Ria lifted her chin and pushed her hair back. “My species is called the Pictori.” She showed off the tiny ridges running from her temple down to her neck.
He stared. No, impossible. It was Vik’s face, her hair, her eyes, her body.
“I’ve never heard of the Pictori,” Nik said. “Where are you from?”
She swallowed, glancing around at all of them before her gaze settled once more on Zayn. “The Devil’s Nebula. I’m part of the Assassin’s Guild.”
CHAPTER FOUR
“Thatis Vik. I know it.” Zayn kept his voice low as he huddled with his brothers. But he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“Okay, okay.” Dath dragged a hand through his hair. “Take it easy. They might look the same, but everyone knows there are billions of people in the galaxy. There are bound to be a few who look alike.”
“No.” Zayn’s gut was screaming the confirmation.
“She’s a different species, Zayn.” Nik’s voice was low and steady.
“They’ve altered her appearance, wiped her memories.” There had to be a rational explanation. Something that made her Viktoria.
Zayn spun and strode closer to where she sat perched on the edge of an armchair in their rec area.
“So, you were raised in the Devil’s Nebula. You remember your childhood?”
She swallowed. “Yes. The Guild raises children in isolation from the adults and starts their preliminary training early. Once I became an adult, I entered my full training.”
“You don’t remember the planet Delta V?” The farming world Vik couldn’t wait to escape.
Ria shook her head. “I’ve never been there.”
Zayn frowned, his gut churning. He watched the way she looked at him. There was something in her gaze. It wasn’t just a stranger watching a stranger.
She cleared her throat. “Look, I need your help to steal the derringer.”
“We’ll help you if you take a bio test.” The words blurted out of Zayn.
“Z.” Dathan’s tone held warning. “You know we all have to agree to take a hunt.”
“I’ll give you details about the derringer’s location.” Her gaze was steady. “And I’ll take the test.” She looked straight at Zayn. “As long as you can handle the fact that I’m not your lost friend.”
“Zayn, sit down.” Dathan moved over and sank onto a couch. He dragged Eos down beside him. “So, it was Ria, right?”
“Yes.”
“Tell us why you want to steal from your own Guild.”
She was silent for a second. “I want out.”
Zayn blinked. “The Guilds never let people go.”
“I don’t belong there.” Shadows in her eyes. “I’m not a killer. I ran six months ago and?—”
“They’re hunting you,” Zayn finished. He’d heard the stories of members who’d tried to leave the Guild. It never ended well.
She nodded.
“How does the derringer help?”
“It’s their ultimate prize. Valued above all else. A symbol of what they do. With it, I can buy my freedom.”
