Aurora Blazing Page 4

  Benedict and Catarina nodded. Father would fight to get Ferdinand back because anything else made the House look weak. But if he decided it was a lost cause, he would cut our brother loose.

  The suite door opened and our oldest sister, Hannah, stormed in. Her pale blue gown flattered her complexion but did nothing to hide the thunderclouds in her expression.

  She flopped down next to me, stole my martini, and drained the glass. “Sorry I’m late,” she said. “I left a dinner party in my honor. Pierre tried to stop me. He is furious,” she said with grim satisfaction.

  Pierre was Hannah’s husband. Much like my own marriage, Father had arranged everything and left Hannah no choice. It was not a happy match. Now she lived to infuriate the man who had bought his way into our House.

  “What do we know?” Hannah asked.

  Benedict got her up to speed. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long because we didn’t have much to go on.

  “So why Bianca and Ferdinand and not the rest of us?” Hannah asked.

  “Perhaps they’ve heard that Bianca has a legion of spies,” Catarina said before I could answer.

  Hannah and Benedict turned to me in unison. “Do tell,” Hannah drawled.

  Once again Cat jumped in before I could speak. She told them about our morning with relish. It wasn’t too often that our baby sister got the drop on one of us, so she enjoyed their surprise.

  “Had you heard anything about an attack?” Benedict asked.

  “No, nothing,” I said. I didn’t mention the message I had decrypted. That would lead to more questions than I could answer.

  No one knew that I could break encryption. Gregory had been as paranoid as he was brilliant, and as far as I could tell, he had kept his research secret. His lab—and our House—had been on a tiny, distant planet that wasn’t exactly a tourist destination. His family had long since moved away, but Gregory had kept the family seat because he liked the isolation. And the lack of prying eyes.

  It was much more likely that I was a target because someone knew I dealt in information.

  “Director Bishop said Ferdinand was in the Yamado quarter at a private dinner. He wouldn’t say with whom,” I said, “but I intend to find out.”

  My siblings stayed for a little while longer, then began to trickle out. Hannah was the last to leave. She stopped me before I opened the door for her. Her expression was serious.

  “What’s up?” I asked.

  “If anything happens to Ferdinand,” she said slowly, “I plan to abdicate my place in line. I refuse to become heir.”

  I blinked at her, thrown. If something happened to Ferdinand, and then Hannah abdicated, I would be next in line.

  I did not want to be next in line. I barely managed my current responsibilities.

  “Why?” I finally managed to ask.

  “Pierre,” she said shortly. “I refuse to give that bastard any more power, over me or anyone else.” Fury darkened her face. “Do you know what he said when I told him about the attack on you and that Ferdinand was missing? He made a joke about how his lot is improving now that he’s married to the heir. He’s lucky I didn’t punch him in front of all of his so-called friends.”

  She took a deep breath and shook her head. “I have every confidence we’ll find Ferdinand, but I wanted you to be prepared, just in case. Please don’t tell anyone else.”

  “Does Ferdinand know?”

  “Yes, we’ve discussed it.”

  “Do you want me to do something about Pierre?” I asked seriously.

  She pulled me into a hug. “No, but I appreciate the offer. I’ve got it under control.”

  I thought about her words long after she left.

  Chapter 4

  I’d stayed up late last night looking for any sign of Ferdinand or the attack, but I hadn’t found anything. Ferdinand was scheduled to have a late dinner at a small restaurant in the Yamado quarter and he’d reserved the entire restaurant.

  He never made it to the appointment, but interestingly enough, Evelyn Rockhurst had.

  So why were the heirs of two warring Houses meeting in secret?

  I’d sent Evelyn an obliquely worded message. Despite the late hour, she had quickly responded with a midmorning time and the location of a tea shop squarely in the middle of the Rockhurst quarter. Warring Houses weren’t banned from visiting their enemy’s quarter, but it wasn’t exactly encouraged, either.

  If Rockhurst had orchestrated the attack, I would be walking into a trap.

  Still, it was my only lead, and I wouldn’t pass up the opportunity. I requested a transport, then set about getting ready. I decided on gray slacks, a black blouse, and a pair of my tallest heels—Evelyn Rockhurst was statuesque and I needed us on an even playing field.

  Arming myself would send the wrong message, but going to the meeting defenseless was also a bad idea. I pulled out the heavy silver cuff that concealed the best of House von Hasenberg’s shielding technology. This was the newest prototype—it no longer required a paired necklace to function.

  I held the cuff to my identity chip for ten seconds, then clasped it around my left wrist. I felt a tiny prick as the embedded DNA tester sampled my blood. A subtle vibration indicated success. The cuff was now authorized until I unclasped it.

  In standby mode, the cuff would hold a charge indefinitely. Once active, it was good for up to two hours or eight close-range shots. I wouldn’t activate it unless it looked like the meeting was a trap.

  I left the suite and headed out the private family entrance. My transport was waiting, as was a security detail in a second vehicle. I waved at them and mentally apologized for the ass-chewing Ian was bound to give them once he figured out what I’d done.

  I climbed into the transport and programmed in the destination. As the vehicle lifted off, I sank deeper into my public persona. Evelyn was just as shrewd as her mother, Anne, the matriarch of House Rockhurst. I needed to be on my game.

  The transport settled outside the tea shop with nearly ten minutes to spare. The shop was bustling, filled with sharp-eyed men and women who were doing a poor job of disguising their true purpose.

  And standing between me and the shop was Ian Bishop. His face was a hard mask of anger, and despite his seemingly casual stance, I could see the tension in his body.

  With nothing to do but brazen it out, I exited the transport. “Hello, Director Bishop. I suppose half of those patrons are ours?”

  His eyes narrowed. His voice came out low and harsh. “I had to scramble to get people here to protect you when they should be out looking for your brother and that’s all you have to say?”

  I retreated behind the icy facade of my training, where his words couldn’t cut like blades. “I do not remember asking for your help, Director Bishop. I have the situation well in hand. And stay out of my correspondence.”

  I’d sent the message to Evelyn through my normal House account because I hadn’t really thought she would respond. I knew that account was under surveillance, but I had expected Ian to be busy enough with other things to miss the message. I should’ve known better.

  “You are not to go anywhere with Lady Evelyn,” Ian said. “Stay in my sight at all times. I have people outside as well. If things go sideways, hit the floor and stay there. I will come to you.”

  “I do not need your help,” I reiterated. “I will speak to Lady Evelyn—alone—and find out if she knows anything about Ferdinand’s disappearance. Stay out of my way.”

  I moved to sweep past him, but Ian caught my arm. His grip was gentle, but I could feel the steel strength of his fingers. I stopped abruptly, then cursed myself for the weakness. I refused to meet Ian’s gaze and the speculation I knew I’d find there.

  “I am trying to keep you safe. Do not do anything reckless, Lady Bianca,” Ian said softly.

  I glanced up at him. “I am never reckless,” I said. These days, it wasn’t even a lie, though that hadn’t always been the case.

  Ian raised his eyebrows but didn’t c
ontradict my statement. He leaned in close. “Lady Evelyn is already here,” he murmured into my ear. “I don’t think a single person in the shop is just a customer, so be careful. I’d prefer not to have a battle in the middle of Serenity.”

  “I will see what I can do.”

  Inside the shop, the roomful of people watched me out of the corner of their eyes as I made my way to Evelyn’s table. Situated in the middle of the shop, it had a three-meter circle of clear space around it.

  Evelyn stood with a polite smile. In her early thirties, with strong features and a slimly muscular build, she favored her father more than her mother, though she had the trademark Rockhurst blond hair and blue eyes. Even with the added height from my heels, she topped me by several centimeters.

  Her makeup didn’t quite hide the dark circles under her eyes. Her brow was lined with worry, and she looked like she hadn’t slept much last night. The question was why.

  Evelyn didn’t offer a hand to shake. Instead, she waved me to a seat. A silencer already sat on the table and I could tell it was working by the silence in my head. However, it would be remiss of me to trust her technology.

  “If you don’t mind,” I said, as I slipped my own silencer from my purse. At her nod, I clicked it on and placed it on the table. I met her direct stare. “Do you prefer the diplomatic route or shall we cut the bullshit?” I asked pleasantly.

  She blinked, but that was the only sign of her surprise. I’d dealt with her a few times and regarded her more highly than her mother, but I didn’t have a real feel for her personality. My opening was a test as much as anything.

  Evelyn grinned and it seemed far more genuine than the polite smile she’d worn earlier. “Let’s cut the bullshit. As far as I know, we didn’t attack you, and we don’t have Ferdinand,” she said.

  “And would you know if someone in House Rockhurst had orchestrated the attack, even if it was Lady Rockhurst herself?”

  “Yes,” she said with complete conviction. “I can’t speak for every soldier under our command, but no orders came from House leadership.”

  “Could it have been Richard? Some sort of payback for Ada?” My sister had made a fool of him when she’d stolen his prototype ship. And Richard Rockhurst did not seem like the type to forgive and forget.

  Evelyn let a tiny grimace slip through her mask. “Richard thought that he was helping the House avoid war by pursuing Ada. Mother showed him the error of his ways,” she said, her voice flat. “He is not in any position to scheme.”

  Her tone indicated that she didn’t agree with whatever Lady Rockhurst had done. I filed away that tidbit of information. There was dissent in the ranks of House Rockhurst.

  “You do realize it’s highly suspicious that Ferdinand disappeared on the night he was meeting with you, right?” I asked.

  She inclined her head. “It is the reason I agreed to meet with you.” She paused, then continued, “You are not what I expected, but I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.”

  “Why were you meeting with Ferdinand?” I asked.

  The pause was longer this time. Her eyes seemed to take my measure, but her expression didn’t give away anything of her thoughts. I sat patiently, but internally I wanted to shake her and demand answers.

  Finally, she reached for her purse. I felt the entire room tense, and I could practically feel Ian’s eyes burning a hole in my back. She smiled slyly, then slowly pulled a handheld fabric fan from the bag. She snapped it open and waved it lazily in front of her face, obscuring her mouth.

  Whatever she was going to say, she didn’t want anyone to be able to read it from her lips.

  Very quietly, she asked, “Do you trust your brother?”

  “Absolutely,” I said.

  “More than your father?”

  It was my turn to pause, to weigh the impact of a true answer. “Yes,” I said at last. I didn’t elaborate, but I trusted all of my siblings far, far more than I trusted my father.

  “Ferdinand and I have been dating for nearly a year,” Evelyn said.

  I could hardly believe that my serious, dutiful eldest brother had done something as rebellious as dating the heir of a rival House in secret, but she seemed sincere. I smiled. Good for him.

  Evelyn continued, “As you can imagine, the war made things difficult. We hadn’t met in weeks. Last night was supposed to be our reunion.” She paused again before she said, “And we were going to discuss the best way to end the conflict.”

  She lobbed that bombshell at me without any warning, so only my training prevented my mouth from dropping open in surprise. “How?”

  Evelyn’s expression was full of regret. “I’m sorry. I know Ferdinand trusts you, but I cannot, not that far.”

  I dipped my head in acknowledgment. “Do you have any proof?”

  She waved the fan closer to her mouth. “Swear to me that you won’t tell your father or my mother,” she said. “I don’t need an accident in my future on top of everything else.”

  I propped my elbow on the table, rested my chin on my thumb, and curled my fingers in front of my mouth. “As long as your information proves true, and no other evidence starts pointing back to you, I will not share the information with our parents.”

  “I will send the file directly to your com. With the silencers, there’s less chance it will be intercepted, as long as you are sure your com is secure.”

  “My com is secure,” I said with a faint smile.

  She transferred the file and I saved it in a secure quarantine. I would open it later. I was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt, but I didn’t trust her completely.

  “Find him,” she said, “please.” She swallowed and her mask slipped a tiny bit. I caught the anguish in her eyes. She was either the universe’s best actress or she truly cared for Ferdinand. “I am searching, too, but I must be far more cautious. Still, if you need anything, you now have my secure address. I will do my best.”

  “Thank you,” I said.

  “I’m sure you know this, but do not contact me at public events. I’m already putting myself at risk meeting you today.”

  “Of course,” I said. “I appreciate your candor. You are not what I was expecting, either.” I stood and inclined my head. “Farewell, Lady Evelyn.”

  “Farewell and good luck,” she said.

  I clicked off the silencer and returned it to my purse, then turned for the entrance. Ian scowled from the edge of the cleared three-meter circle, not even attempting to look anything but impatient and intimidating. He silently followed me from the shop.

  Ian escorted me to my transport. He waited until we were inside before he questioned me. “Well?”

  “She said House Rockhurst isn’t responsible, and for now, I believe her.”

  “Why?” Ian asked.

  I shrugged. “Just a feeling,” I said. “Have you found any surveillance video from the attack?”

  “I’ve requested assistance from House Yamado. I tracked Lord Ferdinand to the edge of their quarter, but all of the surveillance I’ve been able to dig up has a ten-minute loop in it.”

  I blinked at him in surprise. I hadn’t caught the looped video when I’d been digging for information. I could blame it on exhaustion, but Ferdinand’s life was on the line—I needed to do better. “You think House Yamado is involved?”

  “I don’t know,” he said with a frustrated noise. “I hope they just have a spy in their security team because otherwise it means they are throwing in with House Rockhurst against us.”

  A war on two fronts would be grueling for House von Hasenberg. The war with House Rockhurst had barely begun to ramp up. So far, both Houses were pouring military resources into the distant, uninhabited Antlia sector because it seemed to be the only place to find alcubium, the rare resource that powered House Rockhurst’s new, faster FTL drives. But it was only a matter of time before the war turned bloody.

  Our scientists were trying to reverse-engineer the FTL drive in the Rockhurst prototype ship as quickly as pos
sible, but production was still months, if not years, away.

  We could only assume that Rockhurst hadn’t outfitted their entire fleet with the new drives yet, or they would’ve tried to wipe us out with hit-and-run tactics we couldn’t counter. We outmatched their traditional fleet, but if they added House Yamado to their side, we would be overwhelmed.

  “Let me know when they reply,” I said. Ian raised an eyebrow. “Please,” I tacked on belatedly. “He’s my brother.”

  “It would be better if you stayed out of it,” Ian said, “and let me do my job.” He sighed and rubbed his face, and it occurred to me that he looked tired. Ian never looked tired. I’d seen him work for forty-eight hours straight without a single sleepy blink, but today he looked worn.

  “Are you okay?” I asked gently. I couldn’t help myself. Ian had the uncanny ability to sneak under my armor, even when he wasn’t trying to.

  His face smoothed into a pleasant mask, wiping away the hint of vulnerability. “I’m fine,” he said.

  The sting of rejection was a familiar hurt, but it still stole my breath. Outwardly, I smiled and nodded, as placid as a lake. I glanced out of the window, trying to determine our location. “Are we returning home?” I asked.

  “You are,” he said.

  He looked like he expected me to argue, but I just inclined my head in agreement. I needed to look at the file Evelyn had given me. And at this point, I was far more effective at finding information virtually than by dashing around the city. With Ian working on finding footage of Ferdinand’s kidnapping, I could switch to figuring out who could have actually pulled it off. I doubted it was the same group who had ordered it, but one might lead me to the other. Or Ferdinand. I would call that a win, too.

  Ian’s expression turned serious. “I don’t have time to chase you all over Serenity, not if you want Ferdinand found. Every minute you waste is one your brother is missing. Are you going to stay put?”

  Anger almost loosened my tongue, but I shoved it down at the last second. “Yes.” Until I have more information. Then I am going to get Ferdinand with or without you.