Stealing the Dragon’s Heart by Kiersten Fay
20
Phase 5
Latherial Space Station
Latherial was a large space station that hovered along the edge of an asteroid cluster. It was owned and operated by an elegant race of people called Angilius. With their delicate glowing skin and graceful misty movements, one could almost believe they weren’t entirely created from solid material, but rather some kind of thick vapor. It was rumored they could travel dimensions at a whim. Aidan was skeptical, though he’d seen proof that some races could perform pretty incredible feats.
When not harboring the contestants of Phase Nine, Latherial was a pampered resort for the wealthy. Splendor and luxury encompassed every inch of the station, brightly lit and decorated in soft, pale, pleasing colors rather than the harsh metals and grungy atmosphere Aidan was used to. His dingy captain’s boots appeared out of place on the marbled tile floor. Pale pink, peach, and white drapes braced entryways and dangled overhead.
It chafed that Onnika’s gorgeous countenance blended right in, making her appear completely at home here with her flowing white hair and radiant skin.
She gazed around in wonder. “Exquisite.”
Caryn, too, blended in as she gaped at the beauty of their surroundings.
“Yes,” Aidan agreed, his stomach, for some reason, twisting into knots. “Looks like the perfect place to leave you both.”
Onnika shot him an indignant glare.
He pretended not to notice. “But don’t get comfy just yet. You still owe me six vouchers.” What would he do when Onnika inevitably failed at her task? The pressure in his gut sharpened.
“This way.” Zeek directed everyone to a large room filled with racers and spectators alike. The area appeared to be a massive arena that had been converted to accommodate the many vendors and tournaments.
“Vin,” Aidan began, “You’re with me. We need to find a replacement for the shield generator. The rest of you know what to do, so get to it.” He pointed to a nearby tap room called Luscious Vibes. “We’ll all meet there when we’re finished.”
As the others headed off to scout the tournaments, Onnika grabbed Caryn by the elbow. “Be careful. Stick close to Lear or Ash and keep your eyes open.”
Gravely, Caryn nodded and then scurried after them.
Having overheard her directive, Vin and Aidan shared a shadowy look.
“What was that about?” Aidan asked.
Dryly, she replied, “People are after us. By now they likely know we’re in this race. They might already be here. Not that you’ll believe me.”
“Oh, I can believe someone’s after you. Whether or not it’s the authorities is another question.”
“Trust me, these guys are so far from any kind of sanctioned authority. But don’t worry, I won’t bother you with the details.” Head high, she headed in the direction of the market.
Aidan followed. “Then shouldn’t you be focused on your quota to get us out of here that much faster? Where is it you’re going?”
Vin fell in step beside them.
“Right now, I’m better off helping you find a proper shield generator,” she supplied. “The last thing we need is to get blown up the next time someone sends a couple of shots our way.”
“You sound pretty confident that I’ll let you stay on the ship.”
“Like you said, you’re not a total ass. You really think it’s in you to leave two innocent, helpless girls in need—”
“Innocent?”
“—and I don’t mean like you did to me in the rec room when I was straddling your lap.”
Vin coughed into his fist and pretended to admire a booth of jeweled pendants.
Aidan felt a muscle tick in his jaw. “What makes you think you can help us acquire a quality shield generator? I suppose now you’ll tell me you’re an expert in mechanics.”
“I’m an expert in people.” She clapped Vin on the shoulder. “I’ll leave the mechanics to this guy.”
“I think we’ll do just fine on our own,” Aidan retorted.
She shrugged one delicate shoulder. “I’ll just stick around and make sure you don’t get grifted again. Pretend I’m not even here.”
As if he could be anywhere in her vicinity and not be acutely aware of her on a cellular level. He couldn’t stop recalling how delicious it had felt to have her pressed so firmly against him.
“A little advice for you, baby,” she taunted. “It takes a thief to recognize a thief. Or would you rather risk disaster again?” When he made no reply, she added. “I didn’t think so.”
Vin cut in with a diplomatic tone. “So you think you can tell if someone’s trying to rip us off?”
“Without question.”
Aidan snorted. “Ridiculous.”
“You need proof?” She paused and glanced around. Then, catching sight of something, she lowered her voice and jutted her chin to the left. “Okay, look, but don’t look—”
“How do you expect us to accomplish that?” Aidan huffed.
“Just don’t be obvious about it.”
The two men glanced in the direction she indicated.
“You see that man in the expensive-looking tailored suit and perfectly combed hair?”
They nodded.
“Ta-da! He’s a thief.”
Vin scoffed. “Bullshit. That’s no thief.”
“Why, because he looks like a successful middle-aged businessman? What do thieves look like, then?”
Vin scratched the back of his neck. “Well—”
She turned to face him. “Like any good thief, pickpockets try to appear bland and inconspicuous and strike when no one is paying attention. If you didn’t know me, Vin, would you think I could swipe your wallet without you realizing?” With a haughty smile, she lifted her right hand…producing his wallet.
“Hey!” Vin snatched it from her and shoved it back into his pocket. “When did you lift that?”
She gave a mysterious smile and continued, “Aidan didn’t, when we first met. He was too busy undressing me with his eyes.”
There went that muscle again. Aidan clenched his fists. “I was not—”
Onnika waved his words away. “Don’t worry, Aidan, I won’t tell anyone how into me you are.”
Vin covered his smile with his fist. When Aidan shot him a dangerous glance, he put his hands up. “What, she’s funny.”
Onnika went on, unconcerned by Aidan’s building rage. “A thief that’s easy to spot isn’t a thief for long. They’re either murdered or convicted. Great thieves blend in and disappear into a crowd like this.” She snapped her fingers.
Which was exactly what she had done when she’d nicked credits. He had to concede there was a certain amount of impressiveness in that. “Okay,” Aidan said. “So what makes you so sure he’s a thief?”
“Just watch.” She turned so that her back was to the man in question, making it look as though they were all simply conversing rather than spying. “He’s found his mark, and he’s about to make his move.”
As she spoke, the well-dressed man crossed to the opposite side of the market, appearing to accidentally bump into a pedestrian. Aidan only caught the theft because he was looking for it. Amazingly, the pedestrian hadn’t felt the man digging around his pocket.
Suddenly Aidan was outraged, picturing Onnika’s sweet, innocent smile just before she’d ganked his stash. Filled with riotous indignation, he rushed forward and snatched the bloody thief by the throat with one hand and the stolen wallet with the other. “I see you do that again and you’re dead, got it?”
Eyes wide in shock, the thief nodded, and the second he was free, he dashed away.
When Aidan noticed Onnika rolling her eyes at him, he handed her the wallet. She gaped with confusion until he told her, “Why don’t you return this to that poor fellow.”
“With pleasure.” Grinning in a way that made him suddenly nervous, she took the wallet from him and hurried off.
A little mystified by her eager reaction, he called after her, “No tricks.”
Then he watched as she lightly tapped the man on the shoulder. He turned, and Aidan recognized the delighted look on his face. Instant attraction.
His mood darkened further.
The man’s smile grew wider when she handed him the wallet, but he barely spared it a glance as he slipped it back into the same pocket it had just been fished from. The ignorant fellow must have paid her a compliment then, because she blushed and flipped her hair. Then the man retrieved something from his other pocket and handed it to her. She accepted it, but before she could pull her hand back, the man grabbed it and brought it to his lips, placing a tender kiss on her knuckles. The coy curl to her lips and flirtatious giggle set off nuclear explosions in Aidan’s brain. He was halfway to them before he realized he’d moved.
Grabbing her by the arm, he growled, “Come on, we have work to do.”
“Bye now,” she called back to the fool as Aidan dragged her away. Trailing them, Vin smartly said nothing.
“What did he give you?” Aidan snapped, tugging her along.
With her free arm, she held up two chips. “He rewarded me for my good deed.”
“You’re unbelievable.” He plucked the chips from her grasp and shoved them in his pocket.
“Hey!”
“Technically, it was my good deed. You would have just run off with his wallet.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t.”
“Only because you know I wouldn’t allow it. Do you even realize when you’re manipulating people, or is it just part of your essential makeup?”
“I suppose I’m a work in progress, but hey, you can teach me to be a better person. And I can teach you to get that stick out of your ass.”
He whirled a blazing glare on her. Her chin lifted stubbornly, meeting his gaze head on.
“Oh, look, a sale.” Vin wandered away.
“What is your problem?” she hissed. “I did what you asked, and you’re still not happy with me.”
“I didn’t ask you to go flirt with the guy.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Is that…are you jealous?”
He blinked. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“You can’t reject me one minute and then get angry at me the next when I simply speak to another male.”
“I’m not jealous.”
“Then why are you still gripping my arm like I’m your damn property?”
He hadn’t realized he was still holding onto her. Releasing her, he took a step back, and she rubbed the spot where his hand had been.
“Look, I’m sorry,” he muttered, strangely feeling as though she could read his every thought even before they popped into his head. He sighed. “Could you just do me a favor? Try to behave, and don’t steal anything while we’re here.”
She flipped a chip in the air and caught it in her fist. “Sure thing. Starting now.”
She didn’t…He checked his pocket.
Empty.