Page 78 of Ren: Warlord Brides
“I don’t know. It was fine when I put it on the cat. It must have fallen off.”
Neutral expression. Blank. Don’t think about that Zalis guy taking the chip to decrypt it.
“Ugh, your human face is so ugly with lies. Tell me what you did.”
Emry held up her hands in surrender. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry. Sorry!” Pashaal’s anger seemed to compound on itself, growing with every word. “Was this your plan all along, hmm? Blackmail? Ruin me? Where is it!”
She raised her hand, the palm open, ready to slap Emry.
Thalia caught the hand by the wrist and pulled it down. She said, “Why don’t we cool down? Take a step back. Good. Because if you hit my friend, we’re pressing assault charges. Never mind what her mate will do when he finds out.”
Pashaal’s eyes narrowed. “Mind your business.”
Thalia shrugged and stepped back. She took out a tablet from her pocket and stared down at the screen like the whole situation bored her.
“You want credit?” Pashaal turned her attention back to Emry. “Fine, name your price, but I want to see the stone first.”
“I can’t give you the stone.” Because it was cheap glass and it broke.
Pashaal stomped a foot, her decorative chains jingling. “You are purposefully obtuse. No one is this dense.”
Yeah, more than family photos on that chip.
Emry’s gut told her to act in good faith, as if she wanted to help Pashaal find the nonexistent stone, but Pashaal’s tantrum soured her play-acting. They both knew—or at least Pashaal suspected—that the stone had been broken and the chip discovered.
“Wow, I’m super motivated to help when you call me dumb. Please, keep inspiring me,” Emry said, her tone dry.
Thalia snickered. “Sorry. Don’t mind me,” she said, not bothering to look up from the tablet screen.
The guards clattered down the ramp. “Ma’am, we were unable to locate the missing item.”
“I’m tired of this. Perhaps time in the brig will refresh her memory,” Pashaal said.
“You’re arresting me?” She looked at the ramp, debating if she was fast enough to lock herself in the ship.
The guards advanced.
Nope. Not fast enough. Before she could blink, her arms were bound in front of her.
“Wow, that necklace must be pretty valuable,” Thalia said, holding up the tablet as if she were recording the arrest. “I mean, considering what you have on your personal tablet, and it wasn’t even password protected. Actually, you just seem pretty careless with your stuff. Maybe you shouldn’t go blaming other people because you can’t keep track of your things.”
“That is my comm!” Pashaal patted the pockets on her robe, then snatched the device from Thalia. “How did you get this?”
“Please. I stole it.” Thalia did not seem concerned that she was caught red-handed. Gleeful, even. “Honestly, you can’t tell the difference between loaning a piece of jewelry and it being stolen and someoneactuallystealing your property. Makes me question all your accusations.”
“Arrest her,” Pashaal ordered. The guard snapped into action.
“This is the most fun I’ve had in ages,” Thalia said, holding out her hands to be cuffed.
“Can’t say the same,” Emry replied.
Chapter 20
Ren
“Do not move,” Havik said.
