8. CHAPTER 8
Miya
The Territories
Archai, Caspador
Cherry floorboards creaked beneath the clatter of Miya’s heels, the only sound in an uncomfortably silent room.
She settled the silver platter on the bedroom dresser and poured steaming tea into a cup for the captain without being asked.
He hadn’t invited her here, and her boss told her not to come.
But if Miya spent her life following orders, then she’d not have survived this long.
So, she served the captain his tea, as he’d expect of her, and hoped the offering to his delicate ego might suffice.
Not that Miya knew much about that ego. Only that when she knocked on his door, he opened it for her without a greeting or question of her intent, and that his eyes dropped to her gloved hands—the gloves hiding the mark on her ring finger.
The captain probably knew that. Probably noticed the other maids didn’t wear anything over their hands.
That a woman in Miya’s position covering herself had something to hide.
Yes, the captain knew and watched her pour his tea without a word.
Miya worked at Governor Krowe's estate for several months without any interesting developments, so a Ciondian officer with an entire squad showing up out of nowhere set off her alarm bells. So far, no one knew why the soldiers had come. It was an aggressive move by the Phaedra against the governor of Caspador, who he appointed himself. This was one of the only territories that had yet to enter the rebellion, but their king had not so elegantly hidden his talks with the United. The Phaedra pressured the governor to keep this country in line. With the territories on the eastern coast amassing so much power, both sides of the war were keen to control the land between Ciondo and the countries most impervious to the Phaedra’s control.
All of which told Miya the people in this house may not survive. Ciondian soldiers meant danger, and she paid careful attention to danger. Whatever happened to everyone else, she'd uncover this man's secrets and survive.
Ciondian soldiers wore their badges of honor on their bodies if they had any. With the way he looked at her, Miya knew she'd have no trouble getting that shirt off so she could read his military service like a book.
“Rafferty & Company hopes you enjoy,” Miya said, raising the cup of tea to him.
If he didn’t already know who she worked for, then he did now.
The boss was crazy if he thought Miya would get away with spying here now that this military officer showed up.
Either she introduced herself as a friend, or this captain would assume her a foe, and she didn't want to be a foe of a Ciondian officer.
Better to be in trouble with the boss than dead.
The captain looked into her eyes without taking what she offered, instead nudging her hand away with the back of his knuckles and brushing back her thick curls.
That didn't take long. Miya placed the cup back on the platter.
“I thought I should introduce myself...” Miya said. “I’m sorry to interrupt you.”
The captain hadn’t drawn his hand back to himself. It lingered in the air between them. Then he pinched the fabric over her left ring finger and pulled the glove free.
So, he loved to revel in drama, did he?
He didn't look at her hand to confirm his obvious suspicion, but instead continued to stare, as if he wanted to force her to see herself through his eyes.
A thick black band circled her finger where a wedding ring might be if Miya lived a normal life.
This mark didn't accurately represent her.
Not anymore. She chose the work she did now and, long ago, saved up enough money to escape when the time came.
But it told her so much about a man to see how they reacted to the band.
Whether they believed they had the right to take what they wanted because of it.
What an asshole.
Miya drew the zipper running along the side of her dress down and let the control freak do the rest—because she knew his type the moment she laid eyes on him.
In no time, he played right into her hands, tossing his clothes on the ground so she plainly saw every mark on his body.
The Phaedra's tower climbed up his forearm.
Terror crashed down her spine.
He bore the emperor's seal. Her mind raced back through her childhood, through that old life that belonged to someone else, as she counted how many times she'd ever encountered anyone with a seal.
This captain didn't come just to pressure Governor Krowe. He came for a job that the Phaedra only trusted himself to do, and so sent his shadow in his stead. And Miya needed to know exactly what that was.
Something seemed off about his body, though. What was it?
Ah…
Ciondian soldiers tattooed their battle wounds with gold, but she spotted only three small scars tattooed with honor. Unless the captain was the luckiest bastard in the war, he'd been spared from combat. Only a soldier from an elite family escaped war.
Then he may not have earned his coveted seal through his own military pursuits, but because of growing up in the Phaedra's inner circle.
That didn’t mean he wasn’t lethal, only that he was pampered, which might make him even more dangerous, honestly.
When they were finished, Miya began to dress and eyed the door. Though she had planned to stay longer, this new information threw her, and she needed time to strategize. She bent for her dress, but the captain stepped on the sleeve.
So much for getting the hell out of here.
“What's wrong?” She slid onto the dresser, crossed her legs, and smiled. “Dissatisfied with my service, Captain?”
“You’re clever when you’re nervous. Charming.” He combed his fingers through her dark hair, fixing her up like a doll. “Why the hurry to run when you went out of your way to make an introduction?”
Miya hadn’t heard him speak yet. The cadence of his Ciondian accent and the crisp speech of the ruling class softened his demeanor, as though he could pass for a civil man. She kept her voice steady. “Governor Krowe doesn’t approve of house staff sharing their charms in his guest wing.”
“Only sharing tea then?”
“Only tea.”
The captain tilted his head. “Well, Ciondo doesn’t approve of Governor Krowe’s pattern of subterfuge. I’ll do whatever the hell I want in his guest wing.” He pointed at the bed. “Sit.”
Forcing herself to turn her back on the exit, she took her place atop the plush comforter neatly stretched over the bed by another maid. Out of habit, she smoothed out the wrinkles she created.
The captain picked up her dress and pushed her heels beneath the dresser with one foot, ensuring she did not make a run for the door. Stupid bastard.
“Perhaps you’re worried that if you stay for too long, people may wonder what business a maid has with an officer of Ciondo. A marked maid at that.”
She ran her thumb over the black band tattooed around her ring finger.
“No one has given me a second glance,” she said. “I have a strong cover here. I appreciate the courtesy of keeping it that way.”
The black bands etched into his muscled biceps represented a vastly different kind of service than the one on Miya’s finger.
He likely left his shirt off to flaunt the difference between them.
He wore his authority as an officer and as one of the Phaedra's men etched upon his body.
And Miya, her scandal. Let him underestimate her.
She'd need that. This fool had no idea what she'd left behind and what she'd done to come this far.
“It takes a great deal of nerve to come knocking on my door uninvited.” The captain reached for the teacup streaked in drying black lines.
“You said Rafferty & Company hopes I enjoy.” He sipped, his stare never leaving her.
“I like the taste, but first impressions can be deceiving. It’s a shame Rafferty lacks credibility. ”
Miya followed a drop of tea to the ground. “We’re a growing company.”
“You intend to grow here in the conflict of Ciondo and its unruly territory. It seems you’ve chosen the Phaedra’s side by seeking me out. I take it your boss is not a fan of Caspador’s king.”
“Not so much. The king isn’t fond of sharing his power with crime lords. My boss prefers to keep his neck and his territory. He'll keep the property and the mines out of the king’s hands. The province will stay under the control of the Phaedra.”
“I like your honesty about your boss.” He crossed his arms, her dress wrapping around his forearm. “But I want to know about you, Miya.”
A steady drum of anxiety pounded hollow in her chest. She’d never told him her name.
This confirmed her boss was an idiot, and she was right to make her introduction.
Still, wondering what all he knew twisted her stomach.
Did he have access to the restricted database?
Few did. If he searched for her in the regular database, he'd only find her life as Miya.
But if the Phaedra gave him access to those forbidden to search, then she just walked into the most dangerous trap of her life.
The captain slid toward her, the cold stare of his hazel eyes never leaving hers.
He sat beside her, so close that the warmth of his breath hit her temple.
Somehow, she expected it to feel cold. His hand slid over hers, his ring finger running along her mark.
What had those hands done before? What would they do to her? A chill meandered along her spine.
“Tell me more,” he said.
A deep breath. “My boss ordered me to avoid you, but I came anyway.”
“Fascinating. Why?”
“The Phaedra won this war before it began. I need to be on the right side when Caspador formally enters the war.”
Their kingdom could join the rebellion any day now and the Phaedra knew that. The presence of an officer bearing the seal meant imminent action against the king of Caspador.