Right. Right. Panic killed. Or maybe Zayne Riven killed. He looked like he killed.
Her teeth cut into her cheek.
She noticed then that he limped significantly, but nothing about his voice or demeanor hinted to any pain. Kira had seen him in person a handful of times on stage with his family during events. There'd never been a limp, though. Was he injured? Or was this now permanent?
If she kicked him, she may find out. But then he'd cuff her. Or kill her. Probablykill her. Bad idea.
When they boarded the elevator and the doors closed, her knees went weak again. Would anyone hear her if she screamed? It made no difference being trapped in the elevator with this man or walking freely down the hall. But she couldn't breathe standing within arm's reach of Zayne Riven behind a closed door.
“What's going to happen to me?” She asked.
His impassive stare remained locked on the door. “That depends on your willingness to cooperate.”
Her voice cracked. “But I don't know anything.”
“There will be plenty of opportunities for you to serve the Phaedra whether you know anything or not.”
Heartless. He really didn't care at all about terrorizing her.
They finished the trip in silence until he showed her a small room with concrete walls and a tiny barred window that barely let any light in. One mattress, a toilet, and a shower. Her life narrowed to this.
“I'm needed elsewhere soon,” he said, breaking that tense quiet. “You're allowed ten minutes outside each day. We should hurry.”
Her teeth clenched. “I'm fine.”
What a stupid thing to say. Kira's skin craved the sunlight. She loved being outdoors more than almost anything in the world. Right now, though, she hated this man and this prison and this entire empire too much to take anything good from them. And she wanted to be anywhere but beside him.
Kira started for the room, but he slammed the door shut in her face.
“You won't be fine without your basic care regimen. This is not optional.” He nodded toward a door at the end of the hall. “Outside.”
As much as she wanted to lash out, she couldn't stop thinking about that gun or his cold stare or the thickness of his shoulders. He was much stronger than her, and he looked like the type to take training too seriously. Also, what an asshole. Kira shouldn't anger him further. No telling what he may do.
Biting her cheek, she trudged toward the door. When he opened it to the bright daylight, she tried with all her might to keep her body wound with anger, but the warmth and hope of a wide blue sky hit her like a physical force.
Kira stumbled out onto the small concrete balcony toward the fence encasing them, tears betraying her as she breathed in fresh air.
This was her only taste of freedom now, and she needed to protect every second of it, not abandon it for rage.
As hard as she tried to keep from crying, it rushed out. The outdoors always healed her. She gripped the rungs of the fence and looked out over the sprawling green field surrounding the prison. Sobs shook her shoulders.
Kira breathed in deep to keep quiet, but she only cried louder.
For a full minute, Zayne Riven stood quietly, until he spoke with a voice just slightly warmer than absolute zero.
“Here.” Footsteps.
She tensed as he eased behind her, casting his shadow over her. Fear burned a path along her skin at how his form dwarfed her. Kira wasn't short or tall, but she also wasn't slight. She definitely didn't think of herself as small. But he made her feel small.
Small and breakable.
A sob got stuck in her throat until she noticed that he offered her a cloth.
Shock hit her at a gesture of kindness. Sniffling, she took it from him, humiliated by losing control of her emotions.
His large hand gripped the fence beside her head, and he whispered nearly too low to hear. “The Phaedra wants me to convince you to trust me.” Breath fell against her ear.
Why tell her this? She turned to face him, too afraid to remain blind to any move he might make. The nearness frightened her even more, though. The scent of his skin, the closeness of a man with such an unyielding presence, piqued every alarm in her system. Kira didn't think it was a good sign for Zayne Riven to get close to anyone.
