Maybe those two didn’t.
Mykel’s eyes darted to them and then back to me.
“I apologize for the way you were retrieved. I felt I had no other way to get you here.”
“Maybe ask nicely?” I folded my arms, trying to keep my body steady, the exhaustion making me dizzy.
Mykel laughed. “And if I did, would you have come?”
No, I wouldn’t have.
“Tracker and Lea said you are quite the fighter.” He gestured to the pair who had attacked me back in Budapest, their glares still digging into my skin. “I warned them you might be.”
“And just think.” I lifted my chin. “I was hurt, alone, and had chloroform pressed to my face.”
“Told you... the girl survived the Games.” Kek flipped back her braid, winking at me. “She wasn’t gonna go down so easy. I’ve seen her fight alegend.” Her brows wiggled. “I said you needed more than the five to capture you.”
My lids lowered on Kek. She was the reason he had a dozen people on me?
“With a normal person, five would have been enough.” Mykel’s head tilted in a way that reminded me of my father when he saw through my bullshit.
I glanced away, my feet shifting, my body swaying slightly.
“She’ll stand here fighting you until she actually falls over.” Kek waved down at me. “She’s that stubborn.”
“Just like her father.” Mykel shook his head, breaking the scrutinizing focus on me. “You must be hungry and tired.”
I was, but there was no way I could sleep right now.
Mykel must have seen it on my face because he responded. “At least come sit in my office. I think you and me, my dear niece, have a lot to catch up on.”
He took my non-response as agreement, his feet stepping back.
“Tracker, Ava, Blade, Sab.” He called out names, two women and two men, the ones I remembered the most from my kidnapping. “The prime minister and his consort have a meeting with some government officials in an hour. Go tail them.”
The four dipped their heads, immediately heading out.
“Ava couldn’t come up with a cool code name?” I watched the group leave.
“Ava is for Avalanche.” Mykel peered back at me, his eyebrow curving up. “When she fights, she crushes.”
“Really?” I snorted. “Didn’t feel all that crushing to me.”
“I told them to go easy. I didn’t want you hurt,” Mykel replied before he fully turned. “Follow me,” he ordered, striding out of the room.
“Better follow, little lamb.” Kek nodded toward him.
My attention went to her, my mixed emotions about her evident on my face.
“You’ll have plenty of time to try and kick my perky demon ass later.” A grin hinted on her mouth. “And I might even let you.”
I could feel Kek’s cheeky attitude chipping away at my anger, which annoyed me more.
My lesson was learned. Everyone wanted me for something. I was a commodity, not a person. I couldn’t let my walls down again.
There was no one I could trust.
Following Mykel through the hallways with two guards riding my ass, my mind absorbed every detail we went by. No windows. Stone and cement walls with water pipes. Electrical wires lined the ceilings like a motorway. Fire bulbs flickered everywhere, trying to keep things bright, though the panic of being underground rubbed the base of my spine, clenching at my chest like hands. Fortunately, or unfortunately, my mind and body were too tired and loopy to really let my anxiety take over.
