killed them—she knows a lot more than she's pretending. It's a test, slyly inserted into a casual conversation. I try to think of the right answer to tell her. Do I lie and say it was just me and Alice? What if she's in contact with Straik and he's found Ruth? What would Alice have told her? I consider this for a moment. I don't think Alice would have told her anything. She would have protected Helen, and she wouldn't have said anything about me on the ship…except that Shaalyn knew I was there.
Unless that was a lucky guess.
Fuck. I…don't know what to do. "Two," I finally say. "Me and Alice. She's the blonde one that was with Kaspar."
"Mmm." She keeps rubbing my back, and I don't know if that's the right answer or not.
Desperately, I look around the room, wondering if there's something I can grab to use as a weapon. I'm in Shaalyn's arms…if I can find a knife, I can get revenge for Adiron. I never thought I was the type to murder someone in cold blood, but I like this idea far too much. I have to defend myself, I reason. The tablet-like med-scanner is in its compartment on the control panel, and it looks heavy enough that I might be able to do some damage if I use it on Shaalyn's head…maybe. Then again, maybe not. Adiron's plated brow is hard as rock, and she's got the same one, and the metal-covered horns. It wouldn't be like knocking out a human. I need something stabby.
I need my gun back.
"And where is the oldest va Sithai brother, hmm?" Shaalyn asks, interrupting my murderous thoughts.
"Who?" I blurt out.
"Mathiras va Sithai? He's the oldest one of the brothers, and the smartest. Where's he off to?" Her voice is calm and sweet.
"I don't know," I answer honestly, and then gloss it up with a lie. "I never saw him." I can't tell if Shaalyn buys my lie or not, so I decide to gloss it up with a little more acting. "I'm hungry. Do you have something other than noodles?" I make my voice as whiny as possible.
I'm not hungry, actually. But if I can leave this med-bay, I can get back to my gun and…what, hide it under my paper gown? I don't know. But Adiron's on this ship, and I need to stay awake to be with him. Better yet, I need to get the gun to him.
Shaalyn makes the clucking noise with her tongue again, as if I'm a naughty child. "Would you like fruit then, my darling? Something sweet?"
I lift my head, nodding.
She strokes my hair again. "Or perhaps a cake of some kind?"
"Yes, please." Preferably one with a file in it, so I can break Adiron out of his prison.
The long-fingered hand tightens on my hair, and suddenly my head is wrenched back, pain slamming through my body. I gasp in shock, staring at the menacing woman that looms over me. "Then you shouldn't have lied, should you? Do you think I'm stupid?" She pulls on my hair tighter, so painfully that I can feel strands of hair ripping out of my scalp. "Tell me the truth, you little shit. Where. Is. Mathiras?"
My eyes flood with tears of pain, but a different sensation courses through my body. Adrenaline. At least I don't have to pretend to like this bitch any longer. With all of my strength, I pull my hand back and punch Shaalyn right in that proud blue nose of hers.
Blood sprays everywhere. She shrieks.
I do, too. I'm pretty sure I've broken my hand. I'm also pretty sure she's going to kill me now.
Worth it.
65
ADIRON
I twiddle my thumbs as I lean against the wall of my prison cell, my tail flicking patterns into the dust on the tile floors. I can't help but compare Lord Straik's prison cell—the one with the gentle scents and shiny new walls—to Shaalyn's pit. There's crusted, dried blood on the plas-film bedding, the lavatory's little more than a hole cut into a panel, and I'm pretty sure it's overflowing. There's three cells down here in the dank, cold brig of Shaalyn's ship, and I'm pretty sure whoever was in cell number three died two days ago.
Then again, that smell might just be the overflowing lavatory.
Up above, I hear the sound of booted feet running back and forth, and I can't help but hope all that hubbub is Jade giving them utter hell. I worry about her—I wouldn't be