Sentinel - Cyndi Friberg Page 0,2

obviously waiting for something specific to happen. Not wanting to interrupt, Natalie stood back and quietly observed.

“There he is,” Salvo said, pointing to a blurry figure on one of the displays.

As per usual, Natalie’s gaze drifted to Salvo. Whenever he was in a room, she couldn’t seem to look anywhere else. He wasn’t as tall or muscular as Malik, but the top of her head would easily tuck under Salvo’s chin. According to human standards, Jaron was better looking. Salvo was best described as striking. The contrast between his long silvery hair and dark beard drew attention to his rugged features and the intensity of his crystal-blue eyes. Salvo didn’t make eye contact nearly as often as flirtatious Jaron. But when her gaze locked with Salvo’s, she felt hot and achy, more than ready to melt into his embrace.

“Where is he going?” Mirra muttered. “His cottage is on the other side of town.”

Forcing her gaze away from the handsome sentinel, Natalie looked at the middle display. It took her a moment to identify the person in question, Blitz Perian, the youngest of the governor’s three sons. She knew Blitz was a manipulative pain in the butt, but he must have done something serious if Jaron and Salvo were watching him. Both worked for Malik, and in the world below the military was also in charge of law enforcement.

“He’s running back to Daddy, to tattle on us,” Jaron muttered. “Typical.”

“Hush,” Mira urged, shooting her son an impatient look.

“He can’t hear me.” Jaron motioned toward the monitors.

“No, but we can’t hear him with you yammering.”

Natalie smiled. Only a mother could get away with such direct criticism. Jaron crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes, but fell silent.

Two of the displays were clearly provided by external cameras, but one reminded her of a first-person video game. It seemed to be coming from inside Blitz. Maybe he was in on whatever this was. Were the rebels using Blitz to spy on his father or brothers? Not wanting to interrupt, she just watched, hoping more would become apparent as the scene progressed.

Blitz entered his father’s house without knocking and found his father and two older brothers seated around the fireplace in the main living space. It was a common gathering place on these chilly spring nights. His brothers looked annoyed at the interruption, but his father immediately stood and walked toward Blitz.

“Are you all right?” Stras Perian asked, eyeing his son with obvious concern.

“I’m fine, but I just overheard the most disturbing conversation down by Crystal Lake.”

“Why were you prowling around in the forest?” one of his brothers asked in between sips of paftor brew, the Sarronti equivalent of beer.

“Who were you spying on this time?” the other brother sneered. “You have always loved to stir up drama.”

Stras ignored his older sons and motioned Blitz toward the small study tucked away under the stairs. The two stepped inside and Stras closed the door. “Ignore them, and tell me what happened.”

“I expanded the perimeter coverage like we talked about this morning, so I decided to check in with the guards once they’d settle into the new pattern.”

Leaning back against the edge of is desk, Stras studied his youngest son. “That couldn’t wait until morning? You could have talked to all of them at once during shift change.”

Blitz shrugged. “I needed some fresh air and exercise. You should try it sometime.”

Stras made a face, but only said, “What did you overhear?”

“Salvo Xett was arguing with Velmar Rylin. They said—”

“Are you sure it was Velmar?” Stras narrowed his gaze, starting to sound impatient. The older brothers weren’t wrong. Blitz did love to stir up trouble. “No one has seen Velmar since he murdered Tajon Marr.”

Natalie glanced at Salvo then Jaron to see their reactions. They both calmly waited for the conversation to continue. She was as confused as the governor. According to Kara and everyone else Natalie knew, Velmar Rylin was still missing.

“It was Velmar,” Blitz insisted. “He’s back and plotting with Salvo Xett. It sounded like they tried—”

“Hold on.” Stras held up one of his hands while he reached over to his desktop and activated a holo-com with the other. “Zerna needs to hear this.”

“Zerna?” Mirra muttered, looking from Jaron to Salvo and back. “As in Law Guardian Zerna Stront?” Mirra’s tone sharpened as she said the name.

Natalie understood the reaction. It had been obvious Zerna was involved in the resistance when she’d wrongly convicted Malik of murder and sentenced him to death. But