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“May we join you?”

I looked up to find Nero standing beside our table. And the mystery soldier was with him.

“Join us? Hmm, I don’t know.” I pretended I had to consider his request. “I think I might be mad at you for poaching my people.”

“Elaborate,” Nero said, so serious.

“Alec just told me that you recruited him into the Vanguard.”

Nero didn’t lose a beat. It was almost like he’d anticipated this conversation and had already prepared his response.

“The Vanguard needs excellent soldiers with a very particular skillset,” he told me. “Your evaluations of Captain Morrows’s performance indicate he would be the perfect fit. Or are you questioning your own reports?”

I met his stare for a long while, then declared, “Well-played, Windstriker.”

“Naturally,” he replied. “I always play to win.”

We continued to stare at each other.

Ivy cleared her throat. “Uh, guys, let’s just leave them to it.”

I heard her, Alec, and Drake grab their chairs and trays and move to the table across the aisle.

“So?” Nero said.

“So?” I replied, a smile twisting my lips.

“May we join you?” he asked.

“We seem to be short a chair.” I indicated the big, empty gap at our table. “But, ok, I guess you can join me, butonlyif I get to sit on your lap.”

“That will not be necessary,” Nero told me, his eyes twinkling, but still not blinking.

He snapped his fingers, and a new chair appeared next to mine.

“Spoilsport,” I grumbled as he sat down next to me.

His companion took the seat on his other side.

“So, General,” I said in my serious voice. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”

“Of course,” Nero said, dipping his head. “Li, you’ve heard of my wife, Leda Pandora.”

“Just a few rumors here and there,” the soldier chuckled.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “What kinds of rumors?”

“Don’t answer that,” Nero told him, then turned to me. “Leda, this is Major Aurelius Heavensworn.”

I blinked. “TheMajor Heavensworn.”

“What exactly have you told her about me?” Major Heavensworn asked Nero.

“Nothing that you didn’t do,” Nero replied, patting him on the back.

Major Heavensworn sighed.

“You two seem awfully friendly,” I observed.