Page 8 of Her Cyborg Commander
River’s message continued, “I left because I had to. I’m a threat to everyone who matters to me, and this is the only way I can protect you all. I’ve known this day might come since we discovered what the bastards on Reamus did to me. I wanted to stay and be part of this wonderful place, but it wasn’t meant to be. If I’m gone, something happened that made it clear I’m a threat to Haven. I made contingency plans, and now I’m implementing them.”
Edge grimaced and snarled wordlessly. She should have come to him. Why thefraxxwould she think she had to do this alone?
Another soft laugh rose from the device in his hand, this one entwined with layers of regret he heard beneath the levity. He knew that sound because he lived with it every day, and it pissed him off to hear it inhervoice. He was their leader. Her leader. It was his job to shoulder the burden of what might have been for the others.
“Stop making that face, Edge. I know you want me to get to the point of this message so you can order everyone to go looking for me, even though that’s the last thing you should do. Let me protect all of you the best way I know how. Let me go.”
The recording paused. There was a click, and then the playback began again. This time her voice was different, more uncertain than he’d heard from her in ages.
“I’m adding this so you all know why I had to leave. Dr. Troyan Jens sent me a message today. You’ll find it attached to a music file. Sissy will know which one.” River’s voice cracked, but she kept talking. “He found me, and he has the means to get a message to me despite all our security. You all know what that means. He wants me back, and I will not put anyone else in danger because of one man’s insane obsession. I need to be somewhere else, somewhere far from the colony. If I am, it’s possible he’ll leave the rest of you alone.
“Protect each other. Protect our home. Don’t let them tear down everything we’ve built together. I wish I could be part of that, but you have to let me go. It’s the only way.”
That seemed to be the end of the recording, but before the device shut down, he heard two words whispered so softly he almost missed them. “I’m sorry.”
Hearing that was a sucker punch to the gut. He woofed out a breath he hoped no one else heard as he fought back a wave of emotion he had no interest in dealing with. Feelings were a luxury a male like him couldn’t afford. They’d slow him down and make him weak when the situation demanded he be strong.
No one noticed his moment of weakness, though. They were too busy having their own reactions to what they’d heard. Some were horrified. Others were angry. Most were uneasy even speaking that son-of-a-starbeast’s name.
“Why would this doctor guy come after River and not anyone else?” Edge looked around to find the owner of the voice. It wasn’t one of his cyborgs. It was… “What are you doing here?” he demanded, scowling at Cameron Allen. The human male had no reason to be part of this discussion.
The male threw up his hands and grinned. “Hey, don’t snap at me, big guy. I was minding my own business, enjoying my meal, when all of you showed up and started talking.”
Edge rubbed a hand over his bearded jaw and tried not to grind his teeth in frustration. Right. They were in the middle of a public restaurant, and that was no place for the conversation that needed to happen next.
He stood up so fast several of the cyborgs nearest him backed up as if expecting violence. “I need to speak to the rest of the council. The rest of you do what you can to help the investigation. Talk to Skye. Make a plan. I want regular updates.”
“So, we’re going after her?” Skye asked. “Despite the fact she told us not to?”
“We are. Which is why I’m going to update the council. They’ll need to help, and we need to prepare for whatever is coming.”
“You mean Jens,” Skye said, her voice flat and cold.
“I do. If you haven’t told that spymaster of yours who he is and what he’s capable of, now’s the time.”
“He knows,” was all Skye said.
“Then he’ll understand what’s at stake.” Edge clapped a hand on Skye’s shoulder and squeezed briefly. “I know this isn’t easy for you. River wasn’t the only one he hurt. If you need to talk…”
Skye barked out a laugh. “You may be my friend, Edge, but you are the last one I’d come to if I needed to talk about my feelings. You’re more screwed up than the rest of us combined.”
He flicked up two fingers in a rude gesture he’d learned from the Vardarians and strode toward the door. “Anya, I’ll be back to pay up later. Gotta go.”
“I’ll add it to your tab,” the human female retorted.
“Hey, why does he get to run a tab?” Ruin asked.
“Because he pays his. You don’t.”
“That was one time!”
Despite everything, Edge left the tavern with a ghost of a smile on his lips. An interrupted meal, a new crisis, and someone getting called out for their bullshit. It was a typical day in Haven.
Everyone came as soon as he sent out the call. Some arrived at their usual meeting place ahead of him, and the rest hurried in within minutes. There were no friendly greetings this time. Everyone took their seat and waited in silence for the last few beings to arrive.
The moment they were all seated, Edge told them everything he knew. It wasn’t much, and to his annoyance, it appeared that at least one other council member already knew River was missing. The prince didn’t say anything, but his expression made it clear he wasn’t hearing anything new.
The questions came at him fast and furious the moment he finished his summary of the situation. With River gone, he was the only cyborg on the council. An election for several new seats, as well as hers, was scheduled for the beginning of next month, but for now, he was the only one present who knew what had made her decide to leave.
