a party. A coronation. Can you arrange that for me?” I ask. Kyon creeps up on me from behind. I glance at him over my shoulder. “Hello,” I say, “I’m just working out a—” I notice that he’s naked.
Fulton tries to hide the confusion from his face when I look back at him. “Kricket,” he says placatingly, “you can have anything you want. If that’s a party or a crown, I’d be happy to arrange it for you.”
“Thank you,” I exhale the word like it’s my last breath. “Okay. Sorry. You can go back to sleep now.” I straighten up and start to move back down the hallway. Fulton stops me and says, “Next time you can just hologram with me.”
“Yeah? Okay,” I say. “Good night.”
Kyon comes up next to me. “Are you going to tell me what that’s all about?” he asks.
“Yes. I need your help to design a crown. Do you think you’re up for it?”
“I’m up for a lot of things,” he replies. “Start explaining.”
CHAPTER 16
WINSLET AND WHISPERS
Sitting on top of Kyon’s worktable in his study, I pore over his sketches for the crown. He’s so talented it’s scary. I just had to tell him what I wanted last night and he stayed up all night working on it. “What do you think Excelsior and the Brotherhood will do when they hear that we’re planning a coronation?” I ask Kyon.
He hunches over his worktable, testing a spring latch he’s designing. “They will accuse us of treason.”
“That’s perfect. What will happen after that?” I ask.
“They’ll try to arrest us. Why don’t you project into the future and tell me if this all works out so I can decide whether or not to keep going here?”
“I can’t. Your friend coolered me last night—Vilma—”
“Her name is Verka,” he corrects me. “I’ll fix you in a few moments, as soon as I’m done here.”
“I don’t need to see the future. This will work.”
“How do you know?” he asks.
“I know because I met your dad’s gigantic ego. It’s almost as big as yours,” I tease him.
“I’m nothing like him,” Kyon replies, as if I hurt his feelings.
“I know that,” I say contritely. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re forgiven,” he says.
“Am I?” I ask.
“Always.”
“How fast can we get this done? We need to leak word of the crowns and the coronation soon.”
“I’ll have it done within the next couple of rotations.”
“Good. I have to go plan the party with Fulton. Everything has to look legit.”
“The coronation will be legit,” he says with a frown.
“It will be,” I agree. “I have to go.” I jump down from my perch and start to walk to the door, but Kyon pulls me back.
Turning me to face him, he plants a kiss on my lips. “Did you forget something?” he asks. He lets go of me.
“No, I don’t—” He shoots me with something that looks and feels a lot like a Taser. Electricity courses through my body and I immediately lose my ability to stand upright. Luckily, Kyon catches me in his arms and holds me against his chest while I twitch.
“I just burned the Verka out of you. How do you feel?” he asks in my ear.
“Not good,” I whisper when I regain the ability to speak. I rest my cheek against his chest.
“Should I have warned you first?” He strokes my hair.
“I don’t know,” I reply honestly, “maybe.”
“It should stop stinging in a moment.”
“Should I do you next?” I growl, as feeling returns to my arms and legs once more. It’s enough so I can stand again on my own.
“I shot myself last night after I sent you home.”
“Pity,” I groan. “Yes. Definitely warn me next time.”
“Or I could kill her so it never happens again,” he replies.
“Table that suggestion. We’ll revisit it when I’m feeling less angry. I will see you later.” I drag my feet for a few steps before they lose their numbness. Leaving the study, I locate Fulton with Oscil’s help. He’s in the tower known as Glory. This tower is for entertaining guests. It has a ballroom that ascends fifteen levels like the tiers on a wedding cake.
“Do you like this space?” Fulton asks.
“It’s very lovely,” I say.
“Do you like it for the coronation?”
“No,” I reply absently, gazing around. “I was thinking that something more public would be better. I don’t want people here. I want our home to remain private. Is there somewhere else that would suit?”
We go over several options for locations. “I think it should be here,” I say, admiring