Born of Ice

“Nothing on either one. Only their names on her birth registration.”


Devyn felt as if all the oxygen had been sucked out of the room. Ghosts were rare and it usually meant a spy of some sort.

Or one hell of a master criminal.

His father was the king of the untraceable ghosts, so he knew it could mean she wasn’t up to anything more than protecting herself. But it could also mean she was here to do who knew what.

She could easily be a danger to all of them.

Claria gave him a hard stare. “I think you should fire her. For everyone’s safety.”

“I want to know more before I make that call.” He picked up his link.

She scowled at him. “What are you doing?”

“Calling my dad. If anyone can find her past, he can.” No one escaped one of his father’s probes.



Alix watched through the store window as Omari and Vik laughed over something Omari had said while they were looking at MVM players. Even though it was abnormal for a mecha and a human, their friendship made something inside her ache with longing.

She missed her sister so much . . .

Tempest was the only friend she’d ever had, and the two of them had always been a united front against their father and his hostile animosity toward them. If only she could hear Tempest’s voice and know that she was all right.

“Are you okay?”

She blinked as Zarina rejoined her. She’d vanished inside a store that Alix had declined entering. An exclusive boutique that specialized in high-end designer wear, Alix had been afraid to browse just in case they charged her for looking at it.

And with her luck, they might.

“I’m fine.”

Zarina scowled at her. “You look so sad. Are you homesick?”

No, she was sister-sick, but she couldn’t admit that. “Just tired.”

Zarina scoffed. “You know, people always say that when it’s not true. We barely know each other and you don’t want me to pry. I understand.” She held a bag out to her. “Here.”

Now it was her turn to frown. “What’s this?”

“Something I think you’ll like.”

Alix shook her head. The bag alone probably cost more than she did. “Oh, no, I can’t.”

“You can and you will.”

“Zarina—”

“Ah!” Zarina held her hand up imperiously. “Don’t even. I won’t hear it. Every woman deserves something to make her feel beautiful and I have a feeling your wardrobe consists mostly of the kind of serviceable clothes you’re wearing—which while they’re attractive on you, aren’t really fun. We all need some fun. Embrace your youth while you have it.”

Alix swallowed as her throat tightened. No one had ever been so kind to her. “Thank you.”

Zarina hugged her. “You’re very welcome. Now let’s hit Tadaro’s.”

“What’s Tadaro’s?”

Her face a mock mask of pain, Zarina placed her hand over her heart. “Oh, hon, you have been so deprived.” She took her hand and pulled her down the corridor into a makeup store.

Alix wasn’t so sure about this, either. It all looked so . . .

Girly.

“So what do you prefer?” Zarina stopped next to a perfume display.

She looked at all the various lotions and potions and had no idea. “I’ve never worn makeup.”

Zarina gaped at her. “You’re not serious.”

She shook her head. Her father would have sooner cut off his arm than allow her to waste money on something so frivolous. Only he could waste money on anything not absolutely necessary.

“Not even lipstick?”

“Nothing.”

Zarina put a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You poor child. You’ve been so deprived.” She motioned for a clerk to come help them. “I have a cosmetic emergency here and I need the best of everything to cure it.”

“Zarina—”

She made a hissing noise, cutting Alix off as she raised her hand. “Don’t even start. No woman over the age of fourteen should walk around bare-faced. Not that you’re not beautiful, but . . . we can all use a boost.” She turned back to the clerk. “Set my sister up.”

Alix literally felt like the only piece of meat at a kennel as a team of women descended on her to trim her hair, tweeze her brows—something that had to have been invented by a sadist—and make her face over.

“Ow!” She pulled her hand back from the woman who was working on her fingernails. “I didn’t know being a woman could be so painful.”

Zarina gave her a pitiful stare. “Honey, beauty is pain and that’s part of who and what we are.”

Yeah, but she really didn’t have time for this . . .

She needed to get back to the ship.

How did someone escape Zarina? She felt trapped and overwhelmed.

Someone help me . . .

“Zarina, I really need to get back. I-I have duties to attend to.”

“Sit there and be quiet. There’s nothing Devyn needs done that can’t wait. Besides, you’ll be so beautiful when we’re through that he won’t care. There won’t even be any blood left in his brain for him to think with.”

“But—”