Page 31 of The Secrets of Jane: Reborn

My lips twitch with many replies, but nothing makes it even to a small whisper as I watch Cypress depart, the intensity of the rubies diminishing back to normal as if she never walked in.

How in the fuck do I keep this secret from someone who can read if I’m lying to him or not?

S O R E N

Like a changing of the guards, everything is set into motion once I’m removed from the throne room. The act feels necessary, and yet there’s a pulse ofsomethingbrushing over me with such subtlety I barely register it.The hells is that about?

One of the guards looks at my wrists, as if he might want to bind them. I arch my brow, a silent challenge daring him to try. His hands fidget like he doesn’t know how to approach me,until he steps back against the wall and gives up. It’s evident he doesn’t think it’s worth it.

Damn right.

Glancing over my shoulder I see Ritter is leaving his room, and I make exaggerated efforts to move against the wall so he might pass, as if mocking his importance when we both knowI’mthe conduit to his daughter. The old man doesn’t look at me as he walks by, and for an annoying moment in time, I’m a little fascinated to behere, negotiating and strategizing with the Scorpion while the world thinks him lost.

Heisa legend, after all.

Ritter’s energy burns through those around us, almost as if his entire aura contains more power than the rest. His presence is both magnetic and suffocating with its intensity, and I’d wish he’d put that damn ring back on.

He walks with confidence, and I get a good look at him and know the distinct weight in a gaze of a man that has seen, and done, alot.

“Take Soren to the Commons. Give him blood rejuvenation if we have it and send someone to fetch replacement ingredients. Neither he nor his men are touched. They’re to aid us without hesitation—” my head tilts, as I didn’t fucking agree tothat“—Soren is to remain in the Commons until I make plans to adjust our arrangement here. I need time to myself. I’ll be back.”

Biting my tongue is almost physical rather than metaphorical as,once again, everything swings into motion when someone tells me to move.

I momentarily almost retort, despising the way Ritter just volunteered my aid?—

Stop.

My ego is not what matters here.

As I’m guided forward, I need to be prepared for it all, including letting these cunts bind my wrists, even if it pissesme off. I’m essentially in enemy territory, and that means this is an exercise in utilizing mycompliantside, which is quite underused.

Maybe this is good for me; a bitter dose of discipline to strip me back down to what I’m here for in the first place; my sister,notestablishing my rank as a Zenith. So that means if the Scorpion is going to bark orders like this, I’ll do what I can to roll with it.

The area outside Ritter’s little nest is where I’m taken, right to a cornered alcove with a blanket crudely covering a pile of hay, almost insultingly so. I lie down on it when it’s clear that’s where I’m staying put for the time being, and my bones feel like they can finally rest, even if the straw pokes into my skin. Closing my eyes, I open myself up fully, stretching my senses outward like unfurling tendrils. Every wavering emotion and deep fear that these men possess grows more vivid the longer I remain still.

Rorge clears his throat, and as soon as he begins speaking, the noise of this place silences. “This Zenith is supposedly our ally for now, so leave him be. I assume Scorpion wants him here so we can all keep an eye on him. Don’t let him leave this corner.”

The room’s energy tightens as they all seem to take this responsibility seriously, and meanwhile, I lace my fingers and just let my body rest, eyes still closed. “Yes, please watch over me as I nap. Very dangerous business.”

I breathe out a heavy sigh, moving my shoulders to get comfortable. A fierce wave of judgment pulses through the room, with only less than a handful who seem amused.

I breathe slowly so my heart rate can even out, not giving a shit what any of these people think. It’s oddly relaxing since I know Jane is safe—Idotrust Ritter to keep a very close eye on her. I assume my men will be informed that we’retemporarilyallies, and if not, I can tell I’ll be able to pass that on soon.

One way or another, this is a clear moment of rest to regain what strength I can.

And to think.

Jane is truly the center of all this attention, isn’t she? I can sense her inner fire hasn’t had enough oxygen to breathe, and she needs to let these changing winds fuel her so she can ignite. Unleashing her potential is critical,so when all these fuckers come for her, she can slit their throatsherself. The more prepared—mentally, emotionally, and physically—she is, the better weallare.

At the same time, she won’t have the luxury to properly heal the wounds that have been ripped back open and exposed, which means patchwork for now, because we need to leave as soon as possible; to formulate a plan.

Ineed a plan.

My fingers tighten in their hold.

Shit. What comes next will be one of the hardest challenges I’ve ever faced. How is a man supposed to take on a broken god, an entire cult,andanother Zenith all at once? Even if Ritter doesn’t want to kill menow, it’s still a conditional handshake.

And what about the detail that Cypress, that worthless cunt that she is, mightactuallybe able to get me to my sister?