“What kind of trap?”
“He likes overwhelming odds. He likes the certainty of knowing he’s going to win, and he’s not all that impatient if it means building up that certainty either. He won’t move before he’ssurethat he has us where he wants us. And he has enough resources and credz to ensure it happens. Even if he has to hire someone to get us where he wants us. Even if he has to hire us through a third party to get us where he wants us to go. In fact, that’sprobably exactly what he will do. It’s quick and easy andhewould fall for it so he will think that we’ll fall for it.”
“Then, it’s a test of time.” Tanin sat back. “Eventually, no matter how thorough we are, he’s going to get lucky. He’ll make sure of it.”
“Essentially.” Vytln looked over to his captain. “Are you going to kill him?”
“Would your family seek revenge if I did?”
“Definitely.”
Tanin hummed thoughtfully. “How many people in your family would I need to kill before they decided it was no longer worth hunting us down?”
Vytln couldn’t help but laugh. It was a ridiculous question. “Probably more than we could do and keep concealed.”
“What would you recommend then?”
Vytln didn’t have to think this time. “Hit them where it really hurts. The credz. Make it morecostlyto come after us than it’s worth. My family only has one interest, and it’s building their business. If you make it so that our death isn’t worth the cost that would need to be paid, then they’ll write us off as a bad job.”
“Is that with or without your brother’s death?”
“My brother runs the family, but he doesn’t lead without interference. Part of the deal he made with those he turned against me was that of sharing power. If I had ruled the family, it would have been me alone and my word would be law. But he got them on his side by promising to give them input and allowing them to make decisions.”
“He can be outvoted.”
“He can.” Vytln nodded once again. “You can’t scare off my brother. He’s stubborn enough to keep chasing us and foolish enough to burn through all his resources doing so. But you can convince the rest of the family that we’re not worth the chase.”
“Sounds easy enough,” Tanin said, getting to his feet. “I’ll think of a plan with Alred then. Do you want to be involved?”
Vytln smirked. “Thanks, captain, but as you said, I let that part of my life die. I meant it then; I mean it more now. I’ll leave the decision to you. Let me know what you decide and if you need help making it happen, and I’ll do everything I can to see your plan to fruition.”
Tanin inclined his head at him once before turning and walking off to join his mate. Garnet was standing to the side, waiting for him to finish. She smiled as the captain approached, joy making her gaze bright.
The sight reminded him of his own mate, and he turned his eyes back towards her. She was still talking with Alred, herself and the transparent figure seemingly locked in an intense conversation. Though, he had no idea what it was about, and the other females weren’t lingering around either.
“They’re speaking French.”
He turned, looking over the couch to where Grace was standing, her hands behind her back. Sway was just behind her, his bright crest half raised as he watched over his mate.
“French?” Vytln repeated, the word strange on his tongue.
“The language,” she clarified. “It’s not the one we usually use, but I was taught it growing up. I’m not good at it. I understandway more than I speak, and I don’t really understand that much anymore since it’s been years. But it sounds to me like they’re talking about building something.”
Vytln frowned, confused. “Why are they speaking in a language you don’t understand?” He understood Haven choosing to speak her native tongue, since she was more fluent in that than the self-taught Standard she had to use with them. But why a third language? One that Alred would have had to download and implement specifically for that conversation?
Grace shook her head. “I don’t know. Like I said, I don’t really understand it that much anymore. I was never good at it. Just another thing to add to the list. But it must be important.”
Vytln turned from her, looking back at them. Indeed, the look on Alred’s virtual face was one of intense concentration as Haven, her own brows furrowed, eyes distant, spoke about something. What were those two up to?
Chapter 28
Haven
“The biggest limitation is the neuro transfer,” Alred was saying in flawless, unaccented French. “It is simply impossible to transfer all my artificial mind in a way that would also transfer my personhood. It can’t be done.”
“It can’t be doneyet,” Haven corrected, grinning at nothing as she continued to search her brain.
She had been conferring with Alred over his personal project. One he had yet to divulge to even the rest of the crew. One she’d figured out based on what he was building in the secret areas of the ship. One he was so reticent to reveal, he’d identified and learned French from her code just so that he could talk to her about it with no one else knowing.
