The commander’s gaze shifted to him, and a brief flash of contempt crossed his face. “Miss Duvain, with respect, our protocols require?—”
“Your protocols can be updated tomorrow.” Her voice remained pleasant, but there was steel beneath the silk. “For tonight, I prefer privacy. Tomas, if you would lead the way?”
They moved through the underground level towards a bank of private elevators, and he noted every security station, every camera, and every potential chokepoint along the route. The commander watched them go, his expression unreadable, already reaching for the communications device at his belt.
Reporting to his true mistress,he thought grimly.Marina will know we’re here within minutes.
The elevator was another exercise in opulence—polished wooden walls, soft carpeting, lights that adjusted automatically to a warm, flattering glow. Tomas pressed his palm against a scanner, and the doors slid shut with barely a whisper.
“The penthouse level is accessible only to family members and specifically authorized personnel,” Tomas explained as they began to ascend. “Miss Duvain’s father had the security systems upgraded several years ago. They remain… reasonably effective.”
“Reasonably?” he asked.
Tomas met his gaze with surprising directness. “Nothing is impenetrable. But these quarters are more secure than most.”
The elevator opened onto a private foyer—all pale marble and soft lighting, with an elaborate floral centerpiece and a single door of dark wood at the far end. Tomas approached it, pressing his palm against another scanner. The door swung open.
Ember’s quarters were… vast. He stood in the doorway for a moment, struggling to process the sheer scale of the space. The main room alone was larger than his entire cabin, its outer walls lined with windows that offered a dizzying view of the city below. The furniture was arranged in careful groupings—sofas and chairs upholstered in fabrics that probably cost more than most families earned in a year, tables of polished wood and glass, shelves filled with books and decorative objects.
Everything was immaculate. Everything was beautiful. And everything felt completely foreign.
This is her world,he reminded himself.This is what she gave up when she was with me.
She moved through the space with the ease of long familiarity, trailing her fingers across the back of a sofa as she passed. “Tomas, please close the door.”
The old man complied, then turned to face them with an expression that had lost its careful neutrality. Worry creased his weathered features, deepening the lines around his eyes and mouth.
“Miss Ember… There is much you need to know. Much that I could not say in messages or communications that might be monitored.”
“I know we need to talk, but first… This is my mate, Rykan.”
She took his hand as she introduced him to the old man, her face radiating happiness. The old man looked at their joined hands, then studied his face before he inclined his head. It was not quite approval, but it was at least acceptance. He returned the gesture then positioned himself near the windows where he could watch both the room and the door.
She sank onto one of the sofas and gestured for Tomas to join her. He settled into a chair across from her, his movements slow and deliberate. “Your father’s illness began nearly five years ago. He kept it hidden from most people—from you, especially. He didn’t want you to worry.”
“Five years?” Her voice cracked slightly. “I knew he was tired towards the end, but I didn’t realize…”
“He was determined to see you reach your majority before… before the end. He pushed himself far beyond what the physicians recommended.” Tomas paused, his throat working. “Marina knew, of course. She had access to his medicalrecords through her position on the board. And she used that knowledge.”
His beast stirred at the mention of Marina’s name. The female who had tried to kill his mate. Who had orchestrated the destruction of Ember’s ship and would have left her to die in the cold emptiness of space.
“How?” she asked quietly.
“Subtly, at first. She positioned herself as your father’s most trusted advisor, handling matters he was too ill to manage personally. She cultivated relationships with key board members, promising favors and making strategic investments in their pet projects. By the time your father died, she had built a network of influence that rivaled his own.”
“And in the year since?”
“Her influence has only grown.” Tomas’s hands tightened on the arms of his chair. “She hasn’t done anything overtly illegal—she’s far too clever for that. But she’s used her position to reshape the company in subtle ways. Key personnel have been replaced with people loyal to her. Security protocols have been adjusted to give her greater access. Financial resources have been redirected towards projects that serve her interests. I believe she was prepared to have you declared dead after your ship exploded, but the message you sent created enough doubt that she was unable to do so.”
She was silent for a long moment, her eyes fixed on some middle distance. He could see her mind working, processing the information, fitting pieces together into a larger picture.
“The will,” she said finally. “My father’s will names me as his sole heir. Is there any challenge to that?”
“The will is incontestable.” Tomas shook his head. “Your father made certain of that. He had it reviewed by the most reputable legal minds in the sector, filed with multiple independent authorities. Marina cannot take the company from you through legal means.”
“But she can make it very difficult for me to actually lead it.”
“Yes.” The old man’s expression was grave. “There is a board meeting at noon tomorrow. Your aunt has called it specifically to address the ‘crisis’ of your disappearance and the company’s need for ‘stable leadership’ going forward.”
