Maria Snyder - Night Study

Leif crossed his arms as two red splotches spread on his cheeks. “It wasn’t a jump. It was a perfectly reasonable assumption. One you made, too.”

“I suspected Valek, as well,” Devlen said. He towered about six inches over Leif, and his blue-eyed gaze held contrition.

“No need for apologies.” Valek considered. “I don’t suppose they would let me examine the crime scene?”

“That would be...unwise at this time,” Devlen said. “They would not even let me near it or the bodies.”

Which meant Captain Fleming suspected Valek and would probably report his suspicions to the Council. “Should we leave tonight?”

“No,” Yelena said. “By the time they make a decision, we’ll be in Ixia.” Her matter-of-fact tone belied her heated gaze. She hadn’t forgotten his promise.

Warmth spread throughout his chest. He’d risk being arrested for a night alone with Yelena. Hell, he’d risk his life. Once they left in the morning, there would be no privacy on the road.

Yet there was no sense in taking an unnecessary risk. Setting a watch tonight would provide Valek with ample time to escape should the captain decide to arrest him. “All right, we’ll proceed as planned. Onora, where’s Janco? I thought he was helping you with the horses.”

She gestured to a two-story barn to the left. “He’s pouting.”

Should he even bother to ask?

Yelena did. “About what?” She fed an apple to Kiki, who cleaved the fruit in half with one bite.

Onora rubbed her right arm as she watched Kiki chew. “He wanted to name the horse we’re taking with us ‘Beach Bunny,’ after some stuffed rabbit he had growing up, and I said it was a stupid name for a horse. Then he claimed, if it was his horse, he could name it anything he wanted, and I said he should ride The Madam because she’s the easiest to handle, and—”

“You offended his pride and he stalked away in a huff,” Yelena finished.

“Yup.”

As Yelena scratched Kiki in all her favorite spots, Valek gestured for Onora to follow him to the barn. He stopped outside the oversize doors that had been painted green with white trim.

“Tell Janco to set up a watch schedule for tonight. I’ll take the last shift,” he said.

“Should he include Yelena?”

“No. She needs her rest.”

Onora bit her lip, clamping down on the question dancing behind her eyes—was Yelena with child? Valek walked away without answering. It was too soon to tell, and, as far as he was concerned, Onora would be the last to know. Though a part of him was impressed by the twenty-year-old’s ambition and cunning, he also wished to throttle her. But the Commander had chosen her as Valek’s successor. And now it was up to Valek to decide if he agreed.

* * *

Valek rattled the doorknob so he wouldn’t scare Yelena. She lay in bed reading, but she glanced up from her book when he entered. He recognized it as the plant guide her father had given her.

“What took you so long?” she asked, setting the book on the night table with a thump. The low flame in the lantern jumped.

He’d been checking the perimeter, confirming the gates had all been locked and the buildings secured while Janco did a sweep of the surrounding forest. “Ensuring Captain Fleming isn’t at the gate with an arrest warrant.”

“Good.” She peeled back the covers, exposing her naked body. “Join me.”

His heart thudded so hard he feared his sternum would crack in two. Breathing became difficult, and the desire to rip the rest of the blanket off and press her to him trembled through his body. Yet he remained rooted in place. She needed to know about the starlight and Onora.

“What’s wrong?”

“I need to tell you—”

“Is it important?”

“Yes.”

Yelena pulled the blanket up, covering herself. “All right, tell me.”

He kicked off his boots and lay down next to her. She scooted closer and rested her head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arm around her. Valek informed her of Onora’s nasty little trick.

“I’m going to wring her neck,” Yelena muttered after he’d finished.

“You can try. I doubt you’d get close to her.”

“Is that why you had the knife at Onora’s throat?”

“Yes. She needed to understand that will be the last time she lies to me. And I needed to remind her who is in charge.”

“Until the Commander says otherwise.”

“True.”

“And will you take orders from her?”

“No. By that time, I suspect I’ll be taking orders from another woman.”

Yelena lifted her head from his chest and met his gaze. “Is that so? What type of orders?”

“You have a dirty mind, love. I’m thinking of orders to change a diaper or rock a baby to sleep. Things like that.”

“Not near as exciting as assassinating a criminal.”

“Not as dangerous, either. Besides, I think the teen years could be quite exciting. No one is going to mess with my son or daughter.”

She laughed. “You can’t assassinate bullies or boys who kiss your daughter.”

“Pity.”

A brief smile flashed, then she grew contemplative. “Since I was hit with starlight, that increases the possibility I’m pregnant. What will we do?”

“I expect we’ll do what most people do in that situation—become a family.”

“Easier said than done.”

“We’ll figure this out—I promise.” He pulled her tight against him.

She snuggled in and fell asleep. Valek took comfort in the steady rise and fall of her chest, but far too soon, it was his turn on watch. He slipped from her embrace, pulled his boots on and searched for Janco.

A half-moon cast enough light to avoid tripping and walking into tree trunks. Valek found Janco near the glass house. Condensation misted the outside panels of the structure. Inside, coals burned to keep it warm, and the pans of water added moisture to the air. Leif had been maintaining the equipment in order to keep the plants alive until his father arrived. The whole idea of the house and growing Curare far from the jungle was genius. He wondered if Owen had the original notion, or if the Commander had speculated about the possibility and sent Owen to put it all together.

“Any trouble?” Valek asked.

Janco rubbed the scar where the bottom half of his right ear should be. “Just thinking.”

“That could be dangerous.”

“Ha, ha. Not funny. What I’m wondering is, if all those plants inside came from the Illiais Jungle, then who brought them here?”

“Owen has been working on this for over three years.”

“Yeah, I get that. But wouldn’t the Zaltana Clan know strangers were digging around their jungle? Doesn’t the Curare vine only grow in a certain section? And isn’t Yelena’s father the only producer of the stuff?” Janco tapped on the glass. “These are far from seedlings. And then I’m thinking, how many people have enough knowledge of all these plants? Can’t be many outside the jungle.”

All excellent points. Valek considered. “Tyen Cowan might have the knowledge, depending on where he grew up.” The jungle bordered the southeastern and southern sections of the Cowan Clan’s lands.

“Or a Zaltana was working with Owen.”

Deceit and betrayal were all part of his job; however, Valek had a difficult time believing that one of Yelena’s clan members would cooperate with Owen or be involved in illegal activities. Unless they’d been tricked. “Before we leave, we’ll ask Leif to look into it. If Leif finds the expert, he or she could lead him to where the other hothouses are located.”

Janco flashed him a bright smile. “See? I have good ideas, too.”

“I never said you didn’t.”

“But you never said I did.”

“I don’t have to. You’re very good at self-congratulation,” Valek said.