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One of the guards opened the door and Soro led the visitors inside. Their footfalls rang in the empty arena, making it feel even more forgotten. They passed archways leading to the interior and long neglected vendor stands.
Muffled cheers and shouts of encouragement made Neloff pause as he approached one of the arched openings. From this angle he had a clear view of the arena floor. A crowd had gathered around two males who were punching and kicking each other. One would attack and the other responded. The opponents seemed evenly matched.
“Is this training or entertainment?” he asked Soro.
“Accusations and complaints against anyone are settled through challenges in the ring. No exceptions,” Soro explained. “Discipline is even harder to maintain when everyone present is an outlaw.”
“Who determines the winner?” Eden wanted to know.
Soro shrugged and continued walking. “The fight is over when one of the competitors can’t continue. The point is not to seriously harm the other person, just knock some sense into them.”
A twisting flight of stairs brought them to a narrow corridor. This passageway was clearly not meant for the general public. The doors were metal with locking handles, many of them labeled with the names and titles of long forgotten employees. Soro knocked on an unmarked door then pushed it inward and led the others inside.
Neloff paused in the doorway and looked around. It was a press box overlooking the arena floor. A row of seats faced the wide window and a table with additional chairs was arranged behind the viewing area. Laidon stood beside the table, looking distrusting and slightly hostile. Neloff had never interacted with the rebel leader, but everyone on Torret knew who he was.
“I was in a holding cell at the Citadel a few days ago. Zevon could have spoken to me any time he liked. Why wait until I escape to request a meeting?” His shaggy hair mixed shades of brown and gold, while his eyes were vivid green.
More comfortable in the role of negotiator, Neloff stepped forward. “Am I speaking with the leader of the rebellion or Verbet’s puppet?”
“I don’t know why Verbet rescued me,” Laidon admitted with a shrug. “I think he’s finally had it with his brother, but I’m not counting on his support.”
Neloff pulled out one of the chairs and sat down. Kyrex and Eden followed his lead. Soro loitered over by the door, while Laidon stood on the far side of the table staring at them.
Already beyond pleasantries, Neloff got right to the point. “Zevon is trying to form an alliance with the other planetary leaders.”
“Zevon doesn’t lead a planet. He leads a ramshackle space station with a few thousand self-absorbed soldiers. The only real power he commands is the triads and we all know it.”
“Do you still want to take out Jevara?” Neloff asked, challenge sharpening his voice. “If you could do it by yourself, you would have by now. And we all know it,” he added.
“Something changed, something significant.” Laidon finally sat down and his expression became less hostile. “Why is Zevon suddenly willing to work with me when he wasn’t before?”
Neloff paused to study the rebel leader. Negotiating was always tricky. If he revealed too little, the other party remained uninterested. If he revealed too much, he lost his leverage. “Zevon doesn’t trust you, but he knows he can’t accomplish his goals without you. Do you blame him for hesitating?”
Laidon shook his head. “That’s been the case from the beginning and it wasn’t enough to motivate Zevon into aligning with me. There was a trigger, something or someone changed his mind. Tell me what it was or this conversation ends now.”
Neloff glanced at Kyrex. The conversation had barely begun. It seemed too early to reveal the truth. He preferred to ease into these things, revealing the facts gradually.
Tell him, Kyrex advised.Laidon is a controller. We’re not known for patience. He’ll respond to strength, not subtlety.
Offering his bond mate a subtle nod, Neloff took his advice. “The Wraiths won’t agree to the alliance unless you’re onboard. No one wants to work with you, but they all know they have no choice.”
Laidon crossed his arms over his chest and rocked onto the chair’s back legs. “And as soon as Jevara is no longer a threat, Zevon or one of the Wraiths will come after me. I’m not stupid. I understand how this works.”
“The board of governors at the Citadel and the Wraith Council on Pyron will drop all the charges against you as part of this alliance.”
What the hell is he talking about?Eden cried telepathically.This fucker tried to kidnap Raina. He can’t get away with it because we need his soldiers?
Not now, Kyrex cautioned.We will discuss it at length later.
Her displeasure pulsed across their soul bond but she wisely fell silent.
“What else will be expected of me?” Laidon wanted to know. “And what else are they offering?”
Eden gasped. “Why would you need anything else? Taking out Jevara is what you’ve wanted all along. We’re finally agreeing to help you. Just say thank you.”
Laidon laughed out loud as his gaze swept over her body. “The spirited ones are a lot more work, but they’re worth it in the long run.”
Neloff pushed back from the table and motioned toward the door. “Kyrex, please take our mate out into the corridor while I finish explaining the conditions of the alliance.”
