Page 115 of Alien Want

Silver-white. Unmistakable.

Dhomhes stayed perfectly still in the shadows as she passed within a few feet of him. Close enough that he could have reached out and stopped her. He didn't. He watched her walk the length of the corridor, her posture perfect, unhurried, like she'd just had a perfectly ordinary conversation.

She turned the corner and was gone.

He stayed where he was for a moment, turning over what he'd heard.

She trusted someone with it. Find the person she trusts most and you'll find the chip.

She didn't know she'd already lost that race. The chip was found. The chip was safe. And the person Adryel trusted most now knew exactly what he was carrying.

What she didn't know was considerably more interesting than what she did.

Dhomhes pushed off the wall and straightened his jacket. He had things to do. Calls to make. A considerable amount of information to quietly file away for later use.

He started back down the corridor, his footsteps silent on the metal floor.

He thought about Sereya. The way she'd sat with Adryel on the transport instead of Roemary. The way she'd looked when she thought no one was watching her.

Someone was always watching.

He'd have to be careful with that one. Careful, and patient.

He was very good at patient.

He turned the corner into the light and left the shadows behind.