Page 138 of Esperance

“Itrust you.”

It shook Amryn to the core to realize she meant that. Somehow, she trusted General Carver Vincetti.

Saints help her.

Carver stared at her. His features were shadowed, but the moonlight caught in his blue eyes. His jaw was strong, and stubble had crept in, darkening his bronze skin. He smiled a little at her words, and his lips . . . She flushed at the memory of what those lips had felt like against hers. Soft, but hard. At once coaxing, then demanding.

She wanted to kiss him again. And that would be the most foolish mistake she could ever make. While she did trust him, that trust could only go so far. She could never allow herself to get too close to him, because if he learned the full truth about her . . .

Empaths were regarded as monsters. Inhuman. Dangerous. Vile.

He might be able to forgive her for joining the Rising. He wouldnotbe able to overlook the fact that she was an empath.

“I trust you, too,” Carver said.

The words stung. He couldn’t really trust her—not when he didn’t even know what she was.

Tears pricked her eyes. Not for the first time, she wished she didn’t have any abilities. She wished she could respond to the desire inside of her—the desire thrumming inside ofhim—and climb into his lap. Kiss him again. Lose herself in him.

Saints, it would be so easy to fall in love with him.

But she couldn’t. So, she stayed curled up on the couch as she said, “I might be able to get more information out of Samuel.”

Carver drew back just a little. “How?”

“I could ask him to meet me again. I could ask more questions.”

“I think it would be dangerous to call another meeting, especially if you have nothing to report, only to ask him more questions about their plan. He might find that suspicious. We need to continue exactly as before.”

In truth, she agreed. And she was more than a little relieved that she wouldn’t have to meet with Samuel alone again. However, that reminded her . . . “Samuel said that Cora and Rivard weren’t killed by the Rising. He said there’s someone else acting in Esperance.”

Fine lines cut into Carver’s brow, and she fought the impulse to reach out and smooth them away with her fingertips. “We’ve known there was possibly another enemy in Esperance for a while now. I guess I just hoped they’d be one and the same.” At her confused look, he explained, “Ford, Argent, and I think there’s an imposter among the Empire’s Chosen. And I’m fairly sure this person killed Cora and Rivard—especially if the Rising is denying it.” He told her about the pile of scorched bones that were found in the jungle, and he shared that, while they could personally vouch for most of the people at Esperance, they didn’t personally knoweveryone.

“Did you know any of the Chosen before coming to Esperance?” Carver asked.

“No. Sorry.”

He nodded once—almost as if he’d expected as much—but she did feel a pulse of disappointment. “There’s no need to be sorry. I’ll figure it out.” He shoved a hand through his dark hair, and his exhaustion was unmistakable.

He’d been up all night, and here she was, keeping him awake. Her cheeks warmed. “I should let you sleep.” She set her feet on the braided rug, but, sitting on the low table before her, he was too close—she couldn’t stand without bumping into him.

He didn’t move. His boots remained planted outside her bare feet, and his arms were still braced on his thighs. “I’ve operated on much less sleep than this.”

Truth rang in his words, along with heaviness.

He was talking about Harvari. The war.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

He lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. Then, “I’ll let you go to bed.” He stood, briefly invading her space before he sidled to the corner of the table. Then he extended a hand.

Her skin tingled even before her palm fit against his. At the actual contact, her entire body ignited.

He tugged her to her feet. His expression was smooth, but she could feel his reaction to their touch. It was almost as powerful as her own had been.

His thumb skated over the base of her thumb.

A shiver threaded down her spine. Desperate to fill the heavy silence, she blurted, “I don’t know how you’ve slept on this couch for so long. The bed is much more comfortable.”