Page 47 of Tears of Tungsten
Unlikely Allies
Pollux
Ash. Blood. Loss. Heat. Guilt.
The thoughts had been swirling in my head over and over, ever since I’d watched Selene being carbonized in front of me. I’d honestly believed I’d die with her. Stella’s shade had been trying to tell me something important. My selfishness and refusal to accept facts had led us to this disaster.
The news of Selene’s survival cracked me open and gave me hope. But I knew the battle was only just beginning.
When we arrived at Chimera Academy and met up with Paul Welton, my resolve almost faltered. “Congratulations on your successful mission,” he told us. “I take it the nest of rebels has been obliterated.”
“Of course,” Brendan replied. “I’ll give my father all the details when I speak to him.”
“I’m sure he’ll be pleased as well. In the meantime, you can take a few hours off if you want to. I’m afraid Acting Pilot Renard hasn’t returned from her lessons yet, but there’s still plenty of enjoyment you can find in Tartarus City.”
I’d never felt more tempted to crack the ground open and bury this asshole in the depths of the asteroid. But I refrained, since he was unknowingly giving us a great tool, the opportunity to leave without being questioned. “We’ll consider it,” I said.
Brendan nodded slowly. “It wouldn’t hurt to visit some of the more… civilized areas. I did want to give Selene a better tour since we never got the chance. She might enjoy seeing some of the things in the Aphrodite Boudoir.”
I almost laughed, because ironically, that was true. August and I had mostly shared the worst part of the city with our lover, but there were places where sex workers did receive good treatment and even enjoyed their career. The Aphrodite Boudoir was a personal favorite for people who weren’t really inclined to advertise their private business on the streets of the city, and my fellow Chimera Warriors and I had been regular clients there before we’d met Selene.
Lord Welton blinked at us in surprise and confusion. Perhaps he hadn’t expected us to agree so quickly, or at all. Still, he didn’t deem it suspicious and instead jumped at the chance to wriggle his way back into Brendan’s favor. “I’m happy to hear you’re keeping an open mind. I’m sure that in the future, Penelope will also be able to assist you with such details.”
“With respect, Lord Welton, I doubt it. Penelope deserves better than to be used as a sexual object by a man who has no intention of pursuing a serious relationship with her.” Brendan offered Welton a smile small enough to be mistaken as genuine. “I know you’re angry and offended because of this incident, and I think neither of us has dealt with it the right way. But I do wish your daughter the best, and I’m convinced she’ll find a wonderful husband, someone who is a better match for her than I’d ever be. Since today has gone so well, let us start over. I wish for every member of The Grand Judiciary—including you—to accept my decision when it comes to the future mother of my children. I’m confident that it’s the best possible thing for our dynasty.”
Brendan had no real reason to provide Welton with explanations or apologies, but the olive branch served a different purpose. Welton would undoubtedly be convinced that our success on Terra had reassured Brendan and given him a better perspective. Despite his bad relationship with his father and his defiant ways, Brendan had never crossed the line with The Grand Judiciary. Most Chimera nobility acknowledged and valued the fact that he was the pilot of the Typhon, which was no easy task. Lord Welton might begrudge Brendan for rejecting Penelope, but at the end of the day, he’d prioritize his own relationship with the crown over his daughter’s dignity.
“Yes, of course,” he said, just like I’d expected. “I completely understand. I admit my desire to see Penelope in an excellent marriage got the better of me, but in this, you are likely correct.”
The whole thing was so nausea-inducing I admired Brendan for his ability to not throw up.“He’s a prince,”Scylla pointed out.“He has an immunity to bullshit.”
When coming from Scylla, the profanity sounded a little hilarious and lightened the load on my heart a little. It was undoubtedly what she’d intended.“No, he doesn’t. He’s just very good at pretending.”
“It won’t be for nothing. You’ll…”
She trailed off, and the pause alarmed me. “Scylla?”
“We need to get rid of Paul Welton at once. There’s been a development.”
Brendan twitched, a barely perceivable grimace that told me Typhon must have mentioned this to him as well. At the same time, August came out of the Charybdis. He seemed perfectly calm, but I took one look at him and knew he was anything but.
“Lord Welton, my unit and I need to head into the decontamination shower now,” Brendan said. “We appreciate your support in this matter, as well as the aid you granted Charybdis in our absence.”
“It was my honor,” Welton replied, bowing in respect to Brendan’s station.
Since we were observing all the formalities now, we saluted in turn. Fortunately, the decontamination excuse worked well, and we were able to leave Welton behind in the hangars without too much trouble. Brendan ushered us toward the shower areas, all the while remaining silent. Since we were still in a public open space, I knew better than to ask him what was going on, so instead, I asked Scylla. “What in Tartarus’s name happened?”
“August received an important communication from Penelope Welton. We believe she may be able to help us with our plan.”
Wait, what? Brendan’s would-be wife? That Penelope?
“That doesn’t make any sense. Why would she want to do that?”
“People aren’t just good or bad, Pollux. They all have their reasons for their actions.”
“I’m not debating human nature with you right now, Scylla. I don’t care about her morals. She doesn’t like us, and that’s a fact. She despises Selene, and she’s made that more than clear. Why would you think she’d help us?”
“Out of self-preservation, mostly,”Scylla replied.
