Page 124 of Smuggler's Beauty

Veronique would know how to maneuver this conversation.

She was alone. She could do this.

“As far as I am concerned, I have met the conditions of the treaty I signed. You have not onlynotmet your obligations, but have steamrolled over the goodwill of the people and planet of Tanalia.” She crossed her legs, leaned back. She tried to channel the same confidence she’d portrayed in the video Veronique had directed, and had seen on her sisters’ faces their entire lives. “You’ve violated our agreement. The Galactic Planetary Collective is pretty useless, but they take treaty violations seriously, especially when there’s evidence to back up allegations.”

Emil scoffed. “You want to take this to the courts? My forces will decimate your planet before the first hearing is scheduled.”

“Oh, I have no faith in the courts. Well, not the GPC’s anyway. The court of public opinion, however? That I do have faith in. How are you going to keep feeding your war machine when every trading partner you’re in business with stops shipping supplies? I believe you’ve had a taste of my production crew’s efforts.” Her heart was hammering in her chest so hard, she was amazed she couldn’t see it beating through the wool of her jacket.

Evelyn examined her nails, hoping the disaffected air would punch up her words. “Not to mention the streams of all those people in the square. Have to have been picked up by the galactic news media by now. Opposing fascism always looks so impressive on screens.”

Emil was silent as he considered her words. Evelyn hoped she was playing this the way Corvinia had expected her to. Sting of betrayal aside, Evelyn knew that her aunt never did anything without a reason. She wished she knew what the fuck the reason was, but she was committed at this point. Her survival meant burying her feelings for the time being, and Evelyn was nothing if not an expert at that.

If Corrie’s plan fell through, Evelyn wouldn’t make it out of the palace alive. She’d prefer death to getting back in that damn pod. Certainly, it would be better than waking up once every decade to remember she’d gotten both her chosen and birth families killed. There was no way he was forcing her back into it.

It had to be irony that learning how to harness her ability to siphon would be the same thing that would give her an out. Unleashing the energy she’d been storing inside herself would surely be enough power to overload her system until her heart exploded. She’d never have to give Emil another ounceof Amplification. A wave of calm rushed over her with that realization.

One foot in front of the other, Evelyn.

Emil tapped his finger on the arm of the chair, bringing her attention back to the room. He closed his eyes and nodded.

“An elegant strategy. I salute you.”

Evelyn shrugged. “I’ve had time to think.”

“I have a counter proposal,” he said.

“Why would I entertain one? You’ve already proven your word is worth less than garbage.”

Rather than respond, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small control. With the click of a button, a view screen came to life. The picture was divided into several small squares.

The squares were security feeds of the bedrooms in the palace. She could make out her parents’ room, her sisters’ rooms, each outfitted with stasis pods. Her family, frozen in time. Thawed out whenever Emil needed a convenient puppet. Rage threatened to spill out of her mouth, and she bit the inside of her cheek hard.

“You make another moving, rousing speech. You speak at length about the spirit of Tanalian innovation. You inspire the masses to get back to work. You tell them that their safety is your highest priority, and that after you met with me, you reconsidered your position. Revolutions cost far too many lives. And then you get back into your stasis pod.”

She couldn’t stop the snort this time.

“I believe the phrase is ‘over my dead body,’” she said. She crossed her arms. “Not happening.”

“Oh. Not your dead body. Theirs.” He gestured to the screen. “Every day you delay, I unplug a pod.”

Evelyn stared at the screen. Her parents would never make pancakes for brunch again if Emil had his way. They’d neverstroll through gardens, her father would never grow a comically large rose for her mother to laugh at before burying her face in the sweet scented petals.

Her sisters would never see their spouses again. Constantina would never flirt outrageously with an unsuspecting man before eviscerating him with her cool logic, Adelaide would never paint another painting, or adopt the squadron of children she’d fantasized about parenting since she was old enough to carry a doll.

They’d lie in those pods and pump Amplification into tanks for Emil until he died and left the project in another man’s hands.

Unacceptable.

The thought of Emil picking them off one at a time was equally unbearable. Horrible. One more disaster to lay at the feet of Evelyn Alpertti’s bad judgment.

“It’s not your fault. Vinnie lies.”

Aiden’s words echoed through her mind, the last thing he’d said to her as he watched her begin another guilt spiral.

Vinnie had lied.

So had Emil.