Polaris Rising (Consortium Rebellion, #1)(106)

Inside, the crush of human bodies threatened to overwhelm the air-conditioning system. Bianca clicked on a personal cooling field and the temperature around us dropped by a few crucial degrees. Ian trailed along behind us, a silent shadow.

“Lady Rockhurst first?” Bianca asked. Even standing beside me she had to raise her voice to be heard over the din.

I nodded and we joined the flow of people moving deeper into the ballroom. Finding Lady Rockhurst wasn’t hard—she was in the middle of an adoring group of people. Speaking to her was another matter.

I left Bianca and Ian on the edge of the crowd. “Move,” I said to the person in front of me in my most aristocratic tone. The man turned around to glare, then recognized who I was. He nearly tripped over himself to get out of my way. Smart man.

I used the same tactic over and over until I stood in front of Lady Rockhurst herself. She was coldly beautiful, with the signature blond hair and blue eyes the House was known for. She had to be over sixty but she could still easily pass for a woman in her forties. She wore a vibrant green dress that hugged her figure. Lord Rockhurst stood beside her, chatting with a business associate.

I dipped into a shallow curtsey. “Lady Rockhurst,” I said. “Thank you for hosting tonight’s party. I hope your family is well.”

If looks could kill, I would be a dead woman. “You have some nerve, girl,” she hissed at me.

I smiled serenely at her. “Indeed. In fact, I would like to set up a private meeting with you.”

“I have nothing to say to you,” she said.

“That is too bad,” I said. “I had hoped to keep this a private matter between Houses, but I suppose I could release it publicly instead.”

She stepped closer. “You dare to threaten me?”

I was treading a dangerous path. Push her too far, and she’d eliminate the threat—namely, me. But if I didn’t push her far enough, she wouldn’t meet with me, which meant Loch’s clemency hearing would go nowhere.

“Of course not, my lady,” I said. “I am merely offering an opportunity to find a mutually acceptable solution.”

“To what problem?”

“Mayport,” I said quietly, naming the ship Richard attacked in his attempt to retrieve me. “I have the security footage.”

She waved a dismissive hand. “That is not worth my time.”

“Lord Richard has been something of a disappointment lately, but I never expected you to abandon one of your own, Lady Rockhurst.” I shook my head sadly. “I had hoped to resolve this quietly, but now I suppose I must go to the full Consortium.”

“Listen here, you little bitch—”

“Lady Rockhurst, I could not care less about what happened on board Mayport.” It was a lie, but she didn’t need to know that. “But not everyone will feel that way. All I want is a private moment of your time to discuss matters.”

Her expression turned crafty. “Perhaps we can also discuss how you aided and abetted the universe’s most wanted criminal, hmm?”

“I look forward to it,” I said honestly.

That threw her. She blinked before the mask slipped back in place. “Very well. You get fifteen minutes to persuade me not to just kill you and be done with it. My assistant will set it up.”

“Thank you, my lady,” I said. I curtsied again then melted back into the crowd.

One down, one to go.

Bianca met me at the edge of the crowd. She looked drawn even through her public persona. Ian hovered at her shoulder. “Well?” she demanded.

“She agreed to meet, but she’s not happy about it. Now let’s see if I can piss off another High House tonight.”

We made our way through the crowd to Lord Yamado’s group. I pressed through the crowd until I stood in front of the man himself. Lord Hitoshi stood next to him. Lady Yamado tired easily and generally avoided evening events unless they were official government events.

Lord Yamado was older than Father, his hair snow white, and his face was lined with age. I curtsied to him and his eyebrows crept up his forehead. Lord Hitoshi did not look pleased to see me.

“Lady Ada,” Yamado said, “to what do I owe the pleasure?”

I’d always liked Lord Yamado, but his son Hitoshi was another matter. “My lord, I am afraid I am here on business,” I said.

He became guarded. “I cannot help you,” he said.

I understood his concern. If he was seen talking business with me, it could look like he meant to throw in with House von Hasenberg in the war. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to play nice, but I took one more stab at it before pulling out the big guns.

“It is not about the war,” I said. “It is of a more personal nature.”

He shook his head. “I should not even be talking to you now, Lady Ada, as much as I regret it.”

I’d spent the ride over here trying to decide the wisest course of action. Rockhurst knew I left TSD Nine with a woman. Hitoshi would review the surveillance video as soon as he found Veronica was missing, so he would know that I’d helped her. Still, she was my friend and it felt wrong to use her.

“I recently visited Tau Sagittarii Dwarf Nine,” I said in a seeming non sequitur. “I would like a short private meeting with you to discuss what I found, nothing more.”