How many times did he need to threaten her for her to fear him? It took only four days for her to recognize them as empty.
“What did Dr. Cooper do to you?” Kira asked again.
“I already told you.”
“That was never my question. I meant tonight.”
“Nothing.” He whirled around too quickly for how dizzy he was. “I'm taking medication to help me through my recent loss.”
The suspicion filled her eyes. “What kind of medicine?”
“Stay out of my business.” It stoked his anger just talking about it. “I'm fine.”
Kira didn't look convinced. “The reprogramming never stops, does it?”
Damn, was she bright. It was more dangerous than he'd anticipated to bring her here. She saw through people.
He snarled and stalked to his room.
CHAPTER 11
Miya
The Territories
Archai, Caspador
833 P.C. [Post-Collapse]
Word of Lance Krowe spread the morning after Miya met the captain. Guests from across the province gathered in Governor Krowe’s banquet hall, whispering about the sudden addition to the house. Krowe drank up the attention at the front of the room, nearing the ten-minute mark in his speech. He leaned against a grand piano and tapped his fingers on the shining black top. His nephew, Lance Krowe, sat at the front table. Hadn’t said a word all night.
Miya rolled her shoulders. The weight of a pitcher of water in one hand and tea in the other tired her arms. Silk-covered tables fanned in curved rows from the edge of the dancing area and stage to the end of the room. The tips of pale Manzanita trees glowed with creamy candles hanging from the end of every row.
“That smell,” a guest complained, pinching her sharp nose.
The red and white rose centerpieces glistened as if freshly watered. They looked real enough, but the absence of their aroma couldn’t be missed. In its place, rose perfume clogged the air. That felt way too symbolic of Caspador in general. Their kingdom created such poor disguises.
A gentleman near her scratched the white scruff on his cheeks and finished off his tea. “I haven’t spoken with a single fellow who’s heard of this Lance Krowe.”
Miya sidled to her left and worked her way toward the table. That sounded interesting.
“Krowe did say the boy serves in Caspador’s Royal Guard.”
Could Lance be an undercover agent? Made sense. Only King Moress would be stupid enough to try fooling Ciondo with such a trick.
The man grabbed his drink. “Bah! They don’t train for their entire lives like the Ciondians. The boy would have been around here at some point. I'll bet he's a bastard.”
“Stop it.” A woman with flowing white hair touched his elbow. “People will hear you mocking the poor man.”
“Governor Krowe tried to please King Moress and the Phaedra at the same time and ran Caspador into the ground. I don’t care who's listening.”
If they needed to hide anything about Lance, why throw this party for him? Then again, the governor lived his life on the stage, facing suspicion with a charming smile. The captain wouldn’t ask her to get close to Lance without good reason. She eased her way toward the man of the hour, trying to get a better look at him.
Conversation around the room hushed when Krowe thrust out his arm, puffed up his chest, and welcomed his nephew with a voice that seemed better fit for an announcer. Lance rose and all the visitors gawked, desperate for a piece of gossip.
He stood a full head taller than his uncle. Broad-shouldered, possibly mid-twenties, just a few years younger than her. Slouching, Lance glanced at the crowd with his deep brown eyes before diverting his stare to his shoes.
Miya scratched the back of her neck. Not sure what she’d expected, but this wasn’t it.
