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PENN
I finish my food very quickly. It’s standard for me to soften a little toward my targets; I need to get to know them, and that certainly carries some risk with it. But Keon is right, Atlas is growing on me, and the fact that he seems so committed to my happiness makes me feel even worse.
It’s important that I remember what I’m here for. I don’t know how I’m going to get my best friend back from her kidnappers, but I need to make sure to be smart about this. I can’t exactly ask Corvus about her.
Shit. Corvus.
“I’m going for a walk,” I tell Atlas as I get to my feet. “I need to clear my head.”
“Of course,” he says.
As if Corvus can read my mind, he stands up and walks toward me.
A smile tugs at the corner of Atlas’ lips. “Like I said, you’re not a prisoner,” he says, also getting to his feet. “You’re free to go wherever you want to. I just need to make sure you’re safe when you do it.”
“Right,” I say, craning my neck to look up at Corvus. After last night, I have a feeling that ‘Shayd’ is going to be following me around a lot more intently from now on. He’s close enough to me that I think he’s going to put his hand on the small of my back, but he doesn’t touch me.
I know he’s doing it on purpose. He wants me to feel his presence. He lags behind me after a second, allowing me to find my own way toward the garden.
When I walk outside, the day is overcast, sunshine barely breaking through the clouds. The garden looks more like a swamp than it ever has, and something about being in this space, with no sound around me except for the humming of something electronic and Corvus’ footsteps, is highly disconcerting.
We’re a few steps away from the door when he finally turns to me. “Keep walking,” he says, his voice a low growl. “I already did a sweep here and I don’t think we’re being listened to. But they might still be watching us, and if I were to pin you against the wall and ask you the questions I want to ask, it might blow our cover. So do your job and pretend you’re having a pleasant conversation with a guard.”
He sounds so angry. I guess I can’t blame him.
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” I say. “I was trying to make Keon like me. I think he might be the key to getting to Atlas.”
He laughs quietly, no humor in his voice. “Please,” he replies. “We both know what you wanted. I could smell it on you.”
“Well, I can hardly sleep with one of his guards, right?” I say, anger creeping into my own voice. I didn’t expect to be this annoyed, but his accusation stings.
“When it comes to the First Wave, your reputation precedes you. I didn’t expect to be dealing with an amateur.”
“I’m not an amateur,” I say between gritted teeth. “This is a difficult op. It takes time.”
He sighs, his shoulders slumping as we round a corner. We’re walking along a cobblestone path, yellow, green and white flowers filling the cracks between them. “Just don’t fall for either of them, Penn,” he says. “I don’t need to remind you that they’re also just doing their jobs. And you are incidental. Your presence here is incidental. So is your life.”
“That’s not how they seem to see it.”
“How do you think they would treat another woman who was here in your place? Another bride to me?”
I don’t think he’s trying to insult me. He’s just telling the truth, but I don’t want to hear it. “I’m sorry,” I say. “I should’ve made it clearer that I…”
I trail off when I see the expression on his face. “You didn’t think I lost sight of you, did you? I knew exactly where you were. I told Atlas that you were with Keon,” he says. “I’m good at my job. I heard you were too, but some of the people I work for, they had doubts. I’ve advocated for you. Did I make a mistake?”
“No,” I say. “You didn’t. But you have to let me work, okay?”
“And by let you work, do you mean watch you fuck Keon while Atlas jacks himself off?” he asks. “I’m sure you had fun, but how does that help with your mission?”
I open my mouth to answer him, but I can’t think of anything to say. I’m normally quick on my feet, but something about the deep, barely audible fury in his voice, is throwing me off guard. “You were here for that?”
“I’m here for everything, agent,” he says. “I move in the shadows. Do I need to worry about you?”
“You don’t,” I reply. “I’ll prove it to you.”
“How?” he asks. “What are you going to say that’s going to make me believe you’re not on his side?”
“I’m not on his side,” I say, my jaw hardening. “I’m doing what I need to do.”
