The Eldritch Conspiracy (BS 5) by Adams Cat

Author:Adams, Cat [Adams, Cat]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: General Fiction Speculative Fiction
ISBN: 9780765328748
Publisher: Tor
Published: 2012-12-31T23:00:00+00:00

20

Adriana’s answer (to my secret relief) was no. She already had plans with her gal pals from Serenity during that time slot. Even though they were no longer in the wedding party, they were her best friends, and she wanted some time with them before she moved to the other side of the planet. And, as she pointed out, there was no other room in the schedule, and security would be a nightmare. She thanked me for the thought, but insisted that it just wasn’t workable. She added that her friends had asked her to invite me to come along. I told her I’d be happy to, but as her security. She didn’t argue, just said, “I’ll tell them you’re coming.”

I didn’t dance out of the office after that call, but I wanted to. I’d have done my duty by Adriana the same way I would for Dawna and Emma when the time came. But Dawna and Emma, I know. I know who to invite, and that if I didn’t have it at La Cocina my friends would be seriously disappointed, as would Barbara.

So with a smile and a clear conscience I told Dawna, Baker, and Griffiths that the princess had declined. I promised Dawna I’d keep in touch by phone and e-mail over the next few days, and with quiet delight, grabbed my things and headed off to the islands.

* * *

The Isle of Serenity is actually the largest of a chain of small islands in the Pacific between the mainland and Hawaii. For centuries the Pacific branch of sirens have made it their home and, until recently, kept it and themselves shut off from the rest of the world. The islands hadn’t appeared on maps. They weren’t on flight paths. Magic had been used to keep people the sirens didn’t want to see at bay.

That was all changing, and changing rapidly under my aunt’s new “inclusion” rules, with mixed results. East Island has the royal compound, the queen’s private docks, and the nature preserve. West Island is as modern as you could want, with a couple of actual cities and the international airport. I’d been worried that there’d be trouble since I was bringing in enough weapons to arm a developing nation. Although Baker and Griffiths had assured me that my permits, my rank, and the direct orders of the queen herself would smooth the way, I was fretting.

Turned out I shouldn’t have worried. Adriana had decided to meet the plane, with Queen Chiyoko at her side, and with all the pomp and circumstance that a real princess would receive. It was so weird. But I’d wager it would be best not to get too used to it, because once the wedding was over, things would get back to normal with startling speed. The attention span of the public in general and the press in particular is exceptionally short.

What a relief that would be. Until then, however, the spotlight was on the sirens, particularly their royalty, including me. I knew full well that my appearance was a direct reflection on Adriana.

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