Page 129 of Warrior's Reign
The Aeddannar lord curled a lip, not bothering to look at Vykhan. “Please. Do you know how much work it took to maneuver her into this position? I’ve been wanting to end our relationship for years. She’s sloppy and has cost me several lucrative contracts. But she is Imperial, and they must be handled with care.” His sneer deepened.
She wouldn’t put it past Lohail to claim that the entire situation was all his doing, especially if they were victorious, but Reign wasn’t sure. He was crafty enough either way.
Reign glanced around. “So, there’s a lot of furniture in this place. We’re planning on a fight, correct? I hope you have insurance.”
Lohail looked amused. “Your concern is touching.”
“This place is indestructible,” Vykhan said, his amusement subtler, and tinged with affection as his gaze caressed Reign’s face. “You will not engage her,yada’ami. She will be expecting it.”
She immediately opened her mouth to protest.
Lohail cut her off. “She’ll goad you so she has an excuse to kill you without bringing you back for trial.”
Reign shrugged. “I’ll let the other side start the fight.”
Vykhan sighed. “Stay close to me.” He glanced at Lohail. “Tell your warriors to disable, not kill, if they can. TheEyahun’sforces are only following orders.”
“They chose the wrong side, my friend. Such is the way of war.”
Vykhan looked annoyed.
“You no longer rule here. Come.” Lohail moved toward the dais couches, cape swishing elegantly. “I am told our guests have docked. Let us extend them every hospitality.”
He offered her an arm with a sly look at Vykhan, who watched calmly and said nothing when Reign took it and Lohail drew her down next to him. Vykhan remained standing like a Silent honor guard despite Lohail’s complaints, not even pretending to lounge.
Lohail shot Vykhan a quick, dirty look then smoothed his expression into an elegant smirk, for all appearances the smug, debauched lord of a quasi-legal tourist destination. “Smile, lovely one, our enemy approaches.”
The circular doors slid open, revealing the wide white corridor and a group of tourists in clusters, who drifted inside after being cleared for admittance.
Reign observed as a tall female in casual but well-made clothing entered with several. . .friends. . .at her side.
Said friends scanned the room with flat, professional gazes, and Reign counted several places where security had helpfully forgotten to relieve them of hidden weapons.
“You let them come in armed?”
“It would only delay matters if we confiscated their weapons,” Lohail said. “If we don’t allow her to set her plan in motion, we will never have an opportunity like this again.”
“You’re recording, I assume?”
He stroked a finger down her hand and smirked again. “We intercepted several forays into our system attempting to disable our comms. We may have allowed them to believe they were successful.”
“Her own arrogance is her downfall,” Vykhan murmured. “We offered to share Evvek, and she refused.”
“She’s not even trying,” Reign said, watching as Adevega, in her tourist disguise, honed in on the dais. Reign allowed her gaze to slip away naturally, as if she was only briefly curious about the newcomers. “Why arrive with her guard? It makes it look suspicious. She must think you’re a moron, Lohail.”
Vykhan stared at the Beysikan royal. “Either she is overconfident, or we have made a miscalculation.”
“She’s arrogant,” Lohail said. “She might expect me to see through a tourist guise, but she won’t expect me to be able to do anything about it. And yes, Reign, I have found it convenient to pretend to be less than what I am. It is usually the most expedient way to handle those of her kind.”
“Perhaps it is you who is arrogant, my friend,” Vykhan said.
Suddenly Lohail rose, opening his arms. “EyahunAdevega,” he said in a smooth voice that carried. “Welcome to Anthhori. May your time here be delightful.”
The music pumping through the air went silent.
“But for whom?” Reign murmured, gaze scanning the positions of each of theEyahun’speople.
It was a long moment, then Adevega stepped out from behind her guard, and strode to the dais. The dark mood lighting evaporated like trash, throwing the club into bright, day lit relief. No one moved.
