Page 6 of Vex
Vex looked like he could afford it. But he also looked more like a scholar than a gambler.
"I was sent the dossier on our identities. Are you going to be able to pull that off?" The cover story was predictable and insulting in equal measure. Of course she had to pretend to be his arm candy. For some reason, people that were Mountain-rich never believed someone like her could bring in the money.
Vex gave a single nod.
Not a man of many words.
"Look, this is going to require trust," she said. She leaned closer, lowering her voice. The booth's walls were thin, and sound carried in places like this. "I have to get physical access to their system to start scanning for our intel. That means you're my shield. If they don't buy?—"
"They'll buy it," Vex assured her. His voice carried absolute certainty. "This is not my first assignment."
She took in his suit, his haircut, his … everything. "So it's your second?"
That got a small smile out of him. The expression transformed his face completely, turning him from coldly handsome to devastatingly attractive. Her stomach did something complicated and entirely unprofessional. "I will trust you if you trust me. Are you ready to go?"
"What? Now?" She thought this was a meet and greet, not that she was going to run away with him.
"The sooner we start, the sooner this is all over."
The faster she could complete the job, collect her payment, and get away from her mysterious partner, the better.
On that they could agree.
3
They met where the Veil met the true edge of the city two hours later. Luisa had her supplies: a backpack full of computer equipment and one change of clothes. From experience, she knew that clothes for Luisa the Mistress would be waiting for them when they arrived.
The edge of the city was crumbling to nothing. Buildings stood like broken teeth, their facades decayed and windows dark. Beyond the final row of ramshackle shelters lay nothing but empty lots scattered with rusted metal and pools of chemical runoff that gleamed with an oily sheen. Only the most desperate scraped out a living in this forgotten zone, and they rarely survived long enough to make a true home.
Vex had changed clothes. If anything, he looked more expensive than before. His suit's edges were crisper. It had cuff links that winked with diamonds. And there was just an air of money she couldn't quite describe.
The fabric had to cost more than her rent for a year. Every line was perfectly tailored, every detail screaming wealth so loudly it was almost vulgar. This wasn't just expensive clothing. This was armor made of credits and status.
Okay, maybe he had some idea about what he was doing.
"Where's our ride?" she asked. She'd expected some kind of sleek little transport, expensive, impractical, and perfect for their cover. And she'd already been thinking up excuses for why she should be the one to drive.
Not that she didn't trust Vex.
She just really loved sporty vehicles.
"I thought we'd make a statement," he said blandly. "You'll want to put on something warmer."
Something in the air changed. The atmosphere seemed to thicken, pressing against her eardrums until they popped. Heat shimmered around Vex like a mirage, distorting his outline. Luisa felt a shift and blinked, her ears popping. Then Vex was surrounded by light and color, and after a moment, there was a freaking dragon left in his place.
She scrambled back, mouth open wide. "What—how? Wha—" No one told her she was working with … this!
Luisa knew about dragons, sure. Vemion wasn't that far, and dragon lords slummed it on Aetis from time to time. But she'd never seen one transform. She'd never thought she'd get up close to one.
Vex was gorgeous. Sleek black scales covered his massive form. Veins of gold ran through the darkness, threading across his hide. The metallic tracery followed the powerful lines of his body, highlighting the corded muscle beneath. Up close, she could make out individual scales, each one perfectly formed and fitted to its neighbors like armor.
Professional curiosity warred with something deeper. Her fingers twitched with the urge to reach out, to see if those scales were as smooth as they looked. She almost reached out but pulled her hand back.
Would he be cool with that? It seemed too personal, and she just met the man.
"Wait, are you … are we … do you want to fly up there with … me?" She stared at the dragon and waited for an answer.
And waited.
