Zayn pushed his worry aside. Nik was a big boy. “Let’s look at this map. We’ll be coming into range of the Tekton base soon.”
“That’s the Tekton asteroid there.”Zayn pointed out the cockpit window to a big sucker of a rock that made the others look like specks of dust. “I’ll let them know we’re coming shortly.”
“And I’ll go in as a wealthy potential client.” Eos moved forward. She’d already changed out of her usual khaki pants and was draped in a sarim, the traditional dress of her home world, Vedia. The burgundy fabric followed her curves, and her hair was piled on top of her head and threaded with colored jewels.
“I don’t like this,” Dathan said from behind his wife. He was wearing a black suit and had brushed his hair into submission.
Zayn goggled. Dathan rarely dressed up.
Eos turned into her husband. “You’re coming in as my bodyguard.” Her face changed, turning regal and haughty. “You will do as I say. I require a new palace and I want the best.”
Dathan snagged the fabric of her sarim and tugged her closer. “I don’t recall this ‘do as I say’ business.”
Eos laughed and let him kiss her.
Zayn looked over at Ria. “Well, our entrance won’t be so grand.”
Ria shrugged, her gaze still lingering on the couple. “Not the first time I’ve snuck into a place through a sewer.”
“Okay, let’s get this mission rolling.” Zayn touched the controls and put the call through to the Tekton.
Twenty minutes later, he was setting theInfinitasdown through the blue shimmer of a huma-dome and onto the landing pads of the Tekton asteroid. Through the synth-glass cockpit window, he saw the Tekton base spread out across the top of arocky ridge. The building looked like it clung to the rock with ease, running along the ridge like a sinuous snake.
Eos swept out, with Dathan a brooding presence behind her. Zayn saw a small welcoming party of Tekton standing together. Their tall bodies were painfully thin and their skin various shades of gray.
Once the group moved inside, Zayn stood. “Nik, don’t wreck anything while I’m gone.”
“You’re not the only one who knows how to fly this ship,” his older brother said.
“Yeah, but I’m the best.” Zayn turned to Ria. “Let’s suit up.”
He led her into the armory room. Around the walls hung various suits, weapons, and equipment they used on hunts. There were suits for bad atmosphere, light and heavy body armor, diving suits, and environmental suits.
“Here.” He snatched an environmental suit off the wall. “This’ll give us basic protection from anything in the sewers.”
She nabbed it, and then started to undo the buttons on her shirt.
Zayn froze. He told himself to turn his back, to look away, but he couldn’t.
She shrugged out of her shirt, then looked at him. She stilled. “Sorry. In the Guild, we change and train alongside each other all day. Privacy isn’t something that we get much of. Neither is modesty.”
“It’s fine.” God, was his voice just a little bit high pitched? She wore a simple, fitted black tank underneath. But damn, it molded to the curves of her breasts and made his mouth water. He yanked his own shirt over his head.
Her eyes widened a fraction. Not as cool as she seemed, apparently. And he was damned if that didn’t please him just a bit. She flicked open the fly of her dark trousers and then slowly,so slowly, skimmed them down her legs. Her long, muscled legs. She straightened.
Their eyes met again. It no longer mattered who she reminded him of, he was attracted to her. This strong, athletic woman trying to make her own future on her own terms.
Then she turned away and pulled on her enviro suit. With an eye roll to the ceiling, Zayn did the same. Time to focus on the job, otherwise he could get them both killed.
“I have Darc’s map uploaded to my mini-Sync.” Ria finished attaching the device to her wrist. Then she held something out to him. “Here.”
A small laser pistol.
“It’s easy to use, and powerful, despite its size.” She’d already tucked hers into a small holster at her waist.
“No, thanks.” He fitted his favorite T’norian knife into his boot. It was made from a heavy black metal, with a curved blade. “I don’t carry guns.”
“Because of Vik.”
