“Go,” he said. “I'll spot you.”
As she lowered herself in, he used his free knee to support the back of her legs.
Once inside, she whirled around and reached for him.
He smiled beneath his mask. “Just move.”
Zayne climbed in easily now that he had the ledge to himself. Finally, his muscles relaxed. Sweat coated his torso and tickled the side of his face. “Stay here while I check the hall.”
Though he pointed at a place for her to hide, she hesitated.
“Be careful,” she whispered, eyes fiery with concern, as if she knew him. Cared for him.
His shoulders tensed, and he walked into the darkness of the office, looking back at her gentle form outlined in moonlight, until she disappeared to the place he had asked her to hide.
CHAPTER 8
Miya
The Territories
Archai, Caspador
833 P.C. [Post-Collapse]
Cherry floorboards creaked beneath the clatter of Miya’s heels, the only sound in an uncomfortably silent room.
She settled the silver platter on the bedroom dresser and poured steaming tea into a cup for the captain without being asked. He hadn’t invited her here, and her boss told her not to come. But if Miya spent her life following orders, then she’d not have survived this long. So, she served the captain his tea, as he’d expect of her, and hoped the offering to his delicate ego might suffice.
Not that Miya knew much about that ego. Only that when she knocked on his door, he opened it for her without a greeting or question of her intent, and that his eyes dropped to her gloved hands—the gloves hiding the mark on her ring finger. The captain probably knew that. Probably noticed the other maids didn’t wear anything over their hands. That a woman in Miya’s position covering herself had something to hide.
Yes, the captain knew and watched her pour his tea without a word.
Miya worked at Governor Krowe's estate for several months without any interesting developments, so a Ciondian officer with an entire squad showing up out of nowhere set off her alarm bells. So far, no one knew why the soldiers had come. It was an aggressive move by the Phaedra against the governor of Caspador, who he appointed himself. This was one of the only territories that had yet to enter the rebellion, but their king had not so elegantly hidden his talks with the United. The Phaedra pressured the governor to keep this country in line. With the territories on the eastern coast amassing so much power, both sides of the war were keen to control the land between Ciondo and the countries most impervious to the Phaedra’s control.
All of which told Miya the people in this house may not survive. Ciondian soldiers meant danger, and she paid careful attention to danger. Whatever happened to everyone else, she'd uncover this man's secrets and survive.
Ciondian soldiers wore their badges of honor on their bodies if they had any. With the way he looked at her, Miya knew she'd have no trouble getting that shirt off so she could read his military service like a book.
“Rafferty & Company hopes you enjoy,” Miya said, raising the cup of tea to him. If he didn’t already know who she worked for, then he did now. The boss was crazy if he thought Miya would get away with spying here now that this military officer showed up. Either she introduced herself as a friend, or this captain would assume her a foe, and she didn't want to be a foe of a Ciondian officer. Better to be in trouble with the boss than dead.
The captain looked into her eyes without taking what she offered, instead nudging her hand away with the back of his knuckles and brushing back her thick curls.
That didn't take long. Miya placed the cup back on the platter.
“I thought I should introduce myself...” Miya said. “I’m sorry to interrupt you.”
The captain hadn’t drawn his hand back to himself. It lingered in the air between them. Then he pinched the fabric over her left ring finger and pulled the glove free.
So, he loved to revel in drama, did he?
He didn't look at her hand to confirm his obvious suspicion, but instead continued to stare, as if he wanted to force her to see herself through his eyes. A thick black band circled her finger where a wedding ring might be if Miya lived a normal life. This mark didn't accurately represent her. Not anymore. She chosethe work she did now and, long ago, saved up enough money to escape when the time came. But it told her so much about a man to see how they reacted to the band. Whether they believed they had the right to take what they wanted because of it.
What an asshole.
Miya drew the zipper running along the side of her dress down and let the control freak do the rest—because she knew his type the moment she laid eyes on him.
In no time, he played right into her hands, tossing his clothes on the ground so she plainly saw every mark on his body.
