I shake my head to myself. So Betima and “Kaine” had known each other that whole time? I never even suspected they were anything but strangers meeting for the first time. I wonder if I’ll ever be half as good an operative as they were.
“Adrienne and Gray didn’t want her to go in,” Teriq says, visibly swallowing. “They think empaths are too unreliable. But I had confidence in my sister. She was a great shot, quick under pressure. If anyone could have backed Gray up, it was her. And I thought she had a strong shield. She was always able to fully control the empath tendencies.”
“I’m sure she could under normal circumstances. You had no idea somebody would die in her arms.”
Teriq stares into his coffee. “I should’ve voted against it. Sent someone else. I…” He swallows. “I got her killed.”
This time, I can’t ignore his pain. “I get it. It was my fault that Jim—Julian,” I correct, “was caught. I drew the attention of a Command soldier in my village, and that’s why they showed up at our ranch. One of the officers recognized him.” I gnaw the inside of my lip. “I’m the reason he was arrested, so…yeah…I know what it’s like to feel like you got someone you love killed.”
We both fall silent for a moment.
Finally, he clears his throat. “Anyway, I’ll get out of your hair.”
I almost beg him to stay, but he’s already pushing back his chair, leaving me to finish the rest of my lunch alone.
REPORT TO THE TEMPLE AT 09:00
The alert greets me when I wake the next morning, triggering a rush of trepidation. I’m supposed to train with Hawkins today and…well…he scares me.
A knock sounds on my door as I’m finishing getting ready. I tie my hair in a twist atop my head, then go to answer it, finding Gray standing there, looking quite handsome in a gray flight suit.
“Don’t hate me,” he says.
“What, you’re going to fake your own death again?”
His eyes twinkle. “No. But I will be off the base until tomorrow.”
“I thought you guys were going dark for a while.”
“We are. But Adrienne needs to go to the city. I’m her transport.”
“Please let me come,” I beg.
He just laughs. “No.”
“What am I supposed to do here on my own? I still don’t even have a work assignment.”
“Actually, you start this afternoon. You should be receiving the details on your comm soon.”
“Can I see Xavier today?” I’m starting to worry about him. For allI know, he’s in some torture chamber now, his skin flayed and fingernails shredded down to the nail beds.
“You can take that up with Kallister. But I doubt they’ll reward him with a visitor when he’s spent days refusing to talk.”
“Talk about what?” I say irritably. “He’s not going to spill all the Command’s secrets, if that’s what you’re hoping for. But at least give him a chance to prove he can be loyal to us.”
“He can prove his loyalty by selling out his former people,” is Gray’s response, and while I appreciate that, I also know Xavier would never reveal anything that might endanger Cross. Neither would I. “Like I said, talk to Kallister. Ade and I will be off the grid until tomorrow night.”
“Will you have breakfast with me before you leave?” I ask hopefully.
He looks like he’s trying not to laugh. “Sorry, cowgirl. Can’t hold your hand today.”
Once he’s gone, I duck inside to put on my shoes and grab my comm, sliding the device into my pocket. When I step into the corridor, I think my brain has glitched until I realize, yes, thatisa girl—a different one this time—sneaking out of Saint’s room for the second consecutive morning. Once again, his veiled green eyes find mine, that half smirk appearing before he shuts his door.
In the mess hall, I grab a bowl of cinnamon oatmeal and a coffee. I don’t see any familiar faces, so I find a seat alone in the corner of the room.
I’ve barely taken a bite when Karra appears. She stands over me, arms crossed. Her expression isn’t quite antagonistic, but it’s not friendly, either.
“Morning,” I say politely.
