Page 115 of You Only Love Twice
Obsidian stared at her. "Gemma."
"Running away isn't an option," she told him sharply. "Jack's the best inventor I've ever met. Kincaid works with bio-mech, and Ava's brilliant when it comes to investigating a person's body. We could find a solution to the bomb in your head."
Silence.
Malloryn's head turned sharply toward her.
She couldn't stand it any longer. "You're already at risk. Helping to find me today might have finally convinced your brothers your loyalty has shifted. What if they detonate it today? You would never see it coming. This is your only hope. Please.Please.Tell them about the Chameleon Project and the neural implant."
"What neural implant?" Malloryn asked.
Obsidian released a slow breath. "The one in my head. The one in Jonathan Carlyle's head. The one in the head of the new Chameleon, who will be sent to assassinate the queen."
Color drained out of Malloryn's face. The others gasped.
He explained everything he'd told her the other night. A neural implant implanted in a person's head while under anesthetic. Hypnosis. Then either a remote-controlled activator, or a certain code phrase used to activate the device.
"You will not know who it is," Obsidian said softly. "But they will be within the Ivory Tower already, someone close to the queen. They will not even know themselves. It's most likely a blue blood, as the surgery heals so swiftly any sign of it is gone before they awaken. I do not know their identity. Ghost's been... difficult of late."
Malloryn looked pale. "We have to alert the queen."
* * *
The Ivory Towerhad long ceased to awe her, but as Gemma strode toward the elevation chamber within it, she realized Obsidian had fallen behind.
Sunset's dying rays speared down though the hollow core of the tower, highlighting the hard planes of his face as he looked up.
"See something you like?" she teased.
"No, I just...." His mouth twisted ruefully. "I've spent weeks trying to get inside this bloody place. It seems ironic that now I'm here, only not as I expected."
Warmth spread through her. "Thank you."
Thank you for helping us.
"Don't thank me just yet," he murmured. "I've been working for Malloryn for nearly three hours, and I already want to chain his feet to an anchor and drop him in the Thames."
"The impression doesn't fade," Byrnes said, clapping him on the shoulder as he walked past.
Obsidian tensed, and she saw the way he'd almost taken the former Nighthawk's arm off.
Then he gave her a rueful shrug.Old habits.
She smiled, understanding the urge perfectly. When she'd broken free of the Falcons, it had taken her a long time to accept another's touch as anything other than a threat. Now she took every opportunity she had to hug her friends and kiss them on the cheek.
"You're remaining here." Malloryn gave Charlie a brief nod.
The young man hauled a set of cuffs out of his coat. "Sorry, Obsidian. But the duke insists."
Gemma's heart kicked, and she narrowed a glare upon Malloryn. "What is going on?"
"The Council meeting begins in ten minutes," Malloryn replied coolly. "I'm taking you and the baroness with me as witnesses, and Ingrid and Byrnes as guards. Obsidian can remain here with Charlie until we've spoken to the queen. If she requires his testimony, then he will be brought to the throne room."
"And the cuffs?"
"The cuffs remain." Malloryn tilted his head toward Obsidian, clearly recognizing a lethal adversary when he saw one. "If I wanted to assassinate the queen, then this seems the perfect opportunity, you understand? Who's to sayyou'renot the Chameleon? You do have a neural implant in your head, after all."
"It's all right, Gemma," Obsidian said, holding his wrists out and staring flatly at Charlie. "My allegiance has only recently shifted. Malloryn's taking sensible precautions. I'll stay down here until required."
