“Seraian.”
“Seraian?” She looked at the man with the stars on his shoulders.
He shook his head. “That's not one of the alien races we're familiar with.”
“There are alien races that you're familiar with?!” I gaped at him.
He ignored me, keeping his focus on Kas. “Where is your ship?”
“I don't sail.”
“The spaceship that brought you to Earth.”
“I didn't arrive on any sort of ship.”
“Then how did you arrive?”
I shook my head.
Kaspian lifted his chin.
“Already?” Ms. Shin tsked. “I thought you'd give your lover a little longer before we tortured him.”
“Wait. What?” My stare shot to her.
“Let's see just how fast you heal, Mr. Gabris.” Shin held out her hand and one of the lab guys put a scalpel in it. Like she was a doctor on one of those ER shows.
“Hurt him in any way, even the smallest scratch, and I will tear out your throat.” Kaspian bared his teeth.
The clicks of cocking guns echoed.
“Your weapons will not save you.” Kaspian's snarl turned into a grin—a grin that sent chills down my spine.
Shin positioned the scalpel above my thigh, holding it like a dagger. “All you have to do is answer our questions,Your Majesty. I have no desire to hurt Mr. Gabris. We seek knowledge. That is all.”
“Scholars do not wield blades.” Kaspian's eyes twitched. His arms also tensed, but he did that subtly, straining at the chains. They rustled. “Stick to your books or you'll learn why.”
Shin lifted the scalpel.
They faced off.
Kaspian had a wicked glare. He was no joke. But he'd never encountered the Asian Death Stare. Especially when wielded by a woman, the Asian Death Stare could stop someone in their tracks. It was the ultimate stare on the planet in my opinion. Hardcore to the extreme. It kept many Asian kids in line.
Kaspian buckled.
“Don't,” I said. “She may hurt me a little, but it won't be anything fatal. I'm too valuable.”
“You say that scholars don't wield blades.” Shin flicked the scalpel through her fingers, twisting it like an acrobat. “I am not a scholar, Your Majesty. I am a scientist. And scientists know how to dissect. I will slice your lover apart, bit by bit, keeping him alive, letting him heal after every cut. Perhaps I'll even extricate a few organs to study and see if Mr. Gabris can regrow them.” She narrowed her eyes at Kas. “Just to test my theory.”
“I came through a rift,” Kaspian said.
“Don't tell them anything you don't want to!” I shouted. “She's not going—”
Shin stabbed me with the scalpel.
Taken by surprise, I screamed. Blood gushed from my wound as she jerked the scalpel out. It had gone deep. Those things were sharp, and she wasn't foolin' around.
Kaspian roared and strained at the chains. Metal creaked. Soldiers went tense. Guns shook.
