Page 54

I was taking notes, trying to be professional, when Chloe's expression shifted. She leaned back in her chair and studied me with the kind of intensity that made me want to squirm.

"Okay, what's going on with you?" she asked.

"Nothing," I said too quickly. "I'm fine. Just tired."

"You're not fine. You've been distracted all morning, and you keep smiling at nothing." She paused, her gray-green eyes narrowing. "Oh my God. Did something happen?"

Heat flooded my cheeks. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Leila."

"Chloe."

She crossed her arms, waiting. The silence stretched between us like a rubber band about to snap.

"Things are just... better," I said carefully. "Between me and Kavan. We're getting along better now. That's all."

"Getting along better." Chloe's tone was flat, disbelieving.

"Yes. We had some good conversations. Cleared the air. The working relationship is much more... productive now." I focused intently on my tablet, scrolling through notes I wasn't actually reading.

"Uh-huh. And this improved working relationship is why you keep grinning like a lovesick teenager?"

Damn it.

"I am not," I protested weakly.

"Leila." Chloe's voice softened. "Come on. It's me."

"Okay, fine," I said, my shoulders sagging. "We're... getting along better. Really well. Too well, probably."

"You slept with him."

I opened my mouth to deny it, then closed it again. There was no point lying to Chloe. She'd known me all of six months, but she had an uncanny ability to read people.

"It was only one night," I said finally, which was technically true even if it felt like a massive understatement. I didn't mention the other times when we'd done everything but sleeping. "It doesn't mean anything."

"It means something if you're sitting there looking like you've been struck by lightning." Chloe leaned forward. "Leila, you're only there for a couple more weeks. Are you sure this is a good idea?"

I wanted to tell her that I'd stopped thinking about what was a good idea the moment Kavan took me flying. That I'd stopped caring about the mission parameters or the political implications or any of the hundred reasons why getting involved with the Drakhoni king was a terrible idea.

Instead, I lied, "It's just attraction. Physical chemistry. I'm scratching an itch, that's all. It won't compromise my ability to do the job."

Chloe's expression shifted into something that looked suspiciously like amusement. "Right. Because that's never happened before."

"What's never happened before?"

"A spy falling for someone while on a mission." She settled back in her chair, clearly enjoying herself. "You won't be the first, Leila. Probably won't be the last either."

"I'm not falling for him," I said, which sounded like complete bullshit even to my own ears. "I'm just saying that what's happening between us is separate from the work. I can compartmentalize."

Chloe's smile widened, but she didn't push. She didn't have to. We both knew I was trying to convince myself more than her.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of video calls and logistics planning. By the time I finally made it back to my quarters, the sun was starting to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and gold that reminded me of Kavan's eyes. Everything reminded me of Kavan's lately, which was probably a problem.

I was changing out of my work clothes when Binwee appeared in my doorway, her blue skin glowing in the fading light.

"We need to talk," she said without preamble.