Chapter 23
Astrid
I was hoping for a chance to talk to Hex about his conversation with Blackmere before going into Virek’s office, but there’s no opportunity for it since my supervisor is waiting just inside headquarters when we step through the secret door in the supply closet.
His arms are folded, jaw clenched, and he looks ready to sack me on the spot.
He’s livid. But why?
Without a word, Virek turns and leads the way past empty cubicles.
Only four other agents are in the office tonight; two of them are from the External Investigations team and must have recently gotten back from whatever assignment they’ve been doing with Director Torvik on the continent.
The two agents from my team don’t make eye contact with me despite clearly paying rapt attention to our walk through the office.
Queasy, I squeeze my hands into fists and stay calm as we walk. Until Virek says what he wants to say, I can’t jump to any conclusions.
Warm fingers wrap around my fist, and I look down in surprise.
Then lift my eyes to Hex. Though he doesn’t look at me, he gently pries open my hand and entwines his fingers with mine.
This isn’t the first time we’ve held hands, but aside from our moment in the linen closet, which I’ve told myself was a product of his panic attack, this is the first time he’s done it without it being part of a performance.
As a gesture of comfort.
This is part of what I was missing when we were at the palace. Was Sander’s return the reason Hex was so cold?
When we finally reach his office, Virek wordlessly points at the chairs and sits down, his eyes honing in on our clasped hands.
Hex closes the door, we sit, and Virek lets out his breath in a heavy exhale.
Sounding more exasperated than angry as he gestures between Hex and me, Virek rolls his eyes and says, “Now I see why Candora thinks the prince has fallen for one of my agents.”
Ignoring the thrill that runs through me at the thought of Hex actually being into me, I tug my hand free and roll my eyes. “Did you call me into work because of a gossip column, sir?”
Virek scowls. “I called you into work because you clearly forgot that you’re supposed to be getting close to Alaric Blackmere and wasted an entire weekend of opportunity.”
“I didn’t waste anything,” I argue. Frustration bubbles up inside me, and while I would normally push it down and pretend I don’t hate being treated like I know nothing, I can’t do that today.
There’s no time for playing small. “For one, I wasn’t technically on the case this weekend.
But even if I had been, if you listen to the recordings, then you know—”
“I have listened to the recordings, and what I know is Blackmere is at the heart of this, like I suspected from the beginning, and yet the two of you are focusing on anyone but Blackmere.”
I wouldn’t say that’s true. “But Crowell—”
“Can’t be funding the anti-royalists,” Virek says sharply. “We’ve combed his accounts, and there’s no evidence to suggest he’s our target.”
“But he’s involved,” I argue.
“If he is, that’s not your concern. Your mission is to figure out where the money is coming from so we can put a stop to it.
” He narrows his eyes. “That’s it, Storme.
Your orders have been clear from the beginning, and one of these days you need to realize that you chose not to take the lead of this department.
You chose to follow orders. So follow them. ”
I rarely cry, so the tears that sting my eyes make me want to scream as I fight to keep my expression neutral.
Nothing Virek is saying is wrong, but that only makes my frustration worse.
Cutting off the money isn’t going to stop the anti-royalists.
It’s not going to save Candora from turmoil the people don’t need to suffer through.
Hex and I are so close to finding a way inside the organization; I can feel it.
But Virek is tightening his hold on the rope holding me back from being the agent I know I can be, and there’s nothing I can do about it except to go rogue.
And then what? Maybe I’ll find the next clue, but that doesn’t mean I’ll save Freya and Candora as we know it.
I’ll be out of a job. Disgraced. A failure.
I swallow. “Sir.”
“No.” He points at me, his jaw tight. “No, I’ve given you far too much freedom with this, Storme, and if you keep chasing hunches, you’re going to waste more time and resources we don’t have. I let you try things your way, and it didn’t work.”
But what if it did?
“And you,” Virek says, turning his attention to the prince, whose eyes are fixed on the tinted window. “It’s one thing to dress like a vagrant and spend your money on worthless paintings, Your Highness, but getting drunk while on a mission? That’s beyond reckless.”
“It wasn’t a mission, just as Astrid said.
” Hex speaks calmly as he slowly shifts his gaze from the window to Virek.
“That was a weekend of entertainment for me and a cover job for your best agent, and the only reason you’ve gotten any leads in your investigation is because Astrid isn’t afraid to follow every clue she finds rather than playing it safe and avoiding potential mistakes. ”
My mouth slips open in shock. Virek, on the other hand, looks like he might blow a gasket as he glowers at the prince and fights for a response. “Your Highness,” he grits out.
“Someone is casing Starlight Security,” Hex says, just as calm.
I look at him and furrow my brow. What does he mean? If there’s someone watching the building, why didn’t he say something before? Why didn’t I see anyone?
The answer to that last question is easy: I was far too focused on the prince.
He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
It’s a casual position that does nothing to hide his strength and intelligence, and my body warms to an uncomfortable degree at the sight of the prince’s controlled power.
“How confident are you that no one knows this is RIA headquarters?” he asks Virek.
I don’t think anyone has ever questioned that except Callum, who is in a security class of his own. The question isn’t doing anything to temper Virek’s fury, to the point where I’m convinced his hair’s about to light on fire, so I step in.
“Our cover is secure,” I tell Hex and put my hand on his forearm. When he looks at me, the intensity in his expression sends a jolt of electricity through me, upping the temperature of my body significantly. “Callum has put a lot of time into ensuring that.”
“Then whoever this bloke is,” Hex says and nods toward the window, “he’s here for me or you.” His eyes narrow as he takes my hand again. “I’m not alright with that, especially if he’s here for you.”
“The safety of my agents is none of your concern,” Virek snaps.
A chill fills the room as Hex sits up straight again and looks my boss in the eyes. “My concern,” he says with ice in his tone, “is for the people of Candora. Last I checked, Astrid is a Candoran, so tell me again that I shouldn’t want her unharmed.”
Vitte, I never knew a protective streak could be so attractive.
I’ve always been strong enough to take care of myself, but I’m not complaining about the prince looking after my safety.
Especially when he shifts his arm and takes my hand in his again, as if we’ve been holding hands like this all the years we’ve known each other.
I worried things were going to be strained between us after the way he was acting at the palace, but clearly that worry was for nothing. He’s got my back, just like he has from the start of all this.
But I should probably end this conversation—if I can even call it that—before the two men decide it’s time to prove who’s more ferocious.
“Virek,” I say at the same time I squeeze the prince’s hand, hoping he understands the gesture as a call to calm down. “I don’t think you’re wrong about Blackmere.”
Virek scoffs. “Of course I’m not wr—”
“But if we’re going to stop the anti-royalists from wreaking havoc on our country, you can’t sideline me or make me follow a money trail when all signs are telling us that the money is spent.
You’re trying to take the matches off the shelf at the store when the explosives are already set and the fuses lit.
We need to get into the middle of the organization and shut it down from the inside out. ”
Virek clenches his jaw. “Storme.”
“I will use Blackmere to get to the heart of things, if that is what you tell me to do, but I’m going to do it my way. I won’t destroy the asset that is my alleged relationship with Prince Hendrik when it’s likely the only thing that has gotten me as far into this as I am.”
“‘Alleged,’” Virek repeats with a scoff, scowling at our entwined hands. “You must think I’m an imbecile.”
“Your words,” Hex mutters, the unexpected insult almost making me laugh. I have to bite the insides of my lips to hold it in. Virek is still my boss, no matter how much I think he’s going about things the wrong way.
“This?” Virek waves a finger between us. “This is a problem. And I don’t have time to deal with problems. Storme, you’re benched until you can get your act together.” I start to object but he cuts me off. “Prince Hendrik, your services are no longer necessary. Dismissed.”
“If you say so,” Hex says and tugs me to my feet without giving me a chance to argue with Virek. Maybe that’s for the best; right now, all I want to do is outline in detail how boneheaded Virek is. The prince leads me to my desk, far enough away from the other cubicles that we’re basically alone.
I drop into my chair and press my face into my hands. “Why did I think that would go better?”
“Because you think the best of people.”
It’s hardly worth asking, but I do it anyway. “Did Blackmere give you anything useful last night?”
Frowning, Hex leans against the edge of the desk and folds his arms. “No. I would have told you last night if he had.”
“Last night, when you were completely sloshed?”