The kind of knowing that lived in your bones, deeper than thought. Grandpa had called it "reading the animal." Said some folks had it and some didn't, and that it was worth more than all the book learning in the world.
"I know." Ahrick's voice was soft, sad.
I looked up sharply. "You know?"
"Kill Declan Hewes."
The needle slipped. I caught it before it could do damage, but my hands went numb.
I stared at him, my mind struggling to process what he'd just said. "What?"
"It's my mission too."
My hands were shaking now, but I managed to tie the stiches off. Not a bad job. "How do you—"
"The Prime wants Hewes dead." His voice was flat, matter-of-fact. "I'm here to make sure that happens."
"We're on the same mission?"
"Yes."
"But—why haven't you—killed him." I'd watched this guy fight. Surely if he wanted Declan dead, he'd be that way already.
"He's protected better than I expected. Then when I found out you were being sent here I couldn't risk it. Not until I knew you were safe." He met my eyes, and there was something in his gaze that made my breath catch. "Hewes is a monster. He deserves what's coming."
"Yes," I whispered. "He does."
A knock at the door made us both freeze.
Ahrick moved faster than I would have thought possible for someone so injured. He was on his feet, positioning himself between me and the door, his body a wall of muscle.
"Stay behind me," he said quietly.
The door opened.
One of the females who'd bathed me earlier stood there, holding a tray of food. Her eyes were downcast, movements careful, intended to make her unobtrusive. She set the tray on the small table and left without a word.
I looked at the tray. Real food. Not the slop they'd given me before. Meat that looked halfway fresh. Bread. Something that might have been vegetables.
My stomach growled.
Ahrick relaxed slightly, picking up the tray and moving back to the bed. "Eat."
He sat the tray between us and we ate in silence at first, both of us too hungry to talk. But as the edge came off my hunger, my mind started working again.
"How do we get to him?" I asked.
"Hewes?"
"Yes."
Ahrick was quiet for a moment, chewing thoughtfully. "I don't know yet."
"You don't have a plan?"
"Do you?"
I wanted to lie. Wanted to say I had everything figured out. But what was the point?
