Page 36 of Stealing the Star Stone
“Yes,” Eli snapped, anger rising.“Didn’t you want me near the stone when you find it?”
“There are no more stones,” Orien snapped, losing his cool for a moment.“That’s a fool’s dream.It took me years to find this one.”
Eli sank into the chair, chills racing down his spine.“What?”he squeaked.
Nova met his gaze, fear twisting her features.We’re stuck like this?was in her expression.
“Escorting you two to Artivar allows me the chance to run a fewharmlesstests.”Orien waved his empty glass for a refill, which a server hurried to do.“Regardless, Blakedidbreak my stone.Justice needs to be served.”
“Served?When you probably stole it from the natives?Where’s their justice?”Eli demanded.
Orien shrugged.“Part of archeology.”
“Stealing?”she asked, at last joining the argument.
“Discovering cultures and their artefacts, and educating our species about our galaxy.”
“At the expense of said culture?How did they feel about you helping yourself to their stuff?”She folded her arms across her chest.“I bet that star stone was sacred to them.”
“The survival of the strongest.”Orien hummed on a sip of champagne.“Been true for millions of years.”
She met Eli’s gaze, helplessness tugging her lips into a pout.“I…can’t afford bad publicity, Vex,” she managed to say.“Not only will it impact my reputation, but it would make garnering benefactors for you a harder.”
“I know, which is why station-sec will be meeting us in orbit.Fewer people to witness her arrest.”He beamed, so proud of himself.“Then you and I, Eli, will enjoy your premiere.”
At his nonchalance, they both rose, leaving the asshole to his dinner.
“Not interested in dessert?”His chuckle followed them out.
In silence, Frederik led them to their ‘cell.’The heaviness of their situation continued after he left them alone.Eli readied for bed, slipping into that T-shirt he’d set aside earlier.He sat on the edge of a couch, sipping water while Nova used the bathroom.When she emerged, she marched past him to the tea station.
Sitting beside him, cradling her precious Lady Grey, she mumbled, “What are we going to do, Thorne?”
“We find our own stone,” he said, though how, he couldn’t say.
She’d been right to suggest they steal a shuttle.Hell, if they made it to Artivar, he’d charter a ship.They’d probably need supplies, too.When he’d starred inThe Lost Moons of Andara, deep in the last jungles of the Amazon, the entourage had been extensive, taking care of the tents and catering.Heading to an unknown planet without planning would be suicide.But with no means of communication, he couldn’t prepare anything.
Nova snorted, dragging him back to reality.“We’ll be lucky to make Artivar.We can’t trust a word that asshole says.”
“I know.”He stood and abandoned his half-drunk water.“Bedtime for me.”
“I’ll sleep here.”She eyed the too-short couch.
“We’ll share, woman,” he said.“The bed’s big enough that we won’t even touch.”
She eyed it in silence then set down her tea cup and marched to the left side.A sense of the space consumed him as if he knew the exact amount she took up…with his body.Her back to him didn’t detract from her comforting presence.He slid between the sheets and stared at the door, tucking a hand under the pillow.
“You made me look good tonight,” she said, long after he thought she’d fallen asleep.
“Thanks,” he said.“We didn’t buy any cosmetics.”
“Or sleepwear for you.”She gasped, and the bed bounced as she rolled over.“Wait, you know how to apply make-up?”
He grinned and peeked at her over his shoulder.“Learned how inAlien in Lipstick.”
She winced.“Missed that one.”
“Yeah, got the Galactic Arts for that role.”A proud moment.Sadness coated his heart, that he couldn’t share this with her.But it was in the past, and perhaps a good role worthy of another nomination was in his near future.He faced her.“I like the way you did my hair.”
