Polaris Rising (Consortium Rebellion, #1)(97)

“Who is that?” Albrecht asked, gesturing at Loch.

“My bodyguard. He requires diplomatic immunity, as agreed.”

Father brushed a nonexistent crumb from his dark suit jacket. “Ian will take care of it. Expect debriefing to start in two hours. You are dismissed.” He turned back to the display on his desk.

“Debriefing will begin tomorrow or not at all,” I said calmly.

Father looked up with narrowed eyes. That look meant trouble. Anxiety churned through my system, but I kept my face serene. I would not be steamrolled this time. I felt Loch move closer as I stared down one of the three most powerful people in the universe.

When I didn’t flinch or look away, Father’s lips twitched into a grimace. “You always were the one with the most backbone,” he said. “Damned inconvenient, but you did manage to bring me a Rockhurst ship. Debriefing will begin tomorrow at six. Do not push me further.”

I inclined my head. “Thank you, Father,” I said. I retreated before he could change his mind.

In the safety of the hallway, the adrenaline pumping through my body made me shaky and nauseous. I kept my facade intact and breathed through it. I had too many things to do to have a breakdown. First and foremost, I needed to track down Bianca.

“So that was your father,” Loch said quietly. His tone was neutral and his voice was flat. I couldn’t guess at what he was thinking.

“That was him in a good mood,” I said.

“Are all the councillors of the High Houses like him?”

“In one way or another. Lady Rockhurst is known to be coolly levelheaded and ruthlessly persistent. Lord Yamado has an explosive temper and both the will and the firepower to back up his threats. House von Hasenberg has long been known as the moderate House, but being moderate compared to the extremes isn’t exactly moderate.”

I led Loch back toward my suite, so he could drop off our stuff before we went looking for Bianca. Walking down the familiar hall to my rooms brought back a million memories. This house was saturated in them. I opened the door, unsure what to expect.

My suite looked exactly the same.

The foyer opened to a large living area with clustered seating areas. Done in shades of cream and blue with dark hardwood floors, my suite had always been an oasis in the heart of the Consortium storm. On the left was a small, fully functional kitchen—though the synthesizer saw more use than the stove. A dining table for fourteen dominated that side of the room.

On the right were the doors leading to the formal sitting room and study. A hallway led deeper into the suite to the guest bath and my private rooms. Just seeing it again, preserved as if I’d never left, was enough to bring tears to my eyes. I blinked them away and ushered Loch in.

“You’re late,” Bianca called from the sitting room.

I froze for a half a breath, then I ran to greet her. “Bianca!”

Bianca sat on a brown and gold brocade settee, but she stood when I entered the room. She wore a somber gray day dress that still managed to emphasize her delicate figure. Bianca wore the colors of mourning while in public thanks to her bastard husband’s death nearly a year ago. In another month or two she could return to her usual bright colors and she would be free of the man once and for all.

She was the shortest member of the family by far, so she made up for it by wearing ridiculous heels. The pair strapped to her feet today seemed to defy gravity. When I hugged her, we were the same height, even though I knew she was more than ten centimeters shorter than me.

She squeezed me tightly. “I’m glad you’re back,” she said softly. “I worried about you.”

Bianca felt almost fragile in my arms. She’d lost weight she couldn’t afford to lose. I pulled away to look at her face. Under the carefully applied makeup, she looked tired and worn. “What’s going on?” I asked her.

Her smile was quick and rueful. “I should’ve known you would notice,” she said. “I am fine, just tired. I’ve had a lot on my plate lately.”

I looked away. A lot of that stress was due to me. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I never meant for you to work yourself to the bone. You should know that.”

“It’s not your fault,” she said. At my disbelieving look she amended, “Okay, it’s not all your fault.” Her eyes darted over my shoulder. “But I would like an introduction to the man who is trying to claim my baby sister.”

“Be nice,” I warned.

“I’m always nice,” she said innocently, but her smile spelled danger.

“I’m assuming you swept for bugs?” I asked. At her nod, I waved Loch into the room from where he was hovering at the door, still cloaked and hooded. “Bianca, meet Marcus Loch,” I said when he reached my side. “Marcus, meet my older sister Bianca. You can take off the cloak.”

Loch threw back his hood. His face was set in hard, forbidding lines. He crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at Bianca. He looked as welcoming as an arctic tundra.

“If you hurt her,” Bianca said softly, her smile still in place, “I will geld you with a rusty fork.”

Loch blinked then raised an eyebrow. “Think you can?”

“Absolutely,” she said with utter certainty.

Loch laughed, fracturing his badass image. “In that case, it’s nice to meet you, Lady Bianca,” he said, extending a hand. “And if I hurt her, I’ll let you.”