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The note resonated loud and clear. It was as pure as the undisturbed Vaal ice.
He played again, clumsily retracing a melody that came from one of the pieces Noali so often played.
I… did that?
All of a sudden, he felt a strange kind of yearning.
For he wanted to do more with this thing. He wanted to make sounds with it. He wanted tocreatesomething.
For one such as him, who had only known bloodshed and violence for so much of his cursed existence…
Was such a thing even possible?
He didn’t have the ability or the training. If he were ever to attempt to learn, he’d need teaching.
Fortunately for him, his mate was amaster.
He became aware of Arin’s quiet scrutiny; of the technician, Caity, standing behind them, her stare so intense it could burn holes into his back. He suspected she had a little of the Talent, too; he could sense these things in people. Perhaps being involved with music predisposed humans to the trait.
On a small bench next to the piano was an open case of tools filled with various metal implements; pincers, metal rods, measuring things, strips of fabric and the like.
Well-worn and maintained tools.
He sensed no malice here.
She was an artisan. Dedicated to her craft, and protective of her works—thesepianos.And she wasn’t desperate to make a sale. Credits weren’t everything to her. In this small workshop in a back alley of one of the busiest metropolises on Earth, he felt no threat; no danger.
That was one of the main reasons he’d wanted to personally come down and view the specimens. He wanted to make sure it was safe before bringing his precious mate here.
Not just from physical threat—with her growing abilities, Noa could handle herself. Arin could, too. He was well aware that Rykal’s mate carried a modified plasma weapon underneath her dark jacket, and she knew how to use it, too.
No, he just wanted to ensure thisCaitywas someone they could work with. After all, a highly specialized instrument onboard a Kordolian spacecraft would need maintenance, and he wanted only the very best service for Noa.
Everything had to be impeccable. He had the means and intention to achieve that.
This Caity Silvester… according to her credentials, she was one of the best on Earth. But he was very well aware that in her past life, Noa had known this woman in some capacity.
He turned to face her. “Come here,” he commanded.
She stiffened, bristling with irritation.
Arin opened her mouth to say something, but he held up his hand.Wait.
Ashrael dropped his barriers just a little and projected his intent. Over time, he’d learned that humans and Kordolians alike subconsciously responded to his aura. He could project dire menace or neutrality, in turn, affecting their reactions. It all depended on the situation.
Right now, he projected command. He was stern and insistent. This humanwoulddo his bidding.
An uneasy look crossed Caity’s features as she stepped forward. “Do you have any questions about any of these instruments?”
Ashrael stared at her. She met his gaze without hesitation, slightly intimidated but not backing down.
“If I purchase one of these instruments from you, are you willing to travel considerable distances in order to carry out maintenance?”
Caity snorted. “I do that all the time. My clients aren’t exactly going to mail the pianos back to me for service. I’ll travel. If it’s outside of Europe however, it’ll be at your expense.”
“That won’t be an issue,” Ash said coolly. “But I require strict confidence. Can you adhere to that?”
She lifted her chin, almost indignant. “I do work for some incredibly wealthy and connected people. I understand the importance of confidentiality. To be quite honest, I don’t care who your client is, as long as they respect and take care of their instruments.”
