“Turn around,” Wilcox said.
“Okay, but I'm going to reach behind myself and pull this stupid hospital gown shut first. I don't want to sit on metal with a bare ass.”
“Oh, for fuck's sake.”
“Go ahead,” the other guy said.
“Thanks.” I grabbed the edges of the gown and held them together as I turned around.
One of them pushed the metal chair behind me and held it in place.
“Sit,” Wilcox said.
I sat down and barked at Wilcox like a dog.
He snorted a laugh even as his buddies slapped the hinged, metal restraints over my wrists and ankles. Then they wheeled me backward into the hallway. Wilcox put his gun away and led the way down to another room. He knocked on the door. Yet another soldier opened it, peered out at me, nodded, and stepped back inside.
They wheeled me into a much larger room than the one I'd been in. But there was less in it. At least in the way of furniture. On one side of the room, a crowd of lab coats huddled behind Ms. Shin. Among them was that blond who I thought was in charge. In front of Ms. Shin were several armed soldiers, all of whom had guns aimed at Kaspian. The man who had answered the door went to stand beside Ms. Shin. He didn't pull his gun, but that probably had something to do with all the gold stars on his uniform.
That was all the attention I gave to everyone who wasn't Kaspian. Just one glance and then I was staring at him. Kas occupied the other end of the room, filling the space as he did. He wore a hospital gown, like me, and restrained, but not like me. Thick chains bound Kas to the cement wall by his wrists, neck, ankles, and thighs. I'd never seen anyone bound like that, not even in a movie. On top of that, he was gagged. And it was a serious gag, not just some fabric tied around his head. This thing looked like a dominatrix's wet dream.
I had to stop myself from calling out his name, remembering at the last second that they didn't know it. A name might not give them any power over him—I mean, he wasn't a demon—but I wanted to hold back as much as I could for as long as I could.
As soon as Kaspian saw me, his eyes went wide, and he started struggling. They wheeled me in front of him. As they parked my metal chair, I subtly shook my head at him. Freaking out would not help us.
Kas went still. All but his stare, which slid over me before returning to my eyes.
“Mr. Gabris here says that he doesn't know anything about you.” Ms. Shin's heels clicked as she stepped over to me, her stare locked on Kas. “Remove his gag.” She waved at the soldiers.
Three of them went forward—two kept their guns trained on Kas while the third holstered his and unsnapped the gag. Kaspian spat as a plastic bit was removed from his mouth.
He licked his lips and asked me, “Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I'm okay. How 'bout you?”
Kaspian chuckled. “Oh, I'm lovely. Thank you for asking.”
“What the fuck is with these two?” one of the soldiers behind me muttered.
“I told you humans can be dicks,” I said.
“Yes, but this is beyond dickhood.”
“Dickhood?” I laughed. “You made up a word. Look at you. Well done. How very American.”
“Yes, congratulations,” Ms. Shin inserted into the conversation. “Now, why don't we start with your name? What should we call you?”
“You can call me 'Your Majesty,'” Kaspian said.
My lips twitched.
No one else found it funny.
“Are you claiming to be a king?” Ms. Shin asked.
“I am a king, yes.”
“And what race are you?”
