Page 5 of Space for More

“Mezli,” I snarl at them. No matter how many times I correct these agents, they refuse to call me by anything but my abandoned title.

They narrow their eyes and the sharp jut of their chin conveys just how little they think of my request. “I don’t need Mezli. I need Princeps Mezlitrasta val Frye. True mate to Phelix val Nafar.”

Ice courses through my veins, and my skin prickles with dread. I haven’t heard that name in four years. Since the night I left Nexxa Itat and never looked back.

That was another life. Phelix means nothing to me. No, less than nothing. He doesn’t even exist for this version of me.

Still, I need to know what he has to do with this nonsense. Surely he can’t be the one…

Agent Tysea picks up on my expression and misinterprets it, giving me a watery-eyed, apologetic look as if I have love for my true mate. “Yes, Lord Phelix val Nafar is the suspected smuggler.”

Fuck.

For the first time tonight, I’m silent. The weight of their anticipation of my reaction to the revelation smothers me until I feel lightheaded.

Agent Asshole is the one who finally speaks. “I apologize for giving you this news. I can only imagine how upsetting it is to find that your mate is not who you thought he was.” They sound genuinely regretful, which is surprising. It isn’t until they reach outslowly to place a hand on my shoulder to comfort me that I realize my whole body is shaking.

I instinctively pull away and my head snaps to look at Agent Asshole, who yanks their hand back, realizing the inappropriateness of the touch. A low roiling sensation starts in my chest, bubbling up my throat until a hysterical laugh bursts from my lips.

Everyone in the room stares at me in confusion and alarm.

“Why didn’t you just lead with that? Phelix val Nafar may technically be my mate, but I hold no affection for that insufferable, arrogant bastard. If he’s doing what you think he is, I’m more than happy to help you in any way I can. What do you need me to do?”

The agents exchange a quick glance, then Agent Asshole looks back to me and nods, obviously relieved at my cooperation. “Lord Nafar is here on Spire, ostensibly to attend a medical conference this week. However, we suspect he is also here to smuggle highly dangerous and confidential medical schematics to a buyer on the station. Because he is a member of Nexxa Itat’s second house, our operation must be as subtle as possible. If we were to attempt a direct interrogation or interception, it could turn into a political shitstorm because of his status as nexxit nobility.”

“Why can’t you creeps just follow him around the whole time? Or sneak into his hotel and steal his stuff so he can’t hand off the schematics? You’re obviously pretty good at it.” I may be on board with helping take Phelix down, but I still don’t understand why they need me.

Agent Asshole rolls their eyes at me.

“Fuck you, it’s a valid question!”

They scoff. “Princeps Frye, we’ve carefully thought through this mission far more than you have in two seconds. Lord Nafar’s personal security protocols keep us from tracking him, so we’re unable to monitor his movements on the station. Stealing thefiles will not aid us in our overall purpose for intercepting the exchange, which is to identify those higher up in the network of black market smugglers. We hope to use this opportunity to gain a foothold to take the whole operation down. Lord Nafar is simply the easiest access point to do so.”

Agent Tysea nods. “So, that is where you, Mezli, come in. You will ‘accidentally’ reconnect with Lord Nafar while attending the medical conference and use your…charms to get close to him, confirm that he has the data, and find out when the exchange will occur.”

They look at me as if preparing for me to reconsider my decision to help. Part of me wants to hold the silence and let them squirm, but my mind is racing too much to keep my thoughts contained.

“As much as I agree that Phelix needs to be taken down a peg, this still doesn’t make sense. He’s a member of the second highest noble house in all of Nexxa Itat. Why would he risk doing a smuggling job?”

“Who knows why the rich do what they do? Maybe he’s bored and wants a thrill. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?” replies Agent Asshole.

“Leaving home isn’t the same thing as endangering lives and becoming a criminal!” I bite back at them.

Agent Tysea winces. “From what we know of the Nafar house’s finances, he could be doing this for the payout,” they say tentatively, like they’re worried they’ll offend my delicate sensibilities by discussing something as crass as monetary needs with a noble.

I stifle a laugh. With any other nexxit noble, itwouldbe distasteful. But I’m sitting here on my cheap synthetic rug in a handmade dress and worn heels. “What makes you think he’ll want to see me? When we met, he wasn’t enthusiastic about our situation.”

That’s an understatement. When we had our firstmeeting after our parents’ discovered our mate bond through a mate finder, it was disastrous. He called me a dumb slut when he thought I wasn’t listening and looked at me as if I were the last person in the galaxy he’d want to be with. Plus, I may have puked on his mother’s floor. Just remembering that night makes me nauseated.

“Our records on Lord Nafar indicate that he has taken no lovers or even gone on a date since he learned you were his mate. Prior to meeting you, he sought companionship. I doubt he will risk losing a second chance with you, if it were presented to him in the right light,” says Agent Tysea.

He hasn’t been withanyone? That’s kind of sad… Wait, I’m not seriously feeling bad for that prick, am I?

“Fine, I guess that makes sense. But then, why is she here?” I gesture over at Eden, who’s been a mostly silent observer the entire time they’ve been here.

I expect one of the agents to reply, but she speaks, frowning back at me. “Shehas a name. I’d think you of all people would put in the effort to use mine since you seem so particular about what the agents call you.”

I wince slightly at how rude I’ve been to her. I doubt she wants to be a part of this either. “Sorry, why is Eden here?”

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