Page 121 of Stars in Halo

Taking her time without rousing suspicion, she dressed and strolled back to her suite, her face unperturbed.

Always the consummate professional whom no one suspected was about to wield her charisma and supremacy of extortion, trickery, and skulduggery to unveil the criminality of Iccythria’s ruling monarch.

As Katya walked back to her room, a message came in.

Korin: Here. Meet up in the restaurant. Now.

There it was—the call to war, so to speak.

She wanted to leave her brother on unread for a moment, then tamping down her annoyance at his arrogant words, she flicked back a reply.

Katya: I’ll be down when I’m ready.

She decided to take her time, needing to compose herself to face her siblings again. She was still enraged by what they’d done to her, her kids and her mother.

Now, the tables were flipping, hopefully in her favour, and perhaps she would exact her form of revenge because forgiveness was out of the question until penance was exacted.

With a fierce inhale, she jumped into the shower. Soon, Katya stepped out, rejuvenated and with clarity in her thinking.

Slipping into a silk dress and applying makeup, she ran over her pitch to her brothers. She had to convince them that she was necessary for the op and that her recent interactions with Xion had given her some advantage in accessing the Sable vaults.

She had to sell it and make them believe she was their ticket to success.

Katya clenched her jaw as she studied herself in the mirror. She was back in her element, impeccable, and primed for battle.

Exiting her suite, she walked across the resort, hips swinging in her heels, giving off confidence. Her face was a foil of charm and courtesy.

Her wrist comm vibrated, and she knew it was Xion checking in.

Letting her know he was still watching close by.

Fokk, he was good.

She hadn’t managed to pick him out yet from the other guests.

He had been well concealed for two days, and despite her efforts to find him, he remained unseen. Knowing he had her back was reassuring.

Her eyes narrowed as she took in her surroundings.

When she entered the restaurant, she spotted them seated at a table near the window, their eyes scanning the room for her arrival.

She took a deep breath and steeled herself for the encounter with her kin.

Approaching, her gaze locked on their ice-laced, unwelcoming eyes.

‘You’re late,’ Korin said, his voice cold and distant.

She refused to yield to his needling. ‘Can’t give a woman a five-minute heads up and expect her to come running. I needed to be presentable.’

Korin sucked his teeth. ‘Fine. Sit.’

She settled into their booth, sizing her other two brothers.

There was no love here.

There never had been.

Her father had favoured her for years, and they’d been treated like shit.

---