Today, the thought that Kira may see Mom again plunged her into that young mind who knew with certainty she'd never survive without the mom she adored. If Kira thought it may help, she'd drop to the ground and beg. High General Riven didn't seem the type to appreciate anything like that. Instead, Kira stared into his steely eyes with the faith and hope of a child, so desperate that she refused to yield to the fear of looking directly at the Phaedra's second in command.
“Please,” Kira said.
“It may be good for the two of you to talk, but the United isn't cooperating right now.” He nodded once. “If I can arrange a talk, I will.”
A breathy gasp squeezed from her constricted lungs. “Thank you. Thank you, I'll—”
“You'll tell her what you need to in order to thank the Phaedra for his kindness.”
Right. Right.
The Ciondo that chiseled away at her innocence dropped onto her shoulders and knocked her back into the present, into the mind of an adult who knew too well this empire gave nothing for free.
Zayne's warning entered her mind. His father was one of the most powerful and dangerous men in the world. Regardless of whether Kira planned to say what he wanted her to, she didn't need to tell him that. So, she dipped her head slightly. “I understand, High General. Can you tell me if she's safe? Or where she is?”
Discerning eyes studied her. “Your mother is safe and well. Concerned for you.”
Disappointment stung that he didn't even share the country where she stayed, though Kira expected nothing else. If she managed to send a drone out of here, she needed to include as much information as possible to help her allies find her mom and send Kira's message to her.
“Your mother will do anything for you. I'm sure she'll find a way to help us.”
The heat of her anger returned in a swift spike, and the intensity of her emotions overwhelmed her. “Yes, she loves me. She'd never let anyone hurt me.”
That was exactly what Zayne didn't want her to do. Without pause, Kira discovered what the true attention of the High General of the Ciondian Empire feltlike. Cutting in every way, from his shoulders to his sharp look, he transformed the atmosphere in a second.
“Do you need to say something to me, Ms. Stiles?”
Growing up, they said not to even look into the eyes of a Riven, because of the power the Old Ones bestowed on their bloodline. Though Kira knew that was ridiculous, she expected to die on the spot.
But strangely, he didn't look infuriated like she expected. He seemed curious.
Swallowing down the bitter regret of losing her temper with him, Kira struggled for breath. But then she couldn't muster any words.
A brow raised. “Well, go on.”
In her memory, blood drifted through water, clouding her view of a young Zayne. The isolation and horror of the tank overcame her. When she blinked, she saw Zayne sitting in the kitchen, eyes still filled with that icy water. Body still scarred.
Kira met the High General's eyes again, and though her voice sounded low and frightened, the words came easily this time. “You never should have left Zayne with Dr. Cooper.”
An amused smirk quirked the corner of his lips. “Is fifteen minutes in the tank all it takes for you to understand suffering and sacrifice?”
The anger burrowed deeper inside her. “Is that what you raised Zayne to do? Suffer and sacrifice sufficiently for you?”
His head tilted ever so slightly. “For me?” A low hum. “This is not the life I would choose for myself or my family. It's the life we must live.”
“I would burn the empire to the ground before giving my child to Dr. Cooper.”
“And what then? When the empire has burned, what will you do to protect your child?” The depth in his eyes took her aback. “The Rivens are the empire. When it burns, we burn. You don't know cruelty if you believe handing over Zayne for reprogramming was the worst thing I could do to him. It bought him a lifetime. It prepared him to survive the north. To survive the cost of being born my son. But you're right. It's unforgivable. May Zayne do better than I have.”
The way he justified it almost silenced her. Almost. “There's still time for you to do better.”
One large step closer that cast his shadow over Kira. Her lungs seized. “Learn to listen to your fear, or you'll understand true suffering and sacrifice. You'll force my son to once again revisit that age-old companion. And I do not care for anyone who hurts my son.”
Kira's eyes widened.
“Zayne is going to kill you if we tell him to. It'll haunt him forever.” Ice froze and shattered all else he showed her during this conversation. “You'll save no one and will die a miserable death learning just how powerless you really are.”
Rising back to his full height, he looked down on her.
