Page 60 of Gold Sector

“I’ll happily accept Keegan back, if you’re offering.”

I narrow my gaze. “He said he’s a raider.”

Rio smiles. “He’s that, too. What’s the phrase?” He looks upward, then snaps his fingers. “He’s a king of all trades.”

“Jack,” I correct him, familiar with the idiom he’s looking for. “And you just gave me cause to kill him.”

Taliana stiffens in my lap, making me instantly regret my words.

“But I won’t,” I add quickly, kissing her nape as my dragon begins to purr, his need to soothe our startled Omega overriding reason.

If Rio notices, he doesn’t comment. Instead, a glimmer of something else darkens his reddish-brown eyes to a deep maroon color. My brother calls him Red Rock because of his ability to create jasper stone. Except it’s no ordinary jasper, but magically enhanced rock with lethal properties.

And I spy some of that in his gaze now.

Only, he blinks it away in a flash, his focus on me. “Xavier and I can be there in seven or eight days, with your approval.”

“Why seven or eight?” my brother asks.

“I’ll need time to ensure that my sector is secure before I leave it unguarded,” Riordan tells him flatly. “I don’t trust Basalt not to act on an opportunity.”

Taliana stiffens again at the mention ofBasalt. “A week is acceptable,” I tell Riordan, wanting to finish this conversation so I can properly soothe my now-trembling Omega. “We’ll prepare accommodations for your stay.”

“And please let Keegan know I’m coming,” he adds.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to deny that request. However, the Omega in my arms changes my mind. “I will.”

Rio nods. “Then we’ll see you soon.”

The screen goes dark before I can reply, causing my brother to curse. “Have you lost your mind? We don’t know if we can trust him, yet you just gave him approval to enter our waters.”

I look at Onyx. “Your bias against Riordan is clouding your judgment.”

Both of his eyebrows shoot upward. “You want to talk to me about bias right now?” He glances at Taliana before meeting my gaze again. “Really?”

If Taliana notices, she doesn’t show it.

Because her focus is on the floor again.

Which infuriates me on several levels.

“Riordan is our ally,” I remind Onyx, my tone underlined with steel. “And he’s right to want to meet in person. He knows I can sniff out lies, yet he’s willingly allowing himself to be questioned. On our turf, not his own. It’s the correct path forward to shore up our alliance against Basalt.”

Taliana shudders again, causing my purr to strengthen.

“I’m going to take Taliana back upstairs for breakfast, then we’re going on a tour. You’re welcome to join us ifyou want,” I offer, aware that I’m being hard on my brother. But he’s not exactly going easy on me, either.

He considers me for a moment, realizing the olive branch I’m extending. Or perhaps still worrying that he’s lost me entirely to madness. I’m not quite sure.

However, something changes in his features as he looks at Taliana. She’s still quivering, despite my dragon’s efforts to soothe her. But she’s no longer staring at the ground. She’s looking at Onyx.

“I think I’ll pass on the walk,” Onyx says after a beat, his gaze finally returning to me. “But thank you for the offer. We’ll talk more later.”

Rather than giving me a moment to reply, he ashes out of my office.

I sigh, unsurprised by his response, but also a bit frustrated. We’re usually on the same page, our bond literally forged in blood.

Yet we’re not on the same page now, not where Taliana is concerned.