Page 47 of When the Universe Sings

His hand splayed wide across one of my knees, thumb absentmindedly brushing against the fabric of the gown. I tried my best not to track its progress in favor of noting each guest who was settling in. Most I’d seen last night, though there were a few new faces who had not been in attendance—or who had maybe arrived after we left. There was a small Haptium female with a Fahtushian male on her arm, his slitted nostrils flaring each time someone passed. There was also a Federation senator, from the gleaming pin on her lapel, bright red hair smoothed back in an elegant updo. She spoke with Lucien and Taariq, a flush staining her silvery cheeks. The senator was sitting halfway on Lucien’s lap while he ran his fingertips down her throat.

Glasses of bubbling purple liquid were passed around but Asher waved them away. His attention was like the heat of the suns spilling across my face as he turned to me. The hand on my knee disappeared and I tried to breathe a sigh of relief. I didn’t want this to be any more complicated than it was—itcouldn’tget any more complicated. We had a job and when the job was over, I would do what I needed to.

It didn’t matter that when he touched me my body roared into life. That now, as he brushed my hair back from my shoulder and wrapped his hand around the top of my neck over the stone cowl, I wanted to clench my thighs together. He was playing a role, a part, and I could not feel any sense of betrayal for it.

A job. A job. A job.

“Breathe, June.”

My head snapped to him. “Don’t call me that.”

Asher blinked and I waited for the cold mask to slip into place, but it didn’t. Instead, his thumb brushed once, circling the small hairs at my nape, and he nodded. “All right.”

I shifted, trying to break his hold, but his hand only slid down to my back. “What did you need to tell me earlier in our room?”

The hand fell away altogether and I did not miss its warmth—I didn’t.

“We can discuss it later,” he answered so quietly I could barely make it out beneath the hum of the engines.

…

If I had thought Lesephous’ estate was grand, it was nothing in comparison to Phyenix Listra’s. A bright garden greeted us as we disembarked, servants waiting at attention with glasses of the same bubbling purple liquid. One approached us as Asher maneuvered us around two gawking Haptium males we’d seen last night.

“My apologies, but I must ask you to remove your facial covering in accordance with Federation Law 2376.1b.”

Around us, other guests eyed us with interest, even going so far as to take a step closer. Though Asher didn’t look at all uncomfortable, I could imagine it must have felt like removing one’s armor in battle, or handing his quara blade to his enemy. Quinzyr warriors only removed their masks in public for very specific reasons, the most common being at the funeral of one of their own. This gala seemed the antithesis of such an important event.

I stepped forward, grateful for the extra height of my shoes, and held my hands in front of me, palms up. “May I?”

Silver eyes flashed in the sun. He searched my face for a long time before finally nodding. Heavy hands settled on my waist, as if he was steeling himself, and I tugged the fabric off his nose and mouth before drawing back his hood.

“Now don’t be offended if you hear screams,” I breathed. “I promise they’re just surprised a Quinzyr actually has a whole face.”

Full lips popped open in surprise before stretching into a smile. It was breathtaking the way a sunset might be, all bright and mesmerizing with the promise of the dark beneath. “Did you…did you just make a joke?”

My face smoothed into my usual mask. “I don’t know what that word means.”

“Maker, you just madeanotherjoke.” I rolled my eyes and tried to step away, but he only chuckled and grazed a knuckle beneath my chin. “You’re funny. I can’t wait to tell everyone.”

“Tell anyone and I’ll take that quara blade and see how far it goes up your?—”

“So you admit you were telling a joke.” Asher’s eyebrows rose so high they were in danger of leaving his face.

Whatever response I had was swallowed by the deafening wail of what I thought might have been an animal until one of the servants drew a large, golden horn away from their lips. “My master bids you welcome to his humble estate and looks forward to greeting you and the rest of his guests in the main hall. This way, if you please.”

We fell into the center of the crowd, eyeing the large shrubs carved into what I assumed were various animals from around the galaxy, though it was difficult to tell. Asher and I were quiet, listening to the hum of conversation around us about the estate, Listra’s collection, and even the food.

Rhiaon would be stationed somewhere inside. They were our best chance of leaving safely if we were detected, since they’d spent the last handful of days learning the ins and outs of the estate. I hoped they had also found the location of the stone or even the security around it. Climbing into an air vent in this outfit would be complicated, to say the least.

Servants mingled through the group as we walked, offering refills on drinks and explaining the different foliage and flora wepassed. The same servant who had requested Asher remove his covering pressed a glass into both of our hands.

“Are thosea’bulutrees?” Asher gestured to the silver bark looming over us, purple and black leaves dripping like water from every inch of the branches.

The servant beamed. “Yes! Master Listra had them transported about thirty standard cycles or so ago from Burenko which, of course, is two quadrants over. They’re on a very specific nutrient regimen, which allows them to flourish here.”

Each word dripped with pride, but when I scanned his face, it was devoid of the joy in his tone. I wondered if he even registered what he was saying or if the job was so second nature, he could beam like that in his sleep. It was the same way I could have cleaned jumper coils and hidra-boost engines on Ebyd III, or climbed the silks on theDaskquah.

“Fascinating,” Asher murmured.