“Are they even in there? Maybe they climbed out the back and that’s how they got Glick. I’m going in.” Then louder. “It’s your last chance to send her out! Or I’m coming in armed and ready. We know you came by a company glider. No weapons.”
The crunch of boots neared the window.
A soft rush of air preceded the thud of a body hitting the ground. Rocurt had fired on them and clearly hit his target. Another pulse from Rocurt’s weapon created a howl of pain.
Shouts erupted, and then the sound of men running.
Evston strapped his com on and nodded when Rocurt motioned for them to follow him.
They passed through the darkness unhindered to a private glider cart. Rocurt used his com to get the entry code. Within moments, they were twisting around the estate’s track. Rocurt kept the lights off, and they were all silent until they were far enough away that it didn’t matter.
At the company glider platform, Evston secured tickets via his com and Rocurt disposed of their weapons, glancing at the bloodied knife.
“Did she kill him?” Rocurt asked Evston as he guided her onto the glider.
“No, but she might have planned to. The knife was against his artery.”
In the compartment, Rocurt sat her next to him. “Are you shaken up?”
“No,” she said.
“Hold out your hands.”
She thrust them out. They appeared relatively steady despite her racing heart.
Rocurt flipped her hands over and frowned at a smudge of blood on her palm and wrist. He exited the compartment, then returned with a wet cloth. He wiped away the blood. Then he spotted her dirty feet. They’d all walked barefoot from the cabin to the glider cart, but her soiled feet were the only ones that seemed to concern him.
The commander pulled her leg up and washed her left foot and then did the same to the right. He tossed the dirty rag into the corner and then inspected her.
“Where did you stab him?” Rocurt asked.
“His shoulder, so he’d lose use of one arm.”
Rocurt cupped the back of her head, petting her. “If it ever happens again, cut the throat on the first strike.”
“Rocurt,” Evston said with a shake of his head.
“You won’t get in trouble,” Rocurt said, still watching her.
“Rocurt!” Evston said. “Don’t suggest—”
His brother’s gaze slid to him. “He could’ve grabbed her arm and forced her to drop the knife and then dragged her through the window. If there’d been more, as they claimed, they could’ve taken her while we were pinned down in the cabin.”
Evston shook his head. “He wouldn’t have gotten her out the window. I was there.”
“If she had time to stab him before you could, then he had time to grab her.”
“You want her to commit murder? And to be subjected to an interrogation? So she’d have to explain the semi-permanent mask on her face and her lack of com or underwear? And then have it discovered that one of the princesses had been at an orgy of human pets and their owners? Think about the repercussions of your advice.”
“If she kills while under threat, there will be no interrogation. A member of one of my strike teams will either dispose of the body or claim the kill.”
“You recall that I’m a member of the legislature, right? You can’t propose a murder conspiracy to a member of the royal family in the presence of the monarch’s high counsel.”
Rocurt rolled his eyes. “Then stop taking her to parties where she has to stab people. Keep her clean and out of trouble.”
Evston smirked, but shook his head. His brother was a different man since falling in love with their last pet. Rocurt’s commitment to protect Brandese unconditionally from even an inquiry wasn’t something he would’ve offered in the past. But now he saw Brande as theirs, and he was letting himself get emotionally attached to her.
Brandese leaned forward and kissed Rocurt’s cheek. Then she crossed to an empty bench and lay down.
