Page 101 of Only Cold Depths
“Believe me,” Zane muttered, rubbing a hand over his heart, “the Techwave cannons are very, very real.”
Siya looked at me. “Do you have one of these cannons?”
“Yes. I grabbed one of the weapons when I escaped from a Techwave production plant on Magma 3 a few weeks ago.”
At my confession, Aldrich jerked his head at Rigel, who rushed out of the library. Where was he going?
“What’s wrong with the cannon design?” Verona asked.
“After a few blasts, the cannon overheats and fries itself, rendering it useless.”
“And Esmina thinks you know how to fix that problem. Is she right, Vesper?” Siya demanded.
The weight of everyone’s gaze settled on me like a spaceship about to land on and crush my chest. “Wendell and I worked on the cannon in Asterin’s workshop earlier today, but we didn’t come up with a solution.”
That was as much of the truth as I was going to share, and I wasn’t about to mention that I thought sapphsidian was the key to stabilizing the weapon. I glanced over at Asterin, who also knew about my sapphsidian theory. My friend chewed on her lower lip, her gaze flicking between her mother and her stepfather, both of whom were frowning at me.
Aldrich clasped his hands behind his back, then started pacing back and forth behind his desk again, as though the quick steps were helping him formulate a plan of attack. No one else moved, and more than two minutes ticked by in charged silence.
Footsteps sounded, and Rigel rushed back into the library carrying the Techwave hand cannon I’d left in my suite earlier.
Anger surged through me, along with a growing sense of dread. “You broke into my suite? And went through my things?”
“Technically, it’s Lord Aldrich’s suite, and the cannon was lying in plain sight on a table.” Rigel placed the weapon on Aldrich’s desk.
The lord studied the cannon, then shook his head. “It doesn’t matter if Vesper can fix the cannon or not. We can’t afford to let it fall into Esmina’s hands. You saw what she and Pollux did with their mercenaries. If they ever got their hands on more advanced weapons that can cut through defensive and psionic shields . . .” His voice trailed off, but we all knew how devastating that could be.
“What do we do?” Verona asked.
“We ambush her,” Siya replied in a grim voice. “Esmina told us when and where to meet her. We get there early, wait for her to arrive, and then move in with enough Hammers to take her down. It’s long past time we brought her to justice for her crimes.”
Aldrich looked at Rigel, who nodded.
“It’s our best option,” Rigel agreed.
I stalked over to the desk, my hands balling into fists. “No. Esmina will kill Kyrion if she eventhinksthe Hammers are closing in on her location. You won’t surprise her with an ambush. Not with her precognition. She’ll be expecting you to attack, and she’ll find some way to escape—or worse, kill everyone you send after her.”
Aldrich stiffened with anger. “I am well aware of the dangers, but the other Houses already view everything that’s happened to House Collier over the past few days as a sign of weakness. Once word gets out about today’s attack on the estate itself, our position will be even more precarious. We must strike now.” He nodded at Siya and Rigel. “Go. Prepare the guards, along with the Hammers. I want you ready to leave as soon as possible.”
Siya and Rigel both bowed and hurried out of the library.
I looked at Verona, hoping she would convince Aldrich to listen to reason, but she shook her head.
“I’m sorry, Vesper,” she said, an apologetic note in her voice. “I know what you are at risk of losing better than anyone, but we must protect House Collier.”
Verona went over to Aldrich and slid her arm through his in solidarity.
No help there, so I looked at Asterin, who was still standing in the open space between Zane and her parents, a no-man’s-land if ever there was one. Asterin bit her lip again, clearly torn, and I swallowed my plea. My friend had already done so much for Kyrion and me. I wasn’t going to ask her to side against her family too.
Besides, Aldrich and Verona weren’t completely wrong, even if their actions might end up costing Kyrion his life—and destroying mine in the process.
“Fine.” I ground out the word. “While the Hammers and House Collier guards ambush Esmina and Pollux, I’ll figure out some way to find Kyrion and save him myself.”
Aldrich shook his head. “No, the stakes are too high. You will stay here at the estate, in your suite, until further notice.”
White-hot fury raged through my body, and my fists clenched even tighter. The lord was treating me as though I was a naughty child who needed to sulk in the corner and think about her actions.
“I don’t belong to your House,” I snapped. “And I’m not a member of the Erzton. I am a Regal lady, an Imperium citizen, andyouhave no authority overme.”
