Page 40 of Only Cold Depths
“Until?” Vesper asked in a soft, sympathetic voice.
Asterin sighed, the sound full of aching regret. “Until there was an accident at one of my father’s mines. At the time, Siya and I were both thirteen and loved to explore the mine. We had gone up to the surface to fetch some tools for my father, and we were headed back inside when a massive explosion ripped through the mine. We were only knocked down, but dozens of people were seriously injured.”
She slumped back in her seat, as though all the strength had left her body. “My father was killed, along with Irzin Collier, Siya’s uncle and Aldrich’s brother. Siya adored her uncle, and she was devastated by his death.”
Vesper squeezed Asterin’s hand. “I’m so sorry.”
Asterin gave her a wan smile. Then she cleared her throat, pulled her fingers out of Vesper’s light grip, and straightened up. “My father was found to be at fault for the accident. The victims’ families sued House Armas and took everything my parents had. Leland was my father’s business partner, and he lost everything too.”
Sadness surged off her and tweaked my telempathy, along with a surprising amount of anger.
“But I thought you owned the mineral rights on several Frozon moons that are rich in lunarium deposits,” I said.
That’s what Callus Holloway had claimed a few months ago, back when he wanted me to marry Asterin in order to get his hands on all that lunarium. Of course, I had already been bonded to—and was falling for—Vesper at the time, so no romantic feelings had ever sparked between Asterin and me.
“I do own those mineral rights, along with many others,” she replied. “My father put the rights in a trust for me a few months before he died, so they weren’t included in the House Armas assets after his death.”
More anger surged off Asterin, and power sparked in her eyes. Despite dancing with her at a Regal ball and fighting side by side with her against the Techwave, I’d never been able to figure out what kind of psion she was or exactly what abilities she had. She had helped rescue Vesper from Crownpoint, and I considered her a trusted friend, but in some ways, Asterin Armas was still a complete mystery.
“But?” I prompted, wanting to know the rest of her story.
“But lunarium is only worth something when it’s out of the ground, not buried beneath hundreds of feet of ice and snow.” Asterin muttered the last few words.
Asterin Armas might seem like another wealthy, privileged member of Erzton society, but in reality, she was penniless. Hers was a common story among the Regals, especially those with relatives who had made risky investments or gambled away a House’s credits and resources.
“So that’s why your parents want you to find a Regal husband. You need someone with a big enough fortune to finance your mining operations,” I said.
“More or less. My mother and stepfather also have other reasons.” Asterin grimaced, but after a few seconds, her expression smoothed out. “But at least Zane Zimmer is out of the running. My mother and stepfather wereveryupset about the Techwave attack at the summer solstice ball.” Another grimace twisted her face. “Even though Zane saved my life that night.”
Vesper fidgeted with her fork. “I’ve been studying the schematics for Jorge Rojillo’s temperature-shielding technology, but so far, I can’t see why the Techwave thinks it’s so valuable.”
Asterin shrugged. “I haven’t had any luck either. I was hoping we could work on it together while you’re here. Maybe tomorrow, at my workshop?”
Vesper’s entire body perked up. “I would love that!”
A sword of guilt stabbed deep into my chest. Vesper hadn’t looked that excited in weeks. The stress of being hunted by practically everyone in the galaxy had taken a much bigger toll on her than I’d realized. It had taken a toll on me too, but Vesper was the one who’d had to give up her corporation and her beloved R&D lab.
All I’d given up was my place in Regal society, which was uncomfortable at best, and being the head of the Arrows, a job I’d never wanted in the first place. And while I missed Castle Caldaren, it hadn’t been a real home since my parents died.
Sometimes I wanted to ask Vesper if being a fugitive was worth giving up the life she’d fought, bled, and almost died for—ifIwas worth all that trouble, danger, and misery—but so far, I hadn’t found the courage.
I couldn’t bear to see her face or feel her pity through the bond if the answer was no.
Asterin beamed back at Vesper. “Excellent! We’ll go to my workshop in the morning.”
The two of them started talking about the temperature-shielding technology again, along with the Techwave cannon that Vesper wanted to fix—
A spike of anger slammed up against my telempathy, stabbing into my side like a red-hot poker. Asterin and Vesper kept chatting, not sensing the strong emotion, but I looked to the left.
Siya Collier was standing on a bridge that led into the main castle about fifty feet away. She was once again clutching her war hammer, and the lunarium head was glowing a pale green in a reflection of her psion power. A sharp, predatory grin split Siya’s mouth, and she raised her hammer and twirled the weapon around and around.
Siya twirled the weapon faster and faster, and the green glow of the lunarium intensified, until it looked like she was twisting lightning around in her bare hand. Just as quickly, she stopped the twirling motion and stabbed the hammer toward me.
Better watch your step, Arrow, Siya’s voice sneered in my mind.I wouldn’t want you to slip off a bridge and fall to your death.
As far as threats went, it was pretty mild, so I didn’t bother responding.
Siya lowered the weapon and strode away, whistling a jaunty tune. She stepped through an archway and vanished, but her anger lingered in the air, and her threats echoed in my mind.
