They both walked down the medical ward, and Brock passed Kira's room, following Zayne into the last door on the right.
The doctor looked up, scooting back in his chair. Vengeance hardened Zayne's insides with ice, just as Dr. Cooper's tank once had. Just as it had done to Kira.
A smile twitched onto his lips as he looked at the sling stabilizing Dr. Cooper's shoulder.
Brock stumbled to a stop. “Did you—”
“I broke his collarbone,” Zayne said. “As promised.”
The snap sounded so wonderful reverberating through his memory.
“The Phaedra won't stand for this,” Dr. Cooper snarled.
“Not from anyone else. From me?” Zayne stalked closer, leaning down as he loomed over Dr. Cooper. “He loves when I surprise him. Just like you do.” Zayne allowed every bit of the hatred he felt for this man to fill him and did not try to hold it back. “Stay away from Kira. Next time…” He snapped his fingers. “I might just snap and kill you.”
The doctor's shallow breaths sounded painful. Despite this, he smiled too. “So many years of work culminating. This girl will purify you and then you'll be perfect. Perfect!”
The ominous decree wound into his chest, but he wouldn't let Dr. Cooper see him shaken. “I serve the Phaedra. I don't care about your experiments.”
“Yes, you do. You're my greatest achievement to date.”
A gasping laugh bellowed from him as Zayne turned, fearful Dr. Cooper may not survive the day if he didn't leave.
He stopped at Kira's room and opened the door to where she lay on the medical bed.
A wet tendril of hair clung to the soft slope of her cheek. She still shivered beneath the blankets, and the memory of her cold skin spread over his palm. Zayne didn't remember many things about the reprogramming, but he often dreamed of being trapped in blood that boiled or froze, unable to breathe. When he saw Kira writhing in that tank, the water rushed into his lungs too, and his body relived what his mind rejected. Relived each moment all at once in a flash.
What if it haunted Kira's dreams too?
He needed to break the rest of Dr. Cooper's bones. Pulverize them into dust and stuff the debris into his lungs.
Her eyes opened weakly, stealing him from his wrath. Warmth filled her gaze. Hope. Zayne worked so hard to keep Kira from trusting him.
He refused to get her killed.
So, he forced himself to speak with his coldest voice. “You needed to learn what happens when you don't listen to me.” Every single word plunged a dagger into his gut. “Don't test me again, prisoner.”
Unbearable agony burned up the warmth in her gaze, and that precious hope in her bright eyes grew dimmer. He knew this attack surprised her more than anything else so far. Kira thought he came to save her. If she believed he ordered the torture, it would crush any bond they'd built.
That was best for her.
Zayne pushed past Brock's shocked form and abandoned Kira with all the soul-crushing fear of being the Phaedra's prisoner.
This was the only way to save her from the Phaedra's plan. From Zayne's bloody curse.
The Capital
Kallum, Ciondo
“He broke my collarbone.”
Zayne nodded. “I told you I would, and you still did it.”
They gathered with the Phaedra, his father, and brother around a large table in one of the emperor's suites. Dr. Cooper watched their emperor expectantly, but when the man's expression did not change, he turned to Zayne's father with an exasperated sigh. “Brandon.”
“This sounds like a matter between the two of you,” the High General said.
None of the Rivens forgave Dr. Cooper for what happened during reprogramming, even if his father ordered it himself.
