“So, it’s settled then,” she said, deciding the best thing was to focus on practicalities. “We have twelve hours until departure. We’ll catch the 0800 flight to Morith disguised as Daksari … and from there, we’ll hire mercenaries to get us to Idral.”
Malik glanced her way, a nerve flickering under one eye. His lips parted as if he might say something before he thought better of it, clamped his mouth shut, and gave a curt nod.
“Good,” Jenna replied, careful to keep her voice businesslike. She was still flustered after their exchange earlier. “I need to contact what remains of our space fleet and enlist their help … but I’ll wait until we get off this station first.”
Her bodyguard’s brow furrowed. “Aren’tTheStar Tempestand theStar Monarchstill in orbit around Staturine II?”
“Yes,” she replied, even as her belly twisted. “As far as I know.” Before the attack, their space fleet had been split between Idral and Staturine II. The latter had rich mineral reserves that the Mir-Leliths had been demanding access to for years now. As such, Cathal had kept security tight around Staturine II. “And if the Mir-Ferrins hadn’t destroyed half our fleet when they struck Idral, I’d order an attack on their blockade right now.”
Malik’s frown deepened, and Jenna sighed. “However, I realize that wouldn’t be wise. Our battleships can assist us in other ways. When we get to Morith, I shall open an encrypted channel to Commander Levi Mir-Brennan onTheStar Tempestand appraise him of the situation.”
“Makes sense,” Malik replied, running his hands through his damp hair. The gesture was unconsciously sensual, and Jenna’s breathing quickened. She then dropped her gaze to her tablet.For the love of the Gods, stop it.“You’re going to need all the help you can get.”
Malik approached the bed then. “We should try and get some rest.” He cleared away the items he’d bought. “Move over, My Lady.”
Scrambling over to make room for him, Jenna tried not to let discomfort show on her face.
Of course, there was only one bed in this room. Had she expected him to sleep on the floor? Fortunately, the bed was relatively large. Even so, he was close—too close. The only mercy was that he’d put some clothes on.
Malik stretched out his long body and gave a slow, deep yawn. He rolled over, giving her his back. “Do you mind if I dim the lights?”
“No,” Jenna murmured, still clutching her tablet. “Go ahead.”
A moment later, only the glow of Jenna’s tablet screen illuminated the bed.
Stifling a sigh, she switched on an alarm, so they wouldn’t oversleep, and placed the device on the bedside table. Her eyes were gritty, her limbs heavy; she, too, needed to rest.
She slid down flat upon the bed and rolled onto her side so that their backs were facing. Rigid, she lay there, listening to the even whisper of his breathing. To her surprise, it only took a minute or two for it to deepen. Malik had fallen asleep easily, but despite her fatigue, Jenna knew she wouldn’t.
She was too keyed up, too nervous.
His unsettling proximity aside, she’d made a decision today that had cast her out of a world she knew and understood, and into the unknown.
10. IN DISGUISE
“TRY TO WALK in long, loping strides,” Malik instructed, “and round your shoulders a little.”
Jenna frowned. “I thought I was.”
“Not enough … you walk like a human, not a Daksari.”
Jenna huffed a sigh of frustration. Before leaving their hotel, she’d looked up Daksari mannerisms and body language. Indeed, they had a different gait to humans, with their arms swinging at their sides as if moving through water. She’d believed she’d gotten the hang of it, but Malik thought otherwise. It was early, yet the terminal was as busy as ever this morning, with quite a crowd gathering for the 0800 departure.
Dragging in a lungful of warm, floral-scented air, Jenna followed Malik around the base of the fountain that dominated the terminal. The soft rush of water should have soothed her, but her nerves were stretched taut.
All the way here, she’d been paranoid that the Widow Makers would catch up with her. Her heart had leaped every time the transpod drew into a station, and she’d scanned the platform, looking out for anyone suspicious.
However, since the assassins dressed to blend in with the other inhabitants of Aura Terminal, it was impossible to know who they were.
Jenna’s mouth went dry.They’re likely here, right now … looking for me.
She fought the urge then to survey her surroundings. Moving her head around too much might push the hood of her cloak back and reveal her face. She and Malik had spent over an hour painstakingly applying face clay and paint, to give the illusion of a pronounced brow ridge, gills, and glittery grey-green skin. And once she’d put in her contact lenses, the reflection that stared back at Jenna from the bathroom mirror had surprised her. At first glance she did, indeed, look Daksari.
I hope no one scrutinizes us too closely, she thought, keeping close to Malik’s side as he loped across the terminal.Neither of us is built like Daksari.The ‘water people’, as they were often known throughout the galaxy, were slender and long-limbed. Malik was tall yet powerfully built, while Jenna was small with decidedly ‘un-Daksari’ curves. Fortunately, their cloaks hid their bodies from view. However, she prayed they didn’t run into any real Daksari—who’d rumble them in moments.
Heart pounding, Jenna focused on the queue waiting at the security gate. She wanted to voice her worries to Malik, but he’d given her strict instructions to remain silent until they were safely ensconced in their berth aboard the passenger liner. While they could fake their appearance with clothing, body paint, and contact lenses, the moment either of them spoke, the game would be up.
For that reason, they’d waited until the last moment before descending to the spaceport. The less time they spent lingering in the terminal, the better.
