This was a coup.
Unless these eight enhanced soldiers with their developing hive mind and their experimental capabilities had somehow managed to kill or incapacitate the most powerful immortal ever born.
Losham was horrified by the thought of his father's murder at their hands. Terrified of their immense power and what they might try to do to him. But he also saw an opportunity.
"Gentlemen," he said calmly. "I am looking for Lord Navuh. Have you seen him?"
The eight smiled in perfect unison, and the effect was profoundly disturbing.
"Lord Navuh is gone," they said. "Which presents you and us with an interesting situation, doesn't it?"
Behind him, Losham heard Rami's sharp intake of breath, heard the guards' hands moving to their weapons. He raised his hand, a gesture that meant wait, assess, don't react yet.
"Did you kill him?"
"We did not. We felt his life force dim and then wink out."
For some reason, he believed them. They had felt Navuh's absence and had seized the opportunity. Just like he planned to do.
Navuh was gone, most likely dead, and his throne was empty.
These eight enhanced soldiers were standing in the throne room, and with their help, he might prevent this situation from turning intoGame of Thronesimmortal style.
"We should discuss this situation in private." He turned to the two guards. "Secure the corridor. No one enters or leaves this floor without my authorization."
"Yes, sir." They moved, taking up positions at either end of the corridor.
Losham stepped into the office, with Rami close behind him, and let the damaged door swing partially closed.
Eight pairs of eyes tracked his every movement.
"Now then," Losham said, leaning against the desk as if he owned the space, as if this meeting was happening on his terms and not theirs. "Why don't you tell me what actually happened here?"
One of the eight spoke. "We could tell you the truth. We could tell you the story we've prepared for everyone else. Or we could skip past the explanations and get to the interesting part."
"Which is?"
"What happens next. What you want. What we need. And how we might help each other get both."
Losham studied them. They weren't threatening him. Weren't trying to intimidate or compel him. They were negotiating?
Fascinating.
"I'm listening," he said.
21
TAMIRA
Tamira woke to the gentle rocking motion and the warmth of Eluheed's body pressed against hers on the narrow bed.
For one perfect, crystalline moment, she didn't remember where they were or what had happened. There was only the comfort of his arms around her, his heartbeat steady beneath her palm, his breath warm against her hair.
Then something about the scents surrounding her triggered the memory, and it returned in a rush that made her suck in a breath.
The cliff. The extraction. The interminable hours underwater, breathing through a regulator while terror and hope warred inside her. The submarine. Collapsing onto this bunk with exhaustion so profound it felt like drowning.
And Eluheed, pulling her against him, murmuring something in a language she didn't recognize but understood nonetheless.
