Perhaps that was true of Baleck as well. Perhaps beneath the easy charm and social fluency, there was something more substantial. More complex. He was shockingly perceptive. I may have been too quick to dismiss him as merely smooth.
The thought bothered me more than the cold had.
We reached the valley floor as the first drops of rain began to fall. Sophie let out a dramatic sigh of relief. Vash’s skin shifted to something that might have been the Destran equivalent of annoyance. Baleck looked up at the sky with an expression I couldn’t read.
“Cutting it close,” he said.
“Close is still successful,” I replied.
He looked at me then, really looked, and something flickered in those amber-gold eyes. Interest, maybe. Or reassessment.
“You two.” Sophie swung her finger between Baleck and me. “Vash and I need to speak with you both in my quarters when we get back to the village.”
Baleck’s brows rose. It was a bold request from Sophie, who didn’t command him. She was my superior, not his. Nor was Vash, for that matter. Baleck was here by his own choice. He could leave whenever he wished, or if the D’tran kicked him out. Bottom line was, he didn’t have to do anything she asked, and I waited for him to say so. Perhaps with a puffed-out chest and some interesting skin color changes. But Baleck just gave her a small, amused smile, and shrugged. “As you wish, ma’am.”
CHAPTER 3
IRIS
The sun was setting over the valley by the time we returned to the village, painting everything in shades of amber and rose. I’d been hoping to retreat to my assigned quarters, but instead I followed Sophie and Vash to her quarters, which had been set up with a table and chairs for meetings. Vash stepped inside before me, looking like he was done with social interactions for the day, but had accepted his fate. Baleck came in behind me.
“Sit, please,” Sophie said.
I sat. Baleck took the chair across from me. He looked relaxed, like being called to meetings with diplomats was just another normal part of his day.
Sophie folded her hands on the table. “Iris, you’re here as part of our security detail, but you’re also an intelligence operative. Your observations and assessments are valuable to this mission.”
“Understood.” I kept my posture straight, professional.
“Baleck has chosen to stay on Destrani for a time as a cultural liaison. He’ll be helping facilitate communication between our delegation and the D’tran.” She glanced at him with questioning eyes, as if she’d just remembered that he wasn’t asubordinate. “You’re uniquely qualified. You understand both Destran and D’tran perspectives, and you’ve already established relationships within the settlement.”
He folded his arms and cocked his head. “True.”
I wondered where this was going.
“I am hoping you could partner with Iris for a time,” Sophie continued. “The two of you communicated well together at the pod crash site, and think it could be valuable for you to team up. Baleck, you’d introduce Iris to D’tran customs, help her navigate the settlement, provide context for what she observes.” She turned to me. “In return, Iris, you’ll provide security assessments and help him understand human protocols.”
I opened my mouth to object—I didn’t need a babysitter—but Sophie’s expression told me this wasn’t a request. For me. All Baleck had to do was tell her no.
Baleck looked at Vash. “You don’t want to do it?”
“Stars, no.” Vash looked like he had endured about all the humans he could for today. “I just arrived myself. And I lack your charm, my boy.”
Baleck shrugged. “I’m happy to do it, if Iris is.”
I wasn’t sure I was, but again, my opinion wasn’t a factor in this. Sophie was who I reported to, currently. “How long?” I asked instead.
“Indeterminate,” Sophie replied. “For as long as you’re both here.”
I nodded, annoyed, but orders that annoyed me were not uncommon. “Understood.”
Sophie stood. “Good. I’ll leave you two to work out the details. Baleck, why don’t you give Iris a proper tour of the settlement? Help her get oriented.”
And just like that, I found myself partnered up with him.
We both stood and left Sophie’s quarters. I sailed past him, but once we were outside I turned to him. “You didn’t have to agree to that, you know.”
He blinked at me. “Why would I refuse?”
