“She’s shy, so it’s not a guarantee.But she’s taken on children under a similar set of circumstances,” Kira admitted.
She tried not to fidget under Caius’s stare, knowing she was taking a big risk.From all accounts, Caius was scary intelligent.He’d know—or at least would be able to piece together—a little of what she wasn’t saying.
“I’ll think about it,” Caius said.
“Let me know what you decide.”
Or don’t.
As long as he didn’t ask her any further questions on what sort of children Selene protected or where those children came from.
Caius considered Kira, his gaze intrusive enough that she began to grow uncomfortable.
“What?”she asked, not bothering with politeness.
“I think I met your sister,” Caius announced.
Up ahead, Jin jerked, looking back at them.
Kira signaled him not to interfere.
“Did you?”Kira asked, remaining composed despite the way her pulse pounded in her throat.
Caius’s slow smile possessed a little too much shrewdness as he eyed her.“Interesting woman.Really likes plants.”
He was talking about Pityrodia Augustensis, Kira realized.
“You sound admiring.”
“Why wouldn’t I be?Those plants of hers saved my life.When we were recaptured, I was so sure she’d follow.I worried about it actually.Thought I even saw her at one point during my torture.”Caius pretended to shrug.“I guess not.”
Kira wouldn’t be so sure.Some of Belladonna’s higher ups—those not dealt with by Jin’s swarm—had been killed by something.There’d been no marks on them and no signs of trauma.By all appearances, they died quickly and mostly painlessly.Gus was as likely a culprit as anyone.She might have seen Kira coming and decided to fade into the background.
Jin glanced back at her, his careful expression showing he was paying more attention to their conversation than he should have been.
“Ah, well, I’d still like to thank her for what she did for us,” Caius continued.
“I hope you get the chance.”Kira stepped past him.“The person you came across could have been anyone though.Likes plants isn’t exactly a descriptor.”
“She called herself Gus,” Caius told her back.
Kira couldn’t help the way she paused to listen.
Caius sauntered toward her.“She also had the same habit as you of ending conversations whenever they made her uncomfortable.”He lowered his voice so only she could hear.“Don’t worry, little heir.Her secrets are safe with me.”He gave Kira a mischievous smile.“I will find her though.We have unfinished business, she and I.”
Caius smiled at Kira again before sauntering over to the children, taking the two youngest by their hands as the eldest tagged along at his heels.
Oh, Augustensis.You have no idea what you’ve done.
Caius was as bullheaded and dogged as Graydon.Maybe more so since he didn’t have the dignity of the emperor to consider.
Gus had better hide.And hide well.
Caius would hunt her.He wouldn’t stop until he found her either.
“What was that about?”Jin asked, coming up to her.
“It seems Caius has a new fixation.”
