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“Just stating the facts, ‘Dor. So you might want to think aboutthat,before you and your pals start talking smack about the head honcho around here.”

Another surprised laugh burst out of the Adhipan leader.

I fought back my own smile.

“Jerks. You’re all a bunch of jerks.”

“Undoubtedly, that’s true,” Balidor grinned. “Still, I will do my best torestrainmyself, as you say. Out of respect for my beloved intermediaries. I simply ask that you and your husband recognize I am responsible for no one’s tongue but my own. Chandre is likely too traumatized by what she saw to speak of it any time soon. But you must, at least, be aware that Jorag won’t be able to control himself.”

“Tell him he’d better,” I retorted. “Or he might just find himself cleaning out the animal pens for a few months, just so I can keep him away from Revik.” When Balidor burst out in another laugh, I added, “And tell Pagoj I’m telling Neela, if he backs up Jorag’s story. You’ve got to know I’ll deny everything. I’ll call them traitors to the race, if I have to.”

“Is it a security issue, then?” Balidor queried, deadpan. “Perhaps I should inform Declan, since Wreg is currently indisposed?”

Fighting a smile for real that time, I only clicked at him.

“Whatever,” I said. “Six o’clock? To be on the safe side?”

“That is most suitable for me, Esteemed Bridge. I will arrange for dinner. On the upper deck, if that suits you. Assuming the weather holds.”

“Dinner, huh? Now I’m definitely telling Revik.”

Balidor chuckled.

Hearing him say something to Jorag then, or maybe Chandre, I switched off the earpiece before I pulled it off, tossing it down on the white sheet near my leg.

Well, that was that.

I wondered how fast the story would get back to Revik.

Remembering he was still out there, sharing a construct with the rest of them, I guessed pretty damned fast indeed.

Chapter22

Not Kidding

Isat cross-legged on the bed about twenty minutes later, going through the infiltration team’s notes on Dubai with the headset Revik left me. I must have been pretty absorbed, because I totally missed the ping from security.

I heard the door open.

Scrambling to yank the sheet back around me, I got my feet and legs caught in the material. I still struggled to pull the sheet out from under my butt when Revik walked in.

He gripped a food tray in one hand.

His clear eyes narrowed when he saw me.

Turning his head, he motioned sharply to someone behind him.

He shoved the door closed with his free hand as soon as he’d finished hand-signing a message I didn’t catch. He didn’t move from his spot by the door until the hatch and wheel rolled shut, re-activating the Barrier seal.

The light over the door shifted from red back to blue.

By then I’d removed my headset and dropped it on the table.

When I glanced at Revik’s face, I found his eyes on me.

They lingered where he’d cuffed my wrist. He glanced at the monitor, which had been serving as my workstation, along with his link, right before he frowned.

I watched his face. He had his infiltrator mask on, so I couldn’t see much.