Rygor handed me a pair of boots. “Put these on. We’ll tell you everything on the way. The longer this takes, the longer it’ll be before you can ask her yourself.”
I had to agree with the man.
Westar snorted. “It will all be over by then.”
I slammed first one foot, then the other into the boots. “What will be over?”
Rygor bowed slightly. “Your mate is confronting your enemy, Commander. She is under guard, but she insisted on meeting him alone.”
“My mate is confronting the enemy alone?” My question echoed off the corridor walls.
I was going to spank her ass until she couldn’t sit for a week. “Who the fuck is she confronting? Who drugged me?”
Rygor took off at a brisk pace, Westar and I falling in behind him with ease. By his steady rhythm and pacing, the way he stood up to my angry beast, I knew he’d been on the front lines, seen the enemy and survived. A warrior in the Coalition Fleet. I wondered why he did not have a mate of his own, why he would continue to serve Warlord Dax when he could have his own home, a mate to tame him.
“I’m afraid to tell you, sir, but it was your cousin.”
My steps slowed, but didn’t stop. “I don’t believe you. Tia would never fucking betray me.”
Westar shook his head, our booted feet making a steady, pounding beat as we hurried down the corridors. “Not Tia, her father. Engel Steen.”
Rygor looked back over his shoulder, worry in his eyes. “Councilor Steen.”
Those two words made my blood run cold. With a body free of Rush, with my mind finally clear, it made complete sense. And that made me run even faster.
My mate was out there, taking on one of the most powerful people on my planet, a man so well connected, so formidable, that two full crates of illegal weapons hadn’t been enough to earn him the most basic punishment. Not even a hearing.
Engel Steen was untouchable, and my stubborn, courageous little mate was trying to take him down.
Alone.
Chapter Fourteen
Tiffani
Engel Steen was an ass. A pompous, self-righteous, misogynistic, narcissistic—the list went on and on—ass. He would fit in perfectly on Earth. Hadn’t males like him been the reason why I’d left Earth in the first place?
“Tiffani, my dear, I am so very pleased to hear of your good fortune. I am sure you are eager for the commander to return home to you.” He lifted the delicate cup to his lips and beamed at me like I was his favorite fucking daughter, the brightest star on the planet, the luckiest, happiest girl around.
If I hadn’t known the truth, I would have believed every fucking word. The guy deserved an Academy Award. Keeping revulsion from my face would earn me one of my own.
“Thank you, Councilor.”
“Please, dear, we’re family. Call me cousin, or Engel.” He reached for my hand, placing his giant, gnarled one over my wrist as I was about to pour him more wine. He wore gloves, which made me want to scream at him to take them off so I could rub the tainted necklace all over him.
Little did he know, the one he kept eyeing about my neck wasn’t the same one, but a replica. The real one was in a box in Warlord Dax’s private safe. The remnants of Rush still on it. The evidence of his scheme out of his reach.
He squeezed me gently, as if offering comfort. The whole Atlan no touching rule, apparently, didn’t apply to him. Knowing all the other rules he’d broken, I doubted he respected anyone or anything.
I smiled, and hoped he simply didn’t know Earth girls well enough to read the disgust and hatred boiling just beneath the surface. “You honor me, cousin.” I changed the smile from what I hoped was welcoming to wistful and lifted my hand to the treasure he was truly after. “As you did with this generous gift. Thank you again. I know Deek will be pleased to hear about your concern. I am very flattered that you stopped by to check on me, but I assure you, I am fine.”
“Yes, dear. But you are family, and I couldn’t bear the thought of you all alone in this giant fortress waiting for him to return.” He lifted his palm from my wrist and reached for the necklace. Scumbag. “May I look at it? Would you mind? I’d like to hold it. With the commander coming home soon, I find I am feeling sentimental.”
Jackpot.
“Of course.” Lifting my hands to my neck, I quickly found the clasp and handed it to him, coiling the length in his open, gloved palm.
“Thank you, dear.” He leaned over the gold and graphite links, inspecting them and stroking each link in turn with his fingertips, as if rubbing something onto each and every piece.