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“I’m glad to see that I have not disappointed you, child.”

“Yeah…” My mind was trying to decipher why I wasn’t happier about the news. I sighed, trying to clear the thoughts from my head.

Knock, knock.

“Come in,” Sasha called. The door opened, and a man pushed a small trolley into the room with a teapot, cups, sandwich, and an assortment of fruit. “You can just bring it over here,” she motioned. “Thank you.” The man set the trolley beside us and quickly left the room, closing the door behind him. “Tea?”

I nodded and watched Sasha pour the caramel-colored liquid into a cup. I reached for the sandwich and took a nourishing bite, my mouth watering and stomach cramping at the smell of food.

Oh god, this is so good.

“There you are, child. Better?”

I closed my eyes, chewing, relishing the taste. I nodded a couple of times and then opened my eyes, covered my mouth, and said “thank you” around the bread, meat, and cheese melting on my tongue.

“Good. Now, is there anything else I can assist you with? Or may I return to my work?”

“Mmm…” I mumbled as I finished chewing and swallowing. “Yeah, sorry I bugged you.”

“Not at all, child. I understand.”

“So,” I took another bite and spoke through the mouthful. “Are we training here?” I swallowed. “Or is there another training facility where we’re going to prep?”

Sasha sat up, brows furrowed. “Training? Training for what?”

“Training for the mission…to save my brother,” I added. “You know, prepping for it?”

Sasha’s eyes flickered as recognition dawned on her face. “Ah, I understand. Well,” she said as she cleared her throat. “The team will prepare here on base.”

I leaned over and plucked a grape on the fruit tray, popping it into my mouth and loving the sudden burst of cool, sweet juice dancing on my tongue. “So, am I going to move back to the barracks for the training? Or are they going to drive me every day? Seems like kind of a long haul to drive back and forth each time.” I popped another grape into my mouth. Food was undeniably better than nourishment pills. Unless it tasted like crap. Then I would take a pill any day over nasty stuff.

Sasha shifted in her seat, her gaze looking away from me. “You’ll be staying at the estate.”

“Okay. Seems like a waste of gas, but fine.”

This time, Sasha sat up straighter as her gaze shifted to me. “Mara, you won’t be joining the team on this mission.”

That’s when I started choking on the stupid grape.

24: No Ticket, No Laundry

Ifreaking hate grapes!

I coughed, patting my chest to get the stupid pulp to clear my windpipe. Reaching for my cup, I swigged the hot liquid and swallowed, feeling the lump slowly crawl down my esophagus and finally clearing my airway.

Holy hell.I coughed twice more and took another sip of tea.

“Are you all right?”

“What do you mean I’m not going on the mission?” I demanded, ignoring her question.

Sasha sighed heavily as she rubbed her brow. “Child, I’m not going to argue with you. How does this come as a surprise? Nothing has changed since we left the camp. You were not allowed to go on the missions there because you were too valuable to the rebel cause. None of that has changed. In fact, you are of greater value now than you were then—”

“Sasha—” I started.

“Donotinterrupt me,” she snapped back.

Whoa!I don’t think I had ever seen Sasha lose her temper before, and her sudden outburst shut me up out of pure surprise.