“There you are.”
It’s soft, so soft that I almost miss it because I’m fixated on the confrontation. I catch the rasp of words just in time to dodge a pale hand flying towards me: the troll from downstairs. Unfortunately, my body’s ability to short-circuit at the drop of a hat is the one consistent thing in my life; whilst I avoid his grasp, I then tip into the wall like a bowling pin.
“Oh, fuck.” I breathe.
My assailant squints, suspicious. “You do speak Tellurian.”
I pay him no heed, instead trying to push my way past him. Any second now, someone’s going to come into this hallway, and if it’s Tanisira, I’m fucked. But the bastard stands his ground, and I bounce off his chest.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck, get out of my fucking way,” I hiss. Panic blooms in my body, chewing at my gut and slicking my palms. I don’t want Tanisira to see me here. Shecannotsee me here.
The man slaps both hands against the wall and over my head, caging me in. For a moment, it shocks me into stillness. I stareas a wicked curve deforms his mouth. I’ve been in a situation like this before, cornered by a man with big arms and a small brain; at the time, I panicked and froze. I don’t panic this time. Instead, I lash out viciously with my foot, kicking him in the balls as hard as I can. He stumbles back, howling and grabbing himself.
Before I can make a run for it, the door flies open. Two men barrel out, weapons in hand, aimed at us. I shriek, faced with both a gun and a knife. Backing up rapidly almost lands me on my arse but I remain, unsteady, on my feet, though trembling from head to toe. I’m still screaming even as the men turn towards my attacker, identifying him as the threat.
Heart pounding, lips mashed together, I start to edge towards the stairs. But I can’t make myself turn around and flee—turn my back on these men.A gun and a knife.Why is Tanisira consorting with people like this?
“Marlowe?”
Despite my instinct to run, I lurch to a stop. My chest feels like it’s caving, and I can only stare back at Tanisira. She has a second to stare at me, horrified, before another person steps out of the room, simultaneously blocking and crowding her. Instantly, I know this is the face behind the voice. Tanisira doesn’t cower, doesn’t even blink, but the moment he turns his attention to me, her expression ripples. Behind his back, she now looks worried.
“Who is this?” the man demands. He pins me with a glare. One eye’s brown, the other’s green, but he’s nothing short of terrifying. A savagely drawn tattoo curls down one side of his face, following the curve of a beard in stark contrast to his bald head. “Did you try to trick me, Myth?”
I have a visceral reaction to the quiet menace in his voice, goosebumps shivering along my body. His goons restrain my assailant, who stares at the strange-eyed man in something likefearful awe. Exploding into movement, the fool spins so quickly that he nearly slips out of the arms binding him.
“You should have said you had business with Ryker,” he barks at me.
Despite myself, the situation, a rage floods me. “As if we spoke,” I hiss back. “You fucking creep.”
And who is Ryker? The man with the deep voice? I look back at the newcomer. Nothing stands out except the veins in his arms. He’s not physically imposing, but he exudes a power that feels like being stuck in the crosshairs of a sniper rifle.
My nerves are frazzled, and it’s starting to physically hurt.
Ryker manoeuvres so he has both me and Tanisira in his sights, ignoring the men. “You know this woman?” It’s deceptively casual.
Tanisira, having smoothed her expression, eyes me disdainfully. “No. Thought it was someone else at first, is all.”
What—
“You’re lying. You know, I think we’re done here. Maybe contact Pomm, see what trash she can conjure up for you.”
A jolt shoots through Tanisira at this. Her eyes shutter. She takes a step forward, and it’s like watching a lioness prowl. I’ve never seen her like this. It’s chilling.
“Sounds like bullshit. Who else is going to pay the bloated fee you’ve quoted? Even you’ll struggle to offload those syringes.”
Sheishere for me. I try not to react; whatever angle she’s playing involves not knowing me.
Ryker laughs softly. “You underestimate my petty streak. You need something from me this time, but you’re doing a poor job of asking for it.”
“Let these guys go, and we can finish the deal.”
“I think I’d rather see what the girl has to say for herself,” Ryker says. “In fact, she looks like she could use a seat.” Hepins me with a calculating look and gestures towards the room behind him. “After you,stranger.”
I hesitate. My hands shake, and my instinct is to disappear.
Tanisira steps in, literally, getting in his face without any warning. “I don’t have the patience for you, nor do I have the time to waste while you mess around with some gormless bystander.”
They’re nose to nose, and my throat tightens. Red beads against my palms where my nails are pressed forcefully into them. Suddenly, the cold shock of metal is against my neck. I don’t jump, but only because all the blood seems to have rushed to my heart. I bite back a whimper. Forcing myself to freeze, my eyes are wide as they meet Tanisira’s. Her jaw clenches aggressively, but she manages to rip her gaze from me.
