Page 34 of Stolen Fire
He took a lock of her hair in his and caressed it slowly with his thumb. “You would have to hide this mane to remain unseen, even in the crowds of Cassan.” He dropped her hair and dragged his fingers down her wrist and across her fingers. “This pale, alabaster skin is more luminescent when contrasted to the darkness of a shadow.” He paused and stared into her eyes. “And I would feel you. Know you were near.” He put his hand over his own heart. “No matter how well hidden.”
Blaize froze. She couldn’t breathe. The things he said, the way her body responded to his words was indescribable. It was beyond reason and beyond her control. She took a shuddering breath, forced herself to look away, and put a bite of food in her mouth. The flavor was still intense, but her brain was offline, and it didn’t fully register.
They ate in silence, cleaning their plates when Blaize recalled the question she’d asked, but he hadn’t answered. “You didn’t say. Why were you meeting with Director Glinchart?”
Cifer tilted his head, and his brown eyes bored into hers. He sighed. “I do what I can to help the orphanage. Their mission is so important. I was meeting with her to find out how things were going and if they needed anything.”
“You give them money?”
“As often as I can. And I spend time with the kids who are struggling.”
“That’s so sweet.”
Red spots flashed over Cifer’s skin, so fast she almost missed it. “How long have you known the director?”
“She was one of the first people I met when I came to Cassan. I was trying to rent a room, and the owner was giving me a hard time. She was at the complex visiting a girl who had recently aged out. Checking on her, even though that’s not the director’s responsibility once they leave. When she first saw me, she assumed I was underage. After I explained where I was from and that I had a place at the flight academy to study but needed a room for a couple of months until the dorms opened up, she vouched for me. We kept in touch.” Blaize trailed off. There was so much more she could say. But she wasn’t ready to share that story.
“Your first time away from home. You got into the academy because of the training you got from your mentor. The one who gave you the meter we fixed. That’s why you started the training for the girls, to honor your mentor.” Cifer had a way of seeing into her like no one else ever had.
“When I lost him, well…It was like losing a father.” She pushed down her tears with a sip of the brew. “The adolescent females who want to go into the tech field can apply for a spot. It’s voluntary. My mentor made all the difference in my life.”
Tears filled her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Her mentor had meant everything to her while he was alive, but he’d left her with nothing on his death except an old meter reader and another hole in her heart.
“They’re lucky to have you.”
“I wish I could do more.”
“I do too.”
They finished the remarkable meal, and Cifer swiped his credit chip through the mini kiosk at the table and then stood. He held out his hand to Blaize.
She considered him for a moment and then put her hand in his, letting him guide her from the cafe without a word of explanation about where they were going and what would happen next.
Chapter 14
Varik hovered in the shadows as the crew left The Treasure. First off was a male who looked vaguely familiar. Someone who’d worked with the underground lord Corvus, possibly? What was he doing with the sanctimonious crew of The Treasure? A few moments later, Blaize appeared at the top of the ramp and glanced around. She locked onto the nameless male and hurried after him. Next, the creepy bird-boned chick with the yellow skin and pink eyes paused at the top of the ramp, adjusted her breasts, and then raced down and into the crowd.
Back in the day, Blaize had been an okay fuck, but nothing special. Certainly not good enough to continue as her partner once he got bored.
Partner.
The word ripped through Varik. Jarn wasn’t on The Treasure. The dock request had specified five females and two males. Varik didn’t care who the other female was. Cyra’s gray guard would be the second male. A primal scream lodged in Varik’s throat as his heart ripped in two. Jarn was dead.
His beautiful boy, filled with light, was gone.
Cyra still had her ship, her crew, and her male.
Varik had…a score to settle that had just increased dramatically.
The bomb had failed. Taking the ship when the previous captain had died had failed. He’d been too direct in his attempts. He could use a man on the inside. Someone with experience. He rushed to follow Blaize. The male whose name he couldn’t recall might be the key to making Cyra pay. If he’d had any idea how much she would fuck up his life, he’d have ended her immediately and made it look like something she’d done to herself. Hindsight was always in perfect focus.
Blaize clomped along through the crowds. Varik laughed so hard when the Gordinian gassed her, he nearly gave himself away. Bitch deserved that and more. He settled into a dark corner, easily tracking Blaize, who had the same idea of watching the male. How he didn’t know he was being followed by that clomping beast of a woman with her flaming hair was a fucking mystery. But if he didn’t see her, no way the male would figure out Varik was following them both.
A whisper of a touch made Varik jump.
“Missed you.” Elaya slithered up to him, her body undulating in seduction. She’d been in the engineering academy Blaize sponsored. Varik had recognized the little rebel when he found her in a bar shortly after he’d broken things off with Blaize. Elaya had been a nice distraction but a bit of a pest.
Varik raised his hand to push her away but hesitated. She had her uses. He slid his hand down her multi-colored strands of hair, gathering it in his fist. “Of course you did.”
