by Gun Brooke
Thea slumped against the backrest again. The things Caya was prepared to do for her. “I appreciate it, but I don’t want you anywhere near him, darling.” It took Thea a few seconds to realize what she had just said. Caya’s lips parted and she looked wide-eyed at Thea. “Besides, he fears you and your sister so much, he wouldn’t go anywhere near you.” Trying to shrug her telltale word choice off, Thea wasn’t sure where to look. She focused on the top button in Caya’s tunic, but eventually she had to meet the other woman’s gaze again. She was struggling for something to say to get back on track when Meija called for them to join the others at the dinner table.
Thea ate without actually tasting much of the food. Meija was a brilliant cook. Korrian could get lyrically detailed when she described how Meija used to cook in the traditional way, using a stove and an oven. At such moments, Meija would just huff and say something about how anyone could easily follow a recipe if they took the time.
“What do you think? Thea?” Korrian nudged Thea gently. “We recall the book from all parties, as it is a threat to national security?”
“He will fight it in court, bringing even more attention to the damn thing,” Adina said.
“Adina’s right. I need to go another route. Actually, I discussed another approach with Caya earlier. She offered to assist, but this is something I need to do alone.”
Caya flinched. “Thea?”
“It’s the only thing that might work.” Thea clenched her jaws. “I need to hit him where it really hurts, and no, I don’t mean physically, albeit that has a certain appeal, all things considered.” She snorted unhappily. “I want you all to know that it’s because I have friends like you that I can even contemplate dealing with Hadler in this manner.”
Korrian looked concerned. “You should run whatever this idea is by your publicist and PR team.” She put down her utensils and placed a gentle hand on Thea’s shoulder.
“They will do their bit, but when it comes to my ex-husband, I’m the unfortunate expert. His many mistresses have no doubt seen only the side of him he showed me while we were engaged. A perfect, old-fashioned, charming gentleman. Once we married, he turned out to be a completely different person. Not even my father, his friend of many years, knew of Hadler’s temper or his…ways.” Thea swallowed. She wasn’t going to give them any of the sordid details.
“Can you at least share with us what you intend to do? I’m not actively trying to read you, but I can sense your, well, nervous energy, coming at me in waves,” Briar said from across the table.
“I’m going to remind him of a few of his less-than-stellar moments during our marriage. He doesn’t know it, but I’ve kept a few recordings. Some video, some audio only. I must have had a bit of a clairvoyant streak myself back then when I decided to put such measures in place.”
“Are you saying you have surveillance footage of Hadler Tylio’s abuse?” Caya pressed her lips together and gripped the edge of the dining table hard with both hands.
Wincing inwardly at the blunt words, Thea refused to let any of her discomfort show. “Yes. And the penalty for striking a member of the assembly, not to mention the cabinet and a president, is a significant number of years in prison.”
“Please let me go with you.” Caya curled her fingers in and pressed her fists together. “Or anyone else that truly is on your side. Take someone.”
“My guards will accompany me, and I’ll meet with him at his publisher’s office. That way I won’t have to submit to this charade more than once. I’ve made up my mind.” Thea looked at her half-empty plate. She just couldn’t stomach any more food. “I’m going to page my assistant to set up the meeting now. Do feel free to stay and finish your meal. Thank you for joining me here and showing me your support. It’s a good feeling to have such loyal friends.”
She stood and casually placed a hand on Caya’s shoulder as she passed her. Caya tipped her head back to look up at Thea, her transparent eyes large and filled with worry. “I’ll see you later.” Belatedly, Thea looked at the others. “All of you.” She automatically adjusted her beads and walked toward the door. Slapping her lapel communicator, she barked an order for her guards before snatching up the computer tablet from her desk and exiting her quarters. She knew Caya had sensed her feelings even if she wasn’t an empath.
Thea was out for blood.
Chapter Thirteen
“Are you sure you’ll be all right on your own? I can stay over.” Briar took Caya by her shoulders and looked into her eyes, probing.
“You don’t have to read my mind.” Caya shook her head. “I’m going to wait up until I hear from Thea. Or at least I hope I’ll hear from her. She’s been erratic when it comes to connecting with me, but today I felt she trusted me more than she has in a while.”
“Perhaps because you didn’t curse and kick at the furniture,” Briar said and grinned. “Truly, though. I agree with you. I can sense the bond between you has strengthened. Perhaps this is the beginning of a new understanding between the two of you. I imagine she can use a friend after dealing with that monster of an ex-husband.”
“Yes. He’s bad news.”
Adina had stood quietly behind Briar as the sisters said good night. Now she wrapped Caya up in a hug, lifting her off the floor. “You stay safe now. You and Briar did a great job at the hospital, but it brought you into the public eye even more than before. And people can be inventive.”
“Yes, I know. I’m safe here in the guest quarters. You know that, Adina.” Caya made a wry face. “And yes, I’m being good about it.”
“If not, Thea’s going to blame me again and bust me down to ensign—or crewman. I’ll be scrubbing the jumper tunnels with a toothbrush for the duration of our journey.”
“Ha-ha. More like the hull without a space suit.” Crinkling her nose, Caya kissed Adina’s cheek. “See you in two days. I look forward to our next sessions. Today was difficult, but I think our method might be good for some people, sis.”
Briar nodded. “I do too. Good night, sweetheart.”
Caya was about to press the sensor to close the door when movement to her left caught her attention. She saw Lieutenant Diobring relieve her usual evening guard. He dug out a small metal cylinder and swallowed it.
“Lieutenant? Are you on my guard duty tonight?” Caya leaned against the door frame as she studied the handsome young man.
“I am, Ms. Lindemay. After you left your quarters without permission, some of your guards were relieved. That means my team will have to help babysit you until the president deems it unnecessary.”
“Are you ill? I saw you taking medication.” His obvious annoyance didn’t bother Caya. Perhaps he was cranky because he was coming down with something?
“A mere headache. A pain blocker usually does the trick.” Diobring shrugged. “I suggest you walk inside and lock your door. It’s late.”
Now that annoyed Caya. She would not be talked down to by any of the guards or anyone at all, for that matter. “I suppose I can just page Commander KahSandra and have her send someone to relieve you, as your headache could impair your ability to uphold your duty.”
Stiffening, Diobring pressed his lips together. “No need, Ms. Lindemay. You’re quite safe.”
“Good night then, Lieutenant.” Caya shot him what she hoped was a fierce glance and closed the door. She strode into the bathroom and pulled off her clothes. Placing them into the recycling unit, she stepped into the shower. As a guest in these luxury quarters, she could have as long a shower as she wished and waste energy on water to her heart’s content, but she never took advantage of that privilege. Only too mindful of the short two-minute showers allowed for regular people aboard Pathfinder, she didn’t feel it was fair to use any more time for herself. Sometimes, she did take an extra minute to cleanse her long hair, but mostly two minutes was quite enough.
Caya closed her eyes as the cleansing cycle provided a spray of artificially scented disinfectant soap. Once that was distributed, forty nozzles spra
yed at her body from four directions, rinsing her. As the soap and water ran through the perforated flooring of the shower stall to be recycled into energy, Caya chose to dry herself off the old-fashioned, traditionalist way, with a towel.
She browsed her garment program and opted for the clothes dispenser to create a long, turquoise nightgown. It felt cool and silky against her skin, which she liked as her visions often made her feel overheated.
Her door chime rang, making her drop her hairbrush just as she pulled it through her rich mane for one last stroke. Annoyed, thinking it was Diobring with more condescending remarks to get off his chest, she strode toward the door.
“What can I do for you, Lieutenant?” she asked via the communicator, not about to open up for him to gawk at her dressed like this.
“Caya, it’s Thea.” Thea’s voice was as stern and noncommittal as always. “May I join you?”
“Of course.” Opening the door, Caya stepped back to let Thea stride past her. The other woman had clearly been at her quarters to change as well. She was dressed in what went for leisure clothes when it came to Thea: light-green trousers and a long, ivory caftan. She stopped short when she turned to look at Caya.
“You are on your way to bed. I apologize. It’s too late. This can wait.” Thea took one step toward the door but stopped as Caya raised her hands.
“I was hoping you’d drop by. Don’t go. Why don’t I make us something to drink—”
“Yes. Some Lyumine wine would be lovely.”
“As my quarters are outfitted with a wine cellar, which I honestly find rather ridiculous, I can probably scare up a bottle or two.”
“I find it just as silly, honestly, but in this case, I think wine is called for. I’ve spent five minutes in the shower to wash my ex-husband away from my very soul. If I have some alcohol as well, I may just rinse him out of my system permanently.”
“Can you tell me how it went?” Caya opened the cabinet that held perfectly chilled wine. She found the Lyumine wine and pulled it out, pouring two glasses for them. “Want to sit here?” She pointed at the tall chairs by the kitchenette counter.
“Why not?” Thea gracefully climbed into the closest chair and accepted the glass. She sipped the wine first, tasting it thoughtfully. “I haven’t indulged in alcohol more than a few times while in space. Fleet Admiral Vayand once told me, no matter that we’re in an artificial-gravity environment, alcohol is inadvisable in large quantities out here. Not that I’ve ever been a heavy drinker, but I do admit I’ve used it to numb my senses when…when called for.” She grimaced and sipped from her glass again. “I don’t assume you’ve had much experience with alcohol?”
“No. For a clandestine changer to use alcohol…that’s not a good idea. After I revealed my identity, I’ve had some at functions. Never alone. Briar says that’s not advisable. Drinking alone. Honestly, I haven’t been tempted.”
“She’s right. I spent some time alone with a wine bottle, or with my housekeeper’s homemade brandy, and it only enhances the loneliness.”
Caya tasted the wine. It was smooth and silky, so she could understand why others preferred it. “So. Hadler. Did he escape unscathed?”
“Barely.” Thea shook her head. “He was at the meeting, bringing three lawyers and his publisher. It was interesting to watch him change from an arrogant bastard to a pale, trembling idiot.”
“Did you have to play the surveillance files for them?”
Thea paled. She twirled the glass of wine in front of her, creating a small vortex in the amber-colored beverage. “I thought at first I wouldn’t have to. As soon as I mentioned their existence, I could tell he became nervous. If it hadn’t been for one of his attorneys, a woman I think is his latest conquest, in fact, persuading him to ‘call my bluff,’ as she put it, I don’t think he would’ve dared.” Thea followed the rim of the glass with her index finger. She smirked, an unhappy grimace. “He didn’t want to lose face, I think. Perhaps he didn’t believe I had the surveillance recordings, but perhaps he did and gambled I wouldn’t want to share them. I don’t know.”
“But you did.” Caya wanted to put her hand over Thea’s but knew it might trigger a vision when Thea seemed to feel so skinless.
“I played an audio recording first.” Thea shrugged. “Hadler went pale and sweaty at the sound of him calling out obscenities. I think it was after I became mayor of the capital. He had used rude and offensive language with me before, and as luck would have it, when I set up surveillance, he was really true to form.” Thea tilted her head. “Do you want to listen to it?”
Caya winced. She truly didn’t but had to be careful. If she said yes, she might come across as curious and sensationalizing. If she said no, Thea might think she didn’t care. “I’m afraid I’ll kill him next time I run into him, but if you want me to hear it, I will.”
“Oh, Creators of all things sacred, I don’t want you to hear any vile thing from him whatsoever. He has taken, or I have allowed him to disrupt too many years of my life.”
“Yes. He has.” Caya couldn’t keep from touching Thea any longer. She placed a gentle hand on Thea’s knee, squeezing for emphasis. “And you know, if you don’t want to play any of the surveillance for me, you can still show me. Will you permit me to attempt a vision from your past again, Thea?”
“After drinking wine?” Thea frowned.
“I’ve had a few sips. Not even half a glass.” Caya smiled. “And this is just between us. I’m interested in everything you’ve been through, good and bad alike. I would never judge you.”
“I know that.” Thea patted Caya’s hand. “Very well. If you insist.”
“I don’t insist.” Caya blinked. “Well, maybe I do, in a way. Just as you insist on keeping me safe the best way you know how. “
“Point taken.” Thea rolled her shoulders as if she was about to enter a prizefight. “All right. Do your thing.”
“My thing.” Caya stood and pushed at the low backrest of Thea’s stool. Her mouth suddenly dry, she parted Thea’s legs and stepped in between them well within her personal space. She wrapped her arms around Thea’s shoulders and held her tenderly. When Thea’s arms came around Caya’s waist, she heard Thea draw a trembling breath.
Hadler was screaming. He was so furious, his voice had cracked and his words were hardly intelligible. Thea didn’t cower, she never did, which was perhaps not very clever, as it made Hadler rage even more. Now he came closer, his fist close to her face as he spat out what he had to say.
“You think I’m blind? You think I’m fucking deaf? I heard how you talked with the Cornian representative, and you contradicted every single one of my suggestions, of every policy I stand for. You made it clear you don’t value anything I have contributed as the Presidential Spouse. I demand respect. I demand you take your rightful place as my wife when we’re inside the walls of the presidential palace. Here, I’m the ruler. You—you—are my subordinate here. If you can’t fathom that fact, Oconodos is heading for trouble. You will listen to me and carry out my policies if you know what’s best for you—and for Oconodos. Even your father knew what I had to offer you. Why else would he have given us his blessing?” Hadler gripped Thea’s arms so hard that she feared he might break one of them this time. He was a sparse man, but he was wiry and strong, and most of all, his anger and resentment had no limits.
“Hadler. Listen to me. I never intentionally belittle you. I never say one word against you. The thing is, the Oconodians chose me as their leader, as the president that will be in charge when Operation Exodus begins. That means they expect me to carry out what I promised them during my campaign. They didn’t elect you. You are my husband, and a lot of people admire you. But as for policy and how the work will be done, they look to me. Don’t fool yourself, Hadler—ah!”
Thea flinched as his fist hit her midsection. He never hit her face. He was shrewd enough to know she had to be able to cover the bruises. As she fell to the floor, she saw the sole of his shoe rush toward her.
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br /> Caya tossed her head back, tearing herself from the pain of the vision, and opened her eyes. Sweat dampened her temples, and she hated knowing what Thea had endured for so long. “Oh, sweet Creator. Thea. Thea.” She kept holding Thea in a firm hug.
“Caya?” Sounding almost drunk, Thea in turn clung to her, trembling. “How did this happen? How could I see your vision?”
“What’s—what do you mean?” Caya cupped Thea’s cheek, saw the tears in her eyes. “What did you see?” She didn’t understand.
“I…I was there. I saw it happening to you—to me…us. I saw it this time. Your vision. Like a video in my head. I mean. I was myself, but I saw it, felt it, like it was both of us. What the hell?”
“You saw my vision? That…” Caya was now shaking too. “That’s never happened before. You mean I transferred my vision to you somehow? It never occurred to me that could be done.”
“I don’t know how else to describe it. You mean it wasn’t like that during your session today?” Thea pushed Caya’s hair out of her face and wiped at Caya’s tears with her thumbs and then at her own.
“No. Not at all. I would’ve told you.” Caya rested her forehead against Thea’s shoulder for a brief moment. “During the session I was merely a spectator. I saw what happened to our client, but I didn’t live through it like I just did. He hurt you. Us. Hadler hurt us physically right now.”
“Yes.” Thea shook her head. “I didn’t want that for you. I mean, I didn’t want you to have to endure that, even in a vision.”
“I needed to. I needed to know what living with him was like for you. I pray I never stumble upon him when no witnesses are around.” Caya pulled back her lips in a snarl. “And I’m not joking. I hate him.”
“Don’t. He’s not worth it.” Thea wrapped her arms and legs around Caya. “Hold on to me, but for the love of the Creator, don’t start anymore visions right now.”