Rayven's Keep by Kylie Wolfe Read Free Book Online Page B

with the governing body of the Unified Alliance of Planets on Fionne. Raven Security hadn’t protected individuals in the past, but when the company had been approached to offer discreet security for the new ambassador, Nick had agreed.
    Nick assigned Wulf the job because he had a background with the diplomatic corps on Tonlith. Not that he’d been particularly forthcoming about his experience, but Nick used it as leverage when he’d needed an agent for the job. Wulf was also deadly in close-quarter fighting, if needed. He wasn’t expected back for at least a standard moon cycle, but Nick required his agents to report.
    “He checked in early this morning. He mentioned a few problems to take care of, but didn’t go into detail. You know Wulf; he’ll handle whatever gets in his way.” Seth chuckled. “It seems Ambassador D’Kir is proving to be more of a challenge than anticipated and isn’t following orders very well. That boy has picked up some very interesting language since he’s been gone.”
    Nick snorted as he crossed the room.
    “Callen, have you been able to find any information on the head of Lodestone Mining besides the usual drivel?”
    “I’ve been doing some digging but don’t have anything concrete yet. It looks like Malvin Sonne is a figurehead for the corporation. I haven’t discovered the real power behind the man yet.” Callen’s voice was thoughtful and he frowned. “But you can be sure I’ll find him, given a little time.”
    Nick nodded. Whoever had faked the advisory on him and Tru wouldn’t stay hidden for long, not with Callen hot on his trail. The man was a genius with information.
    “I liberated the pouch you brought home from its hidey hole on the Messenger .” Seth put his tablet down and snagged the pouch from the console in front of him. He tossed it up and down, testing its weight. “This sure is a tiny package for something you tell me might revolutionize star-drive technology. Have you looked inside yet?”
    “I was a bit busy,” Nick answered, his tone dry. He pulled up a chair, sat down and crossed an ankle over the opposite knee. He slouched back and laced his fingers behind his head. “I’m not happy Axyl Hargrave changed the drop without consulting me first. I haven’t quite made up my mind if Tru and the object you’re holding are connected, but my gut tells me it’s a distinct possibility. Regardless, I’ve taken the job of getting it to Dendera Labs for Geotern and I’ve plenty of credits riding on doing just that.”
    Seth stopped bouncing the pouch and set it back on the console. He leaned back, stretched out his long legs and grinned. “So, boss man, what do you plan on doing about Tru Creighton?”
    “Damned if I know.” Nick rubbed the back of his neck. “I guess it all depends on what she tells me. So far she hasn’t been real forthcoming about what happened on Lodestone.”
    “She’s in trouble, huh?” Callen didn’t raise his eyes from the console pad on which he tapped. As usual, his focus remained on searching along another path of information.
    “She was certainly running scared. Whatever she’s involved with frightened her enough to follow me back to my ship in hopes of persuading me to take her with me.” Nick scratched his whiskered jaw.
    “It got her off-world though, didn’t it?” Seth said.
    “Yeah, I guess. The problem is, if she recognized me then someone else might have as well. It could explain how our names got connected. Damn it, the trip was supposed to be a quick in and out without any fanfare. Only the head of Geotern knew the day I planned to be there and he was invested in keeping it quiet. Hell, I even dressed like a friggin’ transport pilot to blend in.”
    Seth snorted and shook his head. Even Callen stopped working to stare.
    “What?” Nick snapped, daring either of them to say anything. When they suddenly became interested elsewhere, he grinned. Sometimes it was good to be the boss.
    He stood, grabbed