Page 165 of Stars in Aura

Ki’REMI

The Sableman woke to the flickering glow of celestial torches and the shadow of a silhouette standing at the foot of their vast, gilded bed.

He pushed himself up, the sheets pooling at his waist, his muscles tensing.

Something,nada, someone, had roused him.

Readying to send an attack command to his metanoids, he paused as the features of his unexpected visitor showed up in sculpted relief.

Zavei.

The Saatifa commander’s tall, imposing form appeared wreathed in the dim gold of dawn. His expression was unreadable, and his otherworldly eyes closed off.

‘Tis time.’

Beside Ki’Remi, Issa stirred, blinking grogginess from her eyes before sitting upright.

‘Sulfiqar calls for you. Ready yourselves.’

Zavei did not wait for further response.

He turned and strode away, his parting words ringing ominous as the door to their luxurious prison slid close behind him.

Ki’Remi raked a hand over his jaw, his metanoid tattoos flaring in restless patterns. ‘The freakin’ godacity,’ he growled, ‘to invade our privacy while we sleep.’

‘He has no reason, in his mind, to give us any,’ Issa murmured, slipping from bed.

Ki’Remi sucked his teeth, still not au fait with the lackadaisical care factor of the gods.

He addressed another prominent aspect. ‘Appears the Sullied attack shook the throne room,’ he told Issa.

She nodded. ‘Indeed. If the Sullied penetrated Sivania, it means someone let them in.’

‘Zenas?’ The Rider chanced.

Issa grinned. ‘Sounds like he used the gambit I gave him, and it’s shattered Sulfiqar’s unassailable concept. Which means he is running scared enough to act in desperation.’

They dressed fast, exchanging glances to reassure each other.

Before they approached the door, Ki’Remi pulled his woman close.

He ran a hand over her spine and up to her neck, resting a thumb on her nape for a pulse check.

‘It shall be well,’ he intoned, placing a kiss on her temple. ‘We’ve discussed every possible outcome and have a plan for each. Now we wait to see where the chips land.’

She shuddered, inhaled, squared her shoulders, and turned to face the door and what lay beyond it.

They stepped out hand in hand, pausing at the entryway as Zavei’s Saatifa escorts patted them down for weapons.

Finding none, they nodded to their impatient

‘Took you long enough,’ Zavei groused, stalking away in the lead.

The couple followed and, behind them, filed the Saatifa guards.

As they marched through the twisting halls of the palace, Ki’Remi stalked forward to match the Saatifa Commander’s stride.

‘What can we expect?’ he demanded.

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