“Would you consider adding a baseline command? Something to fully test her regulated behavior? For example, tell her to slice off her own finger…”
Janine Hart sucks in a breath. “Enough. Go clear away the equipment.
“Yes, Doctor, I’m sorry.”
She returns her attention to me. “Wes will show you to the bathroom, get cleaned up.”
I continue with my bland expression. “Yes, ma’am.”
Janine Hart opens a door. “There is a fresh uniform for her in my office, Wesley. See she smartens up. We’ve an ascension to attend.”
7
Both Maximus and Donovan pass out asleep as soon as we return to the apartment.
I’m so fucking jealous, but also too wound up to even attempt the same.
Shedding the uniform I’d donned for the assembly, I pull out a navy Dries Van Noten suit.
The exquisite wool flannel soothes a little of my frayed edges, but it’s not enough to have me fully functional.
And I’ve already drunk the coffee pot dry—metaphorically.
I don’t drink coffee from a ‘pot’ but my gold pour-over coffee cone has been put through its paces.
I’m knotting a tie when someone pounds on the apartment door.
Neither Dono, nor Maximus stir, so I open it myself.
Feniks is there, flanked by Theodora’s Defectivum friends.
“Ten minutes until my ride is here,” I mutter, “so make it fast.”
Walking past Donovan, I give him a kick. “Wake up, asshole.” At the same time, Fenicks flicks his cousin on the forehead. “Up, now! Concentrate!” he barks.
Sometimes I think that fake professor and I could be friends.
Max yawns and peels open a lid, fixing his gaze on me. “Man, you look rough.”
“Haven’t slept in thirty-six hours, remember? And now I have to face a Conclave meeting, so keep your remarks to yourself.”
“Chill,” Maximus groans, sitting up. “Tie a cashmere sweater over your shoulders or something, that normally makes you feel better.”
Donovan puts a hand on my back. “Coffee?”
I shrug him off. “I now have six minutes. Talk, Feniks.”
He nods. I’m glad he understands the urgency.
“Ludo is still AWOL. Maximus tracked him to the building site. After dark we are considering shifting to get him out.” He gives me a piercing look. “You are going back to the capitol, so have the most chance of tracking down Theo—or Wes. Do you have a strategy for that?”
Do I? My brain feels like scrambled eggs.
“Er, I’ll have to play it by ear. Who the fuck knows what’s going down tonight.”
Someone presses a bottle of water into my hand. Bloomhower. “Hydrate,” she says.
I unscrew the top and chug the whole lot.
