Page 112 of Stars in Halo

‘Tis,’ he murmured, burying his face in her hair and stroking her back. ‘Ready to face the Riders?’

‘Do we have to?’ Katya whispered, turning to face him. ‘Their reputation terrifies me, especially Kainan. Aren’t I exactly the kind of kinai that he’d like to put away?’

‘No one but me is allowed to put you away. Maybe I’ll lock you up in my villa on J’Urg M’Hor and throw away the key.’

‘J’Urg, who?’ she asked, her bow furrowed in confusion.

‘You’ll soon see,’ Xion said with a cryptic smirk as he led her to an expansive elevator.

When the lift slid shut, he tagged her and, without a word, took her lips in a ravishing kiss.

She was panting when the doors whispered open.

To the sight of a stunning ebony-skinned creature in a perfect-cut pantsuit and soaring high heels.

Mirage, arms crossed behind them, gave them both a small smile.

‘You made it,’ she murmured, then slicing her jade eyes to the Rider, the Sable consigliere smirked. ‘And you nailed it just as I predicted.’

Xion sucked his teeth, stepping with his woman out of the elevator. ‘Did you miss us?’

‘Nada, my node on the Tachy kept me up to date with all your shenanigans. Given the strategic importance of our alliance with Iccythria, would you care to share your adventures with the rest of the Riders? They’re waiting in the boardroom.’

‘For both of us?’ Katya asked, raising a brow.

‘Naam. They’re in there discussing something or the other. You’ll be a pleasant surprise. I don’t think they know you’re back in town.’

Xion jerked his chin, his eyes gleaming. Turning to the woman in his arms, he winked. ‘Ready to meet the other Riders and be offered up as a living sacrifice?’

Katya cocked her head. ‘Somehow, I get the feeling I need to run away. Far, far away.’

He pressed a kiss to her shoulder. ‘Nada, beautiful, you stay here by my side. But fokk, will you blow their minds.’

She allowed him to lead her further into the stunning building past Siriuxian oak timber louvred windows that poured light into the elegant spaces that invited interaction.

The Sable Group hadn’t skimped on schills for its design, and it showed.

Their offices were designed to embody minimalist luxury with modern technology. The walls were covered with hi-tech panels in soothing colours and natural materials.

The U-shaped interior featured a beautifully equipped lounge area, co-working lounges, exclusive cubicles, meeting rooms, private booths, hover-bike storage, showers, and workout studios.

Katya took it all in with a raised brow and deep inhales, unused to the power signals the place was sending. ‘I’m not in Kansas any longer.’

While she’d stayed at luxe hotels and visited the best designer stores, her upbringing had been hectic, and her life experience was unstable.

Always running away from order, law and stability.

However, those unspoken aspects were present here. The Sable offices were characterised by ease, steadiness, and gravitas, and she realised then that the same applied to Xion.

Despite his playboy looks, under it all, he was a rock, robust, secure, unmovable, and she sensed the Riders would serve more of the similar energy.

The thought of them rejecting her terrified her, and she drew all comfort possible from the heat of Xion’s palm around her own.

Eventually, Mirage slowed down before a giant wooden door. ‘Come in,’ she said, letting the couple in.

With Xion’s hand on her back, Katya stepped forward, giving her a little push.

Into an expansive conference room.

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