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He stepped back. I watched his gaze shift inward, right before he leaned heavily against the desk. He sat on the edge of it, supporting his weight on his long legs, his feet set at angles in front of him.

“I want more say in you and Lily’s security,” he said.

“More say?” I pressed. “Or all say?”

He looked up. His clear eyes sharpened. “Do you want the truth?”

I clicked at him, annoyed for real.

“Of course I want the truth! What the hell do you think I’m doing here? We need to agree on this. We need to settle it… now. We don’t have the luxury to argue about this shit, especially when we’re getting ready to mobilize again. I need your help on Dubai! That’s a six-week planning op, minimum. And I’m tired of arguing in front of the others!”

His gaze cleared as I spoke.

I saw him nod. I felt his agreement even more than I saw it.

“I’m sorry I shoved you,” I said then. “I won’t do it again.”

He looked at me, jaw hard.

“You can do it again,” he said. “Just don’t do it when you’reangryat me. Don’t do it as a way of putting me in my place. I may be your subordinate, but I’m your husband, too. You can pull rank on me all you want out there,” he added, motioning towards the door. “But you do it in here, where we’re supposed to be mates––and equals––and you’ll be sleeping alone, Allie.”

I didn’t lower my gaze. Seeing the depth of feeling there, I nodded.

He’d never leveled that particular threat at me before, either.

“Okay,” I said. “Agreed.”

The heat in his eyes lost even more of its charge.

Waiting until I saw him let out an exhale, I adjusted my rear against the handrail under the view window. I folded my arms.

“Are we going to talk about you disobeying orders?” I asked. “Going around me out there?”

Anger returned to his pale eyes.

I watched him stare at the organic floor as his gaze shifted inward. I waited for him to collect his thoughts before I went on.

“Just how much control do you want over decisions that affect my security, Revik?” I asked, coming at the issue a different way. “And how broad a scope does that cover? Because what you did today… that doesn’t only impact me and Lily’s security.”

I waited another few seconds, watching him think.

“I have a condition, too.” I paused when I felt him tense. I waited for him to look up, and when he did, I sighed. “I want you to start seeing Yumi again.”

Seeing the anger rise to his eyes, I held up a hand.

“Look, this isn’t a punishment. I want you to let herhelpyou with this. Balidor showed me the transcript of your sessions in the tank after I left for China. He showed me the part about your fears around Menlim being alive… fears about what he used to make you do.”

Seeing the anger flare hotter in his eyes, I held my hand higher.

“…Especially what he made you do to women,” I added. “Balidor told me you were afraid of what might happen to me because of Menlim even before you knew Menlim was alive. He said you were convinced you couldn’t stop yourself from hurting me. Not if Menlim forced you to do it.”

Revik’s gaze turned briefly murderous.

I could feel other emotions churning there, too.

I waited for him to process my words, and to get past his anger at ‘Dori.

“I’m willing to give you a lot more say over security, Revik. But I can’t give youcarte blanche.Not when it impacts something like killing one of the Four. That’s not only your decision to make. And I need your headclearon this stuff. As clear as possible, anyway.”