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It was a Hail Mary for sure. We weren’t anywhere near ready for a fight against the Telvian army, and there wasn’t nearlyenough time to assemble any sort of cohesive battle plan. But we couldn’t risk the technology coming online earlier than expected, especially if Raúl thought he was threatened. The faster we moved to take out the technology, the better. And we didn’t have to win. We just had to distract them long enough to take out the tech. And that…that was doable.

After the meeting, Sasha negotiated terms for my brother to be held at the military base. After all, he was going to be a vital part to the success of the mission if we had any hopes of getting into REG Command and destroying the laboratory. From what it sounded like, Giza was going to ensure he received the best medical care, as well as a few doses of the Genesis Serum—the awesome-sauce meds they stashed to help soldiers recover faster from severe injuries. He had to be at his best if he stood any chance of guiding the team through Telvia and the REG building.

I was taken back to Castle Calvernon. Apparently, Wes still hadn’t told anyone that I had broken up with him. Before we left the base, Giza insisted Wes and I be treated with the Miracle Elixir of Awesomeness to help us recover, too. He wasn’t stupid. Giza knew full well that I was going to insist on being part of the team infiltrating Telvia. And, if history served as any sort of predictive device, ifIwas going, then Wes was going too.

The limo ride was long and incredibly uncomfortable with Charles glaring at me and Wes stone-cold and silent. I knew Charles had much to say to me, but he couldn’t talk about our little deal in front of Wes. And I had about a million things I needed to say to Wes, but there was no way I could say those things in front of Charles. So silence was the name of the game, and I couldn’t get out of that situation fast enough. I busted out of the limo like it was on fire, almost tripping on my way out, when we pulled up to the estate. The last thing I wanted was to be caught alone with Charles, so I booked it up the steps,through the house, and all but dived into my room, slamming the door behind me.

Safe…I was finally safe. And I had no idea what I was going to do next.

After some deliberating, I decided a shower was in order, and a quick look in the mirror confirmed it. My hair was an absolute mess. I was grimy from that dank prison, and I was pretty sure I smelled. Not at all how I wanted to approach Wes. If I was going to talk to him tonight, I had to at least look presentable.

I stripped off the military cargos and shirt and witnessed the damage from the tower. Bruises were a given. I had seen Matias, Wes, and Jacob, and they were all covered in different shades of purple, green, and yellow. I was no different. The left side of my face, including my ear, was completely scraped up. Little lined scabs and speckled bits of dry blood decorated it. Then there was my right arm, sporting the largest stretch of a colorful bruising pattern from the base of my neck, down to just below my elbow. And right there in the bicep, was the perfect impression of the hound’s teeth—two thick puncture wounds with a neat row of smaller punctures between them, creating the arch that was the beast’s jaw. It took up my entire arm, and honestly, I had no idea how the thing didn’t just tear the flesh right off me. Both my palms were covered in scratches and scrapes, and the knuckles on my right hand were bruised, cut up, and swollen from my self-inflicted injury when I punched the door.

I looked like hell, but I fared okay. And for that, I was immensely grateful.

After cataloging my injuries, I showered, and loved the way the water cleansed away the grime, sweat, and tears. Once finished, I dressed in a simple set of gray yoga pants and a white t-shirt, brushed my hair, and relished the feeling of being clean. Now, all that was left was to come clean with Wes, and I hoped he would talk to me. Because the last thing I wanted was to go on this lastmission and one of us not make it out. He had to know the truth, and I was going to give it to him. With a deep breath, I marched to my door, ready to put this whole thing to rest, when—

Knock, knock, knock.

I froze. Who the hell…?

Knock, knock, knock.

A shot of adrenaline pumped through me, making me hot.

Knock, knock, knock.

That time, the knocks came more powerfully. I reached out toward the knob, hesitating. It could be Wes…or maybe a maid? Didn’t they usually turn down the sheets in the evening? I looked behind me at my bed and noticed that they had already been turned down. I swallowed.

Knock, knock.

Whoever it was, they were growing impatient. I reached back out to open it, but the knob turned and swung toward me, causing me to step back. And on the other side of the threshold was Charles.

I backed away from the door, taking several steps away from him as he marched straight into the room, closing the door behind him and locking it.

Oh shit…

“You’ve become the biggest pain in my ass since you’ve arrived,” he snarled as he took determined steps toward me.

This wasn’t good. Very bad. Very, very bad. I kept backing up, bumping into the chair by the hearth as he stalked toward me.

“We had a deal. Your brother was to sign…”

I closed my eyes as my heart hammered itself in my chest. “Hewillsign—”

Charles snapped his arm out, grabbing a fist full of my hair at the nape of my neck and pulled back hard, causing my head to snap back as my whole body arched involuntarily. “You’reup to something. Don’t think I don’t know that you’re up to something.”

I tried to shake my head, but the movement only caused Charles to pull back harder. I winced at the escalating pain and pressure. “No! It’s not like that—”

“Shut your trap,” he snapped, his face uncomfortably close to mine. “Here’s what’s going to happen. We’re going to make a new deal. This nanochip problem? We’re going to resolve it a little differently than President De’vor is thinking.”

Charles smiled then, a most devious and disgusting smile that caused my stomach to revolt. He brought his face close to mine, taking in a deep breath, as though he were drinking the very essence of my soul, sending chills running down my spine. His nose grazed my cheek, and instinctively I reacted, pulling back. But the movement only caused Charles to snap out his other hand and wrap it around my throat with a tight squeeze.

“That’s the problem with Marissa. She’s never been a fighter. And I always love a good fight,” he whispered into my ear.

I closed my eyes, feeling the tears welling up as the pressure on my throat caused me to panic. What was happening?Whywas this happening?

“You’re going to be a good girl, and you’re going to follow the orders you’re given. Tomorrow, you and your brother will be implanted with my own tracking device.” My eyes widened. “That’s right…you understand. Telvians aren’t the only ones that use tracking devices. And tomorrow, you’ll have one that will tell me where you are. So when you and your brother go traipsing into Telvia, you won’t get any ideas of escaping. Because Iwillfind you, Mara. I will find you, and I will hunt you down and make you grovel like a dog for mercy if you try to betray me. I warned you not to cross me. I warned you that nothing Raúl ever did to you would compare to what I was capable of.”