Page 47

Ain’t that the truth,Savvine thought.

Helena had spoiled and pampered her son, and the result was an entitled crybully who had no idea how to run a vast family legacy.

Savvine didn’t add that Eugene had played roulette with a weapon in her face. She wasn’t going to give Helene the satisfaction.

‘That deal with Signet, to build a ship. Make sure it happens,’ Helene murmured, as though she were requesting a menu at a restaurant.

Helene leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with interest. ‘While you’re there, look around. Learn what makes Signet tick. Their systems, operations, structure, and reach. Report back to me.’

Savvine narrowed her eyes. ‘You want me to spy on them.’

‘Nada.’ Helene smiled, the sentiment not quite reaching her hard eyes. ‘I’m asking you to observe. They’re growing fast, and I want to know how. I hear whispers, too, that they are metas, shifters, enhancements. Abominations.’

Her lips curled like she’d smelled something rotten. ‘So don’t become caught up in their chaos or lure.’

Savvine tilted her head, her utterance deceptively soft. ‘What if I do?’

Helene’s eyes hardened into glacial shards. ‘Then you’ll be muddying our lineage. I won’t have that.’

Her voice carried no hint of humor. ‘Don’t test me, girl. You know what I’m capable of.’

Savvine stared at her. Long enough for discomfort to bloom across the matriarch’s face like a bruise. Helene looked away first.

‘Are we done here?’

Savvine didn’t wait for an answer. She turned and walked out, her boots echoing over priceless marble, not caring that she didn’t have permission to leave.

Behind her, the doors whispered closed.

Yet still, her pulse beat like war drums in her throat as she strode to her office, still amped up and on edge.

General Arasteh was alone in his office, next to hers. His dark eyes scanned a glowing report screen, and his shoulders were hunched with quiet exhaustion.

When she knocked on his jamb and stepped in, he glanced up, one brow raised, the other already bracing for trouble.

‘Eugene?’ he asked, before she even spoke.

She nodded and told him everything.

Eugene’s threats, the briefcase, and the order to deal with Alexandr Roman, while keeping her mouth shut. Finally, about Helene’s interest in the transaction.

The General didn’t speak right away.

He listened in his still way.

Then he turned to his console and keyed in a coded sequence when she was done.

A transmitter shaped like a gem was ejected from a hidden drawer.

He slid it across the desk to her.

‘This gives you comm access to Signet,’ he said. ‘It’s encrypted with level nine clearance. It gets you into the Signet strong guard’s private channel. We used it during the Jovian Blackout when we coordinated with them to free the hijacked ship. Roman’s team still monitors it.’

Savvine closed her fingers around the small device and pocketed it. ‘You trust me to make contact? Fact, you want me to.’

‘I believe Eugene will send someone far worse if you don’t. If you’ve any suspicions about why Eugene now wants to cozy up to Signet, being at the heart of the deal will give you the best sight line. However, don’t share anything substantial with Helena.’

‘I know. Her interest is suss as allfokk. She’ll get a sanitized report.’