Page 21 of The Alien's Vicious Starflash Manor

I keep my expression neutral even as frost begins creeping across the console beneath my fingers. “Oh?”

“Jonyk has commissioned a special entertainment. An ice maze outside the palace.” Her pale eyes fix on me through the holographic display. “I’ve managed to acquire the blueprints.”

A maze. Of course Jonyk would choose something so perfectly designed to isolate and trap his guests.

“How thoughtful of you to share this information.” The temperature in the cockpit drops several more degrees.

“I’m transferring the files now,” she says as data begins streaming across my secondary display. “You’ll want to study them carefully. The design includes several features that could prove deadly if one doesn’t know to avoid them.”

“Deadly accidents that could never be traced back to our gracious host, I assume?” Acid burns in my throat. This isexactly Jonyk’s style—creating situations where his enemies eliminate themselves while his hands remain technically clean.

“Precisely.” Uanna’s lips curve in a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “Which is why I thought you might appreciate the opportunity to practice. Perhaps with your new acquisitions?”

My jaw tightens at her choice of words, but I force myself to consider the suggestion logically. Having Lara and Izzy learn the maze’s secrets beforehand could save their lives.

And yet...

“Why are you really telling me this?”

She gives an elegant shrug. “Perhaps I simply don’t want to see any unfortunate accidents during the summit. It would be so very disruptive to the peace process.”

I don’t believe for a moment that’s her only motivation. Is she trying to curry favor? Setting a trap of her own? Or is she herself being used as an unwitting pawn in some larger game of Jonyk’s?

“The files are uploaded,” she announces. “Use them wisely. Safe travels.” The hologram flickers out before I can respond.

“Well,” Cyan says into the silence. “That was interesting. Should I analyze those blueprints for hidden data or embedded traps?”

“Yes.” My mind races. “Check everything. I need to know if they’re genuine, and if they’ve been modified in any way.”

“Already on it.” She pauses. “You know this could be exactly what it appears—Uanna hedging her bets by helping both sides.”

“Nothing is ever that simple with Uanna.” Or with court politics in general. “How long until you can verify the files?”

“A few hours for a thorough analysis. In the meantime, want me to start rendering a 3D model? If you’re planning to recreate this maze, you’ll need to know exactly what you’re building.”

I nod, watching as preliminary wireframes begin taking shape on the display. One more complexity added to an already precarious plan.

But if it keeps Lara alive long enough for?—

I cut that thought off before it can fully form. “Begin the analysis. I need to know what we’re dealing with.”

Cyan goes quiet for a brief moment, and then is back. “Working on it now. I’ll have a full report on the maze files as soon as possible.”

Goddess help me.

But really, the maze is just one more obstacle to navigate. One more way everything could go wrong.

One more reason to doubt my choices.

Ice spreads further across the console. I close my eyes, focusing on my breathing, on containing the ice that wants to explode outward. “Any further analysis?”

“Of Lady Uanna’s call or your deteriorating physical state?”

“Cyan.”

“Fine, fine. The timing is suspicious. The prince hasn’t hosted the firelords at court in over ten star-cycles. To suddenly arrange this now, when you’ve just acquired the second sister, and so soon after the ballroom fire...”

“He suspects something.”

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