by Frost Kay
“Is your mate in danger?” she asked.
“For now,” Sid said.
“What does that depend on?”
“On how well I perform.”
Allie gazed at Sid’s hunched-over form like he was waiting for her to strike the final blow, but she didn’t think she needed to. He seemed to be beating himself up. Her heart squeezed and she found herself rounding the couch and reaching out to him.
Sid jerked back and jumped over the coffee table, startling her. His chest heaved as he stared at her angrily.
“Why are you offering me comfort? I’m the one who betrayed you,” he growled, harshly. “I hurt you. I’ve been lying the entire time, and yet you offer me support?” He ran his claw-tipped hands over his bald head. “You protect and care for the innocent, and I’m not one of them. I’m a monster.” Sid stalked to the wall. “None of this would have happened if you hadn’t befriended me. Why do you have to be so nice?” He spat the word like it was something distasteful.
Her heart pinched. She’d always appreciated the truth over sugarcoated lies, but sometimes the truth plain ol’ sucked rocks. Allie pushed aside the hurt and tried to focus on what would calm Sid down. He had information she needed.
Allie sat on the edge of the couch, rolling the bottle between her fingers as she stared at a point over Sid’s head. “If it hadn’t been you, it would’ve been someone else.”
And that was the truth. History had proved that Sloven the Slayer got what he wanted, and for some reason he wanted her. She held the elixir to the light, admired the deep purple undertones. Would it really heal her?
“Is this really an elixir, or is he trying to kill me?”
“If he wanted you dead, you would be.”
A shiver worked down her spine, but she forced herself to smile at Sid. “That’s comforting.” She glanced from the vial and then back to Sid. “Do you know what’s in it?”
“I don’t.”
“And you expect me to drink it?”
“You have to trust me.”
What stupid words. She wouldn’t trust him as far as she could throw him.
A peal of laughter burst free from her, followed by another, until tears filled her eyes. She hiccupped and swiped at her eyes. “Excuse me for not taking your word for it.”
Sid laughed humorlessly. “I know you don’t trust me, but he doesn’t want you dead. He needs you for something.” He tipped his chin toward the vial dangling from her fingers. “I was told that you need a dose every two days for the next three weeks and I’m your dealer.”
What were her choices? Not drink it and die, or take a risk? Allie eyed the liquid inside the vial.
“I’m under instructions to make sure you take it,” Sid said softly.
Code for he’d force it down my throat if I became difficult.
She uncorked the bottle and hesitated for a moment. It couldn’t be any worse than what she was already going through. Her body felt like it was disintegrating, like she was wasting away. And if she wasted away, what would that accomplish?
Decision made, Allie tossed back the elixir and gagged as the cloying taste of mildew and mold filled her mouth. She gagged but just managed to get it down. “Water,” she croaked.
Sid rushed into the little kitchenette, filled a glass of water, and placed it in her hand. Allie began gulping the cool liquid as quickly as she could to get the revolting taste from her mouth. She rubbed her tongue against the roof of her mouth. It was as if the elixir had coated her tongue in oil.
“That’s disgusting,” she panted.
“I know. You have to do that three times a week.”
Allie dry-heaved and placed a hand over her mouth. “Just let me die,” she moaned.
“Don’t be such a baby.”
She glared up at Sid. “You weren’t the one who had to down the vile concoction.” Her nostrils flared as she slammed her glass down on the coffee table and corked the bottle, so she wouldn’t have to smell the elixir any longer. “So, he wants me alive. Why? What does Sloven the Creep want from me?”
Her ex-friend, or whatever he was, pulled a little black compact from his back pocket, and held it out to her.
“More gifts?” she growled, snatching it from Sid’s large hand.
“More like a curse.”
Allie grimaced and forced herself to open the compact. Her brows furrowed as she tried to figure out what she was supposed to do with the item inside. “Contacts?” she blurted. “Why does he want me to wear contacts? I can see just fine.” Her lips thinned, and she snapped the compact closed. “If this is some fetish thing, I’m not playing along. Not for you or your mate. I’ve played the harlot once and ended up with these.” She held her hands out to display her scars, and then tugged on her scoop-necked dress, so her cyan lines were on full display.
Sid shook his head. “It’s nothing like that. You’re to spy for him.” He gestured toward the contacts. “Those will help him see what you see.”
“Cameras,” she said dully. “He wants to use me as a Human camera.”
“It’s procedure.”
“And do you have to wear such a spectacular accessory?”
“Sometimes.”
How very nonspecific. “And if I refuse?”
“Use your imagination. His paintings were just a little taste of the atrocities he’s committed. Nothing is beneath him. There’s no line he won’t cross to gain what he wants.” Sid stilled, his face, turning into stone. “Then I’ll be punished, and so will my wife.”
“Don’t you dare put that on me,” she said. “You got yourself into this situation. It’s not my responsibility to get you out of it.”
“You’re right, but my wife and myself won’t be the only ones to suffer.” He glanced at her in sympathy. “You think he doesn’t know who you care about? He’ll take out the ones you love, one by one, until you crack. I’ve seen it before, and it won’t be quick. It’ll be long and painful.”
Fear trickled down her spine. “Why are you telling me this?” she whispered, her throat dry.
“Because you need to know what you’re up against. There are consequences for each of your actions. Don’t be rash.”
“I’m never rash. I’m a lady.”
Sid hummed, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. “You need to tread carefully.”
“If I was a betting woman, I’d almost say you were trying to warn me.”
“I want you to be informed and not naive. You’ve been caught in his web, and now it’s time to dance to his tune or people die.”
Allie had never danced to anyone’s tune, and she certainly wouldn’t start now. Sloven had singled her out and threatened those she loved. That was a mistake. Anyone who knew anything understood that one never threatened a Southern woman’s family. It brought out the crazy and dangerous before someone could say sweet tea and biscuits.
She’d play Sloven’s game. He only thought he had her in his web. She was a wily one, and he wasn’t about to get away with this. He’d rot in prison forever if she played her cards right.
“I accept,” she said cheerfully. “When do I start?”
“Now.”
6
The clumsy femme fatale
Sid held up a little round, black device. One that looked suspiciously like a bug.
“What’s that?” she asked, sitting down on the couch.
“It’s an ear comm.” He touched the small hole in the side of his head. “Once you place it in your ear, it molds and blends to your skin. It’s virtually undetectable.”
She grimaced and leaned back. “I’m not putting that in my ear.” All she could think about was that it looked like a little black beetle. There was no way she was putting an insect in her ear. “No.”
“No?”
“No,” she said firmly.
“Allie, I don’t think you understand the situation.”
Her eyes narrowed on the Sarpe. “I’m perfectly capable of understanding the situation. I’m not dumb, and
I don’t like your insinuation that you think I am.”
“I’m not saying that…”
“I’m not having him in my head.” A shudder worked through her. Just the thought alone would probably spawn nightmares when she finally crashed. “It’s bad enough that he’ll be seeing everything that I see. I won’t wear it.”
Sid’s black lips thinned, and he slowly pocketed the listening device. “He’s not going to like it.”
“We don’t always get what we want,” she snapped. He glanced away, giving her a better view of the side of his head, specifically his ear. A horrible thought struck her. “Is he listening right now?”
Sid shook his head. “No.”
“But you have an ear comm?”
“Yes.”
“How did you block him?”
“I can hack just about everything. He controls many things, but I wanted to have this conversation as privately as I could.”
Meaning their conversation wasn’t completely private. She stared hard into Sid’s eyes, looking for any sign of the contacts. Was Sloven watching them even now? A shiver worked up her spine. Sid was just as much a prisoner as she was.
“And I feel like I should let you know that when I hacked into your apartment—”
“What?” she exploded, launching onto her feet. “You’ve been watching Jer and I?” That was so stinking creepy. “You know that makes you a total creeper, right?”
“Well, before you cut me off,” Sid bit out, “I was going to say that I had a heck of a time. The interference kept us from listening much. Which leads me to my next revelation.”
Allie groaned, rubbing at her arms. “No more secrets. My skin is still crawling from the last one.”
“We weren’t the only ones listening in.”
Allie gaped. “Are you serious?”
“Like a heart attack,” Sid deadpanned.
“Who?” she demanded, and then held her hand up. “Never mind.” She already knew who it was. The darn, dirty Av Lock sector. “This is getting ridiculous!” she shouted. “Why is everyone trying to spy on me? I don’t have any secrets!”
Sid watched her impassively from the couch; she glared at him for being so calm, so compassionless. Did he even have a mate? Was that just another lie to get her to do what he wanted?
“Are you telling me the truth about your mate?”
Sid nodded and gestured toward the pattern on his neck. “This is my marking.”
She nodded and clasped her head between her hands as thought after thought bombarded her. What did everyone want with her? Why was she so special? Or was she just at the wrong place at the wrong time? How could she sort through everything and discover the truth? Everything was so tangled. It seemed impossible.
“You’re stronger than you know, baby girl. You can do anything you set your mind to.” Her mama’s voice filtered out all the negative thoughts and grounded her. She could handle this.
“So, what happens now?”
“You go on with your life, and if you receive any summons, you come running.”
“Lovely,” she said. “Like a dog.”
“Something like that. You may also receive assignments.”
“Okay,” she said weakly, trying to process everything and figure a way out of the mess.
“It’ll be okay,” Sid said, reaching for her hand.
Allie stared down at her pale hand interlaced with his black, scaled fingers. He’d hurt her, but she didn’t have the energy to be angry. She rubbed at her chest and stared at the cyan lines. “How long until I feel better?”
“It’ll get worse for the next twelve hours, but it’ll get better after that.”
She nodded and stared down into his eyes, her mind abuzz. She frowned as he turned his head to stare at the wall, clearly upset. Again, her eyes were drawn to his ear, and a thought entered her mind.
“Sid,” she said softly. “He can’t hear us right now, right?”
His gaze flew to hers. “Yes.”
“But he’s watching all the same?”
He nodded, brows slashed together in confusion. “Where’s this leading?”
“If threats hadn’t worked with me, what would you have done?”
His jaw clenched, his fangs peeking out. “I was supposed to seduce you,” he growled, “but I went a different route.”
Her smile widened. Her next actions would make Sloven believe she was playing right into his hands. She leaned closer and brushed her fingers along his jawline, startling Sid.
“What are you—?”
She placed her index finger over his lips and knelt on the couch next to his legs. Carefully, she turned his face, so he was staring at the wall.
“So, he can’t hear me?” she murmured into his ear.
“No.”
“And now he can’t see what I’m doing?” If he couldn’t see her, he couldn’t read her lips from the video feed.
Sid stiffened and turned to stare at her, astonishment clear on his handsome, foreign face. She grinned and kissed his cheek before turning his head away.
“Listen good and well. I will find a way out of this. The king believes his own legend and will make a mistake. In fact, he’s already made one. Me. Can I trust you?”
“I’m in deep. I’ll do what I can, but don’t trust me.”
“I understand, and that’s a good thing.”
He snorted. “I can’t see how.”
“Well, you’re about to become a double agent.”
“For whom?”
“For me.”
A fierce smile lifted Sid’s lips. “Damn, I like you, Allie Sai. You’re a force to be reckoned with.”
“I know.” It was a byproduct of being raised with brothers. “You ready for what happens next?”
“I’m ready to see the damage you’re going to inflict.”
“That’s perfect.”
“What is?” he asked.
“I figured out what we’re going to call ourselves.”
“We have a name?”
“We sure do,” she grinned. “HAVOC.”
That’s exactly what they were going to do - wreak havoc on the king.
7
Never make a deal with the devil
Allie blinked at herself in the mirror. Lord Almighty, her eyes stung.
She leaned a little closer to the glass, staring at her red-rimmed eyes. There was no trace of the contacts she’d put in. They blended seamlessly to her blue irises. She wiped at her burning eyes; they kept watering. Even though she couldn’t feel the contacts, her brain was still telling her that there was something foreign in her eyes that shouldn’t be there.
She exhaled and tried not to squirm as she stared at her reflection. Was Sloven watching her right now? The hair at the base of her neck rose at the thought, but so did her anger. Allie smiled dangerously and gestured rudely at her reflection. Her hands settled on the edge of the vanity as she leaned even closer to the mirror, the tip of her nose almost grazing the glass.
“Listen here, you evil bastard. I’m doing what you want, but I don’t like it. I’m going to make your life so miserable, you’ll be begging me to leave you alone.”
She half-expected Sloven to answer her back and almost jumped a foot off the floor when Jer banged on the door. “You almost done in there? You’re taking forever.”
Allie placed a hand over her racing heart. “I’m almost done, wench. Wait your turn.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Jer grumbled, padding away from the bathroom door.
Allie patted the moisture from her eyes and glanced at the mirror one last time. The redness at least covered the hideous black bags that had taken permanent residence underneath her eyes. Last night had been brutal. She touched the velvet ribbon around her throat and lifted the heart-shaped bottle from inside her shirt. Whatever the onyx liquid was, it had about killed her, but when she woke, she’d felt a million times better.
She nestled the vial between her boobs and squared her shoulders. She could do thi
s.
Allie exited the bathroom and slipped on her coat as Jer rounded the corner.
“About time,” Jer grumbled, slipping into the bathroom.
“Oh, stop being a baby,” Allie teased. “You and I both know no matter how long you stay in that bathroom, your hair isn’t going to be tamed.”
A snort. “Well, isn’t that the pot calling the kettle black.”
She giggled nervously and trembled as she tried to button her coat. Her nerves were getting the best of her. “There’s a difference. Your hair won’t be tamed, but mine defies gravity.”
“Mmmmhmmm … you working tonight?”
“Yep,” Allie called as she slipped on her little blue flats. “See you later.”
“Bye!” Jer called as Allie slipped out the door.
The sleek apartment door hissed shut behind her, and she paused to stare at Virgil casually leaning nearby. So, he was her guard for the day. A laugh escaped her. Despite their best efforts, Sloven had already gotten to her, and no one had a clue. Goodness gracious, she was unlucky. Luck seemed to hate her.
The alien gave her a big wrinkly smile. “You ready to go, Miss Allie?”
She nodded and followed the alien blob down the hall. It still fascinated her to watch him move. Allie shoved her hands in her pockets and asked, “What’s on the agenda today?”
“Our good doctor Eve wants to do a few more tests.”
The vial seemed to burn against her chest. Poor Eve. She was working all hours of the day to find a cure for her, and she couldn’t even breathe a word of what she possessed.
“What about Sloven?” she asked without thinking.
Virgil glanced at her sharply. “We’ll have to discuss this later.”
She exhaled, relieved that he didn’t give her any information. He was clearly concerned about spies. Her heart squeezed. What he didn’t know was that he should be worried about her. She was literally the eyes of the enemy.
Her jaw clenched and her fingernails bit into her palms. She had to figure out something, and fast. She wouldn’t be used. There was a way out of this; she just had to find it.
The breeze ruffled her hair as they exited the building and climbed into the hover. Her stomach flipped, and she swallowed hard. Sweet goodness, she hated flying. Allie focused on the building above and forced herself not to look down as the hover zoomed away from her home—her sanctuary from the crazy alien planet where she now lived.