of close to a thousand—not including the three-thousand-strong fighting force—he could send in a new person every meal for almost a year.
“I’ve brought your proof of life,” he said. “Consider it an early wedding present.” He picked up the tablet and tapped on it. He turned it around so I could see the screen, but pulled back when I reached for it. “As much as I’d like to be bashed in the head with this, I think I’ll hold on to it instead, if you don’t mind,” he said with a glimmer of humor.
I grinned at him, my first true expression since I’d been captured. “If you insist,” I said. I focused on the screen. Sure enough, Polaris sat in the landing bay. The cargo ramp opened. Rhys and Veronica were marched out at gunpoint by a squad of soldiers, cuffed and hobbled.
Son. Of. A. Bitch.
I waited, but no one else appeared out of the ship. The video jumped location and Rhys and Veronica were shown moving around in separate cells. I kept my expression perfectly flat, even as hope warred with rage. There was no sign of Loch, Imma, or Lin. If I had to guess, I’d guess this was a screwed-up rescue attempt, never mind the fact that I had very specifically asked Rhys to deliver Polaris to Father.
As soon as I was out of this cell, I would find Rhys and Veronica and wring their necks.
“Where did you catch them?” I asked, more out of curiosity than anything else.
“We found them waiting at the gate,” Richard said. “We caught them before they got a jump endpoint.”
This sector was nearly deserted. The gate was probably ancient, but even so, it wouldn’t take more than half an hour to get through the queue and get a jump point. With the alcubium left in the first cylinder, they could’ve jumped straight to the gate. Swap the cylinders, which I’d shown them how to do, and they would be on their way again in an hour.
Unless Richard caught them waiting at the gate on purpose, after they’d already jumped out, dropped off the others, and jumped back.
“Oh, did they run out of alcubium?” I asked, subtly fishing. “I know we were getting close. I burned through a lot before I realized how the drive worked. That is why I wanted to explore XAD Six.”
“They had half a cylinder left,” Richard said. “But they seemed to be having trouble plotting a course. I’m surprised you left two inexperienced pilots in charge of your ship. What happened to Loch?” Now he was the one fishing.
I shrugged as if he hadn’t given me a key piece of information. “Loch disappeared on APD Zero, so leaving the ship with those two was the only option. Neither was equipped to infiltrate the facility. At least on the ship they had a chance of success.”
And it had worked. If they only had half a cylinder, then they’d made multiple jumps before Richard caught them, which would explain the missing people. They’d gotten Loch, Lin, and Imma to safety.
Loch’s abandonment stung. But I’d told them to run. I should not be upset that he’d followed my advice. I just wish we’d parted on better terms, because I had no doubt that I’d never see Marcus Loch again.
“We will be married tomorrow,” Richard said with a triumphant smile. “That will give a synthesizer time to prepare your dress. The purser is a licensed minister. After our marriage, I will give your friends a shuttle and enough supplies to get them to populated space.”
“I will have that in writing in our marriage contract,” I said. “In fact, bring me the entire contract today, and I will review and amend it as necessary.”
This time, his smile was full of teeth. “Do not press me, Ada.”
“If you think I will marry you with only your word protecting my friends, you are incorrect. Their safety will be a cornerstone of our contract. In fact, I suggest you send an escort with them, because if anything were to happen to them en route, it would nullify the only contract I will sign.”
I didn’t know what Rhys and Veronica were thinking, but they’d put me in a damned difficult position. I’d planned for the long game, to wait until someone made a mistake, gave me an opportunity, and then I would strike. Now I had to escape by tomorrow or marry Richard. And Houses did not take divorce lightly—or at all. The only way out