Ranse by Starla Night

Author:Starla Night [Night, Starla]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wendy Lynn Clark Publishing

Twenty-One

Allie

Ranse stares at the captain’s picture like he’s just had his heart ripped out. His jaw works. He looks like he’s going to throw something or cry.

This room suddenly seems very small.

I find my voice. “There’s no note. It’s just a blank line with the letter E.”

“My brother added her to the archive.”

I’ve watched her since the emergency. She has access to everything. She could murder anyone at any time. “Is Zai really missing?”

He stands abruptly, leaving her image up on the screen, and stalks out. “I’ll call him myself.”

I follow. “You didn’t close your screen. She could see it.”

“I’m not afraid of that.” His tone sounds like he would welcome it, actually.

“Where are we going?”

“I’m taking your suggestion.” He strides through the carved halls previously blocked by soldiers. His passing causes a ripple. Orunfax might control key people elsewhere, but the palace staff appear awed by him. Of course, looks can be deceiving. “You’re going back to the nightclub.”

My chest tightens. “Just me?”

“I can defeat Ishula in a fight. Probably. She always pulls her punches. Even she can’t turn her blades on an emperor. But on a lesser?” He nails me with a hard, furious glance.

I get it. I squeeze his bulging forearm. “What’s your plan?”

“She’ll have the secret exits blockaded, so the best way out is as an ambassador.” He stops outside an antechamber and pulls me into his arms. “You’re going to walk out the front door.”

I curl my hand around the back of his neck. “I’ll call as soon as I get back to the nightclub.”

“Use my private line. Takoba can show you. Call me every shift. Every cleg.”

“I promise.” Is this my last view of him? The creases in his face are still smeared with black marks and burns, his heart broken and reforged, a lone warrior standing in his fallen kingdom. I press my lips to his cheek. “I wish I had blades.”

“Me too.” He holds me tight, then releases me to a staff member who’s materialized, wide-eyed, to wait on us. “Return the Humana ambassador to my nightclub.”

“Yes, Emperor.” The staff member turns on me, stiff with correctness, and gestures to the milling chamber. “This way.”

I skirt the exhausted ambassadors. The Vanadisan ambassador, Shuvexin, holds his head in his hands, eyes closed, near the front. I pause at the exit for one last look at the palace interior.

Ranse is watching me from beyond the shadowed gray doorway.

Erion told him to put his valuables as far away from him as possible.

I don’t want to leave.

But let’s be real.

What good can I do here?

I don’t have blades or gun hands or the ability to spit bullets. I can share my numeracy and unique views from afar.

So I get sending me away, and I agree with it, but in my heart, it still feels wrong.

That’s because love makes us stupid.

And I’m not stupid.

I cross the threshold, and Ranse is cut off from my sight.

That’s weird. Unsettling.

This small antechamber dumps into the main entry tunnel. Overhead are the familiar lines of teeth, and the light—well, viewscreen light—shines through from outside.

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