Page 40 of Thick as Thieves
“Like I got stabbed. But apparently one good night’s sleep and I’ll be fine.”
“Perks of Timbur’s med lab.” Scar almost smiles. Almost. “I have news. We’ve confirmed the attackers are connected to Kryzon. Two of them were on his personal security team until six months ago. Officially they were let go. Unofficially, they’ve been doing his dirty work ever since.”
“Can you prove the connection?” Ines asks. Journalist instincts kicking in despite everything.
“Working on it. Rook’s tracking tech recorded everything, including the part where they said you should have left when you had the chance. That’s not nothing.”
“There’s more,” Ines says. She pushes herself up slightly on the med pod. “I heard a voice. Someone giving orders from behind the equipment.”
Scar goes very still. “Did you recognize it?”
“Yes.” Her jaw tightens. “Kryzon. He introduced himself to me a few days ago, offered to help with my investigation. Said the parents died in a cargo accident.” She pauses. “He knew that was a lie. And today he was there, giving orders to have me killed.”
Scar and I exchange a look. “Kryzon,” he says. “Our own cousin. We in the family have suspected him for years but could never prove anything. You’re certain?”
“I couldn’t see him clearly. He stayed back, half-hidden. But I heard him.”
Scar exhales slowly. “It won’t be enough for the peacekeepers. Your word against his. Kryzon has connections, resources. He’ll claim you were traumatized, confused. That the attackers went rogue and he had nothing to do with it.”
“I know.” Ines meets his gaze steadily. “But I know what I heard and I’m certain it was his voice.”
“It’s enough for us,” I say quietly.
Scar nods slowly. “We’re getting closer. And now we know for certain who we’re hunting.”
And then I’m distracted again, too focused on her scent filling the room, making it hard to think about anything else.
Scar glances at me and frowns slightly. He can probably tell something is different, but he doesn’t say anything, just turns back to Ines. “Rest tonight. We’ll talk more tomorrow about next steps. You’re not getting on that transporter yet.”
Ines blinks. “I’m... not leaving?”
“You just got stabbed by Kryzon’s people. You think we’re letting you walk onto a transporter disk alone?” Scar shakes his head. “What if you arrive on New Earth and they’ve hired an assassin to take you out there? You’re staying until this is resolved. Chief’s orders.”
A grin widens across my features.
“You’re happy about this?” Ines questions. “You agree I’ll be safer here than on New Earth?”
“Yes, I never wanted you to leave.”
Scar grunts in response and then he leaves to continue his investigation. The med tech returns and declares my female is cleared to leave.
Ines sits up slowly, wincing slightly. “I guess I should go back to my room at the compound. Follow doctor’s orders.”
“I’m taking you.”
She looks at me. Really looks. “Texon... are you okay?”
No. I’m not okay. I just discovered the human I’ve been following is actually my fated Bride, and I can’t tell her, can’t touch her, can’t claim her because she deserves a choice and this isn’t the right moment.
“I’m fine,” I lie.
She doesn’t look convinced, but she lets it go.
I help her stand. She’s a bit unsteady, still tender from the procedure, and I steady her with a gloved hand on her elbow.Layers of fabric between us. It takes everything I have not to tear the gloves off.
We walk out of the med lab together.
