It was then he sensed he wasn’t alone.
He turned and scanned the room. Saw nothing out of the ordinary.
“Nera,” he said.
There was a shimmer to Nik’s left and Nera’s form appeared. Her helmet retracted. She eyed the room before her nebula gaze came back to him. “I was worried I was becoming predictable, but it seems you’re the only one I have to worry about guessing my moves.”
Maybe it was because he’d watched her for so long, and wondered what drove her. But he was sure that for every little thing he worked out about Nera Darc, she would always continually surprise him. “You make an entrance. As always.”
“I wouldn’t want to disappoint you.”
“Where’s my idol?”
She raised one slim brow. “You mean the idol I sold? Gone.” She wandered along one bookshelf, studying the volumes. “So, the lure of Earth was too strong for you to resist?”
“No. It wasn’t the main reason I came.”
She turned. “Oh? And what was that reason?”
The time for games was over. “You. I came because of you.”
Nera went very, very still. Then she leaned against the wall. “That’s a foolish reason.”
“I don’t think so.” He took a step closer to her. “I decided it was time to explore what’s between us.”
“What’s between us?” She made a scoffing noise. “Rivalry. Oh, and the fact that I routinely beat up you and your brothers.”
He took another deliberate step toward her, and saw her tense. “We both know that there’s more than that.”
“You’re deluding yourself.” She pushed away from him and crossed the room.
“Then why are you shying away from me?”
She spun back, her eyes sparking…but just then, the library doors opened and two men strode in.
The moment broken, Nik watched her slide back into the shadows at the edge of the room. Reluctantly, he turned his attention to the newcomers. He recognized them both immediately.
Jonas Solomon was tall, with a lean, muscular build, blond hair, and a face Nik was sure the ladies loved. He was twenty-four years old, and making a name for himself as a successful treasure hunter. He gave Nik a nod.
Nik nodded back before turning to look at the other man. He barely controlled a grimace. Alexei Gunn was mean, and just about Solomon’s opposite in every way. Gunn was known for careless cruelty, and for trailing other treasure hunters, killing them, and stealing their finds. He had a short, stocky build and a ragged scar over his left eye socket and cheek. The eye was clearly an implant and glowed neon green. The man was a snake, and Nik wouldn’t trust Gunn to have his back on a hunt…ever.
“Phoenix,” Gunn grunted. “Didn’t think you liked getting your soft hands dirty. Thought you left that to your brother.”
“Gunn.” Nik ignored the rest of the man’s words.
“Never thought I’d see the day Niklas Phoenix steps out alone without his brothers to hold his hands.”
Nik took a deep breath. Gunn was scum. It wouldn’t pay to engage him. “How did you like seeing that empty spot on your shelf where that Kavalian Vase should have been?”
Gunn’s face turned red.
“And that other spot where you last saw that Terran sword you stole?”
Gunn made a spluttering sound. “It was you! You and your damn brothers who stole those from me.”
“Gentlemen,” Dr. Luma-Symthe bustled in. “Please, take a seat.”
Galen followed her in and stayed by the door. He crossed his arms over his chest.
