CHAPTER TEN

KYRION

V esper and I followed Lady Verona and Asterin through the castle.

We passed several servants going about their chores, along with more guards, who were stationed in almost every corridor. The guards were clad in green polyplastic armor and equipped with blasters and shock batons, just like the warriors I'd spotted outside the estate. A few Hammers were also roaming around, all armed with traditional war hammers.

Something was wrong.

Nervous energy surged off the servants and saturated the air like a storm cloud, and far more guards and Hammers were on duty than were necessary to secure the estate. I'd been an Arrow a long time, and I knew all the warning signs.

Aldrich Collier was worried his home and people might be targeted.

I noted the placement of each guard, along with each entrance and exit, creating a mental map of the castle. If the worst happened and someone attacked, I wanted to be able to escape as quickly as possible.

I didn't keep up with Erzton politics, so I didn't know who might be threatening House Collier, and I didn't care. Not after Aldrich had revealed he'd known exactly how Holloway had been torturing my parents.

As an Arrow and a Regal lord, I could understand why Aldrich hadn't helped my parents. Galactic incidents and all that. Plus, Holloway would never have let both of my parents leave Corios at the same time, and even on the off chance they could have escaped, Holloway would have done everything in his power to drag my mother and father back to the Imperium planet.

Vesper touched my arm. Are you okay? You feel . . . upset.

I forced myself to nod. Fine. Just getting the lay of the land, so to speak.

She eyed me, clearly not believing my lie, but she didn't send me another thought. For once, I was grateful for the quiet.

Lady Verona stepped through an archway into the open air. More snow fluttered down from the clouds, although the flakes hissed away to nothingness the instant they touched the estate's defensive shield.

"Do you ever lower the shield?" Vesper asked, staring up at the shimmering air a hundred feet above our heads.

"Sometimes," Lady Verona replied. "If there is a heavy snow, we'll lower the shield so that it piles up enough for the servants' children to build snowmen and go sledding. Asterin and Siya used to love playing in the snow when they were young."

A wistful note crept into Verona's voice, but Asterin flinched, as though the memories weren't as fond as her mother made them out to be.

We followed the Erzton lady across a wide stone bridge, went through another archway, and stepped into a slightly smaller castle.

"This is the guest wing," Verona said. "If you need anything, just tap one of the holoscreens in the walls, and the servants will come and assist you."

Lady Verona flitted from one corridor to another, a cheerful note in her voice as she talked about the kitchen, the libraries, and the other amenities. Her conversation was probably meant to put us at ease, but I ground my teeth at the social niceties.

The Colliers might have granted us sanctuary, but our position here was clearly tenuous. Perhaps even tenuous enough for one of the Erztonians to sell us out to our enemies.

Lord Aldrich had said it himself. Business was business, and right now, there was no better business and especially no richer reward to be had than turning Vesper and me over to Callus Holloway. I didn't think Aldrich and Verona would renege on their promise, but Siya didn't want us here, and she might decide to try to subdue us in hopes of shipping us off-planet to protect House Collier. And the thirty million credits Holloway had promised for our capture would be enough to tempt even the most loyal servant or guard.

We had come here seeking refuge, but I couldn't help but feel like the sooner Vesper and I left this place, the safer we would be.

Lady Verona stopped in a long corridor and opened a door, revealing a luxe suite. "Vesper, Kyrion, these are your chambers." She gestured at another door farther down the corridor. "Asterin's suite is right over there."

I glanced at Asterin, who had an unreadable expression on her face. She was Verona's daughter, so why was she staying in the guest wing instead of the main castle?

"You can leave your bags in your suite, then head to the south terrace for some refreshments. Normally, I would join you, but Aldrich and I have some business to finish regarding the marriage mart." Verona's gaze flicked to Asterin, who remained stone-faced. "We are currently engaged in several sensitive negotiations."

"Of course," Vesper murmured. "We appreciate your kindness."

A smile spread across Lady Verona's face. "Once Siya told us you were coming, I had the servants put some spare clothes and toiletries in your suite. If you need something else, just let one of the servants know."

She nodded at us, then went down the corridor, rounded a corner, and vanished.

"Mother's right," Asterin chirped in a bright voice that was eerily similar to the one Lady Verona had just used. "Let's drop your bags in your suite and head to the south terrace."

We did as she asked, then followed her down another corridor, through an archway, and onto a large stone terrace that arced out like an enormous half-moon and connected the guest wing to the main castle. The terrace overlooked a garden filled with topiary trees and hedges, along with blue-moon peonies, pink-star honeysuckles, and other colorful flowers I recognized from my mother's garden at Castle Caldaren.

Several tables covered with food were clustered along one side of the terrace. Asterin grabbed a plate and filled it high, and Vesper and I did the same. Then the three of us sat down and dug into our food.

The House Collier chefs had prepared a spread that rivaled anything I'd ever eaten at a Regal ball. A thick, rich pumpkin soup with a dollop of fresh cream and just a hint of cinnamon. A warm salad of greens, dried cranberries, apples, and roasted sweet potatoes tossed with a tangy honey-mustard vinaigrette. Toasted pumpernickel bread topped with a light, refreshing lemon chicken salad that was covered with melted sharp white cheddar cheese.

I might not trust anyone at House Collier, but the food was delicious, and Vesper and I both went back for seconds and thirds.

For dessert, we all inhaled several pieces of a pumpkin roll with a sweet cream-cheese filling and studded with dark chocolate chips and toasted marshmallows. We washed everything down with a crisp apple punch.

Asterin quickly finished her food, but Vesper and I were still eating when Leland stepped onto the balcony, tapping buttons on his tablet, which was cradled in the crook of his arm. The motion reminded me of Daichi.

Guilt churned in my gut, souring the wonderful meal. If Daichi and Touma were caught on Corios, Holloway would execute them for helping Vesper and me. Or worse, Holloway would stick Daichi and Touma in the Crownpoint medical labs and let his scientists conduct horrific experiments on them.

Leland hit another button, then looked up at the three of us. "I just wanted to make sure you and your guests had everything you needed, Lady Asterin. I had the chefs prepare some of their best dishes."

"It was excellent," I replied. "One of the best meals I've eaten."

Vesper also murmured her thanks, and a pleased smile spread across the chief of staff's face.

Leland focused on Asterin. "I'm sorry I couldn't meet you at your workshop earlier, as you requested. I had some other House Collier business, although if I'd known your friends were coming, I would have assisted you." He grimaced. "I should have been there to smooth things over with Lady Siya."

Asterin laid her hand on his arm. "It's not your fault, Leland. You know how much I appreciate everything you've done for me, not just today but over the years. You were such a huge help to my father, and Urston would be so happy to see how well you're doing as part of House Collier."

Some emotion flickered in the chief of staff's eyes, but it vanished in an instant, and he smiled at Asterin. "If there is nothing else, I will leave you to your guests."

Asterin smiled back at him. "Thank you, Leland."

He nodded to us all, then left the terrace.

As soon as Leland was gone, Asterin's smile vanished, replaced by an odd, wistful expression. After a few seconds, she toasted us with her glass. "The chefs might have prepared the food, but the apple punch came straight out of the latest Quill Corp brewmaker. Vesper, if you ever get tired of inventing things, you should become a cook. Your appliances make everything taste better."

Vesper laughed, and I relaxed, just a bit. I still didn't know what to make of House Collier's people and politics, but for this moment, we were safe, and I was going to enjoy it while it lasted.

We sipped another round of punch, while Asterin pointed out one colored permaglass dome after another on the surrounding mountains. "The Erzton is currently made up of twelve major ruling Houses, including House Collier. All the Houses deal in minerals, metals, coal, timber, and the like. Each dome on each mountain represents a different House, all connected by the gondolas and bridges to form the city of Gewitter."

"I thought Sygnustern was a mining planet," Vesper said. "I didn't expect it to be so charming."

"Oh, there are plenty of mines on Sygnustern. The Houses just built their city on top of the mines." Asterin gestured at the mountains in the distance. "Hence all the cliffs and chasms."

"There are actual, working mines in the bottoms of the chasms between the mountains?" I asked.

"Oh, yes. And they are the ever-grinding, ever-deepening heart of the planet," Asterin replied in a wry tone.

I might not like heights, but the thought of going to the dark depths of one of those chasms, and then even farther underground, made my gut churn. Vesper also looked a bit pale at the notion.

"Home sweet home, eh? Although things are clearly not sweet between you and Siya." The history lesson was nice, but I wanted to know exactly what problems were brewing in House Collier.

Asterin twisted her glass around on the table. "Things are usually not this . . . tense. Most of the time, I ignore Siya and she ignores me."

"But she can't do that while Vesper and I are here. Because our very presence threatens the safety of everyone she's sworn to protect as the head of the House Collier Hammers."

"Something like that," Asterin admitted. "Although Siya and I have been at odds for a long time, ever since . . ."

"What?" I asked. "What happened between the two of you?"

Vesper shot me a sharp look, but I was tired of dancing around the truth. I wanted to know exactly how dangerous Siya Collier was—and what lengths she might go to in order to protect her House.

Asterin's fingers dropped away from her glass. "House Armas, my father's House, used to be among the major Houses."

"Until?" Vesper asked in a soft, sympathetic voice.

Asterin sighed, the sound full of aching regret. "Until there was an accident at one of my father's mines. At the time, Siya and I were both thirteen and loved to explore the mine. We had gone up to the surface to fetch some tools for my father, and we were headed back inside when a massive explosion ripped through the mine. We were only knocked down, but dozens of people were seriously injured."

She slumped back in her seat, as though all the strength had left her body. "My father was killed, along with Irzin Collier, Siya's uncle and Aldrich's brother. Siya adored her uncle, and she was devastated by his death."

Vesper squeezed Asterin's hand. "I'm so sorry."

Asterin gave her a wan smile. Then she cleared her throat, pulled her fingers out of Vesper's light grip, and straightened up. "My father was found to be at fault for the accident. The victims' families sued House Armas and took everything my parents had. Leland was my father's business partner, and he lost everything too."

Sadness surged off her and tweaked my telempathy, along with a surprising amount of anger.

"But I thought you owned the mineral rights on several Frozon moons that are rich in lunarium deposits," I said.

That's what Callus Holloway had claimed a few months ago, back when he wanted me to marry Asterin in order to get his hands on all that lunarium. Of course, I had already been bonded to—and was falling for—Vesper at the time, so no romantic feelings had ever sparked between Asterin and me.

"I do own those mineral rights, along with many others," she replied. "My father put the rights in a trust for me a few months before he died, so they weren't included in the House Armas assets after his death."

More anger surged off Asterin, and power sparked in her eyes. Despite dancing with her at a Regal ball and fighting side by side with her against the Techwave, I'd never been able to figure out what kind of psion she was or exactly what abilities she had. She had helped rescue Vesper from Crownpoint, and I considered her a trusted friend, but in some ways, Asterin Armas was still a complete mystery.

"But?" I prompted, wanting to know the rest of her story.

"But lunarium is only worth something when it's out of the ground, not buried beneath hundreds of feet of ice and snow." Asterin muttered the last few words.

Asterin Armas might seem like another wealthy, privileged member of Erzton society, but in reality, she was penniless. Hers was a common story among the Regals, especially those with relatives who had made risky investments or gambled away a House's credits and resources.

"So that's why your parents want you to find a Regal husband. You need someone with a big enough fortune to finance your mining operations," I said.

"More or less. My mother and stepfather also have other reasons." Asterin grimaced, but after a few seconds, her expression smoothed out. "But at least Zane Zimmer is out of the running. My mother and stepfather were very upset about the Techwave attack at the summer solstice ball." Another grimace twisted her face. "Even though Zane saved my life that night."

Vesper fidgeted with her fork. "I've been studying the schematics for Jorge Rojillo's temperature-shielding technology, but so far, I can't see why the Techwave thinks it's so valuable."

Asterin shrugged. "I haven't had any luck either. I was hoping we could work on it together while you're here. Maybe tomorrow, at my workshop?"

Vesper's entire body perked up. "I would love that!"

A sword of guilt stabbed deep into my chest. Vesper hadn't looked that excited in weeks. The stress of being hunted by practically everyone in the galaxy had taken a much bigger toll on her than I'd realized. It had taken a toll on me too, but Vesper was the one who'd had to give up her corporation and her beloved R&D lab.

All I'd given up was my place in Regal society, which was uncomfortable at best, and being the head of the Arrows, a job I'd never wanted in the first place. And while I missed Castle Caldaren, it hadn't been a real home since my parents died.

Sometimes I wanted to ask Vesper if being a fugitive was worth giving up the life she'd fought, bled, and almost died for—if I was worth all that trouble, danger, and misery—but so far, I hadn't found the courage.

I couldn't bear to see her face or feel her pity through the bond if the answer was no.

Asterin beamed back at Vesper. "Excellent! We'll go to my workshop in the morning."

The two of them started talking about the temperature-shielding technology again, along with the Techwave cannon that Vesper wanted to fix—

A spike of anger slammed up against my telempathy, stabbing into my side like a red-hot poker. Asterin and Vesper kept chatting, not sensing the strong emotion, but I looked to the left.

Siya Collier was standing on a bridge that led into the main castle about fifty feet away. She was once again clutching her war hammer, and the lunarium head was glowing a pale green in a reflection of her psion power. A sharp, predatory grin split Siya's mouth, and she raised her hammer and twirled the weapon around and around.

Siya twirled the weapon faster and faster, and the green glow of the lunarium intensified, until it looked like she was twisting lightning around in her bare hand. Just as quickly, she stopped the twirling motion and stabbed the hammer toward me.

Better watch your step, Arrow , Siya's voice sneered in my mind. I wouldn't want you to slip off a bridge and fall to your death.

As far as threats went, it was pretty mild, so I didn't bother responding.

Siya lowered the weapon and strode away, whistling a jaunty tune. She stepped through an archway and vanished, but her anger lingered in the air, and her threats echoed in my mind.

We'd only been on Sygnustern a few hours, and we had already made a dangerous new enemy.

B y this point, the sun was setting, painting the sky in darkening shades of twilight gray and purple, and it was growing quite chilly outside, even with the warming shield. The three of us went back into the guest wing. Asterin led us to our suite, then bade us good night and disappeared into her own rooms.

Vesper stepped into our suite, and I shut and locked the door behind us.

The front part of the suite was a large sitting area with several tables and settees, along with cushioned chairs arranged in front of a stone fireplace. Flames were crackling behind the black iron grate, which featured the House Collier sigil, while thick, fuzzy blankets were draped over the backs of the chairs in case extra warmth was needed.

Just like in the main castle, all the furniture was obviously well made and extremely expensive, given the gold, silver, and colored glass accents. Still, despite the finery, I felt like a Frozon wolf that had just stepped into a trap and was about to get crushed by its sharp jaws.

Vesper went over to her duffel bag, rummaged around inside, and pulled out a device that looked like two halves of a broken tablet tied together with thick strands of solar wiring that snaked up and ended in a sharp, antenna-like point. She hit a button on the device, which started whirring, then moved through the sitting area and the attached bedroom and bathroom.

A minute later, Vesper returned to the sitting room, set the device down, and gave me a thumbs-up. "The suite is clean. No hidden cameras or listening devices."

I nodded, although the lack of spy technology didn't ease my worry. "Good. Because we need to leave. Right now. Slip out of the guest wing, get off the estate, return to the Dream World , and get off this planet."

Vesper frowned. "Why? Because Siya doesn't want us here?"

"That's one issue."

I tilted my head, and she followed me over to a permaglass wall that overlooked the same central garden we'd seen from the terrace earlier. Down below, golden hoverlights bobbed up and down in midair, illuminating the House Collier guards patrolling through the topiary trees and hedges.

I stabbed my finger at the guards. "There's the second issue. The Colliers have an incredible amount of security. The only reason you have that many guards on duty is if you're worried about an attack."

Vesper's gaze moved from one guard to the next. "You pointed out the guards when we first reached the estate, but surely Asterin would have told us if the Colliers were in some sort of trouble."

"Perhaps. Or perhaps Asterin doesn't know anything about it. Either way, we have enough enemies without getting caught up in House Collier's problems."

Vesper held her arms out wide. "Say that we leave the estate and return to the Dream World . Where do we go? Because the way I see it, we're out of options."

I ground my teeth. She wasn't wrong, which only added to my frustration.

Vesper lowered her arms. "House Collier might be in trouble, but Aldrich and Verona have promised to shelter us, and I seriously doubt Verona would break that promise to her daughter. From everything I've read about Erzton society, honor is everything to them. Once Erztonians give someone sanctuary, they are duty-bound to maintain that sanctuary, no matter what threats or repercussions they might face themselves."

"I trust other people's honor as much as I trust Callus Holloway. Which is to say, not at all. We're not safe here. You're not safe here."

"I'm not safe anywhere," Vesper snapped back. "And neither are you."

We glared at each other, and emotions crackled back and forth through the bond like lightning scorching us both. Vesper's anger. My frustration. Her determination. My worry.

Vesper blew out a tense breath, and her face softened. "But I'm safer with you, Kyr, than anywhere else in the galaxy."

For once, her saying my nickname only added to my misery, as did her unwavering faith in me. "You weren't safe yesterday when those bounty hunters cornered you, along with Esmina and Pollux. Or today at the antiques emporium when Siya and the Hammers tried to capture us."

Her eyes narrowed. "Wait. Is that why you made such a reckless charge toward the Hammer that was coming up behind me? Because you thought I didn't see him, and he was going to hurt me?"

I stiffened. "Far better for me to be injured than you."

Vesper's eyes narrowed a little more. "Really? Because it sounds like you didn't trust me to defend myself." Despite her hot, angry glare, more than a little hurt rasped through her voice. "I am not a weak link."

"I never said you were," I replied, my voice harsher than I intended. "And of course I trust you. It's just . . ."

"What?"

"I tried to warn you with my telepathy, but you didn't respond. I also couldn't . . . feel you anymore. Through the bond. It was . . . troubling."

Some of the anger trickled out of Vesper's face. "I couldn't feel you either. The same thing happened on Tropics 44. You were talking to me through the bond, but after the bounty hunters abducted me, I couldn't reach you anymore. It's like . . ."

"What?" I asked, my voice losing some of its previous heat.

"It's like you were on one side of an icy wall, and I was on the other," Vesper replied. "And no matter how hard I pounded on the wall, I couldn't break through the ice. I couldn't break through to you ."

A tense, awkward silence sprang up between us. Even though Vesper was standing right in front of me, she seemed distant and far away through the bond, as though the velvety ribbon that connected us was stretched to its breaking point.

"It's not just shelter we need," Vesper said in a soft voice. "It's help. With our bond."

We both know something is wrong with our bond. Her earlier thought whispered through my mind, and each word was like a dagger to my heart.

I hadn't wanted to admit it, but she was right. Something was wrong with our bond, and I had a sinking suspicion it had everything to do with me. If only I had found a way to kill Callus Holloway years ago, we would have had all the time in the galaxy to figure out our bond. The blame for our current predicament was mine and mine alone, and I was terrified Vesper was going to pay the ultimate price for my mistakes.

"The Colliers have had a truebond for years," Vesper continued. "You heard what they said about how our bond hasn't solidified and isn't stable. Maybe they can help us fix that. Maybe they can help us figure out how to use our respective magics and truebond abilities."

She stepped forward and grabbed my hand. "Tried and true, remember, Kyr?" A wry smile twisted her lips. "I think maybe this is the trying part. Either way, I want to figure it out. Don't you?"

Her determination rippled through the bond, making my own chest squeeze tightly in response. Even if the bond hadn't connected us, I would have done anything to keep Vesper safe.

Before I met Vesper, I had been living in the dark, like some creature trapped in a cave who never saw the sun. She had brought so much joy and wit and humor and warmth into my life in such a short time, and if anything happened to her . . . well, it would destroy me, regardless of our psionic connection.

"Very well," I said, forcing my voice to stay level and even. "We'll stay here—for now. But as soon as we figure out what's wrong with the bond and you fix the Techwave cannon, we're leaving. Once Holloway gets word that we're on Sygnustern, he'll start plotting to revoke the Colliers' protection. Holloway won't care how badly he damages relations with the Erztonians so long as he gets us in the end."

"I know," Vesper replied in a low, strained voice. "But figuring out how to fully use our bond is the only thing that's going to keep us safe from Holloway, the Techwave, and everyone else who might be targeting us."

The silver flecks in her dark blue eyes brightened, glimmering like pinprick stars, and Vesper's gaze became dreamy and unfocused, as though she was looking at something far, far away. Psion power surged off her and curled against my skin, even as the velvety ribbon of her vibrated in my mind.

"I also feel like we have to stay here," she murmured in an absent voice. "Like there's something important we have to do or see or experience before we go anywhere else."

"What do you think that is?" I asked in a soft voice, not wanting to interrupt her vision.

"I'm not sure." Vesper stared into the distance a moment longer, then shook her head. When she looked at me again, her eyes were clear. "But the only way we're going to figure it out is together."

She squeezed my fingers again, and I nodded, hoping she couldn't feel the clamminess of my skin or the anger, guilt, and dread still coursing through me.

"Together," I echoed, even as I vowed in the cold depths of my heart that I would do whatever was necessary to keep Vesper safe from Holloway, the Techwave, and all the other monsters in the galaxy.

Including myself.