The guards shifted behind me. Their weapons ready. Waiting for orders.
“So here we are.” Tarsus gestured to the office. The empty desk. The sealed door. “Your Vinduthi partner has my sculpture. He’s hiding somewhere in this room. And you’re going to tell me where.”
I met his eyes. Kept my voice level. “And if I don’t?”
“Then I shoot you. Right here. Right now.” He pressed the blaster harder against my chest. “Your contract wasn’t cheap, but I can absorb the loss. Some lessons are worth the cost. But I’ll level this building to get the Regalia back.”
Flinx sent.
Tarsus raised his voice. Speaking to the empty room. “Brevan. I know you’re here. I know you can hear me. So let me make this very simple.”
He moved the blaster from my chest to my temple. Metal cold against my skin.
“Come out now. Surrender the sculpture. And maybe I let her live.” His finger rested on the trigger. “Or stay hidden. Keep the Regalia. And watch me put a pulse through her brain.”
The office was silent. No response. No movement.
Because Brevan couldn’t answer. If he revealed himself, Tarsus would kill us both. If he stayed hidden, Tarsus would kill me and then search until he found him.
No good options. No winning moves.
My mind raced through possibilities. The maintenance shaft. The only place in the office with enough space to hide someone. I had no doubt that Brevan had noticed it during the consultation. He’d asked about building infrastructure, access points, repair protocols.
He was in the shaft. Had to be.
And Tarsus would find him eventually. Search every panel. Every vent. Every possible hiding spot until the sculpture was recovered.
“Nothing?” Tarsus’s voice carried mock disappointment. “No heroic rescue? No dramatic entrance?” His gaze fell on me. “I’m surprised. I thought Vinduthi were supposed to be honorable. Protective of their mates.”
“I’m not his mate,” I said. “I’m his partner. There’s a difference.”
“Is there?” He traced the blaster along my jaw. “Because from where I stand, it looks like he thinks you’re expendable. Everyone wins. Except you.”
The guard behind me shifted. Adjusting his grip on his weapon. Ready to fire if I tried anything.
Flinx’s eyes burned brighter. His body stayed low. Coiled. Every muscle ready to spring.
I sent.
He went still. Hating it. But understanding.
Tarsus moved back to the center of the office. His blaster still aimed at my head. “Last chance, Vinduthi. Ten seconds. Then I pull the trigger.”
Silence.
“Ten.”
My heart rate climbed. Not panic. Just biology responding to immediate threat.
“Nine.”
I looked at the maintenance shaft’s panel. No movement. No sound. Brevan was too smart to reveal himself. He’d stay hidden. Wait for an opportunity. Save the Regalia even if it meant I died.
