Page 3 of Vex
But no one was there.
The shop was all soft femininity that made Vex feel like a weapon in a jewelry box. Pale walls were adorned with watercolor paintings of flowers and romantic garden scenes, their frames curved and delicate. A low velvet couch faced two matching chairs across a polished table where he might have expected a desk. Lace curtains filtered the afternoon light into something dreamy and diffused. Crystal figurines lined the windowsill, catching the light and casting tiny rainbows across the carpet.
Everything had rounded edges, soft textures, gentle colors. Not a single harsh line or sharp angle in sight. The air smelled of vanilla and roses.
This was definitely not designed for dragon warriors.
A voice drifted through the room, apologetic and slightly breathless. "I'm sorry, but I have an appointment." A woman in a silky blue dress came out from a room in the back.
She moved with an odd, ethereal quality, as if she was listening to something he couldn't hear. Her dark hair was pinned up in an elaborate style that somehow managed to look both elegant and slightly disheveled.
Vex held up the parchment, the royal seal visible. "I believe that would be me."
The woman stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening as they fixed on the parchment. Her shoulders dropped as if a weight had been lifted from them.
"Thank the gods." The relief in her voice was strong. She gestured toward the seating area with a graceful wave of her hand. "Please, sit. Would you like tea? I have an excellent blend from the eastern provinces."
Vex remained standing, studying her face. There was something unsettling about her gaze, but he wasn't sure what. "I'd like to know what this meeting is about."
She tilted her head, considering him for a moment before moving to one of the delicate chairs. Her movements were fluid, practiced, but there was tension in the line of her spine.
"Of course. Please, make yourself comfortable."
She took a seat in one of the chairs, and he chose the couch. The moment he sat down, the cushions seemed to swallow him. It was so soft he wished he had stayed standing.
The woman folded her hands in her lap, her posture suddenly very formal. "My name is Shade. I'm the Royal Matchmaker."
Vex shifted, trying to find a more dignified position on the overstuffed couch. "Yes. If you wanted to make a match for me, I'm not sure a royal summons was necessary."
She looked at him then, head tilted to the side, and seemed to gaze off somewhere he couldn't see. Her eyes went unfocused, almost cloudy, and for a moment, she seemed to be listening to a conversation only she could hear.
"Hmm." She blinked, shaking her head as if clearing it. When her gaze refocused on him, it was sharp and businesslike. "I need your help with a delicate situation."
Vex leaned forward slightly, his hands braced on his knees. "A lady in trouble?"
Shade's smile turned rueful. "Only if I'm the lady." She paused, seeming to weigh her words carefully. "Someone has stolen confidential data from my parent organization, the Intergalactic Dating Agency. I need you to retrieve it."
Ah.
That kind of help.
At least it didn't sound slimy.
"What do you need?" he asked, his voice taking on the clipped efficiency he used for mission briefings.
Shade's shoulders relaxed a fraction more. "The stolen data contains highly sensitive information about our clients. Names, profiles, personal details of some of the most powerful individuals in the galaxy."
"Including members of the royal family?"
"Yes," she confirmed quietly.
Vex felt his jaw tighten. No wonder his uncle had sent him personally. "Who took it?"
"A criminal syndicate operating out of Aetis." Shade's voice carried a note of distaste. "They're using it for blackmail, extortion, and worse."
The name of the planet made Vex's stomach sink slightly. Aetis was not known for its hospitality or its law-abiding citizens.
"I see." He stood, the soft couch finally releasing him. "When do I leave?"
