Page 73 of Needed in the Night
CHAPTER 25
ISLA
Hand-in-hand and wearingour diplomatic medallions in plain sight, Mikas and I stepped out of Atlath’s shop, flanked by two armed embassy guards and Pioni.
One of the guards carried our travel cases while the other brandished a shield emitting an energy field large enough to enclose and protect all of us from weapons fire and even incendiary devices. Not that we expected Nubo to attempt overt violence in full view of a market full of witnesses, but angry people were unpredictable.
The moment our entourage crossed the shop’s threshold, everyone in the vicinity turned to look at us. I recognized four of Nubo’s agents in the crowd. Mikas’s hand tightened on mine. He saw them too. As did our guards, who hissed.
Letting Nubo’s agents see our guards and medallions would hopefully keep us safe, but Mikas vibrated with unease. If only we could retreat to the beautiful Star Bird room and find comfort in each other’s arms.
Think about the cabin aboard the cruiser, I told myself.Thinkabout making love to Mikas as stars and planets pass by the windows. We won’t have to leave the cabin for the whole trip if we don’t want to. It’ll just be him and me—and Brae, when Mikas and I aren’t busy. I can lie on top of Mikas all day long if I want to.
I fixed that image in my mind and hung onto it.
Mikas, Pioni, and I followed the guard with the shield toward the closest market exit—the one we had attempted to use last night before Pioni ushered us to Atlath’s shop. The crowd cleared a path for us, murmuring in a dozen languages and clearly wondering who we were.
I never minded an audience when I was onstage, but I despised this kind of attention. Mikas clearly felt the same. I wanted so badly to be done with this part of our journey and get safely out of sight in our cabin.
I sensed Brae’s presence overhead.I see four of Nubo’s people, I told him.But it’s the ones Idon’tsee that worry me. Do you see anyone else we know lurking around? Do you see Scar? Or Kona?
No, he replied, his voice tense.Neither of them. Is that good or bad?
I don’t know, I said.Do you want to ride with us to the port, or fly?
I’ll fly. Don’t worry—I’ll stay close.
Just ahead, on the other side of the market gate, a small armored ground transport waited. Atlath had done so much for us. My throat grew tight.
Mikas squeezed my hand again. He was so wonderfully attuned to my emotions and ready to provide comfort and strength almost before I knew I needed it.
We stepped through the market gate. The guard with the shield cleared us a path across the busy walkway to the transport’s door, which slid open as we approached.
We all spotted Nubo at the same time.
With a thunderous expression, he stepped out of the crowd of pedestrians and in front of the transport, blocking its pathforward with his bulk. An unfamiliar Hardanian male—not one of the brothers who’d expressed interest in me a week ago—stood behind him, clearly acting as a bodyguard.
Our guards hissed, Mikas snarled, and I flexed my wrist to drop my dagger out of its sheath into my hand.
I didn’t care anymore if Nubo knew I wasn’t who I’d claimed to be. I was done pretending to be a scared little human needing protection. I’d played that role long enough. It had served its purpose and now I just wanted to be myself.
I met his stare and raised my chin.
Let him see my blade and think about it. Let him wonder whether it would be worth it to pursue us, given our list of allies and the diplomatic credentials we wore. A smart man would weigh the risks and rewards—the latter of which were pretty damn slim—and decide to cut his losses.
But judging by the way he bared his teeth and flexed his hands, Nubo wasn’t going to be a smart man.
Then his gaze moved to Pioni and his expression turned calculating. My fingers twitched on the handle of my dagger.
No matter what she or anyone else said, Pioni’s voice made mine sound like a braying Solani desert ox. And now Nubo was in the market for a new singer.
“Please board the transport,” the Prylothian guard holding the shield croaked. “Anyone who blocks our way will find themselves under the vehicle.” He definitely intended Nubo to hear that warning.
With his gaze on Nubo and the Hardanian, Mikas ushered me into the transport. Pioni followed, and the embassy guards got in last, using the shield to block the opening until the door slid closed.
In the passenger area of the transport, I found myself sitting between Mikas and the guard who’d carried our travel cases and across from Pioni and the shield guard. As small as I feltbetween Mikas and a male Prylothian, Pioni looked positively tiny next to the guard.
“I don’t like how he looked at you,” I said to Pioni as the transport’s engines powered up. “I know you said you’re not worried about him, but?—”
