Ash could see enough to understand that his friend felt deeply for Sera and she for him. The extra person took the pressure off them in a sense. There was a kind of refuge in Brandt that Sera could take from him. Ash appreciated that. That extra angle in the relationship enhanced it rather than harmed it. Helped them forge a new future. And he’d still have his best friend and his woman back again.
Brandt nodded, speaking out loud again. “My family will hear the news soon enough, I’d wager. Now that your father has sent this missive, mine will hear. He’s already on me to marry and have children. I’m not the oldest or even the second oldest, so it’s not as bad for me, but still . . .”
Brandt didn’t care, because he meant to share his future with Sera Ayers. In whatever way he could. One of them would have to marry her to give her status. He certainly wouldn’t leave her as a woman he only had sex with. He wanted to protect her, and yes, it would bind her to him as well. He didn’t have any problem admitting that to himself.
“Well, it’s a good thing I’m just an unranked concubine then, isn’t it?” Sera walked into the room, pain clear on her face. Her link hadn’t been open to them. He and Ash had been a team long enough to have it open most of the time in situations like this, but it was new for her. Damn.
The bitterness in her voice cut through the casual air she tried to give off. She waved them away. “Oh, tell your father not to worry! You’ll find yourself a wife. Gods know that you’re both handsome, intelligent and rich—qualities women do so adore. It’s not as if we’re setting up house, for goodness’ sake! Now, we had some dinner to attend to?”
Brandt got up and stalked to her. “Sela.” His voice held a warning. He would not brook her holding herself away from him for whatever happened between her and Ash. “Don’t be jealous, sweet.” He teased, but he looked deep into her eyes and shook his head. Hard. Her gaze slid away, and she kept her link closed. He could push though it, but he knew she’d hate that invasion.
When she wouldn’t meet his eyes, he took her chin in his hand and moved her head. Ash came up behind him and put his arms around them both. “Freka, don’t pout; you’re too lovely to mar that face. I’m a bad boy to make you look so forlorn. I must make it up to you.”
“Don’t be silly. Darlings, a woman of my status knows several things. First among them is that she must accentuate her talents to hold on to that status as long as she can. I did not imagine you would marry me. That would be silly. Now, come on, get rid of those long faces! Truly, I know what my role is; neither of you has anything to worry over. When my time is up, it’s up.” She said it in her best Sela purr, and it made him angry. She’d used it to hit at them because they’d hurt her.
Brandt narrowed his eyes at her, hampered by his inability to speak freely.
“I think it’s rather late for a walking tour, though. Tomorrow perhaps I’ll find some of the other concubines and go exploring a bit. But I will expire of starvation if you two do not feed me soon. I cannot live on your bodies alone.”
She tried to move away, but Ash pulled her tight against him and spoke against her ear. Her hair blocked his face from view. “Open up, Sela.”
She sighed, slumping a bit, and opened to them.
“You didn’t hear the whole conversation, Freka. Don’t think the worst of me. I’m not walking away; I don’t want to. Brandt isn’t walking away. You’re not just anything to either of us.” His voice was so low, even through the link, laced with so much emotion Brandt felt it as much as he heard it.
Ash kissed down her neck and released her, letting her get away with not replying for the time being. “Before you lure me back into bed, Freka, we have dinner plans. Brandt accepted an invitation, and you look perfect. Shall we go then?” He held out his arm, and she put her hand on it.
Brandt saw her hesitation and kicked himself. She’d obviously misread what was being said, and it only played against her experience. They’d have to walk carefully and prove to her that she was first with them, regardless of Family issues.
Her link was still open, at least. “You need to keep the link open tonight. If something happens, you’ll need instant contact.”
She nodded at him and looked back to Ash. “Where are you two dragging me off to then? Somewhere nearby, I hope?”
“Tobin Fisk’s home. He’s one of Nondal’s leaders. A close friend of my Family’s.” Ash raised a brow for a moment, and Sera understood.
“Oh, let me go and get my bag, I’ve forgotten it in the bedroom.” She needed to be sure she had some of her tools in her bag, tools that looked quite innocuous. A small signal jammer made to look like a brooch and a pretty hair comb that had a data miner in it.
The men might be searched for such items but they’d leave her alone because she was a woman. That gave her satisfaction. Using their own stupid attitudes about women against them held a lovely irony.
Putting her hair back with the comb holding it in place, she tried not to think about the conversation she’d overheard between Brandt and Ash. She’d been stupid to let herself even imagine a future with them. They were important men, and of course they’d need to marry according to status. No matter what Ash said, she, more than most, understood the realities of the situation.
So she had to hold herself back, take refuge in Sela, because she could not afford to let herself care for these men knowing that they’d still be on a team when they both had wives. There was no way she’d be a mistress or concubine while anyone else held the honored title of wife.
She brushed down the front of the burgundy gown, smiled at her reflection and hoped like hell she didn’t look as bitter and fake as she felt.
Chapter 12
“ I see the room with the network. I’ll need you to just keep people’s attention for a bit. I’m going to let this gentleman show me his technology and get that miner into play,” Sera sent over the link.
“I just love your home.” She put her hand on the arm of the man who’d ogled her breasts all evening long. She wanted in that room, and he was her ticket.
“Would you like a tour?” He placed a hand over hers on his arm.
It was an obvious enough game. He’d flirt, she’d flirt. He’d try it on, not seriously enough he couldn’t talk his way out of it should he be discovered by her men. But some concubines would take him up on the offer for the thrill and possible presents. His money was the only thing he had going for him. He lacked the manners to stare at her discreetly, so she didn’t feel too very bad about turning that around on him and using it to her advantage.
“Oh absolutely.” She fluttered her lashes and tried to appear helpless. Certainly not the kind of woman who’d maneuver him into that data room and mine his network for any information she could use to toss him to the Federation authorities if he was helping the Imperialists.
She pretended to be fascinated as he walked her through the house, pointing out the art on the walls. She also pretended not to be annoyed at the women who kept throwing themselves at Ash and Brandt the moment she got three steps away.
They weren’t hers, anyway. She had to keep remembering that.
“Oh, what’s that?” She turned to the room with the electronics. “It seems so dark and isolated.” Blech. The last thing she wanted was to be in the dark with this man, but it would serve her purposes, and she’d take an extra hot bath when she got back to their cottage.
“Ah, come in and see, Sela. I’m sure you’ve seen more modern gadgetry back near the Center and all, but I’m quite proud of this.”
He led her into the room, and she reached into her hair to let it fall, as he backed her against what was conveniently the data hub.
One-handed, she managed to place the data miner and set it to copy as many files as it could grab. He ground his erection into her thigh as he babbled on about the specs. Specs he had at best a weak grasp on.
“Can you get away from your escorts for a while?” he asked her, his mouth very close to her neck.
She swallowed her revulsion as she grabbed the miner and palmed it.
“I don’t think so. I do appreciate the invitation to what I’m sure would be a satisfying interlude. But my men are quite perceptive, and I’m quite happy where I am.” She brushed past him on the way out.
Ash watched Sera out of the corner of his eye as she glided back into the room. He was relieved she’d been able to get out of that network room without any problems. He and Brandt had hoped to get near that room themselves, but she was far better suited for it. Clever. Still, an unsettled feeling had remained around her.
Outwardly, there was no real change in her behavior. But since they’d left the cottage earlier, he’d sensed a careful drawing away just beneath the surface. It made his skin itch. He needed her to know he was true. Needed her to believe he’d risk anything to be with her. Especially now that she’d allowed him back into her life.
She charmed the men at the dinner party carefully and stayed well within her role. The party was absent wives. They’d be off somewhere safe from the likes of mistresses and concubines. The women in attendance bore the same coquettish manner. Sera stood out like a golden light. The others’ eyes held a calculating gleam. He understood it. He knew it was a matter of survival for them to keep from those lower levels. At the same time, he was glad Sera had other choices.