Geared for Pleasure (29 page)

A hidden human city without laws? It sounded like paradise to Phina. Why on Theorrey would any of them leave that kind of bliss to come here?

And why had the captain forgotten to tell her about it? She did not enjoy being left out of things. She and Nerida Amaranthe had been through too much together. Was she so useless now? Perhaps she
should
stop drinking for a while, just to keep up.

She feigned cynicism. “Bodhan is the owner of a brothel. Not exactly the lowest of profiles if he is from this secret city. Especially considering his clientele.”

Bodhan heard her. He turned, his light eyes narrowing. “You, of all people, should understand the thrill of hiding in plain sight. And the value. The Siren has given me greater access to funds and secrets than a noble’s servant. Funds and secrets that have proved helpful in keeping my people, the queen’s people, safe. They’ve helped you on more than one occasion. Not that you would show gratitude for that.”

She was distracted from the barb in his tone by the man he’d introduced as Hadiyah. He was studying her closely. “Bodhan, wait.
This
is the infamous Phina Fleet?” He laughed in delight. “You did not tell me she was the Siren’s Felidae. It was Phina Fleet who stole an entire cargo container right from under the noses of the Maithuna procurers, am I correct?”

Phina noticed Dare’s confused expression at the same time Hadiyah did. He was quick to clarify. “There was a container full of children who had been sold or taken against their will from all across Theorrey. Being harvested like
dravya
, like nothing but a damned shipment of goods.” He grimaced at his own words, obviously disgusted by the idea. “Sometime between the arrival of the elevated
rail at Centre City, and the transfer to the Maithuna cargo ship, the entire container disappeared. Months later children were still arriving home, spreading the tale of Phina Fleet and her daring rescue.” He took Phina’s hand in both of his and squeezed. “The Aaruan Felidae spin the story often. I suppose you could say you are their hero. And mine.”

Captain Amaranthe’s voice behind her made Phina’s shoulders relax. “I remember that. It was, I believe, the first time Phina and I met.”

The first time the captain had met her, Phina amended, but not the first time
she
had seen the captain or the Deviant. Until that episode with the children, she had, in fact, been following the ship for weeks. Tracking their heat signatures, and studying them when they resupplied. It had taken that long to decide whether, despite the queen’s instructions, she could trust the good Captain Amaranthe. Her pursuit to free the innocents from slavery had made up Phina’s mind in her favor.

She waved off the praise, uncomfortable with the admiration. “Do they also tell the story of how I left a corpulent noble who enjoyed wearing corsets dangling from his balcony sans underthings while I robbed him of his art and jewelry collections?”

“That sounds more like the Seraphina I know.”

Phina’s jaw tightened at Cyrus’ smug comment as he joined the rest of them. Why did he have to be everywhere she was? Surely the ship was big enough, and Theorrey vast enough, that they could spend the rest of their lives never bumping into each other again.

Even as she thought it, she knew there was less fire behind it. When had that happened? It was a dangerous turn of events. Letting her guard down would only make her more vulnerable to the still-bitter Wode.

Hadi shook his head with a chuckle. “Say what you will, but all
of us have heard of your exploits. Most of them courageous and bold. As are those of the illustrious Captain Amaranthe.”

The captain ignored the praise as well. “Bodhan, I was told you were bringing me good, sturdy crew. These men have the look of highborn traders. Are you sure they know how to hold their swords?”

Was Hadiyah blushing? He coughed, looking down at the wagonload of supplies, its engine still belching small clouds of steam. Bodhan patted him on the shoulder and laughed, though Phina noticed he sent a pointed look toward the captain. “They can hold their swords just fine. Did you bring everything you own, Hadi? I said we needed some food and medicine for a few men, not a town.”

Wulf had sobered, his gaze on the captain as he answered for his friend. “We did as the Khepri instructed. We came prepared. I believe you will find what we bring to the crew to be more than sufficient. Speaking of which…” He leaned down and pulled the blanket off the top of the wagon.

Phina heard Dare gasp as four of the Khepri’s bluish-green bugs came to life, fluttering their translucent wings, their brass bodies rising to hover with a familiar hum.

She grinned. How often had one of those adorable automatons come to her, helping to guide her out of some corner she had gotten herself trapped into? The Khepri always seemed to know exactly when they would be needed.

Wulf’s voice held an answering smile. “Much as I wish we could make our own, and believe me I have tried, these aren’t ours. They started following us a few hours before you arrived. It was the first time I had seen scarabs this small carrying a load themselves, so we offered them the wagon to rest in.”

“Scarabs?” Dare spoke the question in Phina’s mind. She had never heard that word before.

Bodhan reached out to touch a loose strand of Dare’s indigo hair tenderly.
“It is the Khepri’s own name for his spies. They are his symbol. His eyes around Theorrey, as well as his less obvious messengers.” He kissed her forehead. “The dragonfly is only used when he truly wishes to gain someone’s attention.”

How did these men know so much about the Khepri? Phina’s tail twitched restlessly. Was Bodhan sure he could trust them?

The captain obviously felt her tension. “You have proven you know our ally, and Bodhan has spoken for you, but I have no patience for evasion. You said they carried a load. That is usually a job for a different machine. What was it?”

Wulf’s strange eyes darkened with true interest. She could see his skin heat before her eyes, causing a lovely flush to his pale cheeks. Interesting.

He lowered his head respectfully. “I meant no disrespect, Captain Amaranthe. However, I would be remiss if I did not take a moment first to tell you that the descriptions of your beauty hardly do you justice. You take my breath away.”

Phina sucked in her lower lip and bit down in an attempt to contain her mirth. This man was
flirting
? Now? With the captain? He may have heard of her beauty but apparently not her temper.

She turned to study Captain Amaranthe’s expression and caught Cyrus watching her instead. His blue eyes were dark as they studied her lips. She turned away before he could see how that affected her.

“Wulf, was it?” The captain moved closer to the newcomer. Her signature coat had been removed so Phina could see the lithe, graceful movements of her body. Her bare arms slender but strong at her side, her dark hair flying like a silken banner down her shoulders as she strode toward him.

The man may be immune to Phina’s pheromones, but he certainly was impressed with the captain. His lips parted, his tongue slipping out to moisten his mouth in unconscious preparation. Phina inhaled, taking in his scent. Yes, he was definitely aroused.

Captain Amaranthe drew close enough that Wulf leaned toward her, as though pulled by an unseen force. She used the opportunity to strike.

Before the other men could react, she had grabbed Wulf’s arm, flipping him over her body and onto his back. She straddled his waist where he lay on the ground and Phina could see the curved, claw-like dagger the captain usually kept in a slender holster beneath her vest pressed against Wulf’s neck.

Her smile was hard as she pressed her body against his. “This is how I take a man’s breath away. Still impressed?”

Phina sensed Cyrus stepping closer and held up her hand. The man was in no danger. Not at the moment.

Wulf was breathing faster, but he showed no fear. “Impressed. In love. I cannot decide.”

Captain Amaranthe studied him for a moment, then rubbed her hips against him and dug the dagger deeper into his flesh. “I could help you with your decision. If you would risk it.”

“Nerida.”

Phina stopped smiling. How did Freeman move so quietly? The other men reacted to the sound of his voice with varying degrees of shock and respect.

He had used her name. In front of strangers. It was low enough, tempered and even enough, that it did not sound like a rebuke. Yet the way Captain Amaranthe reacted, Freeman may as well have shouted, or prodded her with a loose stormwire.

She was off the pale Wulf, hands on her hips and wearing an expression of stone before another word was spoken. Freeman stepped back, keeping a respectful distance but remaining a silent sentinel that seemed to remind all of them of why they were here.

Bodhan helped his friend up and Dare went to stand beside him. “What were they carrying?”

Hadi reached into the odd wagon and pulled out another metal
box, this one much bigger than the one he’d held before. It was made of a dark gray metal, exquisitely detailed with images of the Khepri’s bugs—the scarabs—decorating each corner of the lid. It looked old. Valuable. The images etched with decades of patina. Being the Khepri’s, sadly, made it off limits for Phina to pinch.

Hadiyah handed off the box to Bodhan. “Along with the need to be prepared, the Khepri informed us that he would be sending an important package along with us. When we saw the scarabs, we knew this was it.”

He held it up in his hands and the flying automatons buzzed around it, each landing on one of the four corners of the box and attaching to it with a definitive click. Their wings folded and they began to turn in place. The noises from within the heavy mechanized box created a sweet sound to Phina’s ears—that of a safe being unlocked.

After a full rotation, the scarabs’ wings started to flutter once more, still attached to the lid of the box as they lifted it higher, into the air. They hovered impatiently above them, waiting.

Phina reached inside and began to gather up everything she could reach. She could never resist a present.

Cyrus was at her side in an instant. “Parchment? All that for letters?”

Phina forced herself to glare at him, grudgingly noting how much better he looked this morning. The hair on his head was growing fast, the indigo stubble swiftly becoming soft, touchable curls close to his head. Not that she wanted to touch his head. Or him.

Her tail twitched in frustration.

Bodhan was now beside them as well. “Letters to all of us.” He took them out of her hand, rifling through them. She managed to stifle her possessive hiss.

“Cyrus. The captain. Seraphina and myself.” He looked inside
and his brows lifted. “Dare has a small box addressed to her. The Chalice.”

The instant the box was empty the scarabs lowered the lid, relocking it to the container and lifting it into the air. Their little wings, it seemed to Phina, strained to carry the weight. “Poor bugs. Someone should tell the Khepri that birds make better messengers.”

Wulf smirked, but his tone was full of admiration. “Don’t think I haven’t. He does enjoy his dramatic deliveries. I would forgive his flamboyance if I knew how he made those things so lifelike. Each time I’ve tried to trap one, they self-destruct before I can get a peek inside. Clever bastard.”

The captain’s distinctive boots paced behind them, drawing their attention away from the disappearing box. She slipped her note into the waistband of her pants. “This can wait. Between the supplies Freeman gathered and yours, we have what we need. We’ve been kissing ground too long and time is wasting.”

She saw Wulf and Hadi share matching expressions of excitement and marveled at their utter lack of fear. They slipped on their shaded lenses once more, stepping back to watch as James Stacy and the others refurled the dodge.

Hadi used his small device once more and, now that she was closer, Phina could see it had four raised buttons with arrows carved on them that appeared to indicate direction, and two copper wires sticking out of the box’s top. When Hadi pushed a button to send the wagon to the re-revealed cargo platform, a visible arc of energy danced between the wires. The wagon began to move and Phina came closer to Hadi’s side.

“Did you make this?”

His expression was proud but wary as he nodded. She laid a hand on his arm, her eyes drawn to the box. “Have you ever considered making more for trade?”

Bodhan and Wulf answered for him at the same time.
“No.”

She joined them all, along with the cargo, on the lift. The machinery that carried them groaned with the strain. It was the longest ride to the deck in her memory.

She hated change. And men who refused to bargain.

Less than an hour later, Phina was still afraid to open her sealed letter. The one she had been so determined to grab when the box’s lid had first been removed. Everyone else appeared to feel the same hesitation. Perhaps out of fear. Their messages were filled with dire news of late.

By silent consent they were allowing themselves a momentary distraction. Freeman had placed a table and chairs from the cargo hold onto the helm’s deck, giving Hadi and Wulf a place to set one of their necessary supplies, an odd-looking game, on the table’s surface.

She had never seen the like of it before, though Bodhan, Wulf, and Hadi were familiar with it. She supposed it was not surprising, since it had apparently been created in Aaru, the place they claimed to be from.

The captain and Dare watched in fascination along with Phina as the men played. Freeman pretended disinterest, fiddling with the buttons and knobs of the autobinnacle as he steered.

Phina stared intently at the oddly random configuration of brass tubes, bent joints, and copper coils set atop a thick leather-bound box. The men seemed to be taking turns attempting to create some sort of functional design. Or stop each other from doing so, she wasn’t sure which. It looked like nothing more than a jumble of ill-fitting parts to her.

She noticed Dare was watching Wulf. Did she sense something from him? “Wulf, may I ask, have you ever met the Khepri?”