“N.I.M.?!” He couldn’t find it. “It’s not here. When I left them, they were both in here.”
“I haven’t seen in,” Falc said.
“That’s it!” Nuri got up and snatched Silver’s muti-slate off the desk. “He’s got a secret program on there that allows—yes!” The app wasn’t even well hidden now that Nuri knew what to look for. Once he clicked on it, a list of actions appeared on the small screen, and he clicked the one titled Emergency Message.
“I don’t understand,” Falc told him.
“His multi-slate is connected to my N.I.M., which he must have taken with him,” he explained. “All we have to do is wait for—” The matching gold device attached to Nuri’s wrist began to ring, N.I.M. Narek flashing in bold colors. He hit the answer button. “Silver?!”
“Are you hurt?” the Emperor’s voice came through the speaker, and Falc noticeably sighed, despite the fact that he sounded tired.
“Where the hell are you? Areyouhurt?” Nuri growled.
“Don’t worry, Narek. I’m keeping my word.”
“You—” He stopped himself, the fury almost getting the best of him, and then somehow managed to contain his rage long enough to motion to Falc. “Could you please give us a moment?”
Falc hesitated for a second but then left, shutting the door behind him.
“Are you hurt, majesty? This is a question from your Royal Secretary. Please comply.”
“I’m fine,” Silver said. “If there’s no emergency, then—”
“Come home immediately.”
“I took you off the No Fly list. I’ll return once you’ve departed.”
Nuri opened his mouth, then slammed it shut. He couldn’t mean that? “What are you doing?”
“What you asked of me. I’m letting you go.” Silver made a pained sound, followed quickly by loud rustling.
Was he trying to cover it up? Hoping that Nuri hadn’t heard?
“Tell Falc not to worry. Once you’ve left the planet, I’ll return. Until then, don’t contact me again.”
“Wait—” Nuri’s mouth fell open and he started at his device.
He’d hung up on him.
Nuri tried to call N.I.M. directly, but went ignored.
That’s been Silver’s chance…Nuri had been the one to cave first, to reach out. He’d contacted him. Not only has Silver not made any demands of him, he also hadn’t mentioned the Swiftbond.
He’d told Nuri to go.
But if Nuri left the planet, the chaotic energy could kill Silver.
No, it would kill him, eventually. It was just a matter of when.
“What are you thinking?” he growled, holding the matching gold multi-slates in his hands. Silver wasn’t the type to give up that easily. This was basically akin to suicide. It was too out of character to be believed.
Nuri’s eyes landed on the spot by the door where Silver had dropped to his knees and clung to him like a child. He’d cried that day too.
The Emperor didn’t shed tears.
“He cried for me.” If he’d been telling the truth, and everything he did, he thought he was doing it for Nuri… “Is he…dying for me?”
That was insane. Even for Silver, who was in fact, insane.
