Chapter 20 – COSIMA
COSIMA
I press myself flatter against the cold stone palace wall, listening carefully to the sound of Plague's footsteps echoing in his office.
My heart hammers so hard I'm sure he'll hear it through the window, but he fills the silence by bitching to himself under his breath about "careless tourists" and their "fucking cigars. "
I bite my lip to suppress a grin.
Oh, if only he knew the fire was the least of his problems right now. The bastard owes me for that lovely stay in his dusty cell, then passing me off to Nikolai of all people like a package to be signed for.
Sure, I've grown attached to the psychotic asshole. I can't even help wondering how he and Raven are faring right now. But that doesn't mean I've forgotten the indignity of it all.
Spite is hardwired into my DNA.
Through the window, I watch Plague pause by a decorative statue on a pedestal near his bookshelf.
My breath catches as he reaches out to adjust it, turning it slightly as if its position offends his obsessive need for order.
Knight stands frozen in the corner, a mere fourteen feet away, and I swear I can see those blue eyes burning behind the helmet's visor.
All I can do is pray he doesn't move.
Or growl.
But Plague turns away, apparently satisfied with the statue's new angle, and moves back to his desk. My pulse quickens as he reaches for the glass of water.
Come on, you anal-retentive prick. Drink it.
He picks up the glass, tugs down the Surhiiran scarf covering his lower face, brings it halfway to his lips, then pauses. His eyes narrow, studying the clear liquid as if it just shit-talked his entire bloodline.
"Holy shit," I whisper. "Talk about paranoid."
"Is it really paranoia if you actually spiked his drink?" Geo hisses beside me, and I can practically feel him rolling his eye even though I don't dare take mine off Plague.
"You're being pedantic."
Finally, as if deciding the water hasn't been sitting out too long to be suspicious, Plague takes a long drink. I watch his throat work as he swallows, fighting the urge to do a little victory dance right there on the palace grounds.
"You sure you didn't put enough of that shit in there to kill him?" Geo whispers, his stubble scraping against my ear. Fucking ridiculous that I don't even want to take a swipe at him for it.
"Of course not." I pause, considering. "Probably."
Geo's growl vibrates through the air between us. "That's it. We're all going to be executed for killing the crown prince of Surhiira."
"Stop being such a worrywart."
"Someone has to have common sense around here, and it clearly isn't you."
"Shut up," I mutter, but my attention is on Knight, still frozen in place like the world's most convincing statue. "He's doing a good job playing suit of armor, at least."
"Yeah, he was born for the role," Geo grumbles.
Plague picks up one of the papers from his desk and moves toward the window.
Geo and I both flatten ourselves harder against the wall, his solid bulk pressing against my side, and I hold my breath as Plague's shadow falls across the stone beside us.
Through my peripheral vision, I catch a glimpse of Knight's eyes behind the visor, tracking the other alpha's movement with predatory focus.
The poison better work fast, because if Plague gets any closer to discovering us, Knight's going to protect me by tearing the prince apart.
And we happen to need him alive and talking.
Plague's hand appears on the windowsill, the leather of his glove creaking as he grips it and leans forward to peer outside. Then he staggers, a rough cough escaping his throat.
Fucking finally.
"What the hell is—" His knee buckles, and as he catches himself on the window frame, his eyes meet mine for a split second.
Recognition flares in those pale blue eyes, followed by understanding. "You."
I can't help the manic grin that spreads across my face as I give him a little wave. "Hi, Plague. Or should I say, almost-brother-in-law?"
His hand moves for his weapon with impressive speed considering the poison coursing through his system.
Clearly, I underestimated how much it would take to drop an alpha of his size and training.
He may be lean in comparison to the other Ghosts, but up close, he's fucking huge.
To be fair, Geo was riding my ass about not killing him.
Before Plague can draw his blade, Knight explodes into motion. The decorative armor clatters as he crosses the room in two massive strides, his human hand closing around Plague's throat from behind.
"What the fuck—" Plague's words cut off as Knight lifts him clear off the ground.
But Plague didn't survive as one of the Ghosts by being easy prey. His blade flashes out, finding a gap in Knight's decorative armor where the plates meet. Knight roars, more in surprise than pain, and his grip loosens just enough for Plague to twist free.
The prince lands in a crouch, weapon already moving in a deadly arc. Knight's massive frame works against him in the confined space.
Fuck. He can't dodge properly in a room that's clearly not made for eight-foot mutant alphas wearing armor, cloak and all. I wasn't counting on this getting to the point of an actual fight.
Figures Plague couldn't make this easy.
He is Azarel's brother.
Geo vaults through the window with more agility than a man his size should possess. "Need a hand, Tin Man?"
Plague's eyes snap to him, and despite the poison making his movements slightly sluggish, his voice drips with disgust. "I'd heard you've lost your mind, Geo, but you fucking drugged me?"
Geo jerks his thumb at me. "That was all her."
"Only a little," I add innocently, starting to climb through the window to help. And not a moment too soon as Plague launches a throwing knife in Geo's direction. "Watch out!"
The knife whistles through the air, embedding itself in the wall exactly where Geo's head had been a second before. He ducks and rolls, coming up with his gun drawn.
"Stay the fuck outside!" he barks at me. Not quite an alpha bark, but close enough to make my scalp tingle.
"How chivalrous. Worry about yourself, big guy." I settle for leaning through the window instead, careful to keep most of my body outside once I realize Knight is holding back in an attempt to avoid catching me in the crossfire. "And remember, we need him alive and capable of answering questions!"
Plague laughs, the sound sharp and bitter as he parries Knight's clawed strike with his blade. "You three broke into the fucking palace and you think you're walking out of here alive?"
Knight roars, the sound shaking the very walls, and I see realization dawn on Plague's face as the cloak tears away from his broad shoulders, revealing the metal arm beneath.
"It can't be..." Plague breathes, narrowly dodging as Knight's claws smash through his pristine desk, cleaving it in two like it's a slice of cake. Papers fly like confetti, providing just enough cover for Geo to get into a better position.
Plague grabs one of the swords from the wall display, and suddenly it's blade against bladed claws, the metallic clash ringing through the office.
Knight's raw power sends Plague sliding back, but the prince uses the momentum to spin away, his fighting style one of quick reflexes and rapid strikes that keep him just out of Knight's reach.
The poison is definitely affecting him, though.
I can see it in the slight tremor of his hands, the way he blinks too often as if trying to clear his vision.
But he's still fighting with skill even I can't deny is impressive.
Most people can't hold their own against Knight for more than a few seconds, even if the small space does give my alpha a considerable handicap.
Geo tries to flank him, but Plague anticipates the move, using Knight's bulk as a shield while he maneuvers around the destroyed furniture. In one fluid motion, he grabs the glass from his desk and flings the remaining liquid through the eyeholes in Knight's mask.
Knight staggers back with a pained snarl, clawing at his mask as his back hits the wall hard enough to shake the room, and my heart clenches.
He's trying so hard not to destroy everything, not to risk hurting me with flying debris, and it's putting him at a disadvantage against an opponent who knows exactly how to exploit every weakness.
"Will you just black the fuck out already?" I hiss at Plague.
He shoots me a look like I'm the most insane person he's ever met, and maybe I am, but then he sends another throwing knife into Geo's thigh.
Geo curses viciously but doesn't go down, instead rushing forward to drive into the prince like a freight train.
They crash into the bookshelf, volumes tumbling around them as Geo uses his weight and strength to pin Plague against the wall.
But even drugged and outnumbered, Plague fights with a vicious intelligence. He drives his knee up, catches Geo in the ribs, then uses the larger alpha's momentary loosening of his grip to slip free and send him stumbling back.
Knight is still struggling, growling in distress as he tries to clear his vision without removing his mask. The sight of him so vulnerable and suffering makes me want to freaking kill Plague whether we need him alive or not.
My eyes land on the statue Plague adjusted earlier, a heavy bronze piece depicting the same ibis figure as the pendant Azarel wears around his neck at all times, even when he's sleeping. Without thinking, I slip fully into the room and grab it, the weight making my arms strain.
Plague turns just as I raise it above my head, his eyes widening as if he's having a particularly painful episode of deja vu.
I grin. "Remember this?"
The statue connects with his skull with a satisfying thunk and he crumples to the floor.
I drop the statue, panting and sweeping the damp silver hair out of my face as Geo hauls himself to his feet with a groan. "My fucking knee is gonna be out for a month," he growls.
"I'll make it up to you. Just restrain Plague." I rush to Knight, who's still snarling and clawing at his mask. "Hey, I'm here. Just hold still."
He freezes as if he's afraid to hurt me, giving me the space I need to work. My hands are gentle as I help him wipe the liquid from around his eyes, using the torn piece of his cloak. He growls softly, leaning into my touch like a giant cat seeking comfort.
"Better?" I murmur, and he gives a stiff nod, those burning blue eyes flicking to me from behind the mask.
Behind us, I hear the distinctive click of metal. I turn to find Geo handcuffing an unconscious but groaning Plague who's now sporting a bright red cut on his head.
"He won't be out for long," Geo warns. "Fucker's tough, I'll give him that."
I blink at the restraints. "Do you just carry those around all the time?"
"In case anyone at the club gets too rowdy." He pauses, scratching at his stubble. "It's usually Raven, actually."
I scoff. "And you're still pretending there's no sexual chemistry between you two?"
Plague moans, his head lolling as he starts to come around, and Geo's expression hardens. "This really isn't the time," Geo says through his teeth.
I roll my eyes and gesture to Knight. "If you're okay, go ahead and pick Plague up," I say to him before glancing back at Geo. "We need to get out of here and find a way to signal to Raven and Nikolai that the mission was a success."
"We just kidnapped a prince," Geo says flatly, watching as Knight easily lifts Plague's limp form over his shoulder.
"The entire Surhiiran army is about to be on our asses, and they'll be the least of our worries when the rest of the Ghosts find out.
I wouldn't exactly call this a successful mission yet. More like a suicide mission."
"You're such a pessimist," I say, pushing the window open as wide as it will go for Knight to get through. Geo helps him with Plague, then reaches in and pulls me out after him, his hands warm and rough and steady on my waist even though the silk.
As my feet hit the ground outside, the reality of what we've just done crashes over me. We actually pulled it off.
We have Plague.
Now, we just need to figure out what the fuck to do with him.