Dead silence.
“Half of you wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for him,” Theo said. “That is a fact.”
“So what?” a man said. “A few nuggets of information and he gets a full pardon?”
“Scott gave us more than a few nuggets. He fed us intel straight from the source. He and his contact took on more risk than any of you ever have. Yes, he killed. He wore their uniform. He bled for them.But he made them bleed more.” Theo paused, and his gaze flicked toward me, where I stood within the dark of the antechamber. Tension in the room drew taut as a piano wire. “When you’re fighting evil like the NAO, the war won’t be won with clean hands. It’ll be won by people willing to do the unthinkable.”
The crowd shifted with grumbles.
“His capture last night was not part of the plan,” Theo said, now pacing the stage. “It happened fast, and now his cover is blown. His contact brought him here for asylum.”
“He’s an executioner!” someone shouted. “He shouldn’t be sheltered! He should be six feet under!”
“We don’t bury our knives while they’re still cutting for us!” Theo barked. “Loyalty isn’t clean or moral. It’s understanding the cost of the game and choosing to play it anyway. Lucas Scott has been our most valuable player for months. It speaks to his skill that you didn’t know it.”
Whispers rippled through the room.
“I stand by Lucas Scott,” Theo said, “and when the Prime Delegate arrives, I will tell her as much. He will be afforded histribunal, just like the rest of the defectors. Until that time, he will be kept in a safe place.”
The whispers ratcheted to low rumblings.
“Lucas Scott is now placed under my protection, as is the woman who served as his contact. They now exist within the bounds of a command sanctuary.”
I almost gasped. TheArticles of the Defianceweren’t lengthy or even comprehensive, but the laws regarding those under the protection of the Defiance were absolute. Placing us under a command sanctuary meant no one could touch us. If they did, they faced dire consequences—likely execution.
“Reeves was his contact, right?” a voice spat, full of disgust. “No wonder she has handprints around her throat…”
Theo ignored him. “Anyone who chooses to engage against them will be charged with assault, failure to obey a direct command, interference with a high-level intelligence asset, and breach of a command sanctuary.”
“That’s bullshit!” someone yelled, and Theo’s gaze cut his way.
“Stand, soldier.”
I couldn’t see into the crowd, but all sound fell away.
Theo shot a look at someone out of my view. “Sergeant, take this soldier into custody.”
Shuffling and whispers provided a backdrop to the soldier’s panicked apology.
“Insubordination will not be tolerated,” Theo said, hard as stone while the soldier was taken away.
“But General, sir,” someone said from the front row, and I recognized Isaac Johnson, Devon sitting just beside him. “He’s a Blood Colonel. The man is dangerous.”
“He is,” Theo said, “but not to us. Not anymore. Should anyone care to test that theory, I’ll warn you he’s been given full permission to defend himself if attacked.” He paused for a longmoment. “Anyone who feels they can win in a knife fight against Lucas Scott is welcome to try.”
34
Snake Pit
Propaganda is the executive arm of the invisible government.
—EDWARD BERNAYS
“Open up, Sophia!” a voice yelled, banging on the door to Zara’s quarters.
Her wide eyes darted to mine. She’d just arrived back from Theo’s announcement and hadn’t even had a chance to ask questions. I’d beaten her here by only a minute or two.
“Sophia, it’s me!” the voice said. “It’s Dev.”
