Allegiance of Honor (Psy-Changeling #15) - Nalini Singh Page 0,61
her, not when Psy eyes could go fully black. But the blackness in Miane’s eyes . . . it was as dark as the deepest part of the ocean, a whispering echo of a more primal time.
“Lucas.” The BlackSea alpha’s tone was cool but Sascha sensed boiling tension beneath the skin. As an empath, she couldn’t technically feel a person’s emotional resonance from this far a distance, but technicalities weren’t everything. It was her belief that empaths learned fine emotional cues without knowing it.
Sascha had discussed that with Ivy Jane and with young Toby. Both agreed, though Toby had put it a different way: “Since we know about emotions all the time, I guess we get used to separating out all the types. Like changelings can with scent.”
An astute comment from an astute boy.
“Miane,” Lucas responded while Sascha stayed out of the shot. “Tanique’s info give you any leads?”
A shake of Miane’s head. “We’ve focused on Canada because we have to start somewhere, but so far, nothing’s panned out.”
“We’re here to assist if you need it.”
BlackSea’s alpha nodded before moving on to the reason for her call. “I just spoke to Aden Kai. He suggested I attend a Trinity summit in two hours with the head of a Psy family plus a couple of Human Alliance CEOs. All three have interests in coastal areas that touch our waters.”
“You wondering why the short notice?”
“Kai says it’s to stop the chance of a violent disruption and that I’m getting an hour’s extra notice because it’ll take me longer to reach the location of the meeting. But while I’m predisposed to like the Arrows, I’m well aware they have motives and aims of their own, not all of which align with BlackSea’s.”
DarkRiver, meanwhile, Sascha realized, was an official ally. Changelings didn’t make such pronouncements lightly.
“It’s legit.” Lucas braced his hands on his hips, the fine cotton of his white shirt stretching over his biceps. “I’d take the usual precautions regardless—we don’t know the motives of all parties who’ve signed the accord.”
Miane logged off with a curt nod and no good-bye.
Watching her mate use the comm screen to deal with a quick contract update, Sascha wondered if Lucas knew he was becoming a powerful figure worldwide. Likely not. Such thoughts would go against his pack-minded nature. He’d never pursued power for power’s sake and never would—but as Miane had just demonstrated, Lucas had come to be considered worthy of trust by an influential network of changelings.
Another call came in just as he finished up what he’d been doing and went to turn toward Sascha. She caught his raised eyebrow. “Jen Liu and I don’t have a scheduled call today.”
It turned out the matriarch of the Liu family group wanted his feedback on a changeling pack that was pitching for business with Liu. “Our contacts in that area are regrettably thin,” said the silver-haired woman with a sharp, pointed face. “I’m not requesting private data; I simply wish to know if they’re reputable in a business sense.”
“Very,” Lucas replied. “They’re small but if they take on a project and you don’t get in their way once the plans are finalized, they’ll finish it on time and within budget.”
“Thank you. Should you require similar feedback on a Psy company, feel free to contact me.”
That was when Sascha realized Lucas wasn’t only trusted by changelings across the world, but that he was gaining a reputation among Psy as well. “Naya,” she whispered, understanding settling on her shoulders like a warm blanket.
Her mate sent her a questioning look.
“Changeling and Psy,” she said, “they both know that of all involved parties, you alone would never jeopardize Trinity. You—we—have a child who needs to grow up in a united world.”
Her mate’s eyes were suddenly more panther than human. “A fair evaluation, isn’t it, kitten?”
“Yes.” She uncurled her legs from the armchair and got up to walk to him, wrapping her arms around his waist as they stood face-to-face. “You don’t mind that they know?”
Head inclined to meet her gaze, Lucas shook his head. “Not if this is the consequence—if people trust me, they trust in Trinity by default.”
An inquisitive mental touch across Sascha’s mind. “Naya’s having fun with Clay.”
The quietest of the sentinels was one of Naya’s favorite people. She would snuggle up against his shoulder and watch wide-eyed while he moved around, no matter what he was doing—and unusually for Naya, she didn’t demand to be put down so she could explore on her own. Clay said it was