Page 83 of Star Prince

“I’ll ruin his reputation.”

“Promise?”

Tee’ah sighed. “Even if that did not matter, I can’t return to that life.”

“I understand. But Ian would never make you live in the traditional way. My mother doesn’t.”

“Rom B’kah is a hero, Ilana. He can live as he likes. Ian is being scrutinized—and challenged. It would be unfair to make him choose between meand what theVash Nadahconsider proper behavior. I won’t do it. I won’t jeopardize his bid for the throne.”

“If Ian succeeds on Earth, he’ll be a hero too. Now that I’ve met you, I have even more reason to hope he does. Frankly, I think you’re exactly what my geek of a brother needs. Okay, so he’s a hunky geek. And a very honorable geek too. Much, much better behaved than me, let me tell you. But then he’s older than me by four minutes.” Ilana laughed. “I’m getting ahead of myself here. Rewind.”

Tee’ah’s head spun from the string of untranslatable words.

“You’ve turned his perfectly ordered existence upside-down. This is good. The last thing I want to do is tell you how to run your life, but I’d love to see you unbutton his stuffy shirt and show him how to live.”

A shiver ran down Tee’ah’s spine. “Ian showedmehow to live.”

Ilana’s gaze warmed with affection. “Then I hope you two come to your senses.” She used a hand mirror to apply black liquid to her long lashes. “Anyway, Ian knows you’re here.”

Tee’ah almost dropped the translator.

“Probably from Rom, who got my secured comm message that you were safe. He really wants to talk to you.”

“Ian? He called? Here?”

“Three times.”

“What did he sound like?” Tee’ah blurted without intending to.

Ilana grinned. “Angry. Desperate.” Her tone softened a fraction. “Sorry.”

“Did you speak to him?”

“Hell, no,” Ilana answered breezily. “Let him worry some more. I want him to believe he’s lost you.”

“He has,” Tee’ah whispered, her heart wrenching.

“Please, Tee’ah. You’re such a terrible liar.” She pushed the makeup wand back in its little tube and steered a befuddled Tee’ah past a table, where she handed her a sealed mug and piece of bread shaped like a wheel. “Breakfast on the run,” she explained and herded everyone out the front door.

Tee’ah hurried along beside her, envisioning Ian desperate and sorry, all the while struggling to stay afloat in the torrent of energy that was his sister.

The in-dash satellitenavigation in the shiny black electric car Ian had rented guided him from LAX to his sister’s place in Santa Monica. Gann sat next tohim, Muffin was hunched over in the back seat, and the rest of the crew had stayed behind on theSun Devil.

Ian parked behind Ilana’s house. He glanced at his reflection in the rearview mirror and ran a hand over his stubble. “Muffin, toss me my shaver.” Looking like an escaped convict wasn’t going to help his standing with Tee.

Muffin unzipped Ian’s duffel bag. There was an ear-ripping shriek, and the big man’s head bounced off the car’s ceiling with a muffled thud.

Gann twisted around. “What in blazes is the kettacat doing here?”

Muffin rubbed his head. “Hell if I know!”

Ian killed the engine. “Whatever you do, don’t let anyone see it. Animals are quarantined state to state. This one’s from across the galaxy.”

Gann reached around his seat and pushed Lara’s pet into the duffel. It gave a muffled yowl in protest. “I miss her too,” he said under his breath, zipping the bag nine-tenths shut. “But you’re a troublemaker, just like she is.”

He hooked the bag over his shoulder and exited the vehicle, then followed Ian up an outside flight of stairs to the second floor. A piece of paper taped to Ilana’s door fluttered in a strengthening breeze coming off the Pacific. Ian tore the note off the wood. “They’re not here.”

Muffin accepted the news with professional calm,but Gann didn’t try to hide his concern. “Where are they?”

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