Chapter 46
Chapter
Forty-Six
Jasmine
“Tell me again about the transmission,” I said, as I stood in front of the fireplace embedded in the ebony wall of the Raas quarters.
Wrexxon stood by the dining table as a pair of attendants set out dishes of food. “It was cryptic, but it was a warning.”
I paused and glanced at the Vandar, whose own face was pinched with worry. “A warning about a trap. A warning that made us change course.”
“Yes, but it was more than that,” he said firmly. “The situation Kolt mentioned was a trap and the rooting out of a spy.”
I released a heavy breath. “You think he means here or a spy with him?”
“If it was sent to us, then I suspect he’s telling me to beware of a spy in our midst.”
I choked back a laugh. “Maybe he thinks I’m a spy. Your battle chief was never my biggest fan.”
Wrexxon crossed the room to me, his tail swishing behind him. He took my hands in his. “I know it is not you. I know you would never betray me.”
I smiled at him, still surprised I’d fallen for the Vandar as hard as I had. “Never, but who else?”
“My majak is reviewing all personnel records, but you should not worry. The important thing is that we are getting my battle chief and your friend back.”
“I still can’t believe they were taken captive together.” I thought of the gruff battle chief and my spitfire friend. “Those two aren’t exactly a match made in heaven.”
He chuckled. “I suppose not. Kolt is distrustful of humans.”
I groaned and leaned into him. “And Skye was very irate when you and your horde took me from Lexxona.”
“Let us hope that their personal clashes were the worst of their trials,” the Raas said with a grin. “Now we should try to enjoy our dinner with the others, especially since you went to the trouble to discover what dishes are popular on Governor Aldric’s planet.”
As if mentioning his name summoned him, the door beeped to announce our guests.
Wrexxon dipped me back into a quick kiss, then righted me before he strode to the door to welcome them.
I was still catching my breath and smoothing the front of my gossamer blue gown when the gray-haired man entered along with my two sisters.
The governor looked a bit overwhelmed by my sisters’ chattering, but Wrexxon soon led him toward the bar cart while Kaya and Brielle hurried over to me.
“Is it just us?” Kaya swiveled her head around the spacious suite, as if I might be hiding additional guests somewhere.
“It is.” I motioned for her to keep her voice down. “I thought we should try to cheer up the man. He’s barely left his quarters since he arrived.”
Brielle glanced over her shoulder at the older man rubbing the back of his neck nervously while Wrexxon poured him a drink. “He doesn’t look so great, and he told us on the way here that he’s had piercing headaches since he arrived.”
I eyed the governor. My sister was right. He did not look well.
I crossed to him, smiling at Wrexxon as I touched the man’s arm. “My sisters said you’ve been unwell. Is there anything we can do for you? The Vandar have excellent healers.”
“You are sick?” Wrexxon asked, his gaze sharpening.
“I’m sure it’s nothing.” The man tried to laugh it off, but his hand worked the back of his neck as if he was trying to massage away pain.
“Headaches?” I prodded. “Have you always gotten bad headaches?”
“Never before coming onto the ship,” he said, then gave a small shake of his head. “Actually, they started a day or two before you arrived to rescue me.”
I nodded, questions bouncing around my brain. Then I turned him away from me and popped up on my toes, pulling his hand from the back of his neck.
“I beg your pardon,” he spluttered.
I ignored him. “Look at this!” I pulled Wrexxon closer so he could see the almost invisible incision mark on the nape of his neck.
“What is that?” The Raas said in a low voice., as Kaya and Brielle hurried over to look.
“What?” The man twisted his head as if he could actually glimpse his own neck.
“That’s definitely a scar,” Kaya said, craning around me to get a better look.
“Have you had surgery on your neck before?” I asked. “Have you had a cut?”
“No.” His voice rose in alarm. “Is there a cut on my neck?”
“I’d say it’s certainly the source of his headaches,” I told Wrexxon as we exchanged a knowing look, “but I suspect this might be the spy in our midst.”
Brielle sucked in a breath. “He’s a spy?”
“I’m no spy,” the man spluttered, his face reddening.
“Not knowingly,” I said, convinced by his reaction that he hadn’t known about the scar.
“Someone did this to him?” Kaya asked.
I locked eyes with the Raas. “That’s why he was so easy to rescue. The Zagrath put a tracker inside him. They wanted you to save him.”
“What?” The governor’s voice now verged on hysterical. “What’s inside me? What’s going on?”
Wrexxon closed his eyes and growled. “It was another Zagrath ploy. They used my desire to save rebels against me.”
“At least now we know,” I said. “The healer can surgically remove it, destroy it, and they won’t be able to track us.”
“Surgically remove what?” Aldric shrieked before he swayed on the spot. Wrexxon caught him by one arm before he fainted on top of Brielle.
“Or we let them think it’s still active.” Wrexxon held the limp form with one hand as one of the Vandar attendants rushed to help.
I grinned at this and rubbed my hands together. “And lead them on a merry chase? Now we’re talking.”