I held my arms in a straight line out at my sides, trying to keep myself from swaying even further. Adrenaline pumped through my veins making my entire body shake. I inhaled a lung full of oxygen and hissed, “No. I’m too busy staring at what’s going to be a very painful landing if you drop my ass.” Truly, this woman was built for battle.
Corza growled, “Then listen closely. If you ever run away from my brother again, I will kill you. Got that?”
I swallowed down the bile that rose up in my throat when she shook me again. My nostrils burned from my position, my head beginning to ache from the blood rush. “I came back here, didn’t I? I could have traveled on to Joyal. But I didn’t.”
“Everyone knows Joyal isn’t safe right now after the Mian attacked. The Human President is dead, and a newly elected one is young—too young for the position. It didn’t take intellect to understand you wouldn’t travel there. Just because you and my brother were paired up in that fish tank, it doesn’t mean you are meant to be. Even if he thinks so.” She grunted and her fingers ground into my ankles. I stifled my screech at the influx of pain. “But if you leave him before you two can figure out your shit, I won’t let you get away with it again.”
I shivered and stared at the side of the building. There was no place to grab on to if she let go. I tried to explain, “I’m not planning to leave. I swear it.”
“You had better keep to that, Madeline.”
I blinked as a rush of unacceptable tears pricked my eyes. My voice was quiet. “This is all new to me. I’ve never felt this way before about someone.”
“And how do you feel?” Her grip tightened. “Do you love him?”
“It’s not love. Not yet.” I sniffed on a stuffed nose. “But I know I care for him.”
She hummed. “And that pisses you off.”
“Yes.” When she shook me again, I explained, “Humans don’t do this. I’m going against everything I’ve ever known being here with him. It’s not a simple equation.”
Corza grunted and pulled me back from the ledge. She lowered me to the roof’s surface. Her purple eyes watched as I crawled back away from her and stood to my feet. Her head shook. “Love isn’t like your old position on Joyal. Emotions don’t play by a set of rules. When you figure that out and open your heart, you will see the truth.”
I sucked in much-needed oxygen while the blood flow in my body took its natural course. I placed a palm on my forehead when my vision blurred from dizziness.
“I’m trying.”
“Try harder.”
I gritted through clenched teeth and scowled. “I still like you.” That pissed me off.
Her grin was ruthless. “And you’re still alive because I like you, too.”
The door to the conference room was a bother to open. My arms were filled with a tablet, notebook, and laser pens. I managed to fumble past the barrier and was painfully overjoyed to see there were no gawkers around the private glass room. Though everyone was inside, my timing was late thanks to the shady morning event.
Geo’s eyes narrowed, and he stopped in mid-speech of whatever he was saying. He glanced from my sudden appearance to his halo-watch and shook his head in annoyance. I ground my teeth together and made my feet move toward the double glass doors. It was Xri who stood from his chair before I even made it there and opened one of the doors for me.
I slid inside the room, relieved that I wasn’t excluded. Even if I truly wouldn’t have minded. This morning had me rattled, my tangled thoughts still owning my concentration. So much so, when Xri reached for my face to hold my head in greeting, I wasn’t able to stop the small flinch.
His palms paused in mid-air. “Is everything all right?”
I nodded quickly and exhaled harshly. “Yes. I’m just running behind.”
Silver eyes had scanned my features before he finished reaching for me. He merely ran his thumbs over my skin before dropping his hands. He took his seat and gestured at the others. “Have you met everyone already?”
I shook my head in a too timid motion. “I haven’t.” The four new sets of eyes of the council members were on me. Same as Geo’s were. I forced a cordial smile and dipped my head to them, all while wondering what was—truthfully—running through their minds about me. “Hello. I’m Madeline Faire. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
The rebellion leader stood and strode to stand next to me. I stiffened when his right hand started to land on my lower back, his other lifting to indicate the council member closest to me. But as smooth as an unimpeded stream, he moved and placed both of his hands on the man’s shoulders. “Madeline, this is Anho Ban.”
The council member’s gaze was professional as he quietly evaluated my person. “Do you prefer Madeline or Ms. Faire?”
“Either is fine,” I responded.
“Well then, it’s lovely to meet you, Ms. Faire.” His eyes scanned me once more. “But perhaps you could be on time to meetings?”
“Of course. My apologies.”
Geo released him and motioned to the man across from Mr. Ban. “Madeline, this is Fen Sto.” A point to the man sitting next to him. “Aar Nes.” And the man beside him. “Caz Sen-Bu.” His purple eyes turned back to me, holding eerily. He was penetrating into my churning mind, and I knew it. Too bad I couldn’t enact his advice right now. He even sniffed once in my direction. “And, of course, you already know Xri Sta-Han.”
I jerked my gaze away from him and eyed the men. “I truly am sorry for my lateness. Please don’t take my tardiness as a sign of disrespect.” A gentle shake of my head. “It won’t happen again. I promise you.”
Xri shrugged a shoulder, a sweet grin gracing his lips. “Don’t let them fool you. We haven’t actually started the meeting. We were merely talking about the cook burning the fish this morning before you arrived. Take your seat and relax.”
I blinked, and a full pink blush bloomed on my cheeks. “Appreciated. And I will.” I sidestepped Geo when I turned to take my seat, allowing plenty of room between the two of us. I hesitated briefly. It would calm my mind if I sat farther away from him. I altered course and took the seat on the other end of the table and began busying myself, spreading my items on the empty space before me.
The rebellion leader grunted. “We don’t bite, Madeline.”
No, your people just dangle me off buildings.
I didn’t peer up from my busy hands, rearranging my tablet a third time as I took my seat. “I just have a lot of items with me. I want to make sure I have plenty of room to work without being a distraction to anyone else.”
Xri barely strangled a laugh, but with one glance from his leader, he was instantly silent.
“Let’s…get this meeting started then,” Geo murmured. The frost from his gaze chilled me bone-deep as he took his own seat, directly across from me but far down the table. I could only breathe again when he turned his attention away and onto Xri. “We should start with what our contacts at the Imperial household have discovered.”
I ended up pushing my perfectly placed tablet aside. The notebook would be my go-to during this meeting. It was easier to doodle when my mind wandered too far and much more fulfilling to burn the paper with the word Corza written—by my own hand, over and over—when the meeting had ended.
I stood outside Geo’s office with my right hand raised to knock. I had been in this position for a full minute. Xri had sent word that the rebellion leader wanted to speak with me privately. It didn’t surprise me that he did. I hadn’t been at my best during the meeting, often needing someone to repeat their statements because I couldn’t concentrate.
I swallowed down my apprehension when I heard Xri clear his throat behind me. He had been patient and waited for me to get my act together. This must be his limit of my ridiculousness. I knocked quickly then dropped my arm. I shook the silliness of my response to this summons aside and tried to pay better attention.
“Get in here, Madeline,” Geo barked from the other side of the door.
I wiped the s
weat on my palms against my new skirt and opened his door. The blink I gave the two inside the room was extremely slow as I shut the door behind me, getting my thoughts in order and my game face on. I placed my hands behind my back and questioned, “You wanted to speak with me?”
The bastard sat behind his desk and flicked a finger at the free chair across from him. “Sit down.”
The carpet inside his office was plush under my boots as I moved to the chair, sinking in with each light step I took. I didn’t glance at the individual occupying the other chair next to it. Corza the Protector could rot today for all I cared. The woman didn’t deserve any more of my attention than she had already received. Bastard.
I sat down with the calmness of a trained Human and placed my hands on my lap.
No one spoke. At all.
Geo’s purple eyes flicked back and forth between Corza and me. He watched us. He waited for one of us to comment on the building tension inside the room. The awkward silence was enough to break a weaker individual. But I wasn’t that, my mouth staying shut. And, notably, neither was Corza, her own lips glued together. The rebellion leader leaned to his right and opened a drawer in his desk.
He pulled a large piece of candy from the depths of the drawer—it was very sweet, by the scent—and unwrapped it meticulously. He popped it into his mouth and tossed the wrapper onto his wooden desk. He chewed with his mouth closed for two minutes before swallowing, his throat expanding and lowering from the huge treat. His dark gaze eventually stopped evaluating us and landed on Corza.
Geo demanded quietly, “Tell me what you’ve done.”
Corza cleared her throat. “I spoke with her this morning if that’s what you’re asking.”
A white brow rose. “Explain what you did during this conversation.”
The muscles in Corza’s jaw flexed. “I did what any other sister would have done.”
The rebellion leader didn’t comment. He waited for further explanation.
The bastard flicked her thumb at me in disgust and leaned forward toward her brother. “That Human needed to understand how much you mean to me.”
The rebellion leader’s lips curved. “I’m sure she did. That’s why I’m asking for the details. She’s been a thorn in my side since she arrived here. I can’t wait to kick her ass back to her own kind—after I’m through taking my enjoyment with her.”
My bullshit radar pinged, and I crossed my legs in a telling action.
But Corza didn’t notice anything amiss. She continued on, even slapping a hand down on the desk as she clarified, “I know you want her here. That much is clear. If it’s just for sex, then that’s pretty low even for you. When you have sex with her, I know you were forced into it—”
Geo’s head cocked. “When was that?”
Corza’s brows puckered in confusion. “When the damn Dynasty made you!”
“Oh, yes. You’re quite right.” He waved a hand. “Keep going.”
“Well, she won’t be running away from you anytime soon.” Corza sat back on her chair and stretched her arms up, and placed her hands behind her head. Completely relaxed. Just a brother and sister talking with one another. “She learned her lesson.”
“I still haven’t heard the good part.” He paused. “At least, I hope it gets better than this.”
Corza’s smile was all too smug. “I dangled her over the top of the building.” She whistled long and hard. “You should have seen her face. It was a sight to behold. It was magnificent.”
I glanced away and focused on the far wall. Even though I knew the rebellion leader was baiting her—that much was obvious—I couldn’t stand to listen to it any longer. My cheeks were flaming red in humiliation, the heat actually making my forehead sweat, and my fingers were strangling each other in a knot on my lap. The toilet might not be close enough if the stomach acid churning in my stomach rose in my throat.
The seconds ticked by in the silence as it descended on the room.
Tension had fled long ago…and was now replaced with a rising aggression. And power. Wicked and cruel power leaking from the rebellion leader. It haunted the office like a creeping smoke that would choke the lungs if breathed in too deeply. It didn’t take very long for Corza to start fidgeting in her chair next to me, the wooden thing creaking beneath her weight. Only then did I believe she understood her mistake, her massive blunder to his ‘mate.'
This wouldn’t end well for her.
Geo sniffed the air once and rested back on his own chair. Gentle as a whisper, he stated, “Corza, you know Madeline is under my protective care and is not to be physically or mentally harmed. What transpired when we were captured by the Dynasty has misguided you. And your actions this morning have mentally harmed my mate.” His voice was so quiet, so calm. Utterly frightening in its control. A shudder ran down my spine as he finished his speech. “But that won’t keep me from punishing you for breaking my law.”
Purple eyes turned to me, capturing my attention. “You may leave.” He tipped his head at his door. “And tell Xri to come in here when you go.”
I nodded and rose from my chair.
Though I froze when Corza’s hand landed on my right wrist.
I sucked in a harsh breath when Geo moved so fast it had me skittering backward. He was over the desk and slamming Corza’s torso against the wood in a mere blink. With one hand on the back of the struggling woman’s neck, Geo’s narrowed gaze met mine. He ordered quietly, “Now, Madeline.”
I gulped and hurried toward the door. I wasn’t about to get between the rebellion leader and his disorderly sister’s punishment. The knob was cool to my touch when I twisted it and charged out. I barely withheld my smirk as I told Xri he was wanted inside. It was pleasurable to watch Xri waiver this time to enter his leader’s office, the tables now turned. I cleared my own throat and observed as he finally walked in. When the door closed behind him, the furious bellowing that erupted from the rebellion leader put an added bounce in my step that I was in dire need of.
The crumbs on my shirt were quickly brushed off when Geo entered through the glass doors of the conference room. My late dinner sat hearty and hale in my stomach, but the aftermath of it still rested all over the conference table. I made quick work of smashing the wrappers into balls and tossing them into the tiny hov-basket to my right. My blue eyes turned back to the rebellion leader as he made his way toward me, holding two large mugs of what smelled like coffee.
He took the seat next to mine and placed one of the cups in front of me. I stared at the steaming dark liquid as he sipped from his own mug. He eventually pointed at the gifted cup and broke the silence. “It’s a peace offering. Take it. You look like you could use it.”
I snorted. “Thanks.” Though I did lift it and take a sip. It wasn’t bad, and the caffeine was appreciated. I was still so thrilled that the Kireg had this little treat on their planet. “I heard about the conference you gave earlier.”
He sat his drink down. “My people obviously needed to be informed of what actually happened with the Dynasty. There were too many ridiculous rumors running around.” He tapped his fingers on his cup and tilted his head until I met his lingering gaze.
My lips pinched, and I finally exhaled in a rush. “What did you do with Corza? She was only protecting you. She loves you very much.”
Purple eyes stared into mine. Unflinching. Unapologetic. “She received her first mark of misconduct after her mate had agreed it was the best punishment for the guilty act.”
I coughed so hard I had to put my cup down, my eyes widening on his. “Surely you didn’t charge her with something so extreme. Not for a Human—”
“I assure you, I did. She broke my law. She knew the consequences.” There was no remorse in his features. He was at peace with his decision. “She wears the guilt of her actions on her left bicep. It is a tattoo, a tally, much like the marks you wear on your wrists—except, this is a transgression. It is the Kireg way.”
I chewed on my bottom lip until I chuckl
ed quietly. “And now, she is an example.”
He gently nodded his head, his deep timber quiet. “That too.” Dark eyes held mine for a moment longer before he cleared his throat. “I want to say something to you.”
I raised my brows, waiting for him to proceed.
His words were hard to hear, so blunt and severe. “I don’t think what we did while we were captured was wrong. What you did…what we did together…to stay alive, isn’t anything to be ashamed of. And my people now know the whole story. They have been set straight with the facts, and they know when to heed their leader.” He paused, his purple eyes unflinching. “Outside of that dreadful situation, what we’ve done together afterward in the bedroom is no one else’s business but our own.”
I swallowed hard and ran my eyes over his beautifully brutal features. My brows puckered, and I quickly glanced away when I found myself staring. I eyed my notebook papers in front of me with my messy scrawl all over them, and mumbled in a gust of air, “Thank you for saying that. But I need you to know, we probably shouldn’t have sex anymore. Not right away.”
He was quiet for too long.
I finally looked at him again.
The rebellion leader had been waiting patiently for my attention. His head cocked, his white hair brushing the shoulder of the white dress shirt he wore. “Why is that?”
I rubbed my lips together. Shrugged.
His lips trembled. “Is it because you liked it too much?”
My eyes closed very slowly and stayed that way. “Yes, I did like it too much.”
He snorted. “That isn’t horrible, Madeline. I am your mate.”
I opened my eyes and watched him. “But it screws with my head when I’m trying to figure out how I feel about you. Pleasure is one thing while a lifelong commitment is another.”
A white brow arched. “Madeline, our connection will never change. It is forever.” He cocked his head, his eyes on mine. “But I never said I wanted to have sex with you again soon, either.”
“Oh.” My mouth bobbed, and my cheeks flushed. “I guess that makes it easy then.”
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