The Shattered Way (Champions of the Crystal Book 7)

Chapter 11.2

Sabrina had not seen much of Ford in the past few days, so she was pleasantly surprised to find him waiting for her when she got home that night. "I seem to always be keeping someone waiting for me these days," she said. "Sorry, darling."

"Don't apologize; I wasn't on your schedule," he replied, giving her a quick kiss. "How was dinner?"

"Aunt Imari and Baldaran did most of the talking. I concentrated on not saying anything to make her exasperated with me," Sabrina said. "And oh, Aurora was there too. She looks great!"

"Yes, I saw her yesterday."

"Did you? What have you been up to? You've been up early and back late the last few days."

"I'm looking into my siblings' security situation." He sat down on the edge of the bed. "Something's going on, Sabrina. I don't know what yet, but I need to find out."

She kicked off her shoes, trying to tamp down the spurt of alarm his words had caused. "Can you do that while we're so tied down?"

"I don't know."

She took a deep breath. "Do you need your ship back? Mara told me I could. In fact I should do it soon, while I can still plead a new wife's infatuation."

He gave her a look of stunned joy. "Sabrina! Do you mean it?"

"Of course I do. Come on, Ford, you know it's crossed my mind."

"Not lately, it hasn't. Sabrina, just because you give it back to me doesn't mean I'm going to go running off. I told you I was in for the duration."

"I know. But if one of your siblings is in trouble—"

"Not to my knowledge, at least not right now," Ford said. "There's just an odd pattern emerging. It's the Guard's problem, really. Though I was wondering if you would indulge me in a little experiment to see if we can sense Marie through the Crystal."

"Why? Has something happened to Marie?" Sabrina exclaimed in alarm.

"No, of course not. Just that I think something may be likely to—and I won't be surprised if it's her fault," Ford grumbled.

"Of course I'll try. Now?"

"No, you're tired. Some other time when you're home early."

"I love your optimism," Sabrina sighed, joining him on the bed. "I'll sign the order giving you access to your ship tomorrow morning. I'd rather not sign any travel permits just yet if you don't feel it's necessary, though."

"I'm not going anywhere," Ford assured her. "I'll just go up and check on Rudolf and make sure everything's still in good shape. It's been sitting there a long time."

"I know. The last time we were aboard was what, two years ago?"

"Something like that. Oh, that reminds me—I got a message from an old friend today. He's coming for a visit."

Sabrina stifled a groan. "Is it anybody official?"

Ford laughed. "Anything but! I told him it wasn't a good time, but he insists. He doesn't seem to quite believe I've gotten married."

"Who is he? How long have you known him?"

"Longer than either of us wants to admit. I don't know his real name though—he only recently found mine out when I became notorious on intersystem vid as your husband. I know him as Steyrian Geran."

"I'm almost afraid to ask where you met him, since it was obviously someplace nobody goes to as themselves."

"Draxon, of course."