"Oh." She forced her face to relax and turned to face him. "Goody, goody. Another reception with tepid tea and bland appetizers." She waved her noisemaker. "Yeah. Yippee."
"I thought you'd like it." His grin didn't quite meet his eyes. "You're always telling me what a fan you are of all things British."
"I meant the Beatles' music, Harry Potter books, Doctor Who and Downton Abbey... Not so much English tea and biscuits."
"I see. Well, it won't take too long, and perhaps you can ask them to play some Beatles for us."
Olivia silently followed Hernando and his contingent of body guards from the stage area, winding through the crowd toward to where their limousine awaited. Tonight was as good a time as any to make her break. Annara had been pressuring her for the past week to tell Hernando she couldn't accompany him on the rest of his New Year's world tour, but Olivia had dawdled and delayed. She couldn't hold it off forever.
The constant texts from the BloodDark embassy gave a clue to how anxious Annara was to return to BloodDark and how dire the situation was becoming. Annara acted uncharacteristically close to panic. Olivia had never observed her fellow Resistance fighter act as restless as she'd been on Christmas Eve. Annara couldn't stop fidgeting and relax enough to enjoy the raucous caroling, the annual swap of gag gifts and her mother's secret recipe eggnog.
Even her mother had picked up on Annara's tenseness.
"Your army friend has ants in her pants," Moira had said under her breath as she and Olivia picked up the empty eggnog cups. Annara had barely touched hers. "Something bothering her?"
"Annara is not in the army. She's with the BloodDark security services," Olivia had corrected her mother for the millionth time. "And yes, she's got a lot on her mind."
"Are you all safe doing this tour? I mean, you're not going to... vanish again, are you?"
Moira's eyes had grown wide with fear. Olivia hated lying, but she had reassured her mother there would be no vanishing acts, at least not during the world tour. The underlying stress of her fibbing had taken away from the joy of the occasion for Olivia, but it was necessary she convinced herself.
Olivia so loved being with Hernando and her Earth friends and family during the holiday season. The idea all was not well in the universe irritated her, but she had promised Annara she would help solve the mystery of the second Portal device. She couldn't go back on her promise. Too much was at stake.
It's now or never. Be brave and just do it.
"You tired?" Hernando asked as they slipped into the back seat of the limo.
"A little. Look, Hernando, I'm tired of..." The words escaped her. How could she say what she needed to say without hurting his feelings?
"You're tired of the whole 'another day, another town, another boring function to dress up for' routine?"
She sighed. "Exactly. You sure you're not reading my mind?"
"There's no need to read minds when your body language speaks volumes." He pulled her close and kissed her then released her. "You need to spend some more time with your folks?"
"I do. I mean, we got to spend Christmas with them, but this whirlwind tour isn't quite the same without Valori. I wanted to take her shopping during our tour and show her all the sights, and she's not here so..." Olivia shrugged. "It's not quite as fun and relaxing as I thought it would be."
He frowned. "I'm not a fun person, you mean? Too serious?"
"No, you're fine—you're perfect. You have to be serious. It's your job, and it's important. It's just all the..." A bodyguard tapped on the outside of the car and gave the thumbs up to the driver their route was clear before getting into the chase vehicle. She lowered her voice. "It's just all the changes."
"We can't really be alone when I have a dozen armed personnel with me at all times, can we?" Hernando kissed her again, and she relaxed in his arms. "I admit things were more casual before the kidnapping attempt. Now, every odd look or strange communication is doubly worrisome and duly investigated."
"As well it should be. We have to keep you safe."
"We?" He chuckled. "Are you part of my bodyguard?"
"Of course, I am. I want to guard your gorgeous body from any and all harm." Olivia cradled his face in her hands and kissed him soundly. "I will do everything in my power to keep you safe."
"I believe you would."
They snuggled together and said little until they reached the hotel several minutes later. They made their way through the noisy lobby to the elevators, using a special key card to reach the private floor reserved for diplomats and other VIPs. The guards swept through the hallways and checked every nook and cranny as they escorted them to their adjacent rooms.
"This is where we part." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before opening her door. "See you bright and early."
He returned the kiss. "Sweet dreams, Olivia. Don't worry—after tomorrow I'll let you off the hook. Your parents missed you so much. I could tell after we returned from your second unexpected visit to BloodDark. You should spend time with them. They need you."
"Thank you. It has been hard for them. The second mysterious disappearance of their daughter wasn't quite as bad as the first, but still..." She smiled. "Good night."
The door shut softly behind her. Tomorrow, I really have to tell him something believable about why I'm going to be out of touch for a time. Can I make my excuse fool-proof? Can I be certain he won't interfere with my spying?
*****
Sleep didn't come easy. Olivia tossed and turned as uneasy thoughts and worrying plans raced through her mind, and when she did fall asleep her dreams were full of foreboding. Morning came as a relief. She'd worked out how to break the news of her absence to Hernando, although she didn't look forward
