Tempted by the Forbidden Mate, page 24
The alarm on my block blares again. My camera in the market has picked up one of the half dozen good citizens of the Veiled City I’m handsomely paid to track. Follow. Dispose of when the governors’ security council wants them secretly gone. I sign into my private link to the cameras, a wicked grin on my face. This is my own add-on. Annabelle. And she’s out in the market. In public.
Looks like I’m going shopping. I focus in on her. The hero of Hestertåtten is the only one with her. So foolish. With Nico being gone, everyone wants her—either gone or for themselves. The fucking Stele has been circling her apartment for days. Like the sharks she has in place. Why their grand dame duchess ever added an animal-loving Braesen to her pod is beyond rationalization. Trained sharks? Nothing could go wrong there.
It’s Vividaria Festival, and the rest of the city is going to be dressed in colors that match their domes. Blue and blue. I hear my mother’s voice as I jump over the color palette of ocean and sapphire, going for my own faithful choice instead, black. Not that most of the elite don’t know who I am. I’m the one they try to keep their daughters away from. The one they move to the other side of the corridor for. No, black works. Vividaria Festival or not.
I’ve got four knives strapped to different parts of my body, a small trident that’s not detectable via scans, and one large one in the holster at my waist because I’ve got to check something in when I enter the market or they’ll definitely pat me down. I’m in my solo.
It’s Vividaria, fucking Vividaria Festival. Mother is going to expect me to come for dinner. Worse, she’s going to expect me to show up at the national ball at the end of the week. I fucking hate balls.
Unless Annabelle is there. Then it won’t be so bad. But for tonight, I’ll have to come up with an excuse and quickly explain why I’m not going to her apartment for dinner. I’ve got my solo on autopilot while I scroll through the nightly stream and data analysis of those who are doing questionable things. But I push them all to the back and focus on Annabelle. There’s nothing until an hour ago. Nico and Holter leave, but then Holter comes back almost immediately to the Glyden Dome. I shake my head. I never understood those two. They’re more co-dependent than any brothers I’ve ever known.
The city is lit up, being midday. Solos and omadas are left in a trail behind me. I whiz past the nightlife district where I’ve spent the last week following a certain Vitrom who seems to be running a backroom gambling operation. It’s open and shut. The security council has assured me that my involvement with shutting it down will stay with them. And I made a good killing at the tables. It was a win-win for me at least.
The Gorsca takes a sharp turn, and we click into the airlock closest to where I saw Annabelle and Holter last. A few punches on my block, and I find they’re at an armory shop instead of a provisioner. Her apartment is more than sad, being on the ground floor and achingly empty. My access is spotty, but my clocked drones have gotten hours of video of Annabelle playing with those damn sharks.
The buzz of the fans beads the water on the front of my solo. An attendant rushes me, and I toss him the keys. “Thanks.” I slip him a coin as well and head in.
This side of the market is vast, the dome rising up three stories. Braesen-trained birds mix with mechanical ones. Bright oranges and greens flash across the arches. I’ve got cameras in several of them. I can’t be the only one. I start past the furniture provisioner but duck my head in, just in case I’ve missed them. They should be here. But of course, they’re not.
The next shop is the foreign grocer. Here you can buy anything from Japanese saki in a can to American cheese. I shudder, remembering the time my sister tricked me into eating something called a grilled cheese sandwich. Chewing each bite took longer than deboning a fish. I’m not going to lie, by the end, it wasn’t so bad. But I’ll never tell her that. I have my pride.
A flash of blonde attracts me. Her hair is done up in rudimentary braids. But I like it. No, on anyone else, I would find it childish for her hair to fall loosely around her neck. Not her. My cock is full-on hard watching her talk to the male behind the counter. I have no idea what she’s purchased, but he’s trying to take it from her. To send it, no doubt.
She turns to Holter, and he bows down to her, whispering in her ear. She lets go of the package, a pleasant smile on her lips. “Thank you,” she says in Dorian to the shopkeeper.
I duck behind a display of Viking hard bread. Gross. Who would ever want to eat it? It’s like cardboard and sawdust had a podlet together. I’ll stick to my normal diet of olives, fish, and red wine.
Back to the display, I follow them, a good clip behind. I’m not trying to hide. But it’s shocking to me that Holter hasn’t spotted me. I would think such a champion would find me hard to miss. But then I’m not walking with the beauty he is.
“Ah, sir. Can I get you something?” The clerk clears his throat.
“Yes, add three pints of ice cream and two pounds of chocolate to Ms. Portsmouth’s order and charge me.” I swipe my block.
“You’re sure? I’ve already sent a dozen pints to her apartment today. I’m running low. And there’s only so much frozen cow milk one can force down.”
“Indeed. Just the chocolate, then.”
He inclines his head, and I hurry after Annabelle. When I leave the store, I notice I’m not the only one following them. Most are full-out trailing. I make eye contact with a Stele male. His glare doesn’t cause me any fear.
Annabelle and Holter have ducked into another armory, but when I catch up to the door, they’re coming out already.
I stand back. The brute from Stele shoots his shot. The fans in this part of the atrium are incredibly loud, and as such, I can only read Annabelle’s lips. I can imagine what the hammerhead is saying to her. Oh, lovely, frail human. You should join my pod. We will keep you safe. Never have ten males wanted something so much. He stops and kisses her hand.
Annabelle pulls her hand back, and if I’m not mistaken, even slyly wipes it on the side of her tunic. She turns a bit, and I can read her lips. “No, but thank you. I’m more interested in other things: science, botany. Dresses aren’t my thing.”
The mammoth of a male’s shoulders shake and then sink. Maybe I should send the ice cream to him instead. That is forever what the humans do in movies when they are upset with not getting the mate of their choice.
I step out into the hall. The next three shops are a male clothier, a lighting shop, and then a book stall. A book stall. I leave the small crowd following her and make my way to the shop.
“Eros,” the old stallkeeper calls to me. “I don’t have anything—”
“I’m shopping today.” The governors have used this stall as a drop-off point in the past. The owner, the haggard male behind the counter, had been caught importing prohibited paper that had not been properly scanned for diseases. Now he owes the security council favors. He wasn’t supposed to know that his shop was being used, but he figured it out some months ago. They haven’t used him since.
“Shopping, right?” He fiddles with a stack of tablets on his counter.
I want to pull out my trident and slice off his ear.
“What kind of text are you looking for?”
“The difference between Dorian and human science.”
“Oh, a beginner’s text. You can find that all on your tablet.”
“I’m being old-fashioned.” I pull a king’s coin out of my pocket.
“I can see the benefit of being old-fashioned.” He slides the coin into his register. “I’m sure I have just the thing you want.” He moves to the back of the shop, retrieving a ladder from behind a stack of boxes before he props it against the wall.
“Let me help you with that.” I’m doubting the old male has climbed up there in years. I’m up the ladder before he can protest.
“Oh, well, thank you. Move the front volumes.” I put them on the top rung of the ladder. “No, hand them to me.”
I hand them down. The dust is thicker than the hair on the top of his head. Behind them is another row of books.
“See the red one?”
“Yes.” I reach for it.
“Pull it out too.”
When I do, there’s another line of books. These are much older. Leatherbound. There’s one with a lovely blue-dyed spine and golden inlay. No title. It’s more of a notebook. I pull it out.
“That’s the one. You’ve got a good eye.” He takes it from me, and with a rag from his apron, delicately wipes the edges of it. He lays it open on the side counter. “I really hate to part with this, but it’s just the thing you’re looking for. It’s not a book really . . . well, it goes with this one.” He pulls another book from the shelf. There are several duplicates of it on the shelf. “It’s someone’s notes on this book. And other things. I’m only a seven in science studies. I’m more of a cultural guy. I’ve always meant to use this to help me. But . . .” He caresses the edges of the blue book. I shake my head and put another King’s coin next to it. A little more and you could buy a used solo for the same price. “Well, I guess it’s yours now. I hope it serves you well.”
“I’ll take the other one too.”
“Oh yes. Wonderful.” He rubs his hands together. “That will be ten credits.”
I cock my head at him. He’s got to be shitting me. But when he puts his hand out, I place another coin in it.
“Where shall I deliver it?”
“It’s fine. I’ll take it now.”
“I don’t know about you youngsters these days. Taking your packages. Don’t forget it’s paper and get it wet now.” He places them tenderly in a watertight bag.
38
Holter
I’ve been tracking him since the exotic food market. Eros Herod. He’s exactly what I don’t need right now. But then, he’s better than the school of Stele that is following us. Not to mention the young ones who are barely out of their mother’s pod apartments.
“This is the shop you were talking about?” Belle’s blue eyes blink up at me.
“Yes, this is the place.” I take her arm and dart in.
“Are all of those males following us?”
“Not us, Belle. You.” And I want to wring the necks of each and every one of them. They smell Nico’s blood in the water, and he’s not even gone yet. But still, as much as I hate to say it, she needs one of them. For protection, both from those who are threatened by the change she could bring and from lost pod illness. I scan the lot behind us. Eros is the only one coming in full storm.
The shopkeeper and Eros reach us at the same time.
“Can I help you?” He looks at Belle and then at Eros.
But Belle is looking at me. Her lips are sucked in, a bewildered look on her face. I ease my hand to the middle of her back and revel in the feeling when she breathes in and out. “Yes, I need some things for my apartment.”
“Let me help you find what you need. The best of the best for the mate of the hero of Hestertåtten.” The clerk’s attention flicks to me. My teeth grind together as I stare him down. He’s trying to get under my skin, but he’s a viro furniture sales associate. I wouldn’t trade places with him if I could. “Right. What sort of things do you need?”
“Almost everything.”
“Luckily, I have almost everything. How about a dining room table?”
Belle nods.
“Perfect. I have just the perfect one for someone from the Glyden Dome. A lovely golden inlay down the middle. Would you like to see it?”
“Yes.” Belle glances at me.
I incline my head to her. “I’ll catch up in a minute.”
“Oh, hello, Eros.” Belle glances away, and the pink on her cheeks has my head snap back to Eros.
“If you’re ready?” The clerk clears his throat, clearly not liking a geminae and a viro of questionable reputation in his shop. He motions to the back of the store. None of the others following us have come in yet.
“Uh, yes.” She nods, her eyes widening when I don’t follow.
I incline my head. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
The shopkeeper leads her away, and by the look on her face, I’m going to be hearing about this later.
When she’s far enough into the shop, I turn to Eros. “What are you doing?”
“Me? Nothing. Being friendly.” He’s got a weird lumpy package under his arm.
I blink at him. He stares back.
“You’re quite the conversationalist there, Holter,” Mr. Suave fires back.
I wait. Not my normal style, but a technique I’ve learned from both Muster and Nico over the years. Let people talk themselves into whatever trouble they’re already ready to cause.
“Fine. I can’t stop thinking about her.”
I wait.
“I . . . I want to call on her.”
“You?” Now my smile takes over my face. “You want to be in Nico’s pod after . . . what happened?” I don’t know what it is. I’m hoping he lets it slip. Nico and Eros were friends, and then one day, they weren’t.
“No. Yes.”
“You’re like your uncle. That’s what you’ve always said. You’re never joining a pod.”
“I’ve changed my mind.”
“No.”
“I have.” Eros grips his package and then seems to remember whatever it is. He smooths down the side. “I have,” he whispers.
“Shrimp shells.”
“Just let me talk to her. Let her decide.” He’s either a great actor or he’s genuine.
“After this. But not alone. I stay.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “Come on.”
“I will stay or go back there and tell her about the history between you and Nico.”
“Fine. I’ll be in the tea shop across the market.”
“Fine. We’ll come there afterward.”
“What are you doing about Stele?” Eros tosses a glance out at the stalls where there are three, no four, Stele pod males pretending to be shopping.
“Nothing. She won’t pick them.” It’s kind of sad, really.
His head bounces in agreement. “The tea shop on the south end.”
“Right.” I kind of want to take her to the tea shop on the other end and then home. But the south end one has some of the best little sweet cakes. And I know Belle will like them. I don’t want to keep her long The only reason I could pry Belle from his side was because he went to visit Alder at the hospital and they wouldn't allow more than one visitor at a time. I pull out my block and message Nico.
How is it going?
It’s Alder. Nico’s reply is quick and infuriating. Because yes, it’s Alder. He bounces back to normal. But he’s never been shark food before.
And how is he?
Infuriating.
That makes me smile. Because he really must be getting better. Let me know when you’re on your way back.
Stay with Annabelle.
I will, just let me know when you’re coming back.
Why? So you can stop fucking my mate?
I shake my head. But it’s a good question. We’re shopping.
Good. I can practically hear him grunt as he types it.
I join them at the back of the store. I’ll give it to her, she’s a fast shopper. I went shopping once with Kai. Her mate Ari and I were in a lot of classes together, and he dragged me along. It was the longest day of my entire life. Kai sat in every chair five times, looked at every swatch of fabric twice, and still hadn’t bought anything but a vase by the end of the day. What Castor said about Kai having a crush on me makes a lot more sense now. I shiver again. That is never happening.
The clerk has a grin on his face that stretches his lips practically to cracking. His fingers fly on the tablet as he points things out. “And this one comes in dark metal or light.”
“Not that one. Tell me about this one here.” She taps a simple one.
“Oh, I see where you’re going there. That would look better with the rest of the things you’ve picked out . . .” He goes on about the length of the leg fitting better with . . . something.
I completely tune him out. Instead, I’m watching Belle. Her eyes flash around the store like she’s holding the whole picture in her head of the apartment and what’s she’s picking.
“Thank you so much.” He hands her a paper receipt since Belle doesn’t have a block. She shoots me a glance. Nico doesn’t want her to have one, not yet. We don’t know who broke into the apartment. While our tech is secure, it’s better to be safe than to let someone have access to her who means her harm. But I see her point. She’s an adult, and if she’s going to fit into life in our city, she’s going to need access to our tech. And apparently a microscope, spectrometer, and the rest of the things on my list.
“Are you thirsty?”
“I don’t know if I’m thirsty, but we could go by the armory and get me a real-sized trident.”
“Belle.”
“Don’t you Belle me. I need to keep myself safe. That’s what you’re always saying.” It does sound like me.
“Situational awareness, Belle. Tea first and then, if we have time.”
“Is Nico back at the apartment?”
“No, not yet. He said he would send us a message before he headed back.”
“Okay, let’s get some tea. It’s not coffee, but it’s something.”
The tea shop on this side is pearl themed, and it being Vividaria Festival, Permula are packed into it. Everyone is wearing pink and white. It’s not hard to spot Eros in his black pants and tunic, sitting with a pot of tea and three mugs.
“There’s Eros again,” Belle says.
I don’t reply but take her by the hand, weaving through the crowd. I try to take a seat at Eros’s table, but Belle pulls at me. She whispers, “There are three cups. He’s waiting for someone. Don’t sit down.”
