Betrys scrambled into her clothes and twitched the fabric of her robe into place.“I’m late.Iseult will be furious.Where are my shoes?Have you seen them?”
“Under the low table in the lounging room.”
Betrys hurried out to the other room, spied her shoes, and thrust her feet into them.“I’ll see you later.”
“Betrys.”
Leo limped from the room and halted in front of her.He tucked a lock of brown hair behind her ear.“Be careful.You have your com-circle?”
“Yes.”She slipped her right hand into her pocket to double-check for the rigid communicator.Along with her com, she felt the sheath of the knife that Caspar had gifted her.
“Felix is going in with you.”
“No.We should save that for another occasion.”She placed her fingers over his lips to halt his objections.“I promise I’ll be fine.Iseult has never physically harmed me.Her threats are always directed at Ricci.When do you think we’ll hear from your brothers?”
“Soon,” Leo promised.“We’ll hear something while you’re dealing with Iseult.”Leo bent and kissed her slow, tender, and when he lifted his head, she drew in a sharp breath.The man kissed with skill.“Be safe, sweetheart.”
“Always.”She forced a smile to hide the nerves dancing in the pit of her stomach.Failure wasn’t an option.
Betrys had to force herself to follow the gravel path that wound through the plants and fragrant blooms.A selection of variegated blue leafy bushes lined the path, their vivid blue and white flowers perfuming the air with the same spice scent of the cookie things Eva and Anna produced in the resort kitchens.They gave way to tall trees with bright coral trunks.Their green and coral foliage cast shade over the gravel walkways.Despite the sweet scent and the beautiful surroundings, the distant music from the waves coming to shore, her gut churned with apprehension.She had to manage Iseult and make sure her suspicions weren’t aroused.
Betrys exited the trees and caught glimpses of the jade-green sea.The waves were louder now and tumbled to shore, several guests already swimming and enjoying walks along the shore.
Betrys lifted her chin and approached the large bungalow.She knocked on the door, a sound behind her attracting her attention.
“Perfect timing,” she said to the droid waitress who wheeled a trolley of food toward the bungalow.“Let me take that for you.”
Betrys knocked on the door again, and on hearing a summons to enter, she wheeled the trolley into Iseult’s room.
Iseult sat in a chair, the light muted by the drawn shutters.The woman seemed to have shrunk in the short time since Betrys had seen her last.
Betrys hid her frown.“Would you like me to serve your meal first, before I make my report?”
Iseult gave a curt nod, then appeared to drift with her own thoughts because she barely blinked when Betrys dropped one of the covers the kitchen had placed over the meal.She placed the food in front of Iseult, poured her a glass of cool water and took a cup of coffee for herself.The stuff was addictive and seemed to wake her up.
“What is that scent?”Iseult asked in an abrupt voice.“It seems familiar.”
“It’s the coffee.”
Iseult picked up her glass and took a sip.Her hand trembled, and Betrys concealed her astonished reaction.
“You were late.”
“I needed to collect the breakfast.”It was surprising how easy it was to lie, how the false words rolled off her tongue when so much was at stake.
“False,” Iseult said.“I heard the vibrations of a second being.”
Betrys felt herself blink.
“Why were you late?”Iseult leaned closer, her nostrils flaring.
“I slept in.”
“Truth.”Iseult drank more water without taking her penetrating gaze off Betrys.
Don’t move.Don’t blink.Don’t let Iseult suspect there is a plot afoot.
Iseult leaned forward, sniffed the air around Betrys.“You don’t smell right.”Her nostrils quivered.“The scent on your skin is combined with another.Have you been with a man?”
