Page 52 of Veiled Vixen

My eyebrows shoot up. “Why would you think that? He died.”

“Did he?”

“I’m assuming he did. I have no other information that he didn’t.”

She frowns. “What did you want to see me about?”

“Well. Where do I even start? Luck hates my guts. The princess rebellion is out of control. Apparently, before the gates were closed down, hundreds of former harem princesses came back to join the rebellion. The whole thing is being run by some red-haired woman called Seline.”

“Captain Red. I’ve heard of her.”

“She’s a fucking bitch. She shot me. It was on stun, but still. Lady said I was dead and she had to bring me back to life.”

Veila looks at me, eyes tracking over my body, looking for damage. There’s no apparent signs that I was shot because my shirt isn’t scorched or anything. And I don’t feel like lifting it up to show her the red, sore skin of my chest to prove it because… well, I don’t want her looking at me. So I move on and assume she believes me.

“And it fuckin’ hurt. So anyway. Things are a mess down there.”

“Did you get anywhere with him?”

“Well… not far, to be honest.”

“What have I told you about lying?”

“There is no point in lying to you, Veila. It is what it is. He’s having a hard time believing me. And trusting me. And to be completely honest, that hurts more than the fucking plasma stun.”

“Why do you care about him when you have Tray?”

“I don’t have Tray. I don’t even know if I want Tray, if he’s alive. I love Luck, OK? That’s just how it is.”

“And he loves Nyleena.”

“I know that. It’s complicated. But I can’t hurt him. Or Nyleena. Or any of them, actually. Not the Baby. Not those asshole outlaws who have turned on me. Not even the psycho princesses. We all have to come out of this alive and all right. That’s my deal.”

She frowns. “I’m not sure I can deliver that at this point.”

“You can do your best.”

“Why would you even believe me?”

“I don’t believe you. I don’t even like you. I’m not playing around here, Veila. If I had the chance I’d kill you. But if saving my friends and my people means I have to save you too, then fuck it. That’s all I have left.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Which part?”

“Who do you think we’re running from?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re acting like we’re all on the same side. So who do you think is the enemy?”

“You, I guess.”

“That makes no sense, Valor.”

She’s right. It doesn’t. “Here’s a question for you. Why are you suddenly so… quiet?”

“And by quiet you mean…?”