Fate's Edge

will remain untarnished by failure.”
    Sebastian stared at Karmash disappearing into the Edge. A low, half-suppressed growl reverberated in his throat. “I don’t trust him. He doesn’t care about the security of the country or the mission. He thinks only of himself.”
    Helena glanced at him. “He’s one of my uncle’s lieutenants. Do you question Spider’s judgment?”
    “No, my lady.” Sebastian bowed his head.
    She smiled at him. “You should. I question everyone’s judgment, including my own. You must remember, Sebastian, Karmash is part of the Hand, which protects the colony. We’re the Hounds, who defend the throne. We have a more refined sense of purpose and duty. That’s why I am here, stepping into my uncle’s place until he can return to active service. I must uphold the honor of our family name and do my duty to the Empire. I count on you to fight by my side.”
    Sebastian bowed his head. “Always, my lady.”
    She had expected nothing less. “Come. We travel north.”

ELEVEN
    KALDAR sat in a Starbucks across from the mall’s Sears entrance, sipped coffee—it was slightly burned and bitter—and contemplated his sanity. Or rather, the lack thereof.
    Audrey was right. They were rushing the scheme. They needed ten days. Two weeks would have been better. But the Hand wouldn’t be delayed for long. In every con, there came a time when the plan fell apart, and one had to improvise. This was no different. He was used to flying by the seat of his pants; he welcomed it most of the time. Often, when he was under pressure, things miraculously snapped into place. But he wasn’t flying solo.
    First, there were the kids. As much as he reassured Audrey, there was a small chance one of them would stumble. True, both of them could defend themselves, but having the potential didn’t always mean guaranteed results.
    Then there was Audrey herself. Beautiful, sweet Audrey. Distracting Audrey. Audrey who monopolized his brain when it should be concerned with other things, like planning and calculating. Leaving her father and brother he understood, but walking away from a talent of that caliber to chase cheating husbands and insurance frauds in the Broken? She loved what she did; back in Pena’s house, she had enjoyed every moment of it. The memory of her, cool, collected, and smooth as silk, popped into his head. Mmmm.
    Audrey, Audrey, Audrey . . .
    Why had she stopped stealing? If there was ever a woman born to be a cat burglar, she was one. She could live like a queen in the Broken or in the Weird. But something had made her stop cold. The violent episode with the drug dealer damaged her, but it didn’t break her. She’d made a conscious choice to walk away from her talent. Curiosity was once again killing him.
    He’d tried to steal a kiss again before dropping her off, and she gave him a flat stare that slammed the door in his face.
    In his experience, women fell into two categories: those who were too old or taken, and those who were up for some fun. With the right approach, most available women could be seduced. It had nothing to do with their character or their gender and everything to do with the basic human need for recognition and attention. He was a grifter. Seducing, whether it was to separate people from their money or to entice them into friendship or an affair, was his art. He was expert in it.
    He wanted Audrey. He’d used the correct combination of flattery and playfulness. He complimented her. He said all the right things and employed all the right touches, and yet here they were in the exact same place they had been the moment they’d met. She still wouldn’t give him the time of day. He won a battle here and there, but mostly he lost. He was tired of losing. He was tired of obsessing about her. It left him irritable and off-balance. And worst of all, Kaldar knew that the moment she reappeared on his horizon, his irritation would evaporate, and he’d be all wrapped up in trying to earn a smile. Like some puppy.
    He was thirty-two years old. Way too old to be thinking in circles about some redhead with a plump cleavage.
    His mug was empty. Kaldar looked up, considering if he should get another coffee. A brunette in oversized shades smiled at him from two tables away. Hmm. Denim shirt, baring toned arms; low-cut white pants, secured on her narrow hips by an expensive belt; Ariadna Alto shoes with a sky-high heel—he’d seen them on the cover of a tabloid when he went to a store