Deviant Games (The Controllers #8) - L.V. Lane Page 0,27

and at a location of your choice, within reason. We both want the same thing, Cohen. The Alphas to be removed from power within the Empire.”

“The plans have moved forward?” Cohen asked. He wasn’t one for visual tells, but he sat straighter in his seat.

Ganon nodded. “A contact has been moved into the employment circle a couple of months ago.”

“They will be suspicious,” Cohen said. But his foul mind was reeling with possibilities.

“It won’t matter,” Ganon put back smoothly. “They have been suspicious before, but we still managed to snatch a prize from their midst. Placements, like the one we have, provide opportunities to observe. As we have seen in the past, it’s only a matter of time before opportunities to do more arise. We can do this without your assistance. There are many and varied ways of extracting information, but it is never one hundred percent effective. Wouldn’t you like to see into the mind of a member of their ruling council?”

Cohen’s interest became absolute. He wished the wily Theta was in the room so I could pluck the truth from Ganon’s mind. Aligned to the Theta cause because it supported his own, Cohen considered how this collaboration might work and was already planning conversations and seeds he could plant to facilitate his goal. He was, in my opinion, closer to a Theta than an Alpha. Were the Uncorrupted not using a modified version of the Copper virus that only produced Alphas, I thought he might even have revealed.

Or maybe not.

The Empire infected children from non-dynamic families shortly after birth. The virus was part of human development from the earliest age. Although most dynamics did not reveal until puberty or later, the Uncorrupted’s expert, Jenda, believed genetic level changes began much sooner.

Cohen was a mongrel, as the natural human should be. Long ago, before I was snatched from my fleeting life as a newly awakened Omega dynamic, I had sat in classes with others of my caste. The Copper virus could only target and modify what was already present. But in honing in on specific strong characteristics, it dampened other, less useful ones as it bent the individual to its path. As an Omega, our gifts became our focus, prioritizing mental strength over physical.

But there must be a balance in life, as in the dynamic world. Were Omegas not so appealing to Alphas, it seemed likely our caste might not have survived the first mass viral Awakening long enough for those gifts to flourish.

Nature always finds a way.

The virus was nature at its darkest and finest.

It was primitive and yet innately powerful.

It was a god and humanity, its mortal slave.

The Alphas were at the top, the Omegas at the bottom, and all else must find their place between. What the Thetas were trying to do went against the constructs of nature. It went against our viral god.

Nature always finds a way.

“I will see what can be done,” Cohen said, stirring me from my rumination. “The timing is delicate. It has been determined that she would benefit from bonding and breeding. While I have influence, additional incentives would be beneficial in my success in presenting the case.”

This was the first mention of me being bred. My mind recoiled in horror even as I cursed my foolishness in presuming my imminent bonding might lead to any other course.

“A Singular we provided at great cost was taken from Lyus,” Ganon said, digitally reconstructed voice cold and rich with censure.

Cohen seethed internally. He did not like to be reminded of the Uncorrupted failure, even if he was not personally involved. He didn’t give voice to these thoughts. They were negotiating, and it was a delicate time for both parties. Cohen wanted access to the ruling Alpha as much as the Theta did, but he must play the game. “Do you have her?”

He did not mask his burning interest well, and Ganon’s lips tugged up. Ganon shook his head slowly. “We suspected you wanted her more than you were prepared to negotiate for.”

The silence stretched. What was Ganon offering here? To give them Lillian Brach again in return for access to my gift?

“Do you have her?” Cohen repeated, voice sharp with demand. He wanted the Singular, desperately. Envisaged the glory and power he might wield in having another such prized Omega pet.

“No,” Ganon said softly. “We do not. But this is a negotiation, is it not? You are prepared to consider sharing your gifted Omega’s skill for the right price?”

What was happening here? Were