Page 92 of Seer Prophet

“What if you got knocked out?” I asked, still fighting annoyance. “Didn’t you ever read that story about the woman whose husband had a heart attack while they were fucking and left her handcuffed to the bed? And then wolves ate her?”

“No!” He let out a disbelieving laugh. “And I have a check-in switch timed, love. It would unlock you automatically if I didn’t respond.”

“What if youdied?”I retorted.

“Then you’re dead anyway, wife,” he said, smiling.

I bit my lip, fighting a curse.

He seemed to pick up on that, too.

“I told you I wouldn’t be reasonable about this, love.”

“Reasonable?” I snorted. “Since when have you ever beenreasonableabout anything, Revik? Do you plan to come back anytime soon, at least?”

“Of course.” I heard him smile.

Feeling anger win out briefly over amusement, I let my voice grow sharper. “Are you seriously punishing me? For what? The Macau thing going south? Or just for me being abducted and nearly killed last year?”

There was a silence.

“Nearlykilled?” he queried innocently. “Did you just saynearly,wife?”

I bit my lip. Then, snorting a little, I exhaled, clicking up at the ceiling.

Before I could answer directly, he continued in a more serious voice.

“…And no, wife. Not punishing.” He seemed to think about my words for a few seconds more. “Punishing… no.”

“Then, what?” I asked, exasperated. “Is this just getting you off?”

He chuckled, not answering at first.

I almost felt him glance around the room.

“Did I mention I’m not alone?” he queried.

“You did mention that,” I grumbled.

“Any requests for breakfast?” His voice had that maddeningly innocent tone again.

“No.” I said, still grumbling. After a pause, I changed my mind. “Wait,” I amended. “Fruit. If there is any. Blueberries, preferably. Bananas.”

“Coffee?”

I rolled my eyes, letting my weight collapse back on the mattress. “Do you even need to ask?”

“I fixed the wall monitor,” he said, after another pause. “I’ll be back soon.”

Before I could protest, he switched off.

I tried to raise him again but hit dead air.

He must have turned the damned thing off.

Rearranging my shoulders as best I could, I shoved a pillow under my upper back before taking off the earpiece and tossing it on the bedspread. I looked to the featureless wall on my left, specifically the segment over Revik’s desk.

A few paper books sat on the desk, along with a wristband comp he wore some days, particularly if he happened to be coordinating a lot with Vikram. Hisurelelay next to the books, probably from training sessions he’d been conducting with Maygar.

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