Page 139 of Cold-Blooded Creatures
All three.
“So now that we’re done with that.” Ryder spoke up. “We have news about the microchips. They should be good to go in about three days, leaving us more than enough time to test them out before the auction. Do we know if we can implant them in our hands safely? And who would be going? We could start the preparations.”
“That’s why we had Eislyn here.” I sighed. “And Eli.”
“I’ll see if I can get them back,” Malaya offered, beaming at Ryder as he helped her get up. “Thank you.”
“No need,” I said. “I will talk to them tomorrow. Just see if you can get them to coexist peacefully in one room.”
They left the room with Ezra, and I slumped in my seat.
“So, who do you think it was?” Kali pushed away from the table and began pacing the room, surrounded by the shadows happily mingling on the walls, their dance a tease of the answer they knew and we did not. “It doesn’t look like any of them. Or it could be all of them. Or anyone who wasn’t here.”
Zion reached for the glass of water Malaya had left untouched. “That’s the problem. They’ll stay hidden until it’s too late. Like Damia said.”
Her steps halted. “Then what’s the plan? We can’t identify the traitor, but can program the chips. Do we go after Ilasall now?”
“No. We start by reaching out to our contacts we had not been in contact with since the security upgrade and re-establishing our supply chains. Then we put an end to the upcoming auction,” I laid out as I strode around the table, and stopped before her. “First, we need to be in a position that guarantees us a solid chance at winning the war. Which we are not in. Not yet.”
She lifted her chin. “You will never be prepared enough, Gedeon. And I made a deal with you. Four conditions, the last one being the head of the man at the top of the Spire. I won’t wait for it forever.”
Zion came to flank Kali’s right side. “Neither will I. I want to level them to the ground. I’ve had enough.”
I rubbed my face. “I know.”
45
KALI
Fuckers.
I was going to use every tip Amari had shared with me to prolong their deaths for this.
Straining, I twisted my wrists and ankles in hopes of snapping the thin ropes tying me to the chair. Somehow, I hadn’t suspected this morning would entail Gedeon and Zion hauling my naked ass out of the former’s bed, duct-taping my mouth, kissing my forehead and nose, and telling me not to exhaust myself in seeking to get out.
Apparently, Gedeon had decided I shouldn’t go to Ilasall to infiltrate the auction with them today due tosafetyreasons.
I would show them safety.
That collection of knives in the middle drawer of Zion’s dresser?
They were going tosafelyfind their way into the joints of the twenty fingers that had secured the knots around my limbs. And perhaps into other appendages too. Zion had pointed out that I had no actual fighting experience and that it was better to stay back at the compound where he’d take care of me after they returned.
Like I needed his cock that much.
I deserved to go and try to figure out Alora’s whereabouts. It was me who’d provided them with the details of the auction, so it wasn’t like I’d asked for a free ride.
My muscles vibrating from rage, I thrashed to loosen the restraints, but all I achieved was rubbing my skin raw. I counted to three to calm my racing heart and threw my weight to the right.
The chair teetered, and I hung suspended in the air, time stilling, fear creeping up my spine from second-guessing my decision to attempt escape by?—
Blinding pain shot up my right shoulder as I hit the floor.
Paralysis set in my diaphragm as I curled up into a half-ball, waiting for the agony to subside.
One. Inhale.
Two. Exhale.
