“If you can really do it without anyone the wiser, then do it,” he said. “I don’t get a good feeling about what’s going on with Baruke, and if he doesn’t have a handle on the situation, we can’t expect anyone else to. It’s safer for the Grih if that laser is out of enemy hands, and anyone who tried to kill Fiona is an enemy, as far as I’m concerned.”
“If I can’t do it without giving myself away, I’ll speak with you again,” Paxe said, and from the dead air in his ear, Hal guessed he had cut off comms.
That was probably the closest to a friendly exchange as he’d ever had with the thinking system that had once tried to have Fiona assassinated, and then tried to destroy the whole of Larga Ways to kill her when picking her off in a targeted attack didn’t work.
Fiona had long since forgiven Paxe and given him another chance, but Hal still held a grudge.
That he was warming to the thinking system was slightly alarming.
They reached the hotel, and Hal took the runner to the underground parking himself. Fiona sat, eyes closed, as he keyed off, and he realized she’d fallen asleep.
He slid out and went round to her side, braced himself and lifted her into his arms.
“Oof, you’re heavy, Fiona,” she murmured into his ear, and he felt her lips curve against the skin of his throat.
“How do you know that’s what I was thinking?” he asked as he walked toward the lift. He had to shift his hold halfway there.
“Because I can read your mind,” she said with eyes still closed. “It’s part of my Earthling powers.”
“Well, youareheavy.” He stepped in as the doors pivoted open, and she put her hands around his neck and slid down to stand on her own.
“You just have teeny tiny planets, is all.” She looked up at him through long, dark lashes. “Not big, gravity-rich planets like mine.”
“Like Balco,” he said, and suddenly realized she seemed happier than usual, despite everything that had happened to her. Her whole demeanor was playful and laughing.
“Just like Balco,” she agreed with a hum. “Being down here has been marvelous. I can’t believe it took me so long to come back after the last time.”
“It is definitely more work for the Grih to walk around here,” Hal admitted. “We actually encourage our crew to visit here after a long time in deep space, because it helps build bone density and muscle strength, even though theoretically the grav generator onboard all Grihan ships is sufficient.”
“What I’ve discovered since I’ve been down here is that artificial is no substitute for the real thing.” She leaned against him and sighed as the doors pivoted open onto their floor. “I’m planning to take trips down much more often now that I know.”
“Are you up to taking a few more steps?” Hal asked her, seriously considering carrying her again.
“I’m good.” She slid her arm through his and they walked toward her door. “I wonder if Trayla is back?”
Hal had totally forgotten about Trayla, and wondered if she had found out anything interesting.
“I asked Eazi to tell her to pretend she didn’t know us and hang around to hear if anything was said about the poisoningsthat would be of interest.” After that, all Hal had cared about was whether Fiona was going to survive the poison.
He opened the door to the suite and saw Trayla, fast asleep on the couch.
Fiona tightened her grip on his arm. “Let her sleep,” she whispered. “I’m wiped out. We can talk later.”
Hal checked the time, and realized no matter what Trayla had to say, it could wait.
He was here, with Fiona, and they had the backing of Grih Battle Center and two Class 5 thinking systems.
Whatever was happening, they would overcome it.
CHAPTER 18
The soundof someone moving around outside her room woke Fiona with a start.
She turned her head, found Hal already out of their bed, naked, his focus on the door.
“Trayla?” she asked softly.
He turned back. “Maybe.” He slid on the uniform pants he’d worn the night before and went through the door, closing it behind him.
