by Chele Cooke
***
The dappled light from the oil lamp flickered across the roof of the tunnel above their heads. The oil was getting low, the bright flames slowly receding towards the wick. Georgianna watched the light play in the darkness, frowning.
“It doesn’t matter who it is, George,” Keiran murmured, brushing some hair away from her face.
“We still have to go back.”
She glanced at him to find a frown on his lips. He rolled further onto his side, shaking his head.
“It’s too dangerous. You’ve been there twice already.”
“But we have to tell them, they have to be ready.”
Keiran cocked his head to the side as he considered it. Turning towards him, Georgianna propped herself up on her elbow, resting her head in her hand. She wasn’t sure whether Keiran was worried about her, or the plan failing, but either way, it felt nice knowing he thought about those things. She’d been spending more and more nights with him recently, and when she wasn’t there, she missed the familiarity of having him next to her. She was quickly finding it harder to sleep when his breath wasn’t there to lull her into her dreams.
“Taye’s too jumpy,” he said slowly. “It was difficult convincing him to stay back last time, he won’t again.”
Georgianna nodded.
“We don’t tell him then.”
Keiran raised an eyebrow, his frown melting into a smile.
“You’d be a good Belsa, all secrets and sneaking around.”
“Maybe I’ve just known you too long. You’re a bad influence.”
He laughed, an infectious chuckle that soon had Georgianna giggling with him. They melted back into the bed, and as fast as the laughter had come, it was gone.
“I could do a delivery again,” Georgianna suggested.
“Too suspicious,” he answered, shaking his head. When Georgianna turned her head to look at him, he was staring at the ceiling with a faraway look. “I’ve got some contacts. Maybe I can find out Guinnyr’s schedule, get a time when he’ll be out.”
“Is it a girl?”
Keiran didn’t answer, but as Georgianna was considering whether or not to push him on the subject, the oil in the lamp finally gave out, and they were plunged into darkness.
27 One Dead, One Drysta
“Did she tell you where he was going?” Georgianna asked.
She didn’t look at him, her gaze fixed on her boots. As it had turned out, she’d been right, Keiran’s contact had been a woman. She cleaned floors in the Headquarters, and according to Keiran, had a keen ear for secrets. Georgianna appreciated the help, even if she hadn’t appreciated standing ten feet away while the woman flirted and asked when she could see Keiran again.
“Had some big-shot meeting.”
“You know who with?”
“Does it matter?”
Georgianna raised an eyebrow as she lifted her head to look at him. It was his turn to avoid her gaze, his lips set in a resolute line. She frowned.
“Who is it?”
He huffed and shoved his hands into his pockets.
“Volsonnar.”
Georgianna forgot to walk. She stood in the middle of the path, staring after him as Keiran took a few more steps before realising she was no longer with him. He turned around, curious, as she gaped.
“The Volsonnar? He’s important enough to have meetings with the leader of the Adveni?”
He hurried back to her, shushing her as her voice cracked. He slipped his hand into hers, entwining their fingers, and tugging her into a steady pace.
“We knew he was a big shot, George. Keep your…”
“Stop there!”
They froze, hand in hand on the path, not even daring to look behind them as a pair of boots approached. Keiran squeezed her hand, and she could feel the beads of sweat dripping down her wrist and between their palms.
The Adveni stepped around them, eyes narrowed and suspicious as his gaze travelled over them both.
“What are you doing out here?” the Adveni asked.
His moss green uniform was plated with dark grey armour that glinted and shone in the sunlight as he moved. Georgianna licked her lips. Agrah.
She wished they’d brought a delivery with them, or they’d told Taye so that he could have brought some product along. As it was, they didn’t have anything. She didn’t even have her medic’s bag, not that it would have made a difference. The Adveni had their own medics, they wouldn’t have called a Veniche.
“Personal call,” Keiran answered as smoothly as if it had been the truth.
The Adveni raised an eyebrow.
“You know people in this district?”
Keiran chuckled, a deep and knowing laugh. His grin spread broadly across his lips, and he nodded. He released Georgianna’s hand and slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her against him.
“Not yet. She was purchased.”
“You’re olcinyty?”
The Adveni gave her all his attention as his gaze slipped down her body. He smiled briefly, but his eyes remained cold and suspicious. Georgianna gulped as she tried not to sneer at Keiran for suggesting that she was a prostitute.
“Yes, Volsonne,” she nodded.
The Agrah didn’t look convinced, he reached behind him, digging into his pocket.
“Come on, wouldn’t you hire this if you got the chance?” Keiran suggested, hugging her a little tighter. “She’s very good.”
“And why are you here?” the Adveni asked, looking at him.
Georgianna beamed suddenly.
“We work as a pair.” She stepped between Keiran and the Adveni guard, reaching back and grasping Keiran’s hips. “Our clients have an… eclectic taste. One they’d rather keep private from the Adveni-run places.”
If the Adveni was shocked, he didn’t show it. In fact, as he looked at Keiran, his smile became almost curious. It took everything Georgianna had to keep herself from letting out her nerves by laughing.
“Can we pass, Volsonne?” she asked.
He looked back at her for a moment before nodding. As Georgianna passed him, she trailed her finger down his arm, putting on a giggle as Keiran took her hand and tugged her along.
“You made me gay?” he hissed as they rounded the corner.
Georgianna sidled up against him.
“Bisexual,” she giggled, kissing his shoulder. “And you started it by saying I was olcinyty.”
Keiran grinned, and dropped the conversation.