Adamant Spirits, page 99
Captain Anuva nodded quietly for a moment. “He ordered you to go back.”
Faint scarring webbed out from Captain Anuva’s hairline on one side of his face, and he had an analytical gaze that seemed to take everything in without fear or repugnance. This was a man who had been in combat and had come out the other side. Maybe he could be trusted.
Niko had written off his commanders a long time ago, but just this once, he wanted them to believe him. Not for vindication, definitely not for a commendation, but because it was the truth. He would have never chosen to put his unit in danger that way.
“Yes,” he replied.
Captain Anuva nodded again, studying the desk.
“I warned him of the dangers,” Niko added. “From their reaction to our first mission, anyone could see they’d increase their presence in the area to protect their operation.”
“Why not task a larger unit?”
He’d have to tread carefully here. It was territory that could never be proven, but the truth was the truth. “A larger unit tasking on a mission like this would require approval from the Seers Panel.”
“Anton didn’t want the Seers involved.” Captain Anuva pursed his lips. “Did he say why?”
“He didn’t want them to take the credit for this.”
Captain Anuva let his head drop for a moment, but then his chin shot upward. “Royce—he’s already involved in some way, isn’t he?”
Niko winced. It was illegal to sneak into the Seers compound, but he’d rather go down for something he did do than something he didn’t. “Yes.”
Captain Anuva smirked. “How long have you been talking to him?”
Too late to turn back now. “The Tavians had surrounded us too quickly, and they knew our exact location, almost as if someone had warned them we were coming.” Niko shrugged without an ounce of remorse. “I’d do anything for my unit, and I needed answers, so I sneaked into his suite the night after the attack. He said he’d help me in exchange for information.”
Captain Anuva’s smirk cracked into a full grin. “Royce would do that, wouldn’t he?”
Niko opened his mouth to speak, but what could he say?
Captain Anuva backed away from the desk. “You’ve been in the Guard long enough. You know how this works. You, as the leader of this mission, will go down for this unless you can prove serious wrongdoing on someone else’s part. Royce gave you a window of time to get your proof. Keep talking to him. If you’re caught in the Seers compound, tell them you were following my orders. I’ll cover for you, and I’ll make sure you have as much time as possible, but the summit will come soon and only you can save yourself.”
Frank, honest, even helpful. Niko had no idea how to respond to that.
Captain Anuva’s gaze fell to his hands. For a moment, his stoic facade cracked. “And just in case I never get another chance to say this, thank you for saving my daughter.”
Niko frowned. She was part of the unit. Even if she had been as inept as he’d feared, he would have still gone after her, but she hadn’t been. He’d found her on the staircase with Horacio on her shoulders, trying to fight three Tavians by herself. “Sir—”
Captain Anuva held up a hand. “I’ve seen my fair share of combat. I know you’ll say you were doing your job, and I understand that. But I’m a father, too, and even if she’s furious with me now, I’ll get to hug my daughter again. Thank you.”
Niko pictured her, fists balled, big chestnut eyes gleaming, and couldn’t help but smile. “She’s a good guard, sir.”
“She’s a good person,” he replied quietly, shuffling to the door. “Better than either of us.”
He’d no sooner shut the door that Niko nodded in agreement.
Twelve
Niko sat at his desk. Even he couldn’t make sense of the wall of reports and map overlays he’d projected in front of himself. He’d pulled out a piece of paper to make a flow chart, but that had been pointless, too. So many things had been crossed out that he could barely read it.
It had been a week since the Tavians had agreed to postpone the summit until after the Magnolia Festival. They’d even agreed to uphold the standards of the treaty for treatment of captives, which meant Layla was safe and unharmed. Captain Anuva had stuck to his word; no one in Leadership had bothered Niko. He’d met with Royce twice. He’d memorized the after-action reports.
But he wasn’t any closer to the proof he’d need to exonerate himself.
He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes. The Magnolia Festival would start tonight. Offices would be closed for days. It would be impossible to get anything done after this. He didn’t have enough time. His allies were few. Despite the glimmer of hope, Captain Anuva had been right. Niko had been the unit leader. He’d take the fall—not because he was at fault, but because he couldn’t prove who was.
He checked the clock on his implant. The Guard Ball would begin soon, and while he had no intention to attend, he wouldn’t miss the hologram release that followed it. Meant to symbolize their discovery of light energy manipulation, golden holographic paper lanterns, butterflies, and just about anything else they could think of would rise from the cobblestones of the main square and float all the way up to the protective shield where they’d glimmer all night.
Tonight, kids would stay up late, all the stores would shut down, and Niotians of every specialty would gather in the main square. He’d never really bought into the overhyped festival spirit, but the hologram release was one thing he’d never miss.
The outer office door opened, and he leaned forward to see who it was. He’d given Guthrie and Sophia the night off for the ball. If he couldn’t find anything, there certainly wasn’t a point to them staying and staring at his flowchart of futility.
Sophia rounded the table in a red silk dress, and Niko’s eyes nearly fell from his head. The dress clung to her hourglass frame down to her thighs, then flared. Her hair was pulled up on the sides and flowed down her back. And he couldn’t be sure, but her brown eyes looked speckled with green flecks that he’d never noticed before. They stood out against her red lips.
“What are you still doing here?” she asked, but he barely heard her. She raised her eyebrows.
He blinked as if something had been caught in his eyes. “Nothing. Just… working on… stuff.”
She planted a hand on her hip, showing the muscle tone in her arm. “The ball starts in an hour.”
“I never go to that thing.” He shook his head, regaining his composure. It didn’t matter what she looked like in a dress, this was still Sophia. The L-1 spitfire who wouldn’t wash out.
“Why not?” she asked.
“Really?”
She had to know his disdain for command at this point.
She folded her arms. “Sir, with all due respect—”
“Don’t call me ‘sir.’ I’m not your boss anymore.” He’d always been more comfortable as part of the team anyway, and she was probably more qualified to lead than him.
“I think it’s a big mistake for you not to go.”
“Niko,” he insisted. He couldn’t hear sir anymore, not right now—from the looks of his flow chart, probably never again. “I’m a unit member, just like you.”
“Not if I can help it,” she retorted. “You’ll be unit leader again soon.”
“We’re equals, Sophia,” he said with just a bit too much sincerity. He meant it more than she’d ever know. “Call me Niko.”
She sighed. “Niko. Absence means guilt, and you’ve done nothing wrong.”
He leaned back in his chair. “I know you’re worried, but this investigation will stop with me. Your career won’t be affected.”
Her face contorted. “This isn’t about me. You’re a good commander, sir. What they’re doing is wrong!”
It didn’t change the truth. They were looking to make an example out of someone, and he was the most vulnerable.
“Sophia—” He paused.
The ball was about to begin, and she wasn’t with some high-profile date or making the rounds with her dad. She was down here, trying to convince him to stand up to Leadership even though she gained nothing by convincing him to come.
She’s a good person, her dad had said. Better than either of us.
Her gaze shifted around the room as it always did when she got nervous. “I know I’m only a Level-1, but I know this world. If you attend, it makes a statement that you have nothing to hide. It will make it harder for them to simply blame you and forget.”
He raised an eyebrow. “They’re going to blame me regardless.”
She closed the distance between them—close enough to catch notes of vanilla, flowers, even a little apple—sweet and fresh like late summer. And he’d been right about her eyes. The green flecks danced against the red.
“Don’t let them shame you into losing everything,” she pleaded.
The ball was a nauseating display of status, where the captains tried to impress each other with their ribbons and everyone talked about themselves as if they were among the great military minds of the age. But part of him liked the idea of being the wrinkle in their perfect evening, their reminder that their job was more than telling everyone how important they were.
Earnestness shone from her beautiful eyes. How could he say no?
“I suppose I could go for a little while,” he muttered, shuffling his papers.
She flashed a brilliant smile. “Great. You won’t regret this, s-sssir—I mean, Niko.”
An hour later, he ran his fingers under the stiff collar of his formal military dress uniform. He was already sweating, and he’d barely arrived. He climbed the royal blue stairs to the main ballroom, scanning the crowd for Sophia.
Coming to the ball had been about standing up to command, right? He yanked at his collar again. She’d made a compelling case, and he trusted her judgment. That was all. It had been surprising to see her dressed up, but now that he knew what to expect, her looks would probably barely register with him.
He reached the top of the stairs, and there she was, talking with another guard in formal dress, just as stunning as before. He caught her eye, and she smiled before excusing herself and made her way over to him.
“Let’s get this over with,” he said, shrugging his shoulders to adjust his jacket.
She pressed her red lips together in a smile and reached out toward his neck. “May I?”
He nodded clumsily—as if he’d never been close to a woman before.
“I used to have to fix my dad’s ties all the time,” she said, pulling and tugging. She paused for a moment, her gaze flitting to his.
He swallowed hard.
She reached up to refold his collar, and he grabbed her hand.
“No,” he murmured as a rush of warmth flooded his cheeks. “It’ll show my tattoos.”
“Everyone in command knows about your tattoos,” she said. “You’ve never hidden them before. You have nothing to hide now, remember?”
She’d noticed his tattoos? What else had she noticed?
He stopped himself.
The early morning wake-up calls, the yelling, and the way he’d treated her at the hospital after the ambush. Not even she could overlook all that, but she had a point. He’d never hidden them before because it was a stupid rule. They didn’t affect his ability to fight, and he didn’t care what anyone thought of him…
Until she came along.
She was different than other guards. Loyal, braver than he could have possibly imagined, with a killer swing kick.
And beautiful.
With one last smoothing of the collar, her hands fell away, allowing him to think clearly again.
“Come on,” she said over her shoulder, brushing away a curl. “Let’s go find Guthrie.”
They wove through the tables of stiff and stuffy guards, who eyed him as they sipped champagne. Gold eagles gleamed from too many chests to count. At any other time, he would have been clawing at the walls to get out of here. His gaze wandered over Sophia as she led the way to the floor-to-ceiling windows.
It was simple. She was a good guard, and it was an honor to serve with someone like her. In fact, he wished there were ten more guards just like her.
There could never be anyone like her.
He hissed. What was wrong with him? This investigation had him all messed up. He’d never had a problem attracting casuals. He didn’t need to fall for someone he worked with—especially someone as capable as her. Attraction was irrelevant. She had what it took, and that was all that mattered.
“Sophia?” Anton’s slick voice broke through his musings like a sledgehammer.
Every muscle in his body went rigid as Anton stood up from one of the tables they’d passed.
“You look amazing!” Anton said warmly.
He took a pointed step toward Anton. If he dared to touch her…
“Hello, Anton.” She slipped around him, barely slowing. “We were just about to find Guthrie. Excuse us.”
Short. Direct. Cold. Niko beamed as she continued on. The whole night had been worth it for that single moment. Anton’s gaze iced over as he glared at Niko. For once, Anton was left speechless.
“Guess I better catch up with Sophia,” Niko said, winking to plunge the insult ever deeper. “Enjoy your night.”
They finally found Guthrie with a beautiful blonde on his arm, and despite the proverbial ax hanging over his head, he smiled more in the span of those few hours than he had in months. He’d almost forgotten the investigation entirely when the music slowed.
Guthrie’s date curled into his chest and whispered something in his ear.
“We’re going to dance.” Guthrie glanced at them both. “You should join us.”
Sophia’s wide eyes darted to Niko.
He shook his head. “I don’t dance.”
Guthrie rolled his eyes as he stepped toward the dance floor. “You only live once. You’re not even her commander right now.”
“Guthrie!” Sophia scolded.
“What? I’m just saying he’s got a rough road ahead of him. I don’t know how you did it, Sophia, but you got him to come. He should enjoy tonight.” With that he slid his arm around his date and moved to the dance floor.
Niko scoffed. “Guthrie’s an idiot.”
Sophia scowled, tapping her fingers on the cabaret table. “He makes it sound like this investigation is already over. You did nothing wrong.”
Maybe not, but it didn’t change reality. Guthrie was probably right—not that Niko would tell her.
She groaned. “Not you, too.”
“What?” He held up his hands. “I didn’t say anything.”
“That’s the problem. You think he’s right.” The green flecks in her eyes flared.
He sighed. “Look around you, Sophia. Every guard in this room knows about the ambush. Everyone here wants me to go away quietly so this whole thing will end.”
“You don’t have to do what they want,” she insisted. “You have a choice.”
“It’s not like I can fight back.” He yanked at his collar again. Was it getting hot in here?
She rounded the cabaret table. “I don’t care if they have sworn testimony and the support of the Head of the Guard. You aren’t responsible for any of this. You can still fight this. They want you to go away quietly?” she asked, her lips curving upward. She held out her hand. “Let’s dance.”
His mouth hung open. Beautiful. Courageous.
He blinked away the awe.
She’s a guard—a respected guard.
“I don’t dance,” he mumbled.
She nudged her hand forward, undeterred. “Let’s remind them you’re still here.”
He shook his head. How had she taken a room full of gleaming eagles as a challenge? Of course she’d be exasperatingly persistent.
He hid a smile and wrapped his hand around hers, trying to ignore the happiness radiating from her touch.
She led the way to the dance floor and turned to him, smiling with her chin held high. His fingers brushed along the smooth silk around her waist, but he kept his distance as they swayed—even if he desperately wanted to pull her close and savor her sweet scent.
Not that kind of dance, though.
To her, this was an act of protest. And to him? It didn’t matter what it was to him, but he couldn’t say no to her.
Besides, the Magnolia Festival had begun. This would all end soon. All he had was tonight and this dance, whatever it was.
“Are you smiling?” she asked, looking at him through thick eyelashes. “The great Niko Kalos is smiling! See! The ball isn’t so bad.”
He sniffed and looked anywhere but directly at those beautiful eyes. “I’ve always been more of a fan of the hologram release myself.”
“You?”
“Yeah,” he replied. “Why’s that so strange?”
She shrugged. “An event where practically everyone in Nios packs into the main square doesn’t seem like your thing.”
She had a point there.
“I don’t watch from the square.”
She narrowed her eyes, but a smile crept across her face—the half smile that drove him crazy.
“I watch from the old bell tower,” he admitted, looking away.
“The bell tower?” she asked, glancing out the window. “It’s been closed down for a couple years now. How do you get in?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Are you really asking how someone in black ops could gain access to a locked tower?”
She bit her lip, still grinning. “I bet the view is amazing.”
“Do you want to come?” He stiffened, eyes wide. Had he really just asked that out loud?
He hadn’t meant anything by it, but it didn’t sound that way. It didn’t feel that way.
He wanted her to say yes.
“Um…” She glanced around the room, the green flecks dancing—taunting him, drawing him closer. He’d thought he could control his feelings—she was way more than a pretty face, and he could never reduce her to that.
