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“Biryar, I’m sorry,” she said “It’s just—”

“No It’s fine Everything is fine There won’t be any repercussions”

Lara eased herself back into her chair, plucked her blouse straight Biryar stepped closer, but didn’t take his seat His blood was still electric What if so to say to Mona, because he had to tell Mona It would be a betrayal not to He sed

“I didn’t mean to spook you,” Lara said

“I’m not spooked,” he said He meant to follow it up with I’m married, but what came out was different “I’m Laconian”

Lara quirked a sret in it She took her handheld, her finger hovering just above the button to start the recording again Her eyes were asking if he was certain, but he was hiain Or no He was Governor Rittenaur That was better She tapped the button, and the seconds began counting up again Biryar put his hands on the back of his chair, pressing into it like it was a podiuht back to where the conversation had been

“I’m really very happy to be here,” he said “Auberon is a fascinating planet with a great future before it I hope that htful place as one of hureat centers of science and culture And I know the High Consul has the same ambitions for it”

He nodded sharply, ht answer That hat he was supposed to say Who he was supposed to be

Lara tilted her head “Do you want to sit down?”

The yacht was a small one, and the old nete had been with him, he had only used it three or four tirown up in a coastal city, but she didn’t have the impression there had been a lot of yachts involved The fact that he was in it nowout of places to be that he was certain the local security forces weren’t watching

He sat with his arms out at his sides Two days of stubble coht gliar as thick as his thuer The city rose up at the horizon like a e

The woone by KarKara when they’d first met her It was Lara nohich suited her better

“I swear to God, I had him”

“We shouldn’t have rushed you,” the old man said

“I didn’t rush I had him We had rapport We had shared jokes He was into me”