Geared for Pleasure

by Rachel Grace

  The obvious relief of the group around her eased her mind. The last thing she needed was more scrutiny. More judgment from the blue eyes of the Arendal.

  He had no idea how much she wanted to find the queen. No idea what she was willing to do to ensure Idony’s safety. And no inkling of the personal stake she had in discovering exactly what had happened.

  But despite her determination, the small voice inside her head could not stop wondering what had become of the queen’s maid. What had become of Nephi?

  Chapter Three

  “Wulf. Hadiyah. How long has it been?” Bodhan called out in welcome to the strangely dressed men waiting under a copse of trees near the clearing where the Deviant had found its port. This was a favorite spot for the captain to resupply. Just outside of Newgarren. The small town on the western edge of the Avici desert drew many traders, and few Wode.

  Phina sprang easily off the cargo platform as it lowered slowly, its mechanical arms on either side of her whirring loudly in her still sensitive ears. She landed gently on the ground beside Dare, watching the newcomers with an alert and wary gaze. Bodhan’s mysterious friends.

  She had gone back to her room to splash water on her face and get herself together. Freeman, her savior, had left his special blend of tea outside her door. The queen needed her to be Seraphina. Fearless and bold. That was exactly what she would be.

  What she found on her dressing table had been a step in that direction. Cyrus had gotten into her room, leaving a memento behind.

  Her brass and copper bracelet. He’d even left the darts intact. It was a gesture of truce she could not quite ignore.

  That a Wode had managed to disarm her without her awareness was unacceptable. It was a move she had perfected over the years. Seduction and misdirection. Until now, no one had gotten the drop on her. Since adulthood, no human male had been able to catch her in the act of pinching any object she desired. And no one had ever taken anything from her without her permission.

  How had he?

  Still, he had kept his word. He had returned it to her possession for their landing, in time for her to meet Bodhan’s friends. She had to admit, the jangling of her pretty wrist piece was comforting.

  Now that her mind had cleared, she catalogued the features of the two men carefully. Bodhan had contacted them the same way he had his Siren guards. That wonder of a wrist cuff. She needed to get her hands on one.

  They had been waiting patiently in the sparse shade granted by the wispy trees when the Deviant began to descend. She’d noticed their broad smiles as the ship moored and the landing dodge was unfurled, needing no monocular to see them clearly, even from a distance. Though both had their eyes hidden behind strange lenses similar to Bodhan’s, which were tinted with varying hues of rose and violet, she could tell from their expressions that they were taking in every detail of the Deviant’s design until it disappeared from view. Admiring.

  They’d come bearing gifts, sacks of food and several large trunks laden, she imagined, with other necessities. She inhaled deeply, scenting nothing combustive or dangerous in their effects.

  Neither man was close to Freeman in size, and they had brought no pack animals. She would ask how they had carried their load, but it was instantly apparent when they came closer. The dark-haired man took a rectangular metal box out of his pants pocket, causing Phina to tense, ready for weapons fire.

  He did not aim, but shook the object, smacking it against his palm with a curse while the fairer man chuckled. Then small jets of steam puffed up into the still air behind the large wooden cart that had been stationary beside them. It juddered to life and the brass wheels of the wooden wagon started to roll between the two of them, seemingly guiding itself to where Bodhan stood.

  She had seen carts move on a charged rail in the Theorrean mines, where her family had worked for generations, but never on rocky terrain. Never without a pre-laid track. She could see the value in it, the cleverness.

  She wondered if they knew the Khepri.

  Phina let her senses take over. There was no tension in these men. They had no fear of the ship or its crew. Their confidence was undeniably attractive, as was their unusual appearance.

  One of them had a scent and look similar to Bodhan’s. He wore a tunic shirt with a belt of leather pouches at his hip instead of a sword or pistol. His dark hair was contained in a long braid that came down over his shoulder to his waist, lending to his exotic appeal and darker coloring. He removed his rose-tinted spectacles and squinted against the daylight. Once revealed, his eyes were the same nearly colorless blue of Bodhan’s. Like seeing the sky through ice, or a river that had frozen over in winter. Seraphina could not deny he was a beautiful specimen.

  The paler man with silky yellow hair was even more startling. If it weren’t for his brilliant red shirt and black vest and pants, he would seem nearly transparent he was that pale. Had he never left his home? Never gone out into the sun? And what was on his eyes?

  He had placed what looked to be a smaller, trimmed-down version of an ocularia device on his spectacles, all wires and multiple lenses. He moved them up and down as he studied the area of the ship covered by the dodge. His friend nudged him and he removed the device and his violet lenses, reacting as the other had, reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose at the brightness of the day. After her night of revelry, it was a reaction Phina understood.

  Bodhan gestured to them, guiding them to the shadow the ship threw, even in its apparent absence. When he did, the blond man opened his eyes in gratitude, showing a color similar to the moss green of her favorite drink but much lighter. So light she had to squint herself to see the color within. Despite his pallor, he, too, was magnetically attractive. His smile was knowing and playful. Cocky.

  She had always believed Bodhan unique. Now, however, she felt as she imagined Dare must have when she’d first seen the Deviant. Speechless.

  The pale man spoke first, in a subtle accent that was also similar to Bodhan’s. “It has been too long, Bodhan. I was sorry to miss you on your last visit home. We’ve been refitting the Slide.”

  The man next to him smiled sheepishly at the brothel owner. “I, on the other hand, was not expecting to see you again so soon. At least it is under better circumstances this time.”

  Bodhan chuckled. “As long as you’ve learned your lesson about bragging in alehouses, this trip should be simple in comparison.”

  Phina’s brow furrowed but Bodhan’s smile merely widened without further explanation. He turned to gesture toward her. “Captain Amaranthe is no doubt giving my men what for about how to properly lock down the concealment cloak—”

  Phina snorted. “The landing dodge.”

  Bodhan shrugged, sending her a long, suffering look. “Yes. The dodge. Speaking of dodgy, this is Seraphina Felidae. Occasional employee on the Siren, and full-time mischief-maker. Keep your trunks locked, men.” He winked at her to show he was teasing, but she was not particularly amused.

  Then he did something that made up for it. He held out his arm to Dare, an expression of such devotion and passion on his face that she could not help the small sting of envy that it caused. She could not recall anyone looking at her that way. It was an emotion no pheromone could induce.

  “This is Dare, gentlemen. The woman who unwittingly captured my heart. Love, meet two of my oldest friends. My cousin Hadiyah, Hadi to his friends, I’ve already told you about. The ghostly gentleman beside him is Wulfric the Great.”

  Wulfric’s look was self-deprecating as he held out his hand. “I am pleased to meet you, Dare. I thought Bodhan was too focused on the family business to ever get to the business of starting his own family.” He turned to Phina and studied her outfit with interest. “Wulfric the Great is my father. I am still but a shadow of that mad old inventor. Or a ghost, as Bodhan says. You may call me Wulf the Modest Yet Irresistible to Women.”

  Phina’s smile tilted at the ease of his sensuality. She allowed his hand to engulf hers. He studied her in open
appreciation, but he was not put off balance by her pheromones. Odd. But then, Bodhan had never been affected, either.

  Who were these men and where did they come from? Wherever it was, she reminded herself to stay away. It was hard to trust a man she could not seduce.

  Wulf caught her puzzled expression. “I may be immune to your scent, my dear, but the view has no need for enhancement. You are stunning.”

  When the men turned to Bodhan once more, speaking in hushed, enthusiastic tones about their journey, Dare leaned close to her ear. Her breath made Phina shiver.

  “They are from Aaru. Queen Idony spoke of a secret Bodhan must share with the captain? They are it. That is to say, where they come from is. They are here to help, and meet with the captain. Can you imagine it, Phina? A hidden city not bound by Theorrean reproductive laws or castes. They are loyal to the queen, but not the Theorrean Raj.” Dare’s soft voice held a hint of awe. “Bodhan was born there. And Hadi? He is the reason Bodhan was missing from the Siren.”

  A hidden human city without laws? It sounded like paradise to Phina. Why on Theorrey would any of them leave that kind of bliss to come here?

  And why had the captain forgotten to tell her about it? She did not enjoy being left out of things. She and Nerida Amaranthe had been through too much together. Was she so useless now? Perhaps she should stop drinking for a while, just to keep up.

  She feigned cynicism. “Bodhan is the owner of a brothel. Not exactly the lowest of profiles if he is from this secret city. Especially considering his clientele.”

  Bodhan heard her. He turned, his light eyes narrowing. “You, of all people, should understand the thrill of hiding in plain sight. And the value. The Siren has given me greater access to funds and secrets than a noble’s servant. Funds and secrets that have proved helpful in keeping my people, the queen’s people, safe. They’ve helped you on more than one occasion. Not that you would show gratitude for that.”

  She was distracted from the barb in his tone by the man he’d introduced as Hadiyah. He was studying her closely. “Bodhan, wait. This is the infamous Phina Fleet?” He laughed in delight. “You did not tell me she was the Siren’s Felidae. It was Phina Fleet who stole an entire cargo container right from under the noses of the Maithuna procurers, am I correct?”

  Phina noticed Dare’s confused expression at the same time Hadiyah did. He was quick to clarify. “There was a container full of children who had been sold or taken against their will from all across Theorrey. Being harvested like dravya, like nothing but a damned shipment of goods.” He grimaced at his own words, obviously disgusted by the idea. “Sometime between the arrival of the elevated rail at Centre City, and the transfer to the Maithuna cargo ship, the entire container disappeared. Months later children were still arriving home, spreading the tale of Phina Fleet and her daring rescue.” He took Phina’s hand in both of his and squeezed. “The Aaruan Felidae spin the story often. I suppose you could say you are their hero. And mine.”

  Captain Amaranthe’s voice behind her made Phina’s shoulders relax. “I remember that. It was, I believe, the first time Phina and I met.”

  The first time the captain had met her, Phina amended, but not the first time she had seen the captain or the Deviant. Until that episode with the children, she had, in fact, been following the ship for weeks. Tracking their heat signatures, and studying them when they resupplied. It had taken that long to decide whether, despite the queen’s instructions, she could trust the good Captain Amaranthe. Her pursuit to free the innocents from slavery had made up Phina’s mind in her favor.

  She waved off the praise, uncomfortable with the admiration. “Do they also tell the story of how I left a corpulent noble who enjoyed wearing corsets dangling from his balcony sans underthings while I robbed him of his art and jewelry collections?”

  “That sounds more like the Seraphina I know.”

  Phina’s jaw tightened at Cyrus’ smug comment as he joined the rest of them. Why did he have to be everywhere she was? Surely the ship was big enough, and Theorrey vast enough, that they could spend the rest of their lives never bumping into each other again.

  Even as she thought it, she knew there was less fire behind it. When had that happened? It was a dangerous turn of events. Letting her guard down would only make her more vulnerable to the still-bitter Wode.

  Hadi shook his head with a chuckle. “Say what you will, but all of us have heard of your exploits. Most of them courageous and bold. As are those of the illustrious Captain Amaranthe.”

  The captain ignored the praise as well. “Bodhan, I was told you were bringing me good, sturdy crew. These men have the look of highborn traders. Are you sure they know how to hold their swords?”

  Was Hadiyah blushing? He coughed, looking down at the wagonload of supplies, its engine still belching small clouds of steam. Bodhan patted him on the shoulder and laughed, though Phina noticed he sent a pointed look toward the captain. “They can hold their swords just fine. Did you bring everything you own, Hadi? I said we needed some food and medicine for a few men, not a town.”

  Wulf had sobered, his gaze on the captain as he answered for his friend. “We did as the Khepri instructed. We came prepared. I believe you will find what we bring to the crew to be more than sufficient. Speaking of which…” He leaned down and pulled the blanket off the top of the wagon.

  Phina heard Dare gasp as four of the Khepri’s bluish-green bugs came to life, fluttering their translucent wings, their brass bodies rising to hover with a familiar hum.

  She grinned. How often had one of those adorable automatons come to her, helping to guide her out of some corner she had gotten herself trapped into? The Khepri always seemed to know exactly when they would be needed.

  Wulf’s voice held an answering smile. “Much as I wish we could make our own, and believe me I have tried, these aren’t ours. They started following us a few hours before you arrived. It was the first time I had seen scarabs this small carrying a load themselves, so we offered them the wagon to rest in.”

  “Scarabs?” Dare spoke the question in Phina’s mind. She had never heard that word before.

  Bodhan reached out to touch a loose strand of Dare’s indigo hair tenderly. “It is the Khepri’s own name for his spies. They are his symbol. His eyes around Theorrey, as well as his less obvious messengers.” He kissed her forehead. “The dragonfly is only used when he truly wishes to gain someone’s attention.”

  How did these men know so much about the Khepri? Phina’s tail twitched restlessly. Was Bodhan sure he could trust them?

  The captain obviously felt her tension. “You have proven you know our ally, and Bodhan has spoken for you, but I have no patience for evasion. You said they carried a load. That is usually a job for a different machine. What was it?”

  Wulf’s strange eyes darkened with true interest. She could see his skin heat before her eyes, causing a lovely flush to his pale cheeks. Interesting.

  He lowered his head respectfully. “I meant no disrespect, Captain Amaranthe. However, I would be remiss if I did not take a moment first to tell you that the descriptions of your beauty hardly do you justice. You take my breath away.”

  Phina sucked in her lower lip and bit down in an attempt to contain her mirth. This man was flirting? Now? With the captain? He may have heard of her beauty but apparently not her temper.

  She turned to study Captain Amaranthe’s expression and caught Cyrus watching her instead. His blue eyes were dark as they studied her lips. She turned away before he could see how that affected her.

  “Wulf, was it?” The captain moved closer to the newcomer. Her signature coat had been removed so Phina could see the lithe, graceful movements of her body. Her bare arms slender but strong at her side, her dark hair flying like a silken banner down her shoulders as she strode toward him.

  The man may be immune to Phina’s pheromones, but he certainly was impressed with the captain. His lips parted, his tongue slipping out to moisten his mouth in unconscious prepa
ration. Phina inhaled, taking in his scent. Yes, he was definitely aroused.

  Captain Amaranthe drew close enough that Wulf leaned toward her, as though pulled by an unseen force. She used the opportunity to strike.

  Before the other men could react, she had grabbed Wulf’s arm, flipping him over her body and onto his back. She straddled his waist where he lay on the ground and Phina could see the curved, claw-like dagger the captain usually kept in a slender holster beneath her vest pressed against Wulf’s neck.

  Her smile was hard as she pressed her body against his. “This is how I take a man’s breath away. Still impressed?”

  Phina sensed Cyrus stepping closer and held up her hand. The man was in no danger. Not at the moment.

  Wulf was breathing faster, but he showed no fear. “Impressed. In love. I cannot decide.”

  Captain Amaranthe studied him for a moment, then rubbed her hips against him and dug the dagger deeper into his flesh. “I could help you with your decision. If you would risk it.”

  “Nerida.”

  Phina stopped smiling. How did Freeman move so quietly? The other men reacted to the sound of his voice with varying degrees of shock and respect.

  He had used her name. In front of strangers. It was low enough, tempered and even enough, that it did not sound like a rebuke. Yet the way Captain Amaranthe reacted, Freeman may as well have shouted, or prodded her with a loose stormwire.

  She was off the pale Wulf, hands on her hips and wearing an expression of stone before another word was spoken. Freeman stepped back, keeping a respectful distance but remaining a silent sentinel that seemed to remind all of them of why they were here.

  Bodhan helped his friend up and Dare went to stand beside him. “What were they carrying?”

  Hadi reached into the odd wagon and pulled out another metal box, this one much bigger than the one he’d held before. It was made of a dark gray metal, exquisitely detailed with images of the Khepri’s bugs—the scarabs—decorating each corner of the lid. It looked old. Valuable. The images etched with decades of patina. Being the Khepri’s, sadly, made it off limits for Phina to pinch.