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“Stay down.” Storm bounced to his feet in one smooth move and smacked the com on his wrist. “Armed assistance to Botanical Enclave Four. Fatal attack attempted on Alana Watson….” Storm’s voice trailed off as he ran after the shooter. Ice covered Alana’s body with his own and tried to see who Storm ran after, but more soldiers swarmed the area so quickly, it was impossible to see who or what was happening.
“It’s clear,” someone shouted in their direction, so Ice helped Alana to her feet. He cupped her face and searched her eyes. “Are you hurt?”
Alana shook her head. “I’m fine.”
Ice stared at her, unconvinced.
“This isn’t the part where a woman says she’s fine but she’s not okay, like in the relationship thing you read. Different scenario. I’m really okay.”
He nodded. “I’m glad.”
They hurried to where the crowd had gathered. Storm, his fist twisted in a man’s tunic, turned to them. “Recognize him?” he asked Ice.
The man’s wrists were already bound behind him, and the side of his face was scraped, a thin line of blood running from his cheekbone to his jaw. Ice couldn’t name him, but he was sure he’d seen the man speaking to the prime minister once before, long ago.
Before Ice realized what he was doing, he lunged at the would-be assassin and struck him across the face with his closed fist. He wanted to tear the man’s head from his shoulders because he’d dared to hurt Alana.
“Ice!” Storm pulled the man away from him and glared.
Ice felt no need to apologize. He wished Storm would let him do worse. The rage inside him had only been quelled a little. “The prime minister should be able to identify him,” Ice said.
Storm nodded. “I thought the same. We’ll question him with the emperor present and get what information we can.”
A woman wearing a long, silver cape approached them so gracefully and quickly it was as if she was gliding above the ground instead of walking. She headed for Alana, but Ice took Alana’s hand and pulled her behind him. Storm noticed, and stood between them and the woman, who stopped a few feet from them.
“I’m here on behalf of the empress.”
Storm didn’t move. He shoved the man toward the half-circle of soldiers. “Take him to the emperor and wait for me.” When the soldiers had gone, Storm stepped aside, but just barely. Ice wasn’t going to let a potential threat get close to Alana, so he stood his ground.
“The empress wished for me to give this to Alana Watson.” She held up a message pod and turned it so Ice could see what it was. “I am Moonstone Pond, attaché to the empress. You may verify this if you wish. I’ll wait.”
Ice didn’t need to verify it. He knew of her. But Storm took the pod and examined it carefully before handing it to Ice.
Moonstone clicked her tongue. “The message is meant for Alana Watson. I must be sure she receives it.”
Ice stepped aside and placed the pod in Alana’s palm, then tapped the top. The reedy voice of the Dowager Empress rose from it. “Please meet with me as soon as possible, Alana Watson. Come to the palace, and this pod will guide you to my location. Moonstone, if you’re hearing this, you’re dismissed with my thanks.”
Moonstone nodded at them and left as quickly as she’d come.
“I’m coming with you,” Storm said. “I’ll follow at a distance where I can see any potential threats more easily.”
He wouldn’t get any argument from Ice. Alana had to be protected, and not just because their survival depended on her. Ice couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to her…for personal reasons.
“What do you think she wants?” Alana asked. Ice felt a strange sense of pride at how steady she seemed. An attempt had just been made on her life, and she was as curious and quick as she’d always been.
Ice and Storm exchanged a look. If it was a simple meeting, she could have summoned Alana to the palace without the need for her attaché to deliver a pod. A simple escort would do. The promise of the pod guiding Alana meant the empress wasn’t going to be where one might expect.
“I’m not sure, but you’re not going alone.” Ice took Alana’s hand and turned them in the direction of the Imperial palace.
Chapter Fourteen
“Why do you think the prime minister would sabotage the ship or try to have me killed?” Alana clung to Ice’s hand as he led her into the pal
ace. His frown had only grown deeper since they were attacked. Ice’s hands had been so gentle on her face as he’d asked if she was all right. And his relief had been palpable. But he still appeared tense and maybe even angry at what happened. His hand held hers fast, and Alana was grateful for it.
Ice had stressed repeatedly that all his hopes for Crimean survival were pinned on Alana. What possible reason could the prime minister have for wanting the mission to fail? Why would he want Crimeans to die out? It didn’t make any sense. “Doesn’t he want the population to grow?”
“He has always believed in Arcana. Some share his view that Arcana simply needed to be fixed, not destroyed. I think the idea that people would start falling in love again and feeling strong emotions goes against what he sees as the best course for the people of Crimea.”
