Page 66 of Stars in Halo

‘You dared call?’ the regal man murmured with a subtle sneer.

His voice was deep and commanding, laced with contempt and entitlement, dripping with arrogance and superiority.

‘Your Highness K’Sumi Hinata Alamaq of House ALMQ of Iccythria, I presume?’ Xion said.

He’d never encountered the man, but a ping from Mirage assured him that he was addressing the right individual.

The fleshy face nodded, the jewels in his face flashing, and the massive emeralds in his ears bobbing.

‘My name is Xion Sable—one of the Sable Riders. I come to you in need of your assistance,’ Xion began, his tone firm yet respectful. ‘As you know, the Sable Group is tasked with maintaining security across Pegasi, and we often liaise with the heads of the planets to make it happen. This is such one case.’

His Highness K’Sumi Hinata Alamaq leaned forward, his expression solemn. ‘I understand, Rider. I’m listening.’

Xion went on. ‘I’m on a ship belonging to a clique of criminals. The man I have at my blade is their ringleader. They took me hostage, and I believe they’re attempting to return to Iccythria on a nefarious mission, which I suspect may threaten the stability of your realm. I’ve been tracking them from Eden II to Enia, where I witnessed their criminal activity and burglary of a significant artefact. While I have no exact knowledge of their final plans on your planet, I can assure you they don’t mean well. ’

After a moment of contemplation, the royal nodded.

‘Sante, Rider, for reaching out to me.’

A slight smile appeared on the royal’s face as he slowly drawled on. ‘And sante, House D’Hanna, for bringing him to me.’

Xion’s body locked, and he slow-blinked. ‘What did you say, Your Highness?’

‘I just shared my appreciation to the family. They did as I asked and are delivering you to me.’

A chill ran down Xion’s spine as awareness dawned as he tagged the smug looks on the faces of the D’Hanna brothers.

It’d been a set-up all along, an orchestrated trap to lure him into the hands of a King he’d never met.

For a reason that they’d yet to lay bare.

He shook with rage, mind racing, ego bruised at being caught out and up shit’s creek without a paddle.

The ALMQ monarch’s holo face loomed more prominent, his eyes boring into Xion with an intensity that sent shivers through his core. ‘I heard you fought a little, Sable Rider,’ the Supreme Sovereign said, his voice echoing in the control room. ‘But not enough.’ The King chuckled, stroking his chin with his pudgy jewel-loaded fingers. Tsk, I’d expected more from you, given your reputation.’

Xion clenched his jaw, eyes locking on Katya.

Standing and nursing her bruised arm, her face looked as shocked as he was. Relief hit, confident she’d no idea about her monarch’s involvement in this caper.

The bridge was filled with a blinding light as the holo view showed a dozen Iccythrian vessels converging on Fortuna’s Grace.

‘My gendarmes now surround you,’ the King murmured with self-satisfaction through the screen. ‘You will follow them back to base where Xion Sable, you will surrender to me. It’s all for a good cause, you’ll soon see.’

What charitable rationale would that be?’ Xion drawled, tamping his fury.

‘Helping me retain my throne.’

Xion sucked his teeth. ‘Why would a humble Rider like me be useful to a King like yourself?’

K’Sumi’s smile widened, his eyes glinting with amusement. ‘You’re more key to its retention than you know. But don’t let that worm get into your head; you are also a pawn in a much larger game, and I hold all the chess pieces. So step away from that poor man and get with the program.’

Xion’s grip on the dagger at Korin’s neck tightened, his muscles coiled with tension as he contemplated taking them down.

Until a slight hitch of breath came from behind him.

Katya.

With a suck of his teeth, he backed off, lifting the blade away from the elder brother’s throat, narrowing his eyes at Korin, warning him not to retaliate.

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