“Oh?” the captain asked, eyebrows raised. “And why is that?”
“I think that’s my cue,” Marco said, taking several theatrical steps toward the squat headquarters building. “Good luck with… uh…” His eyes traveled over my face with a grimace. “Well. Good luck, sir.”
Voice pitched low enough to go no further than his ears, I deigned to answer my parasite. Pressing close enough for his breath to warm my lips as I planted scarred right palm to his chest. “You cannot hold me,” I drawled, letting him see what was bubbling beneath the surface. “Not for long. Even now, your grip loosens, Captain Rawlings. It’s only a matter of time…” I trailed off, tracing the hard planes of muscle beneath black fabric. Fingers spreading, creeping… searching…
He trapped my wrist as my palm connected with my prize. “You think the rebels are coming to save you?” he asked, lips brushing my ear. “Think you can help them break our line, hmm?” Tugging my hair over one shoulder, his next words traced the right side of my neck. “You think what Sasha did for you today is enough, my little lunatic? Do you actually believe she did anything without my knowing it? Without my…” he paused, stubble rasping at my jawline, “…permission.”
That something cold and wriggly from the High Priestess’ office returned, bigger now. Slimy. “You’re lying.”
He smiled. Stepped back, though his hand lingered above my hip. Thumb tracing my lower back.
Trying to crush the icky cold thing, I let my fingers curl around the pendant, straining to pull strength from the lost family heirloom. “Is it really so hard to admit you’re going to lose?”
“You’ll have to let me know,” he returned, glancing at my lips.
“Rawlings! What in the blazes are you doing out here?”
I whirled, jumping back from the captain with a pathetic little squeak, cheeks flaming with guilt.
General Tilcot stood in the doorway, glaring down at us, assuming much the same position as the captain had only minutes prior.
“Mila was just expressing her concern that the rebel scum are so close,” the captain said, grip shifting to my shoulder, tight enough to bruise. “I thought it prudent to explain just how unfounded her fear is.”
“Ah, Priestesses,” the general said, and joined us in the muck. “Such soft creatures, aren’t they? Meant to kneel to Elites, but unable to stomach the truth ofwhythey were born with power. Except this one.” His head tilted to the side as he inspected me. “She’s… different.”
“Different, sir?” The bond flooded with adrenaline, making my heart pound though I was not the one with sweating palms and white knuckles.
“Of course,” the general replied, flicking a bit of dirt off his sleeve. “Living as she did, I’m sure her head is filled with all sorts of rebel propaganda. And if you’re right, Rawlings,” he continued, “then I’m sure she thinks whatever technology they’ve managed to slop together in those dank caves will be enough to break the Empire.” He laughed, taking hold of my chin with forefinger and thumb. “That, and she managed to temptyou, when so many others could not.”
My muscles trembled, such was the force of will required to keep my jaws sealed around the vitriol burning the back of my throat.
“What was Sasha’s assessment of the girl?”
“Triloth of moderate potential,” the captain replied without pause, and that something cold spread to the bottom of my gut, for of course, Sasha hadn’t spoken to him. Marco hadn’t passed along any information in their short conversation, and unless the captain could be in two places at once, he couldn’t have spoken to the High Priestessandbeen back in time to meet us here at headquarters.
Unless… the captaindidhave a deal with the High Priestess to keep my identity concealed. The teachings of the Goddess traded for pretty trinkets filled with scraps of power.
“Ah, well. That’s unfortunate, but I suppose another Triloth added to the ranks is better than nothing. Come, Rawlings,” the general said, beckoning with a crooked finger, turning away. “I’m eager to see what the Golden Boy can do with his new toy. Laying a few dead vermin at her feet should adjust our menace’s opinion of the Empire’s power, hmm?”
Dead? I bared my teeth, watching the phantom corpses of good men rotting in the general’s eyes—and the dam burst. “You willnotdo harm with my power.”
“I beg your pardon?” Half-turning, the general raised his brows.
The captain made to restrain me, but I slipped from his grasp. “I will not allow you to use my power to harm those people.” Not when that harm was earmarked for the very man standing before me, reeking of death and foolish enough to show me his back.
Squaring his shoulders, the general’s smug face lit from within. “And what, may I ask, will you do to stop us? You, a girl who wears the collar of the man who bought her at auction. A girl who ownsnothing.Isnothing but a power source with a warm hole. Don’t think I’ve forgotten the absurd circumstances of your capture, slut. And”—he sneered—“I’m sure the curator will agree with me. When the slaver has been brought in, your interrogation will begin as soon as I’ve finished with his.”
“I—”
The captain clapped his palm over my lips. “My apologies for Mila’s temper, sir. I can assure you, she’ll be disciplined for her outburst. Enthusiastically.”
“I seem to recall telling you to do something about her temperament once already, Rawlings.”
“Yes, sir,” the captain said, voice tight, pinning his front to my back. “She was at the infirmary all morning, and I haven’t had the chance—”
“Did I ask for excuses?”
A tremor passed from the captain, into me. “No. You didn’t. Sir.”
