Page 105 of Gladiators of the Vagabond Boxset

When they led me inside the warehouse where Chloe and Kitan were hiding, it was the hardest thing to act like I didn’t notice the handful of camera drones that followed us in. They circled above us so quietly that, like most apex predators, nobody looked up to check for danger from above.

They had made it look like I was here of my own volition, though my hands were still tied behind my back and a Suleantran guard stood at my side, a stunner casually aimed my way.

I hated this, hated how Purveyn was enjoying the moment as he studied the small office where Chloe and Kitan had holed up, how my parents were quietly arguing about the need to remove me as head of the family, a step virtually unheard of in Sune society.

They weren’t going to get away with it. I knew that drones were recording every moment of this. A little pushing, and I was sure Purveyn would say something that would implicate him—and hopefully the entire order.

When Kitan and Chloe stepped out of the office, I held my breath, greedily taking in their appearance.

Kitan looked a little tired, but he was impressive in his dark clothing, even the guards noticed that.

It was easy to forget, here on Sune, where such practices were outlawed, that Kitan had been a gladiator.

He was a trained warrior, and from what my research had shown me last night, a prime at that, winning more than eighty percent of all his matches.

Chloe had red high up in her cheeks, and my sharp nose told me her blood was tinting the air.

That wasn’t a good sign, and my belly ached to hurry this along, to get her the medical attention she needed.

I was impressed with how calm she looked, holding Kitan’s hand, her expression serene where Kitan’s was furious.

They had to be thinking that this was the end, that all was lost.

Kitan wouldn’t even look at me, and I feared that he thought I really had betrayed him. That’s what my family and Purveyn wanted them to think, that was the only reason they’d taken me here. They thought they could drive another wedge between us.

Eyes sharp on the two, I knew it was Chloe who realized I was still on their side.

Her nudge against my brother was gentle, her eyes darting my way once, quickly.

I didn’t think Purveyn noticed, but finally Kitan looked my way.

Mouthing “talk” was the only thing I could think of, and then I darted my eyes up quickly to the nearest drone above our heads.

It was all over in minutes. Kitan was only too willing to draw Purveyn out into saying the most damning things.

Then it was my turn, and I bluffed as hard as I could about just who was watching the footage the drone was recording.

I hoped it wasn’t actually a lie. If Samir had started broadcasting, other stations would have picked it up, this was too hot a news item not to.

The rest was a blur for me, destroying the contract for Kitan, and explaining the horror our revered true shifters went through at the hands of the Suleantran order.

It was satisfying to see my parents, and especially Purveyn, end up in cuffs when the Sune police arrived on the scene.

Samir had done exactly what I needed, she’d come through for me and those I loved.

There was only a brief moment, in the sudden rush of reporters and police, to hug my brother and his mate, to assure them that they were safe.

I gave Kitan the datapad with the list of surgeons suited to Chloe’s needs, and then they were rushing away while I turned back to the journalists swarming outside the warehouse.