve of any of those plans, so I kept them to myself.
He grinned knowingly, but rather than pressing, he changed the subject. “How old are you?”
“I’m twenty-one.”
“How old are the rest of the guests?”
“Anywhere from eighteen to midthirties,” I said. “Why?”
“Just gathering information.”
My attention swung to the door as Aoife let herself in. She’d either disabled the lock on her way out or hadn’t closed the door all the way. She took us in at a glance. “Better,” she said. “Now that you’re comfortable with each other, let’s see what kind of self-defense training you’ve had.”
“That’s not going to happen,” I said.
“Why not?”
“I don’t spar. I’ve been trained. I can get myself out of most situations. If it comes to it, I’ll fight like hell, but I don’t spar.”
“I won’t hurt you,” Alex murmured.
That drew a reluctant smile. He would never guess that I was worried about hurting him. “I believe you, but that doesn’t change my mind. I won’t spar. If you force the issue, I’ll let you hit me.” And then I wouldn’t ever trust him again.
Alex looked at me for a long time. “Last night you asked me to show you that I could handle myself at a Consortium event. Return the favor. Show me that you can keep yourself safe. We don’t have to full-on spar, but show me that you can dodge a simple attack and escape. Please.”
The please did me in. I sighed. This was such a bad idea. “Fine. I will dodge one attack and then run away.”
He squared up to me. I dropped into a ready stance and mentally started my sparring refrain: slow, gentle, careful, slow. I needn’t have bothered, though, because he came at me like a tortoise.
I straightened, and he immediately pulled back. “While I appreciate your care,” I said, “I’m not that fragile. Come at me like you mean it or it won’t prove anything when I dodge. You’ve got one chance.”
He nodded and we both took our ready stances again. I wasn’t sure if he was going to try to grab me or hit me, so I stayed light on my feet. I couldn’t win a grappling match against him without giving myself away.
He attacked without a single twitch of warning. His fist flashed toward my middle, fast, but I could already tell he was pulling the punch. If this were a real fight, I would dodge the fist and slide in closer, under his guard, then hammer a blow to his throat. When it came down to it, I fought to win and that often meant fighting dirty. But for this demonstration I only needed to escape. I dodged the fist, feinted at him to put him on the defensive, and then, while he was off balance for a split second, I turned and vaulted over the sofa before he could make a grab for me.
When I turned back, Alex and Aoife watched me with identical calculating expressions. I hadn’t used any excessive speed or strength. I’d barely done anything. “What? I escaped, as requested.”
“You’ve been trained,” Alex said at last.
I rolled my eyes. “I told you that.”
“You were holding back.”
“So were you. This was a friendly demonstration, not a real fight. You wanted proof that I could take care of myself. I provided that proof. Are you unhappy with the result? I tried to tell you that I didn’t need guards constantly. If you’ve changed your mind about accompanying me, I’ll still pay you what you’re owed.”
His jaw firmed. “We’re going with you; that hasn’t changed. I’m glad to know that you can hold your own.” He met my eyes, his gaze oddly intense. “But don’t hold back in a real fight, not for any reason. If it’s you or them, you can’t afford to underestimate your opponent.”
It sounded like a warning. My answering smile was grim. “If it’s me or them, it’s going to be me.”
He nodded. “Good.”
HONORIUS HAD A POPULATION OF TEN MILLION, MORE than ten times larger than Serenity, and the sheer scale tended to boggle the mind for the first few days of a visit. It was the largest city on Andromeda Prime, but dozens of other vast cities dotted the planet, with thousands of smaller towns and settlements nestled in between. Millennia ago, when Earth became uninhabitable, the majority of the population had resettled on Andromeda Prime before spreading to ever more distant and untamed planets.
The von Hasenberg building was in the central business district. While it was a good area for making deals and networking, it wasn’t the most fun or fashionable area. For that, we needed to head east, to the entertainment district.
It wasn’t far and the weather was beautiful, so we decided to walk. Andromeda Prime had extended seasons, but Honorius was situated near the equator, so it had mild weather all year long. Today was sunny with a warm breeze.
Alex and I walked arm in arm while Aoife trailed along behind us, a shadow in her dark clothes. No one recognized me as we entered the main entertainment district. In fact, Alex drew far more interested looks than I did, which was a nice change. I reveled in the anonymity even as I plotted the fastest way to break it.
I stopped at a cafe in the middle of the trendiest block. If anyone would recognize me, it would be here. And indeed, the hostess took one look at me and a table magically became available. We sat outside in a prime location while we enjoyed an afternoon cocktail.
Aoife went to scout the area, leaving Alex and me alone. We were in public, so we both slid into our roles as a couple. We smiled and shared little touches and chatted about nothing in particular. Mostly I chatted and Alex listened, but he was a surprisingly good conversationalist for someone who stayed quiet much of the time. It was so easy that at some point I stopped pretending and actually enjoyed myself.
As long as I didn’t let myself get emotionally entangled, I could enjoy our time together. And if shivers danced up my arm every time he brushed his fingers across my knuckles, I would just keep it to myself.
We were on our second drink when I heard my name being called. I looked up to find Chloe Patel bearing down on me with Stephanie James trailing along in her wake. Chloe had tan skin and dark brown hair. She was attractive, but she had enough money and skill to edge toward beautiful with clever makeup and gorgeous clothes.
Stephanie James had blond hair and peaches-and-cream skin. She had a wholesome beauty and a perfect, curvy figure that she showcased with excellent tailoring. She tended toward timidness in conversation, but little peeks of stubbornness had made me think that a steely backbone and sharp mind hid under her placid attitude. Chloe liked everyone to think that she was in charge of their friendship, despite being two years younger than Stephanie, but I wasn’t certain it was true. When Stephanie wanted to do something, Chloe did it.
“Catarina, I thought that was you,” Chloe called as they drifted closer to our table. She’d started dropping my honorific more and more and I hadn’t corrected her. I’d been cultivating this relationship for months. If she felt more important because she didn’t have to call me Lady Catarina, then that was fine by me.
Chloe looked at Alex, and then, pointedly, at our hands on the table, barely touching. She didn’t go quite so far as to raise an eyebrow, but she was angling for an introduction or explanation.
I painted on my social smile. “Chloe, how surprising. I didn’t expect anyone to be in Honorius early. Hello, Stephanie.” Because I outranked them, I didn’t need to use their honorifics, but I usually did, out of politeness. Dropping them could imply closeness, but it could also imply disdain. It was all about the tone, and I left mine purposefully vague.
Chloe’s eyes narrowed as she tried to figure out if I was being friendly or not. I hadn’t immediately introduced Alex, another social faux pas, but I might as well get the gossip mill well and truly started, and there was no bigger gossip than Chloe Patel.
“And who is your companion?” she dared to ask.
“Oh, this is Alexander,” I said and then paused. I knew this was the path I had to take, but it still rankled, just a little. And now there would be no turning back. “He will be joining me at the house party as my guest.” I looked to Stephanie. “I apologize for the late notice, but he didn’t think he would be able to get free. He surprised me this morning. You don’t mind, do you?”
“Of course not,” she agreed stiffly.
“Delightful!” I cast a smitten glance at Alex, only to nearly break cover at the amusement dancing in his eyes. I waved a hand toward the women. “Alexander, meet Chloe Patel and Stephanie James. They organized the party, and Stephanie’s family is being kind enough to host.”
Bianca said she’d briefed him on the basics, and she must have included House James’s involvement because his gaze sharpened before he turned his focus to Stephanie. He gave her a charming grin.
She blushed prettily and returned his smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Alexander. I’m so glad you were able to join Lady Catarina.”
“The pleasure is mine,” he said. “I apologize for any inconvenience my presence causes.” Neither woman was immune to his voice and Stephanie practically tripped over herself to assure him that it was no trouble at all.
While they chatted, Chloe turned to me with a catty smile. “So where did you and Alexander meet? Wait, it’s not Lord Alexander is it?” she asked, all false innocence.
I reminded myself that I needed to remain friends with Chloe for at least the next few days. Still, I let ice creep into my tone. “It is not, but as my guest I’m sure he will be treated with all due respect.”
“I’m sure,” she murmured.
Somehow I was not reassured.
She was doing exactly what I’d expected her to do, but I felt bad that Alex would bear the brunt of her cattiness for the next two weeks. She wasn’t quite brave enough to insult me to my face, not after Bianca had cut her socially at an event a few months ago, but she would absolutely feel justified in slyly insulting Alex.
And if she could knock me down a few pegs in the process, I’m sure she wouldn’t lose any sleep over it.
Chloe touched Stephanie’s arm, pulling her from her conversation with Alex. “We should go so Catarina can return to her date,” she said. “We’ll see them again tomorrow.” She practically vibrated with the need to share the juicy gossip that had just landed in her lap. She didn’t want anyone else to wander by and scoop her.
They said their good-byes, bobbed shallow curtsies, and then slipped away. Chloe pulled out her com before she was out of sight.
“Did you know that you’d run into them here?” Alex asked.
“No, but I knew if any guests were already on-planet then they would likely be in this area. It was just luck that it was Stephanie and Chloe who found us first. We should go before we get mobbed with curious onlookers. Let me pay for the drinks and then we’ll go find Aoife.”
He tilted his head, indicating the area behind me. “She’s at the corner of the building. And I already took care of the drinks.”
I blinked at him, stunned into silence. When I went out with friends or on dates, it was implicitly assumed that, as the daughter of a High House, I would pay for everything. I didn’t mind, not really, because I could easily afford it, but it stood out when someone at least offered to pay, even though I always turned them down.
I couldn’t remember the last time that someone had quietly taken care of the bill for me.
“Thank you, but I’ll repay you,” I said at last. This cafe was very chic, which meant very expensive.
“No.”
He’d surprised me again, but I refused to back down. “Of course I will. You’re helping me. You aren’t responsible for expenses on this trip.”
The stubborn set of his mouth told me that I wasn’t getting anywhere. I couldn’t believe that I was actually arguing with someone about who was going to pay. It was so far outside normal that it helped me to remember that this was all fake. I’d butted heads with stubborn men before, so I just smiled and thanked him again.
And then I planned how to slip him a credit chip when he wasn’t looking.
I TOOK US ON A MEANDERING PATH HOME, THROUGH A rougher neighborhood. After a few minutes, Alex leaned over and whispered, “We’re being followed by a group of kids.”
“I know. If you see them, point at them. It helps them learn how to stay hidden.” I’d seen a few younger kids, just learning the ropes. I was gratified to see that they looked well taken care of.
Two more turns and I slipped into a dim alley. Neither Alex nor Aoife protested, but both stuck close to me. Maybe this guard situation would work after all.
Halfway down, a slender figure melted out of the gloom. They were young, still in their late teens, with deep brown skin and bright blue hair, shaved into a short Mohawk. I’d made the mistake of addressing them as “she” when we’d first met, due to their delicate build, but I’d quickly learned they preferred gender-neutral pronouns.
“Took you long enough,” they said.
“I didn’t want to surprise you, so I wanted to give your kids time to get word back to you.”
“I’ve known you were on-planet for ages. I figured you’d swing by at some point.”
I turned to my temporary bodyguards. “Aoife and Alex, meet Skout. They keep an eye on the street kids and refuse all offers of respectable employment,” I teased. It was a discussion we’d had many times. They were happy where they were, and they kept an eye on the most vulnerable kids, as well as ensuring everyone’s safety, so I let them be.
They rolled their eyes. “You couldn’t afford me.”
I laughed. “True. Do you need anything? Are the shipments coming through on schedule?”
Skout’s eyes softened. “Yes, thank you. The addition of medical supplies was really helpful. We had a bad round of croup last month.”
“You have my address. If you need anything else, you only have to ask. If I don’t spend my money on you, I’ll just buy some ridiculous party dress, so you might as well take advantage.”
“I will.”
We both knew it was a lie, but I smiled and nodded. I made a mental note to add a few more items to the next shipment. “I will be on-planet for the next two weeks, but I’ll be out of town, so if you need anything you can either send word to House James or to me directly.”
They grimaced in distaste. “What are you doing with them?”
“Spying.”
That got me a sly smile. “Need help?”
“Have you heard anything I should know?”
Skout shook their head. “Nothing concrete, but most of House James are assholes. If one of my kids was lying in the street dying, they’d step on them on their way across, then bitch about the blood on their shoes.”
“If you hear anything, let me know. I’ll pay twice the standard rate.”
“You are such an easy mark,” Skout said with a laugh. They looked at Alex and Aoife. “You have your work cut out for you, if you’re trying to protect this one.”
Aoife smiled faintly. “We’re good at our jobs.”
“You let her walk into a dark alley.”
“There are twelve children in this alley, but only two are armed with ranged weapons. I could take them both out before they pulled the trigger. And that was not an invitation to try, because I will shoot to kill.”
Skout’s eyebrows rose. “Lady C might survive in House James after all.”
I waved a hand. “No one is shooting anyone. We have to go, but let me know if you find anything interesting or if you need anything else. And tell your urchins to stop trying to pickpocket Consortium peers. I know they are juicy targets, but I can bail out only so many kids before local law enforcement stops talking to me.”
“I’ll spread the word.”
We said our good-byes, then we left the alley. We were nearly back to the von Hasenberg building before Alex asked, “You sponsor a gang of street kids?”
“Sponsor is a strong word. Skout is too proud for that. I send them shipments every two weeks of food and clothes and other supplies. Skout won’t accept credits directly, but they never turn down food and supplies, especially with hungry mouths to feed.”
“How did you meet them?”
“Skout tried to pickpocket me a couple of years ago. They didn’t expect me to be aware enough—or fast enough—to catch them. Seeing that I was interested in their story, Skout bargained answers for their freedom and I agreed. They were already climbing the gang hierarchy and trying to look out for the other kids, so I helped them along.”
An unnamed emotion glowed in Alex’s eyes. “I bet it blew their mind when you didn’t immediately call the RCDF.”
I smiled. “I hope so. It’s not much, but it’s something I can do. If everyone did something—especially those like me with the most to give—the ’verse would be a better place.”
“Too bad the rest of the Consortium doesn’t feel the same way,” Alex said bitterly.
“Some do. I know it doesn’t seem like it, but we’re working on it. Someday it’ll be better.”
“That doesn’t help today.”
“I know,” I said quietly.
It was something I struggled with daily, but if I told him, he wouldn’t believe me. I just had to keep on keeping on and work for the change I wanted to see. One woman wasn’t going to change the ’verse, but I was going to do my damnedest to ensure I was doing my part.
WE RETURNED TO THE HOUSE AND AOIFE WENT TO CHECK on the supplies she’d left in Chaos. Left alone with Alex, restless energy burned under my skin. This afternoon had been surprisingly great and I was dangerously close to forgetting that it was all a ploy. I needed to burn off some energy.
“I’m going to swim,” I said. “I’ll be back in an hour or so. I gave you and Aoife suite access, so you can come as go as you please. If you need anything, you can ask Jarvis.”
“Would it bother you if I joined you?”
I hesitated for a split second as my brain short-circuited at the thought of Alex in nothing but swim trunks.
He glanced away. “Never mind,” he murmured.
“No, sorry.” I shook my head. “You’re welcome to enjoy the pool. I’m planning to swim laps, so I’ll be poor company, but I don’t mind.”
He met my eyes as if judging my truthfulness before finally nodding. “My clothes are in the ship, so I’ll go change and meet you there.”
I said a silent prayer of thanks. If I hurried, I could be in the water and swimming before he arrived. “Sounds good. See you in a bit. If you get lost, you can ask the house computer to direct you.”
He left, and I dashed to my bedroom to change. My lap swimming suit was a modest one-piece that was designed to reduce drag in the water. It flattened my chest and did not enhance any part of my figure. For one crazy second, I thought about changing into one of my bikinis, but I was going to swim to reduce restlessness, not encourage it.
I threw on a dresslike cover-up and made my way to the fitness center. There was a lounge pool on the top floor, open to the outside, but the fitness pool was buried in the middle of the building. It was twenty-five meters long and nearly eight meters wide with three marked lanes. It was also blissfully empty when I entered.
I grabbed my swim cap and goggles from my locker. Once on, the display in the goggles came to life, overlaying distance, time, and heart rate on a transparent screen. I removed my cover-up and slid into the cool water.
With a wave, the goggles began tracking and I kicked off from the wall. I swam a few laps of warm-up, then pushed myself in hundred-meter sprints. I lost myself in the smooth rhythm of each stroke and the flip turn at the ends of the pool. Finally, finally, I began to settle.
After an hour, I felt centered again. I’d swum nearly four kilometers, but if I wanted to, I could easily swim four more. In the water my abilities were less obvious, except for my endurance, so it was one of the few places where I could use my full strength and push myself without seeming suspicious.
I swam a lazy two-hundred-meter backstroke to cool down. I delighted in the feel of my body operating at peak efficiency. My muscles were warm and pliable and I felt like I could take on the world thanks to the endorphins rushing through my blood.
Cooldown complete, I reluctantly hoisted myself out of the pool. It was only after I’d removed my swim cap and goggles that I realized I was not alone. Two lanes over, Alex glided through the water nearly silently, his stroke clean and fluid. I watched, mesmerized, as he flipped and turned back toward this end.
Had he been here this whole time? I didn’t know anyone who liked to swim as much as I did—or who could keep up with me.
For such a big man, he sliced smoothly down the lane. He was shirtless, and I caught teasing glimpses of tawny skin with every stroke. I felt like a voyeur, but I couldn’t seem to tear my eyes away. Athletic prowess had always been a weakness of mine.
When he neared the wall, I expected him to turn and continue, so it took me a second to realize that he hadn’t. Now he was staring at me staring at him.
Heat rushed into my cheeks, but I managed to calmly ask, “Are you done or resting?”
“I’m done.” Rather than moving toward the ladder, he effortlessly lifted himself out of the water using only the edge of the pool and his strength. The solid muscles in his arms and chest flexed and I was once again transfixed. His swim trunks were designed for lap swimming. They clung from his waist to his knees, leaving very little to the imagination.
Oh. My. God.
I turned away after I’d gotten an eyeful, my face flaming. It wasn’t fair that he managed to look like the statue of an ancient hero come to life in his lap swimming suit while I looked like I hadn’t hit puberty yet.
I stepped in the drying booth and waited for the two-minute cycle to be completed. At the end, my skin was dry and my suit and hair were barely damp. If I had wanted to wait longer I could have gotten completely dry, but I planned to shower after I returned to my room, so I just needed to be dry enough not to drip all the way there.
Alex had also dried. I watched him out of the corner of my eye while I pulled on my cover-up. He donned a shirt and wrapped a towel around his waist.
I tried not to think about the fact that, in just a few short hours, he would be back in my bed.
I failed.