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“If I ask him outright, he’ll want to know how I heard about it.” He glanced at the women. “That’ll get them in trouble.”

Dakota smiled. “You leave that to me.”

Vero reached them. “I’m sorry you didn’t find what you were looking for, Dare. Let’s have a last drink before you leave.”

Dakota pressed into Dare’s side. “Permission to speak…Master?”

Dare raised one dark brow. “Granted.”

The damn man was enjoying this. She glanced over at Vero through her lashes, careful not to make eye contact. “Your planet is incredible, sir. Beautiful, orderly, unique.”

She saw Vero straighten and smile. Yeah, he liked to be in charge and have his ego stroked. He was so very different to Dare. Oh, Dare liked to be in charge, no doubt about it, but not the same way as Vero. Dare wanted control to keep his ship, his convoy, and his family safe. It was bone-deep with him.

Vero wanted control to make himself feel good, important.

“I’ve been so very impressed with every aspect of your city,” Dakota continued.

“You should stay longer,” Vero said. “There is so much more I can show you.”

She hated the slimy sound of his voice and the slimier look in his eye, but she managed to keep her true feelings off her face.

“This library is so amazing. A repository of all your world’s history, achievements, and advancements.”

He puffed up his chest. “Yes, it contains all our knowledge.”

“It is amazing that it all fits in here. I would’ve guessed you’d need more room than this.”

She felt Dare’s fingers curl around her arm, but he stayed quiet.

Vero frowned. “It’s already very large.”

She shrugged. “I’ve seen larger on other worlds far less advanced than yours. I’m just surprised, considering your beautiful planet, that you don’t have more information.” She tilted her head back. “The library on Tishii was much bigger than this, wasn’t it, Dare? And Zind as well, even though it was a far smaller planet.”

Vero stepped forward. “We have another library, as well. It’s far older, situated on the mountain above the city. But it contains our oldest records, not our recent achievements.”

“Really?” Dakota gave him a blinding smile. “That makes sense now.”

Vero turned. “Perhaps they have a record of this man you seek, Dare.”

“Perhaps,” Dare replied blandly.

“I’d love to see it.” She pressed a hand against Dare’s chest. “If it pleases my master.”

She saw a flare in his eyes.

“I can arrange it,” Vero said. “But I have other meetings, so unfortunately, I cannot escort you. Also, the cable car that leads to the mountaintop is not operational. It’s closed for maintenance. You’d have to go up by rikoo beast. The vegetation that grows along the mountainside is too thick and dangerous for other forms of transportation. It grows back faster than it can be cleared.”

“Thank you, Vero,” Dare said. “We’d love to see it.”

“I’ll arrange it with the librarian there. You’ll need to stay the night because it’s too dangerous to travel back down in darkness.” He smiled. “Lucky for you, I have a vacation home there that you are welcome to use.”

“Dangerous?” Dare asked.

“The nocturnal animals that live in the mountain forest are wild and vicious.”

Hmm, maybe Sulla wasn’t quite as beautiful and orderly as the Sullans made it out to be.

“Come.” Vero waved them toward the door. “Let me make the preparations.”