Page 86 of Warrior's Reign
“Didyou really have to break his wrist?” Ibukay asked as they entered her suite.
“One warning,” Reign said. “That’s all they get.”
Ibukay slanted her an annoyed look, heading to her console, then quirked her lips. “Well, Vykhan would have broken an arm, so I guess I’m making progress.”
“You have insurance though, right?”
She made a vague gesture. “Of course. A rather dubious human device, insurance. But it has its uses when properly regulated.”
“Then why are you complaining?”
Ibukay had the luxury of giving citizens who got too close, despite repeated commands to maintain a minimum of ten feet distance, the benefit of the doubt.
Reign didn’t. Maybe the tourist from Ohlovik province had just wanted to snap a pic with the princess, but the team was under strict instructions. Until the threat level against Ibukay was back to a standard level, no more kissy face interactions with the public.
The male should have backed the fuck up when Reign told him to.
Ibukay ordered lunch as two guards took up their places outside the office suite while Reign stayed at Ibukay’s side.
Ibukay brought her calendar to a hover above the desk, then sighed and addressed her AI. “Alexa, comm Ria.”
Reign prowled the room as Ibukay began bickering with her secretary about her engagements, at least until Ria signed off and another voice came on line.
“Niece, you’re very difficult to reach,” Adevega said. “Your secretary has denied my last three appointment requests.”
Reign turned.
Ibukay’s expression smoothed into a practiced smile. “I’ll definitely have to speak to her about that. There must have been a miscommunication, Honored Aunt.”
“We can’t leave everything in the hands of the staff, dear niece.”
Ibukay’s smile didn’t waver.
“In any case,” theEyahuncontinued, “I’m requesting the honor of your presence for lunch.”
“You honor me with another invitation so soon.”
“The honor is all mine, Youngest Daughter,” Adevega purred. “I will expect you at the lunch hour.”
“That dung beetle,” Ibukay fumed. “Pretending like she hasn’t been trashing my parents’ names to every blog that will entertain her.”
“To be fair, she’s been careful to accuse ’supporters’, not the ImperialBdahnand Consort,” Reign pointed out. “What is she up to?”
Ibukay and Reign stared at each other. Vykhan had already briefed Ibukay on Adevega’s possible collusion with the bombing, and the ImperialBdahnhad ordered Ibukay to stand down and proceed as if everything was normal. For now they would watch, and if theEyahunwas guilty, wait for Adevega to hand them her head.
“You know without proof—”
Reign held up a hand. “This is what will happen. I’m going to that lunch with you, and we’ll have Evvek get eyes and ears in her suite.”
Ibukay shook her head. “You know we can’t do that. Private quarters are off limits.”
Reign wrapped her facile tongue around a few choice words.
TheBdakhunsighed. “We can’t give her a blade to gut us with. Bring me something, anything besides intel from a freelance alien criminal, and I’ll go to the ImperialBdahn.”
* * *
Reign slipped out of the office to go change into the formal palace uniform. In her suite, her console blinked.
