The words left a bad taste in her mouth, but she spoke them with sincerity.
“You are a fortunate soul. If you desire to prepare him a meal by your own hands, the galley is open to you.”
“Thank you.”
No doubt, they would expect it of her soon.
Supper. I’ll make him supper.
Never mind that Veryn knew nothing about Bennu’s dietary preferences and likes aside from the space rations they shared on his vessel. No doubt, he’d play the role to their benefit regardless of what she prepared.
“Don’t be nervous,” the blonde said with another coy smile. “Even after seven years, I still struggle when it comes to anticipating Master Khepri’s needs.”
“You felt that?”
The nameless servant’s smile widened. “Only a little. Are you new to Jin-Bennu’s service?”
“I…” Veryn and Bennu had put together their identities’ background in bits and pieces, like scripting a story one chapter at a time. “I joined him of my own volition when we crossed paths at a port three years ago. Making Jin-Bennu happy brings me happiness.”
When Veryn received an approving smile and no further questions from the other slave, she left the galley and returned to their stateroom, startled to find her Lexar partner approaching from the opposite end of the corridor with a man on his heels. Their grim faces told her everything she needed to know in an instant despite the silence from both of their minds.
Their door slid open, permitting Bennu then the stranger inside first.
Still, no one spoke.
Veryn had to know her place despite the storm of questions churning in her mind. Hadn't she seen this man with one of the other Lexar before?
With grace developed by countless years of ballet lessons, she extended the tray to Bennu and lowered to one knee. "Master, I bring you supper."
"Set it on the table. Then draw a bath for this one. He'll be remaining here with us from this point forward."
She arched a brow but said nothing. Something about the man struck her as familiar, but she couldn't place him firmly in her memory. He was like a ghost, flitting just beyond reach. That in itself was clue enough.
Sucking in a quiet breath, she rose and did as Bennu bid her, placing dinner on the table prior to starting a bath in the massive tub. "The room is clean, Master. I made good use of my time while you were away."
"Good."
Before her ventures through the ship, she scoured for any sort of bugs or surveillance and came up empty. There was, of course, always the ship AI, however. If they had one. Nothing she could do about that.
Despite that earlier sweep, Veryn decided to behave no differently than she would as if Vashta herself were present and looking down her long nose at them.
The silent human stole occasional, fleeting glances at them from where he knelt on the floor. He had impeccable mental walls. Training. The sort of training she had once endured herself.
Could he be...?
"May I do anything else for you, Master?"
"No. You may rest easy now. But you,” Bennu said, pointing at the agent, “are to clean off Massui's stink while I determine how best to make use of you. Be grateful you yet live. Vashta wanted your head."
The man's eyes widened slightly, and Veryn sensed the first crack in his metal walls. One she didn't dare pry into until she knew what Bennu's plan was.
"Thank you," the man said in a quiet, low-pitched voice.
"You are welcome," Bennu replied, voice equally as soft.
Once the young man went into the adjacent restroom, Veryn slid onto Bennu's lap and straddled him while resting both hands on his chest. Palms flattened against muscular, bare pecs, kneaded tissue, and stroked idly.
"I told you to rest, pet."
"I am resting, Master."
Stupid cat genes.
He chuckled and cupped his hand against the small of her back. "Then I suppose it won't hurt to indulge you this once."
She'd need another dosage soon, something she did not look forward to inflicting upon herself. "Thank you. May I read this evening?" Have they even realized I am missing?
Bennu made a low noise in his chest, a rumble that was almost as feline as the sounds sometimes emitted from her own throat. Little by little, the gene therapy changed her.
How much more could her system tolerate before she reached the point of no return?
The large hand against her back descended, cupping her ass and kneading. No more, Veryn.
If it reverts, I will be exposed.
Then we must end this mission as swiftly as possible. No more.
You don't own me.
That is where you are wrong. For as long as we are on this vessel, you are mine.
Pleasure rippled down her spine at the reminder.
And your newest pet? Veryn asked.
A human spy. Vashta is aware. Claiming him is all that is saving him.
Can we trust him?
I hope so.
A glance toward the open bathroom revealed they were under the observations of their guest, his bland face paired with a leanly muscled body that was equally as forgettable as the combination of straight nose, brown hair, and brown eyes. He scrutinized them from the tub of the adjacent room.
"As for you, you will continue to send word to your contacts," Bennu said to him in a bored tone. "I trust you haven't destroyed your means of communication."
"I don't—"
"No lies," Bennu called over to him, voice firm. "Vashta knows. I know. Your life is under her thumb, and I can only keep her amused for so long."
"I... don't understand."
"She knows, and now the information you pass to your contacts will be the information we choose. Attempt to warn them, attempt in any way whatsoever to tip off the UNE, and I will personally scrape every inch of tissue from your bones with my mind before passing the still-quivering pile of your remains to Vashta."
Again, Bennu proved himself an actor without equal. If his mind weren't caressing hers in an intimate contact, she'd have thought he meant every word.
12
More than anything, Bennu hated the waiting game and wondered if Amun truly understood what sort of situation he sent him into. He imagined his friend was still enjoying his holiday with Nia, the both of them relaxing on a beach while he succumbed to stress aboard a vessel filled with traitors to their people. Bennu couldn't even find the serenity to meditate.
Now, however, as he watched the warship in the viewscreen drawing ever closer, his anxiety hit new levels.
He knew this ship.
“Why are we not hiding from the Valiant?”
“Because they're with our movement,” Vashta replied with a bored wave of one scarred hand. "Exarch Bet-Shavri is the best of us."
“Your leader," he said, understanding dawning. It was no wonder their group managed to stay under the radar. They had an exarch watching over them and transmitting coordinates of security sweeps as well as other critical data to avoid discovery.
Now, it all made sense.
Now, he understood how deep the danger traveled.
“She is, yes. And she is quite pleased to finally meet with you, Bennu. Come, you can help me greet her at the airlock.”
Massui shot Bennu a dark look but said nothing as Vashta beckoned him to follow her from the bridge.
Veryn was elsewhere aboard the ship at the moment, and he was thankful she managed to make friendships with some of the other human servants. She played the role so well Bennu sometimes forgot it was all a sham.
Now, he had to fool an exarch who could unravel his entire plan if she recognized the future queen's features in Veryn.
Purposeful steps echoed as he moved from trailing at Vashta's rear to walking at her side, presumptuous as it was to assume they were equal.
No. He had to be to maintain the delicate balance of knowing his value and earning her respect.
“How long has Exarch Bet-Shavri been with the cause?”
“She is the cause. She has been the driving force behind all we do.”
“I never would have guessed. She has been helpful to the Exemplar in the past. However—”
“She disagreed with your poison.”
“Yes. She expressed doubts regarding its safety," he admitted. Still, it was nothing that would have led him to believe she was the leader of the rebel faction.
Bennu allowed mild interest to filter through the tumult of emotions. Bet-Shavri was, and had always been, a role model to many Lexar new to the Nova Force, an esteemed warrior to emulate in every way.
How would Jin-Bennu the traitor feel about such a revelation?
The answer manifested at once. “To know that Bet-Shavri is on our side only cements my position.”
“Doesn’t it?” A smile curved Vashta’s mouth. “Of course, she does not approve of every method, but we have come to a mutual understanding that desperate times call for special circumstances, regardless of the consequences.”
“I see. Such as releasing Jin-Nassi and Jin-Navi from prison.”
“Yes. They are a wild card, but I am confident they can be controlled.”
“To what purpose? Surely you didn’t need them for their psionics alone.”
“I need Navi and Nassi for their brutality. They have no qualms about killing anyone I point them at. You are akin to a surgeon. Precise. Focused. Lethal. They are a raging storm. Sometimes chaos is better than a targeted strike.”
“I see.”
Terror. That's what she wanted from them, and that is what they would deliver once unleashed. But could she ultimately control them? Bennu had his doubts, making it more imperative than ever to take them down before they had a chance to hurt innocent people.
Within minutes, they reached the airlock where the indicator flipped green and the doors hissed open, framing a large Lexar woman outfitted in blue-and-silver battle armor. Bet-Shavri was one of several female exarchs, an intimidating woman who commanded total respect from her crew.
“Welcome aboard. I am honored to have you here, Exarch.”
Shavri’s gaze briefly flicked toward Vashta then settled on Bennu. He bowed, giving her the honor that was due her rank.
This was the true test. He killed for them, turned over vital Nova Force intel, and humiliated the woman he loved for them.
If Bet-Shavri suspected at any moment that he would be a detriment to their cause, she’d kill him before he realized a blade was at his throat.
A psychic probed his mind, the touch gentle but without finesse. He let them feel the surface thoughts drifting through his mind, from genuine surprise to vestiges of admiration he felt for Shavri since childhood.
“This is a face I did not expect to see among us. The right-hand of Tal-Amun himself.”
“It is a surprise to us both, Exarch,” Bennu admitted. “But an honor nonetheless to restore honor to our people.”
“An honor your exarch seems to have forgotten, debasing the royal bloodline as he is.”
Anger flicked through his mind. “Indeed. The Exemplar is docked for the foreseeable future while he enjoys his Senebti-Heset.”
“And not fighting the Zacaedy.”
“Exactly so, Exarch.”
Shavri brushed past him and braced arms with Vashta. “All is in place, my friend. Maat is scheduled to arrive on Paradiso in five days for a tour of the new embassy. Her mate has already expressed objections to the idea, but she insisted on the travel. I have the identification codes necessary to access the building. Our agents inside have already set the bombs.”
“Bombs.”
Shavri turned her cool gaze on Bennu. “Yes, Alpha Jin-Bennu. That is our goal. We will blow up the embassy with the empress inside. The humans will take the blame.”
“How can you be certain of that?”
“Because everything about the bomb is human—its manufacture, the agents who placed it, and even the protesters outside its doors.”
“Protesters the UNE does not wish us to see,” Vashta added. “They claim the vast majority of their colonies enjoy the presence of Lexar. They lied.”
“I see. Still, how do you plan for this not to be pinned on the ASR and its allies? This could bring the UNE and the Lexar closer.”
Both women exchanged glances, then Shavri spoke. “We will have appropriate fodder in the crowd. Our people will defend themselves against an attack, and from there the chaos will spread. The emperor will be devastated by the loss of his mate.”
“And in his mourning, Tal-Kemes will fall under our sway,” Bennu said, understanding dawning over him.
“And mine,” Bet-Shavri murmured. “We have long been friends, and without the crown empress, he will have no choice but to seek a new wife to rule alongside him until their eldest comes of age to assume command of our universe.”
“You expect to become his new mate.” He didn’t bother hiding the surprise in his voice. The wariness. It would be expected, and it was genuine. He never suspected her of such ambition.
“In time, yes, when the proper mourning has been observed. It would not be an unusual match, and one readily accepted by our people. They need an empress in a time of war. It is not a position I desire, but I must if we are to correct the wrongs committed against our people to elevate humankind."
“Maat sees them as our equals,” Vashta spit.
“She did not always. Was it not her idea to war against them?” Bennu asked. “And Emperor Tal-Kemes who convinced her to lay down our arms?”
“Which is why she must die.”
“Why not slaughter the emperor? Fury and a desire for revenge will rule her.”
“She has been swayed by her nephew and fondness for Queen Catherine,” Vashta said dismissively. “Killing her will force the emperor's hand. He will see the error of his ways and feel compelled by love and duty to honor her. In tribute to her name, he will do as she wished in the beginning and continue the war against these parasites. Once they are thoroughly crushed, we will use humanity as the bait necessary to crush what remains of the Allied Socialist Republic and combat the Zaecady. No longer will we protect them.”
“I see.”
What scared him was the fact that their logic was sound. Tal-Jin Maat was likely to forgive and honor her husband’s wishes for peace.
“I see. Then perhaps it can be done. It is a shame to sacrifice the crown empress, but our hands are forced, and no alternative route remains.”
“I have tried the path of diplomacy,” Shavri said. “I met only failure. She will not hear out her advisors. She has determined this... chemical manufactured aboard the Exemplar to be our only hope against the Zaecady.”
“I have witnessed the effects of this concoction. While effective, many were lost in the process.”
“No fewer than battling the insects during honorable combat. What good is victory if we have poisoned our own land?”
It was the same line they fed him before, and he didn't believe it any more now than he had then.
“What should I have my new pet pass along?”
“Pet?” Shavri asked.
“A human spy we’ve been using for information,” Vashta explained. The brief, dark look she shot Bennu over her shoulder spoke volumes. She hadn’t wanted their illustrious leader to know.
How interesting.
Bennu maintained a neutral expression despite the heat in Vashta's gaze. "We came to the conclusion that he would serve our goals well by feeding inaccurate information to the UNE. As long as they remain unaware of his discovery, we can bend them to our will."
Prior to leaving, he tasked Veryn with feeling out their silent guest.
“Then we must find a way to use him.” Shavri slowed her pace, allowing Vashta to move ahead while she fell back beside Bennu. He allowed the barest hint of a smirk to touch upon his lips. One didn’t need to be psychic to feel the irritation coming off Vashta in waves.
“Tell me, Bennu, why is the Exemplar not reporting to Paradiso as h
er escort?” Shavri asked. “Beyond the bonding ceremony, there must be more.”
“I imagine it has to do with the newly named heir to the UNE,” he answered carefully, picking what he could safely share. “She was aboard our ship for months, working with the scientists on the poison.”
“So I had heard.” Shavri gave a small nod. A test, as he surmised. “You believe they are protecting her?”
“I could not say for certain, but I would wager yes. The announcement came shortly before the ceremony, and I left right after, so I am not aware of their plans regarding the princess.”
“They’ve told you nothing?”
“They believe I am on holiday. I stepped away from duties entirely. When last I heard from Tal-Amun, the princess planned to remain aboard the ship. It is possible they are sheltering her.”
“None of our contacts aboard the Exemplar reported her presence.”
Bennu ignored the chill at the base of his spine and offered a thin smile. “That would not surprise me. I could probe for information, but he may find it unusual that I concern myself with ship operations during my leave. It is not my usual routine.”
“True. Still, anything you can learn will be helpful. You have a ship attached, yes? Use it. Check in. As a dedicated Alpha, I am certain a few questions will not raise suspicions.”
Bennu dipped his head. “As you command, Exarch.”
“Very good. Then we need to plan for the empress. My ship will be providing security, but she will also have her own guard. What we need now are humans to stir up the crowd. Expendable ones. Vashta assured me there are plenty onboard.”
“I took the liberty of assessing the crew of the Maa Kheru and have determined Phillip, Carin, and Santini to be the most adequate for any sort of combat tasks. They're loyal to their masters, and Santini has some degree of psionic prowess."
Long years of serving as Amun's alpha made it easy to form a genuine plan in his head. He'd been a tactician too long, and he counted on them hearing the earnest advice in his tone.
“Good. We have one chance at this. Nothing can be allowed to fail due to softness and weak wills. We must succeed.”
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