“Kira,” Zayne said, full panic gripping his chest.
“Keep your mouth shut,” she said. “I'll never forgive—”
The High General ripped her back so hard she stumbled back and fell, caught by the fierce grip on her hair. The pained scream tore Zayne apart.
He didn't know how to get Kira out of here once he moved, but if he didn't do something now, then it was all over. The moment he rushed his father, his brother would act, and he had to cover Kira.
Soldiers were yelling. “He's going to kill the prisoner.”
In the chaos, Becka must have managed to free her jaw, because her voice rang out. “12—”
“Don't—” Kira barely managed the word before another twist of her hair stole her voice away. Her knees buckled, and she caught herself on the table.
Luke glanced at Kira, and Zayne shifted his hand for his knife, leaning his weight against his right leg to lunge forward.
“60,” came Becka's voice.
The screen went black.
Everyone froze.
Silence.
Not even the sound of breathing.
“Did we just…” Luke's voice trailed off, his attention on his phone. “Shit.”
Their father growled low with Kira's hair still wrapped around his hand. “We won't get the signal back. That was our one chance.” A dangerous quiet came over him, and he lowered the knife from Kira's throat, looking even more threatening than before despite putting away the weapon.
“Look at what you've done. The Phaedra is already furious.” Each word dripped with disgust. “You don't understand the wrath you just brought upon yourself.”
“I won't let you kill them.” Kira whimpered at another yank, but she didn't relent. “Do what youwill.”
“Stupid girl.”
“Father,” Zayne said, skin tingling painfully with desperation.
The High General released Kira. She stumbled away from him, hand coming to her head. But he only advanced toward her.
“This isn't the best way to deal with her,” Zayne said.
If his father heard him, he didn't show it. Instead, he curled his large hand into a fist.
Zayne would strike if he lifted his hand against her. “Dad.” That finally caught his attention, tearing it away from Kira to Zayne. “She'll take it harder if it's me. It's my failure.”
A moment of confusion came over Kira before she shook her head. “Wait.”
Disappointment blared from his father's voice. “You're right. She was your responsibility.”
Yes, good. Focus on Zayne. He nodded. “My failure is unacceptable.”
Snarling, his father cut a harsh look to Kira. “I hope he's right. I hope this hurts you more.”
As soon as his father shot toward him, Luke caught Kira's arm. She strained against him, voice panicked. “What are you doing?”
Seeing Luke touch her tunneled his vision, but someone needed to hold her back, away from his father.
His father closed his eyes, and when he opened them, the man who'd raised Zayne vanished. Instead, he met the stare of the High General, tasked with controlling an empire desperate to escape from the Phaedra. The man who hunted and tortured dozens of soldiers in the militia that captured Zayne.
