A Blue Star Rising

by Cecilia Randell

  Jason placed the orders on the edge of Borran’s desk. If he held on to them any longer, they’d end up crumpled on the floor, which would only get him brought up for disciplinary action. They may go through the motions of recording acceptance of missions, but it was a mere formality. No Ministry agent would refuse his orders.

  “Sir,” he tried again, going for a different angle, “my training does not include Falass. Earth is my specialty.”

  “You learned Falassian, correct?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “And you are familiar with their customs?”

  “Only as much as any other agent.” Jason gritted his teeth. This was not going the direction he wanted or had expected.

  “And this is where we need you.” Borran sighed and relaxed, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the desktop. “Look, you’ve had some leeway. I approved your leave request. I could see you needed it. And it was a good move having someone from the Ministry there, even if it was in an unofficial capacity.”

  Jason nodded.

  “And I took whatever you would give me, intelligence-wise. You were on your own time, and I understand there may have been… confidences you could not share.”

  “Sir, yes, I do appreciate that.” And there had been much he hadn’t shared with Borran. He’d told them the minimum he could of the crystals, enough so they understood the importance of keeping them away from the general populace of the Alliance and to encourage them to increase patrols on Padilra. But the rest, what he’d learned of Levi, of Felix and Mo’ata, of the piquets, and even of Zeynar, that he’d held onto.

  “We need you in Falass, Jason. Do you really think I wouldn’t have pushed back on this if that wasn’t the case?” Borran’s direct stare dared Jason to argue his handler didn’t have his or the Ministry’s best interests in mind.

  “No.” Jason couldn’t let it go, though. “Did you give any thought to my own proposal?”

  Borran’s gaze cut to the director’s office, then back to Jason. “I passed it up the line of command. It’s not the first time someone has suggested we implement a liaison with the Order. The problem is that we always know they are holding back. And we always hold back. It flies in the face of hundreds of years of secrecy mentality.” The statement was matter-of-fact, and Jason couldn’t deny it. That same secrecy had held him back during the kidnapping investigation.

  Although, Mo’ata had opened up pretty quickly about being part of the Order. Did they offer more autonomy to their agents, or had Mo’ata cleared it before speaking? Jason suspected it was a matter of both.

  “I understand that,” he said. “But there are too many instances where sharing information would have resolved cases in less time with fewer losses.”

  Borran’s brow furrowed. “Is this about Rachel? It was truly tragic what happened to her.”

  Jason’s chest grew tight. Despite what he’d told Blue, he hadn’t been able to mourn Rachel properly or say the goodbye he’d wanted to at her family’s gathering. He wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to. But worse, he still hadn’t unraveled what he felt for Blue from what he’d felt for Rachel.

  There was a heat with Blue, a heat he hadn’t allowed himself to give in to. He wanted to hold her close and to keep anything bad from touching her. He wanted her happy, and he could see that the clansman and Forrest did that for her.

  He wanted to be able to do that for her.

  And if I were a part of that life, could I handle it? Could I handle seeing her with them, knowing she was mine, but also theirs? It would be different than simply knowing there could be something between them. If there was…

  His stomach twisted as something dark twined through him. In the abstract, knowing the clans shared their women, forming family units with more than one man, had never bothered him. If that worked for them, all the better. He even knew the cultural factors that had led to the development of that custom.

  And that was where he ran into trouble. Knowing, seeing, and doing were all very separate things.

  He could see her with Forrest, with any of the others. He could see her happiness. He could see the way they cared for her. And he could get behind it. He wanted Blue to have that kind of love; she deserved it.

  He’d wanted the same for Rachel—though he hadn’t felt the heat—he’d just known he couldn’t be the one for her. But she’d been his closest friend for so long, knew him so well that, other than brief flings, he’d never needed anyone else.

  And it was too hard to open up to someone new. Especially someone who so obviously didn’t need him and had a very full life of her own.

  Yet Blue maneuvered me into spending time with her, with all of them. She wanted me there. But he was about to leave on another assignment, and it could be months before he saw her again. And I always knew this was coming. The thoughts swirled, one on top of the other, going in circles fast enough to dizzy an acrobat.

  “No,” he finally said. “This isn’t just about Rachel.”

  “The girl from Earth. I remember your reaction when you received word of her abduction.”

  “Yes. No. It is partly to do with her, but not really. It’s about the information I forwarded to you that I was able to get because of her.”

  “The incident with Zeynar.”

  “Yes. It’s clearly a drug of some sort, and the Order has found similar incidents on other worlds, which means someone is transporting this, abusing the portals. It very clearly falls under our jurisdiction, and—”

  Borran held up a hand. “Your report said all of this. You have told me all of this. And as I did with your request, I passed it up to the director.”

  “But—”

  “Enough, Agent Peterson. We need you on Falass. Incidents of contraband have increased. The currently appointed agents did not make the last two designated check-in times. You will go, locate them, and assist in any way they need until the next designated check-in. Ensure you make it. You have five days to brush up on the Falassian dialect for the area, and then you will be deployed.”

  Jason gripped his chair’s arms and took a deep breath.

  “The situation will be reassessed after that. Depending on what has happened to the agents, there is a possibility you will be assigned there more permanently.” Borran flicked a finger at the orders still laying on the desk, sitting there like a waiting kiki bug, ready to bite and slowly leach the life from anyone foolish enough to harass it.

  It’s only for a month or so. It is not the end of things.

  “Fine. But I want real, genuine consideration given to implementing a liaison position.” Jason grabbed a pen and signed the orders. “Send me all the information you have from the agents.”

  “Already done.” Borran grabbed the orders, put them in his outgoing papers, and turned to his screen, obviously dismissing Jason.

  He didn’t move.

  After a few minutes, Borran sighed. “You used to be such a… compliant agent. What?”

  “Is there anything I can take to the Order agents that may forward their own investigation?” He knew he was pushing things. But he had been a good little agent his entire career. And even if he had never admitted it, he had drugged Kevin and the other clansmen. If they had been awake, would that night have gone differently? He could tell himself he’d just been following orders, but it didn’t change what happened.

  Sana had said she’d seen orange robes at the apartment. That meant the Ministry had had someone there from the discipline committee. And that meant they had a record of the findings.

  Borran gave him a hard look. “I’ll look into it.”

  Jason nodded and rose. That was as good as he would get. And it was more than any other handler would have given him.

  As he waded through the desks and agents working away at their own assignments, he wondered how Blue would take the news he was leaving Karran. Would she miss him?

  He wanted her to.

  Chapter 12

  BLUE

  Blue snuggled into her
pillow. Her pillow, in her bed, in her room, in her apartment. Well, not just her apartment, but she could pretend. She was stealing the morning to herself. All to herself.

  Actually, she was supposed to be up two hours earlier to practice her kiti, but a girl needed to indulge every once in a while. One lazy morning wouldn’t hurt, not with the schedule Mo’ata had devised around her Academy schooling.

  Up at 5:50 for an hour with Levi to practice the kiti and her throwing blades. Then endurance exercises, alternating between cardio and strength. After that she had an hour to cool down, shower, and eat before she needed to be on her way to classes. There was also another hour in the evening where either Mo’ata or Felix would show her additional holds and methods for breaking them. It didn’t leave much time for taking care of Beast, let alone herself.

  Plus, the last couple days had been hectic. Between moving, shopping, getting fitted for her uniform, setting up the apartment, and going to the healer’s for a full checkup, she’d barely had time to think.

  The visit to the healer’s… that had been fun. The equipment was a lot like what she’d seen at the clan camp, but on a much larger scale. Per Felix, they hadn’t even gone to the main center, where most of the research was done. Apparently getting poked and prodded and snipped were common enough procedures that they could be performed at the smaller clinics that dotted the city. The information was uploaded and sent to the central healing center, from where it could be accessed by any licensed healer given the patient’s permission.

  She grinned to herself as she recalled Forrest’s expression when the male contraceptive procedure had been explained to him. It was very similar to a vasectomy, but the Karranians had figured out how to reverse it when the couple decided they were ready for children. Per him, he “wasn’t sure if he wanted anyone doing invasive things to his junk.” In the end he’d gone through with it. Especially when Blue had made it clear she was nearly out of condoms. Maybe she was being overly cautious, but she was definitely not interested in growing their family in that way any time soon, not with everything they currently had to deal with.

  While that was happening, she was also getting her lady bits prodded. It was a full checkup, after all. She still had about a month before the last of her own birth control ran out, so she’d ended up making an appointment to look into her own options for when that happened.

  They’d gotten a lot of what was on her newest list done, not to mention sorting through all the information the boss had sent on the case.

  So, yes, she deserved at least one good indulgence day every week.

  Garfield purred his agreement beside her. In a few minutes she would make herself move, maybe sneak down to the stable and visit Beast, who’d been a grumpy-face since her return. No matter what she bribed him with or how often she took him on rides, after the first demon-mount hug, he’d ignored her. She had a feeling today would be the day he finally gave in. He’d been happy—well, Beast-happy—about the move as well.

  A knock sounded at her door, and she groaned. Whoever it was had obviously missed the memo that she was not to be disturbed.

  “Coming,” she called out. Then repeated it in Common. Stiffly, she pushed herself from the bed. Her muscles were protesting their renewed use over the last couple days. The guys had definitely been pushing her hard, even harder than on Padilra.

  Grumbling, she yanked open the door. Felix stood there, clad in his mercenary armor—that mixture of black leather and the alloy she now knew was called cruadium—with a helmet tucked under his arm. “I have to go,” he said.

  She blinked. “What?”

  “My assignment begins today.” He frowned, his posture stiff. “We discussed this. It is for the merchant from Turamm. I will be back in seven days.”

  “Okay.” She blinked, trying to wake up.

  His eyes narrowed. “Are you well?”

  She returned the narrow-eyed look and snapped her teeth at him, but then yawned and the gesture lost its effect.

  Or maybe not. Felix threw his head back and laughed. When the last of his chuckles died away, he focused on her once more, his stance more relaxed. “Tired?”

  “I was stealing the morning for myself. Before I had to face the day. I forgot this was when you left.” She blinked, then rubbed her face, trying to wake up the rest of the way. “Do you have time for a ride before you go?”

  “No.” He shifted on his feet. “But I do have a little bit before I must leave, if you would like some company in the stables.”

  Blue blinked a few more times, then nodded. “Yes.” She shut the door in his face, then opened it up again. He was right where he’d been, wearing a grin that she couldn’t help but answer. “Sorry about that. Let me get dressed. I’ll be down in a few minutes.” This time she waited until he’d nodded and stepped away before she shut the door.

  Slipping on the jeans and sweater she’d been using for short rides, Blue hurried to get ready. This would be the perfect time to talk to Felix about what had happened the day they’d come to view the apartment. They’d all been so busy with moving and getting settled, not to mention organizing a strategy for the investigation into Miyari and sorting through various reports, that she’d not had a chance to “fix it,” as she’d told Garfield. It didn’t help that Felix had become distant more often than not, her cheerful, sneaky mercenary turning into a grump with only occasional bursts of levity.

  She also hadn’t been able to steal time to talk to Levi. And he was already at the Order headquarters starting his new assignment. He would be coming home each night, though, so maybe tonight or tomorrow…

  She grinned. Home. She loved that word. And she loved that “home” meant her, Mo’ata, Forrest… and Levi and Felix.

  She was halfway across the rear yard, Duri—her constant shadow—just far enough behind her to not be too obtrusive, when she finally noticed the other residents scattered across the green. They clustered under broad-leafed trees or around tables placed in strategic areas. Most were watching her as she made her way to the open front of the stables, some curious, some cautious, and a few hostile.

  She plastered a big smile on her face and waved. A few waved back, and her smile eased into something a little more natural. According to Sana, most of the residents were either Ministry agents or students at the Academy. These were the people she’d be working and studying with for the foreseeable future. It wouldn’t hurt to make some friends.

  Just like I did the first day of senior year. A flutter of homesickness settled over her. Or maybe it’s friend-sickness. She was starting at the Academy tomorrow, and while she was excited, there would be no Phe to be her partner-in-mischief or Forrest to egg them on. And no Kevin to keep them all in line.

  Briefly, she wondered what was being said about her. No doubt Sarah—her new nemesis from the party—was already talking, and though she had been assured that the name of the person being traded to Padilra in exchange for cooperation—her name—had been kept out of the news-sheets, she couldn’t imagine her involvement could be kept truly quiet. There were simply too many who knew of it.

  She entered the shadowed interior of the stables and shivered. The days were getting colder, despite the sunshine and milder temperatures in Tremmir. Mo’ata had warned her the snows would start soon—in a few weeks probably. Then he’d dragged her and Forrest to shops and loaded them down with even more winter gear.

  Felix stood near Beast’s stall, combing his fingers through the demon-mount’s mane. In an uncharacteristic show of patience, her quorin let him. She approached, and Duri stayed near the entrance, backing into the shadows until he blended.

  Maybe it was her recent longing for friends left behind or that they were finally as alone as they could get, but the question slipped out before Blue could stop it. “Do you miss your family?”

  Felix stiffened and pulled away from Beast, who snorted. The quorin eyed Blue in demand. If she was going to drive away the only one grooming him, she had better take that person�
�s place. She crossed to the small cubby where Beast’s brushes, saddle, and other tack were stored, then entered his stall, all the while waiting for Felix’s reply.

  It wasn’t how she had intended to broach the subject with the mercenary, but the question was out there now.

  She started on Beast’s left side, working him over with the curry comb in small circles. Beast has just started his purr when Felix finally answered.

  “Sometimes.”

  “Oh.” What was she supposed to say to that? “I miss mine. And Phe and Kevin.” She finished with the left side, worked her way over Beast’s chest, and then started on the right. “Do you want to talk about them?”

  “No.”

  “Okay.” She snuck a glance at him and caught his green eyes on her. He wore an expression she couldn’t define. He almost looked… wistful? She ducked her head and concentrated on a particularly muddy spot. How the hell did Beast get so dirty? It’s not like there were wallows he could roll around in.

  “I like this life. I enjoy working with a close team, directly in the field. My family… they don’t understand.” The words were quiet. Blue continued her brushing, keeping the rhythm consistent, and hoped he would continue. “They think it’s because of Portia. It’s not. Maybe she set me on this road, but…”

  It took all of Blue’s willpower not to ask the obvious “Who’s Portia?”

  “Most people have ambitions to rise,” he finally said. “Those were not mine.”

  “Okay.” She swallowed, looking for the right words. “Well, Felix Audal, I like you just fine as you are, a sneaky mercenary who leaves me carvings and brings me chocolate.” She snuck a look at him as she used his full name. He’d stiffened, then gradually relaxed as she spoke.

  “You’re not going to ask me who Portia is?”

  “Oh, believe me, it’s taking all I’ve got to hold that question in. Is she someone I need to kill?” She kept her tone musing, playfully light.