55. CHAPTER 55 #2
“What is Christopher doing now?” Zayne asked, slowing his breathing to keep his heart rate steady and conceal the importance of his question.
“Cleaning up his mess with the asset who burned us. I believe he's licking his wounds by seeking his revenge for the Phaedra. The boy's military career is ruined. He couldn't have performed worse in Caspador.”
What else could go wrong? Anything? “Aren't there more important matters for him to attend to?”
“That boy has done enough damage,” Father said. “I don't want him near anything important. Let him keep himself busy with his asset.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. “He should return to Ciondo if he's a liability.”
“We need to respond to the betrayal.”
Christopher wasn't the one he was worried about. If Zayne said anything else, Luke or Father may wonder why he cared so much. He didn't want to imagine what Christopher would do to Miya and Lance.
“I hope someone is keeping a close eye on him,” Zayne said. Could he get Father to divulge his location? Zayne wished he had access to the tracking system.
“Don't worry about him. We have him handled.”
At that, Luke's eyes shifted to Zayne. He'd need to find another way to help Miya. His brother was too suspicious of everything he said.
Zayne didn't like risking a video call while within Ciondo, but when Reinard sent a message saying Major Tyndale convinced one of his generals to talk to him, he couldn't pass up the opportunity.
He sat in his tree against a black sheet to hide the names from the United, looking at the woman who had ordered Kira dead when they were supposed to save her. The same woman who refused to provide him with jets when he offered to join their side. General Roul.
Dark brunette hair crept from beneath her cap. Her uniform glittered with badges he hoped to see her stripped of after how she treated Kira. “Sergeant Riven,” she said.
He didn't honor her with a name. “So, you're the idiot who rejected my offer?”
“I'm the idiot who didn't invade the airspace over the emperor's tower.”
“What about now? Do you see that pulling punches doesn't save you from the Phaedra? He's coming for you. Stop letting fear guide this war and strike him.”
“Do you believe in this strategy, or are you just trying to get Kira out?”
“Both.”
A snort. Roul raised her brows. “Well, the invasion of Caspador changes everything. We're now willing to discuss your proposal. We need a strong response to the Phaedra's unprecedented aggression against his own loyal kingdom.”
Caspador may not have joined the rebellion, but it wasn't loyal. That didn't matter, though. Zayne just wanted a way to get Kira out.
“You get me and everything I know,” he said. “There's nothing else to discuss. I need to move the prisoner now, not in a few weeks once you've mapped out your twenty-year strategy.”
“You're very valuable, but this is a major ask.”
Zayne didn't have time for this. She made her decision, or she wouldn't have met with him. “I planned to kill whoever ordered Kira dead. Take this opportunity to save your life.”
“You do not want to threaten me,” Roul said.
“Trust me, I very much do.”
“This isn't the right way to begin a partnership.”
“And whose fault is that? Save Kira, and I'll forgive you.”
She guffawed. “You'll forgive me? You're the Phaedra's slave. His dog. That's all the Rivens are. If you want me to sanction the most aggressive military action the United has ever taken against the Phaedra, then you're my dog now.”
Zayne sneered. “You think you need to explain the business to me? This is my life. All I've ever known. I understand I'm replacing one master with another.” He glowered at her. “So do you want the son of the High General as your dog or not?”
The corner of her lip twitched. “I'll never trust you. You're a very disobedient dog.”
“And whose disobedient dog would you like for me to be?”
Her lips fell. “Mine.”
“Then give me those jets and get Kira out of Ciondo.”
Steady eyes watched him. “You're doing this for a woman. What a vulnerable position you've placed yourself in.”
“We're all in vulnerable positions these days. You're bleeding out. You need me.”
“Yes, we do. You'll be our best asset.”
“So stop wasting my time. Enough talking.”
She sat forward. “I must approve every detail of this operation. We can't have our most valuable resource get captured or killed.”
“Then I need anything I ask for.”
“Take it. If you're ours when this is through, take whatever you need to make it to us. The Phaedra will regret invading Caspador.”
Just as she would regret attacking Kira and trying to make Zayne her dog.
He'd play the game and maul her when this was through.
Kira's freedom was his war now. His sole priority. He'd do anything that improved her chances and didn't care about or consider what happened once he accomplished this mission. If Zayne lived to see the consequences of blowing up his life, he'd deal with it then.
General Roul wanted a dog in exchange for a jet, so she'd have one. For now.
Fighting the Phaedra required sacrificing everything without holding back. Until the day Kira awoke free from his clutches, there was no right or wrong, should or shouldn't, want or not. There were only calculations. Only a single question.
Did this improve Kira's odds of freedom?
And if the answer was yes, then the consequences be damned.