Page 7 of Star Bringer
“High Priestess?” Her eyes widen, and I wonder what her feelings are toward the Sisterhood. Our relationship with the Ruling Families has often been a little…fraught. “Well, I’m glad I didn’t allow Vance to shoot you. It would definitely have caused a diplomatic incident.”
“Yes, Prin—” I suck in my breath. “Yes,Your Highness,” I say. “I’m glad as well. Very glad.”
She laughs then, holding my gaze as she does. For a second, I think I see wariness, or maybe pity, in her eyes. But then she reaches out and touches a finger to the emblem of the second sun on the upper left lapel of my robe. As she does, a murmur goes up around us and Merrick stiffens beside me.
But before anyone else can throw a fit, a loud buzzer goes off. The blaring shifts the tension as across the docking bay, a light flashes above a set of double doors.
The princess drops her hand and steps back. “It looks like something is finally happening.” Then, just like that, she turns and walks away as the sound continues.
Somethingisfinally happening. Seems it’s time to shift focus from the disaster that I am to the disaster that I’m supposed to save us all from.
Chapter 3
Ian, Mercenary and Smuggler and (Very) Occasional Good Guy
The incessant buzzing sound of yet another ship’s approach blares over the speakers, and I glance at the fancy clock above the door.
Twenty-two hours and approximately seventeen minutes until I get off this flying bucket of bolts. Not that I’m counting or anything.
Then again, it’s hard not to count when we’ve been stuck on this shithole twice as long as Max and I originally planned.
Sure, most people consider theCaelestisthe crown jewel in the Empire’svery impressivefleet. And maybe she is—she’s definitely shiny as all fuck—but I’ve been on board long enough to know she’s also a goddamn cesspit of evil. One I’ll be more than happy to see the back of. The prison ship, theReformer, arrives tomorrow, and Max and I will be on her.
TheReformerwill lead us to Milla. She has to—otherwise, we’ve hit a dead end.
I grit my jaw as I stride down the narrow corridor. I could have done without the extra shift today—I have things to do. But everyone is on duty. There’s something big going on, some sort of important presentation Dr. Veragelen, aka Dr. Wicked, is giving to some visiting bigwigs. I have no clue what, and to be honest, I don’t give a shit.
I just need to get through this extra shift—and the ceremony Dr. Veragelen has been surreptitiously planning for weeks now. She may be walking around acting like she doesn’t care about today, like it’s some giant inconvenience or something, but anyone who works closely with her knows it’s all she’s been thinking about.
Since I have the misfortune of working more closely with her than most—bodyguard to the head doc in charge comes with a lot of downsides—I know exactly how on edge she’s been about today’s presentation. After all, it’s hard to conquer the known universe if you’re on the Empress’s bad side. And if there’s anything the doc wants more than to make this bizarre experiment of hers work, it’s access to all the secrets of the universe. And the power that comes with it.
That’s probably why she’s dressed in style today. She’s in her usual black lab suit, but she’s added a fancy black cloak. She looks goddamn ridiculous. Who the hell wears a cloak, anyway?
Rumor has it that the not-so-good doc is over three hundred years old and that the Corporation—founded by the seven Ruling Families and the ones in charge of all the tech around here—has found ways to extend their lifespans. If so, they’re not sharing the secret with the rest of us.
But that’s the Corporation for you. Secretive bastards.
Regardless, ever since Doc V laid eyes on me when I arrived two months ago, I’ve been on permanent personal bodyguard duty. I think she has a thing for me, butnever going to happen.I’d rather fuck a slogg.
Apart from the fact that she gives me the creeps, I hold her personally responsible for whatever happened to Milla. I’ve seen a little of what goes on in the labs here—and the thought of that being done to one of the most important people in the system to me makes my blood boil. I’m thinking, once Milla is safe, I’ll make that personal visit to the doc and pay a few overdue debts.
Although not the way she’s expecting.
The docking bay doors slide open as we approach, and she walks inside. I follow two steps behind, exactly how she likes me. I’m hyperalert—also how she likes me—eyes scanning the crowd for any semblance of a threat. It’s no skin off my ass if someone kills her, but I don’t need any excuse for the prison ship not to land tomorrow as planned.
There are a lot of visiting shuttles in the bay—more than I expected—and a dais has been set up in the center of the room. A bunch of brightly dressed assholes are lined up along it.
My gaze is drawn to a woman in the center of the group and slightly in front, and my lips twitch. Another grandiose know-it-all who doesn’t actually know anything, only this one’s in a purple cloak instead of a black one.
She’s tall, maybe the tallest woman in the room, and beneath the cloak, she’s wearing a skintight, floor-length dress of a deep purple, which hugs her—admittedly—impressive curves. I’m guessing it would be a pain in the ass to get her out of all those shiny little buttons. But I’d be up for trying.
We’re nearly to the dais as I lift my gaze to her face. Her mouth is wide and lush, her cheekbones high. She’s watching me out of strange silver eyes, and something about the way she’s looking at me makes me think she definitely likes what she sees.
I raise an eyebrow in response, my lips twisting into a smirk I don’t even try to hide. Her eyes widen, and then she sniffs and gives me a haughty look in return. It’s pretty hot—and so is she, despite the cape.
Too bad I can’t stick around.
The doc climbs the steps to the podium and comes to stand in front of her, blocking my view, and I shift to the side.
