“The Phaedra will get an alert if you search. Then you'll out her.”
“Reinard helped me delete a search once. It's dangerous, but it might be worth it.”
Brock rubbed his eyes. “Sounds like you've made up your mind.”
If Miya worked this deeply for the United, then she was exactly the kind of person they needed to work with to save Kira.
CHAPTER 27
Miya
The Territories
Archai, Caspador
833 P.C. [Post-Collapse]
Miya stood at the window with a hotel robe wrapped tightly around her, drinking up a blue sky that stretched on forever. It would be a nice day for a walk outside. That was what she’d told Lance she'd do—shop at the market and stroll through downtown.
He worried whenever she left the house and tried to follow her. At first, she assured him she wasn’t seeing the captain, even if she was, and when that didn’t work, she stopped talking to him entirely except to make snide remarks. He was probably at home right now pacing around like he did when he was nervous.
Guilt bubbled beneath the frustration. Yesterday, she called him “the dumbass that wouldn't stop following” her around. Miya didn't want to drag him further into this danger, but insulting him didn't deter him.
Imagine if Lance knew the son of the High General came parading his double fucking seals in the bar. She hadn't sucked in a full breath since seeing them. The Phaedra sent one of the Rivens. They were all doomed.
The captain’s breath hit her cheek and forced her to feel his presence. “If Bale refuses to work with Rafferty, what will you say?” She tried to forget he was there, even as she spoke with him, tried to float off into that brilliant blue sky and never return.
“I won’t let him refuse,” she said.
“Very good.”
His hands were on her, gripping her shoulders, and in those strong fingers she felt the only warning she needed. The threat built in her, ready to burst, until Miya wanted to scream at him to stay away from her.
She sewed her mouth shut with sheer willpower and lulled herself back into her fantasy. The one where the armor she never took off protected her. No matter how many victories she clawed out of the world with her bare hands, she still lived with these fingers on her shoulders.
The captain’s palm worked over the imprint he’d left on her throat, cupping her from behind, trapping her head against his chest. “I'm the only one you need to fear, not Bale or the United.”
“Yes, sir.”
The captain ordered Miya to travel home with Lance and relay a message to Bale. Join with Ciondo to liberate Caspador from the king or die. Bale didn't have many resources to offer, and most of those able to fight already joined the Royal Guard, but his villages were woven into every region of the kingdom. With Rafferty's muscle, they could cause turmoil. The captain would step into the chaos they created to bring order and establish the Phaedra’s total control. All without other powerful countries in the world complaining about their heavy hand. The narrative suited the Phaedra, especially considering the entire world waited to see whether Ciondo would be invited to the summit in a few years.
“We'll show the High General's son we don't need him here,” Miya said.
The captain released her, and she shuddered in a breath. “That twat. He's so full of himself. Some of us have to work for what we have. We aren't born into it.”
“Exactly.” Funny, coming from Christopher. He'd definitely been born into all he had. “The Phaedra will see what you're accomplishing here. He'll realize you're the one he should have given double seals to.”
His mouth clamped over her neck, sucking a bruise, hands clutching her sides. “You'll make me late talking about that.”
Too easy. “I don't see what's so special about him. He's so uptight.”
“That's why I'm going to give his brother a call. I need to make sure little Riven isn't here getting in my way.”
Little Riven. Miya giggled at the name, assuming he thought he sounded clever and not like a jealous child.
“I wish I could skip this meeting.” He groaned against her ear. Breathed in her hair. “You're staying the night. Make yourself at home until I'm back.”
She couldn't wait to humiliate him for the entire empire to see.
