“At least I feel better about you picking up breakfast.” She forced a laugh. “You get a bigger office? Minions to do your work for you?”

“Maybe. They’re working on the details. The salary bump’s standard. Profit-sharing.”

“I wouldn’t share the prophets if I were you. You’ll need them to stay ahead of the market.” She tried to lighten her tone, and knew she was failing.

“That’s a horrible joke.”

“I know.”

Mara took Kai’s hand. Kai’s hand was larger, but the other woman’s fingers enclosed it like the wires of a cage. “It should have been you.”

Damn right. “You took Seven Alpha on the chin, and came out swinging. You deserve this.”

“You don’t need to say that. You’ve tried to save my job twice, and now you’re sent down here, square one, and I get the promotion.”

“I’m happy for you.” Too sharp. “They made the right decision.” Kai placed her free hand on the back of Mara’s, and squeezed. “Enjoy this. Don’t waste time worrying about me. I’ll take care of myself.”

“Can you?”

“I never should have told you that damn dream.”

“This all feels wrong,” Mara said. “I don’t know why.”

“You’ll be fine.”

“Promise?”

She grinned. “Trust me.”

Mara leaned back in her chair, rested her front knuckle on her chin. She sat so still Kai thought she’d turned to stone. “Sure.” She stood, adjusted her jacket, and shouldered her purse. Together they walked out into the morning heat. Beyond the Flambeau’s wards, the dockside smell returned. Clouds crouched low in the southwest, windward. Storms this evening. Mara hugged her again before she left.

“Take care of yourself,” Kai said as they parted. Mara nodded, and turned, and walked briskly away. Kai watched her go, then walked in the opposite direction, though she should have taken the same road. She made it a block and a half before the anger building in her stomach seized control, and stopped her. She looked south, to the sea, and north, to the mountain looming overhead, and swore.

Chapter 18

18

Kai took a stroll after breakfast to calm down, but the exercise didn’t help. She moved with a quick heavy step, hands stuffed deep in her pockets, eyes skyward. As a kid, she’d learned to watch the ground. Though her mother and their staff kept the docks clean, tools and ropes and loops of wire had a way of jutting out to catch unwary ankles. Looking into the open sky was dangerous.