Chapter Fourteen
Just the thought of telling Gemma all the things he wanted to do to her had him hard. Now, he couldn’t get the image of her lying naked on his bed out of his mind. It hadn’t been that long since they went on separate missions, but it sure felt like months.
Already sans shirt, he lay back down on the bed, lowering his trousers and underwear. A quiver hurled down his spine when he ran his thumb over the tip of his member. Fuck, what he wouldn’t give to have her in this bed right now.
He took his cock into his hand and stroked gently as he thought about the last night he’d spent with Gemma.
The way her fingers had teased her clit.
How wet she’d been for him, and he hadn’t even touched her yet.
She’d tasted great when she’d come on his tongue, and there were no words for how amazing it’d felt when he was inside her.
Christian let out a long, hot breath as a deep ache grew low in his shaft. His strokes hastened.
He pictured Gemma’s breasts. She was self-conscious of their small size, but to him they were perfect. And the way her nipples peaked when she got close to orgasm . . .
“Oh, fuck.” Christian tipped his head back and squeezed his eyes shut as a vision of her flushed cheeks passed through his mind. She’d looked straight into his eyes as she’d come and screamed his name.
A tingling wave of ecstasy rolled up his cock.
He let out a quiet groan as every muscle in his body tightened and his orgasm ripped through him.
Bursts of painful pleasure fired up his member from base to tip, shooting hot cum onto his stomach.
Again and again, his cock twitched until, at last, his muscles relaxed and euphoria covered every inch of his body.
He flung his arm over his eyes and worked on slowing his heart rate.
A quick shower later, he was dressed in his black SARTF gear and was meandering toward the break room. He needed to grab something to eat before what was bound to be a long night.
Lysa was the only one present inside the break room.
She sat on a small, L-shaped sofa near the books, bent over one of the titles and entirely absorbed in whatever she was reading.
A smirk on his face, Christian made as little noise as possible grabbing a protein bar and cup of caff, then he plopped down next to her.
Lysa shrieked, tossing the book into the air.
His loud laughter carried throughout the room.
“I hate it when you do that,” she snapped, smacking his arm. “Just because you’ve mastered the art of tiptoeing around everywhere doesn’t mean you can give everybody heart attacks.”
His mouth was still in a grin when he took a bite of food. His sister’s green eyes burned holes in his face. She snatched the book and smacked him on the arm again.
At last, her expression softened. “I’m glad we’re finally getting a chance to catch up.” He could hear the sadness in her voice. As if he’d chosen other priorities over her, even though he hadn’t seen her in months.
“I know. I’m sorry,” Christian said. “Things have just been . . . a lot.”
Lysa gave an exasperated chuckle. “You can say that again. Did you know Dad’s only been coming out of his room to grab food? And then he goes right back in with the dishes in hand.”
“Good. I’d rather not see his miserable ass.”
Lysa smacked him on the arm again. “As much as you two annoy each other, you do know he loves you. Even if he isn’t the best father, his heart’s in the right place.”
Christian sighed inwardly and sipped his caff.
Would she think the same if he’d told her that it was their father who’d signed him over to the Falaichte?
She knew about their dad’s debts and about Christian’s ring fights, but he’d never wanted to tarnish the image Lysa still held for their father. To her, their dad “had a good heart.”
“So, it seems a lot has changed since you said you were leaving for the Trials,” Lysa interrupted the silence.
One of his eyebrows flicked up. “You could say that.”
“When you didn’t come back, I knew you’d made it through. Mom would’ve been proud of you.”
He took a swig of caff to avoid replying. She definitely wouldn’t have been proud of the man he’d been growing up.
“Imara mentioned something about a ‘Gemma.’ I take it she’s your girlfriend? You’ve never had one of those before. Did you meet her in the Trials?”
“I did, and yes, she’s my girlfriend. She’s kind and gentle.
Not a mean bone in her body. She’s been through a lot, and it hasn’t broken her.
You remember me telling you about those beasts that spew acid?
I actually watched her slide down a mountainside to save a friend, even though one of them was mere feet from her.
She’s fucking incredible. You’d like her a lot, I think. ”
A giddy grin covered Lysa’s face. “Okay, wait. That look on your face right now is one I haven’t seen before. Since when did you get all lovesick and sappy? Should I start sending invitations for the wedding?”
He shoved his sister, which made her laugh.
Heat rose in his cheeks. “I’ve only known her for a few months.
Though how fast and hard I fell for her did blindside me.
I could tell she was just . . . different from any woman I knew.
Contradictory in the best sort of way. She bears a deep darkness inside her that mirrors mine, yet she can’t help but care for people and bring a little light into their world.
” His heart pinched. Stars, he missed her so fucking much.
“You love her, then?” Lysa asked, softer and more genuine this time.
He nodded. “I do.” A memory sparked. “And, actually, do you remember when I broke my leg when I was maybe seven?”
“Not really. I was four.”
“Okay, touché. But anyway, Mom took me to the infirmary closest to home, and it was Gemma’s mom who set my leg.
Gemma had started training with her already, and Gemma actually gave me her rations for the month to help me get better.
” He chuckled. “Honestly, I think once I made that connection, it was over for me already. There aren’t that many people in this starsforsaken place that are kind, even at seven.
Everybody mocks the idea of falling for someone the first time you meet them—blast, I fucking did.
But then it happened to me, and it made sense. Sometimes, you just know.”
Lysa’s expression was one of pure happiness. Too often, the time they spent together was wrapped up in sewing his skin back together or popping his shoulder back in place or calming him down after his temper flared.
A warmth grew in his chest. If only he’d been able to make Lysa happy more often while they’d grown up.
“But enough about me,” he said, switching the subject. “How are you holding up?”
Her face fell, and he mentally kicked himself.
“I’m not sure, to be honest,” Lysa replied. “I mean, what happens to Dad and me now? Can we go back home? Will I ever even be able to leave the flat?”
Christian frowned. “I don’t know. I don’t like the thought of either of you staying here in Perileos either. Give me a chance to talk to Governor Gallowood. Maybe there are some strings he could pull or something.”
Lysa nodded.
“By the way, what did you do with that box of creds I gave you before I left?” Christian asked.
“It’s with me here. I found a place to hide it in the room they gave me.”
He nodded. “Good. Don’t lose it.”
Their conversation was interrupted by loud voices carrying from the hall. Christian recognized one right away—Hawk. The other sounded like Philip, but considering their voices were harsh but muffled, he couldn’t be sure. They grew louder as they neared the break room.
“What do you mean I can’t see her?” Hawk seethed.
“I already told you,” the other voice replied, “it’s not safe for either of them to know you’re here.” Definitely Philip.
“She’s my daughter. You can’t keep her from me.”
“I can, and it’s for your own good, son—and theirs. As soon as we find Nadine and dismantle the Dissent, you’ll be gone. Do you really want to put them through that kind of heartache? Your former girlfriend didn’t pass her Trials. She’s stuck here for the rest of her life.”
“You can get her out.”
“She knew what she signed up for. It’s in the contract.
Give you a child at eighteen, and then she will want for nothing the rest of her life.
Your daughter is lucky her mom failed her Trials.
At least now Melody will have her mother around, unlike either of us.
And in eighteen years, it’ll be Melody’s turn to take her Trials, and hopefully you can see her again.
Until then, all she’ll get from you are calls and messages.
That’s the way it’s been for generations. Even your mother understood.”
“Don’t mention her. Of all people, she’s the one you chose to fuck?”
“Say that one more time.” The tone in Philip’s voice made the hairs on the back of Christian’s neck rise. When Hawk didn’t answer, Philip continued, “Do not bring up this topic with me again. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Go get something to eat. You have thirty minutes until Ahna briefs the three of you.”
One set of footsteps echoed, growing more distant with every passing second. Lysa and Christian shot each other a glance. His sister’s face was pale. Neither of them were supposed to have heard that conversation.
Hawk stepped into the break room and, spying Christian and Lysa, swore under his breath. “How much of that did you catch?”
“Enough. But it’s your business. I’m here if you want to talk, and if you don’t, that’s cool too,” Christian answered.
With a deep frown on his face, Hawk grabbed a cup of caff and plopped onto a chair at one of the small tables. He shoved his hand into his red hair and stared at the tabletop. “He just doesn’t get it.”
The room was so quiet that Christian could hear Lysa’s breaths. Then Hawk took a long swig of his caff and sat back in his seat.
“Dad was eighteen when he had me too,” Hawk continued.
“But when he left for his Trials, he never came back. Me on the other hand, I’m in the same house where I said goodbye to my daughter, and yet he won’t let me see her.
” He scoffed. “He actually had them relocated so I couldn’t even find her.
I mean . . .” He shook his head, his good eye glistening with tears as he took another gulp of his caff.
Another bout of silence pierced the air. Christian itched to respond, but he couldn’t relate. It had been hard enough leaving his sister behind and hoping she’d be okay without him. But if he’d had to leave a child?
Fucking impossible.
“I’m sorry.” Lysa broke the silence. “That really isn’t fair at all. You could’ve at least seen her one more time before leaving again, you know?”
Hawk lifted his hand. “Exactly. But he refuses to tell me where they are, and knowing him, he’ll have stuck them with someone so loyal to him that I’d never figure it out.”
“She’s with her mom, at least?” Lysa asked.
Hawk nodded. “Yeah, her mom didn’t make it through the Trials. We were never really a couple to begin with, despite what we told people. She was just the daughter of some ass who wanted the money my dad sent him. It’s sick, really, what my family does. I never should’ve done it.”
“Yeah, but then your daughter wouldn’t exist. Melody, right?” Lysa asked, to which Hawk nodded.
Stars, she was so good at this. Christian had almost forgotten just how gentle and kind she was. He imagined their mom had been the same.
“Well, maybe he’ll change his mind about getting them papers so they can leave when you do. I heard he offered that to Cho for helping you guys.”
Christian flinched. He’d offered her a chance to escape this place?
Fucking figured.
Hawk’s laugh in response to Lysa’s comment was halfhearted and laced with pain. “Nah, he’d never do that. Melody has to ‘earn her right to be a citizen.’ His words.”
Christian’s hands balled into fists. But before he or Lysa could say anything in reply, a message from Ahna came through.
MEET ME IN THE WAR ROOM.
Hawk was out of his chair without so much as a glance in their direction, slamming his now-empty caff cup in the trash on his way out the door.
Christian sighed. “Gotta go.” He patted Lysa on her knee.
“Be careful, okay?”
He smirked. “When am I not?”
“Um, always.”
He couldn’t keep the grin off his face as he left his sister to continue her book and hurried down the hall.
Ahna stood at the head of the war room, one hand braced on the edge of the table.
Claude and Yosef were on either side of her.
The map of Perileos sat on the table, routes highlighted in various colors.
Places in the city they’d visited without success.
Possible sightings. The map was shared between both the grave shift and the solar shift, and loads of information had already been added.
The fact that they still hadn’t uncovered any thread was unnerving.
The Dissent was that good at maintaining anonymity.
Imara entered the room a minute later, her black hair looped into a bun, and the moment she sat in her seat, Ahna began speaking.
“We got chatter today. Solar shift pointed to here on the east edge.” Ahna tapped the map. “Old tram lines. Possible drop zone for the Dissent. Might be a cache there.”
Christian shifted in his seat. Old tram lines meant the Underground. The part of Perileos the city forgot, where the Falaichte operated and the fighting ring was hidden. It made sense that’s where they’d have drop zones.
“What kind of chatter?” Yosef asked.
“Encrypted comm burst,” Claude replied. “Didn’t trace clean. But the other team caught fragments, and they mentioned a rerouted supply.”
Christian eyed the schematic, squinting to see the exact spot that had been marked. “That line’s been dead for decades. It barely connects anymore. That’s what makes it smart. No eyes. No patrols.”
“I agree,” Imara said. “That area was declared unstable decades ago. Which also means that’s where the worst kind of people thrive.”
“Like your Falaichte?” Claude asked.
Christian flinched. “Exactly.”
“I trust you two know your way around the area, then,” Ahna said.
“Here’s what we’re gonna do. Christian, you take Hawk and Imara with you and follow up on this lead.
Stay quiet. Observe first. If you see anything, tag it.
But do not engage. That’s a direct order.
Claude, Yosef, and I will set up the beacon in Imara’s stash locker for Cho to use, then we’ll stick to the city grid.
Hit an area still unmarked on the map. We meet back here at end of shift unless there are complications. Any questions?”
A beat passed. No one spoke.
“Gear up,” she ordered. “We leave in twenty.”