Cold Mark (26 page)

Wait ... what?
"Why Center? Why not Belvar?"

Leo explained, "There is still much conflict on Joyal and will probably be for years to come. The Humans aren't pleased—to say the least. Malik and I need to be here so that we may work closely with the other Plumas." His gaze was gentle on mine. "Eventually, we'll be traveling back to Belvar. And you with us."

I peered down at the floor and bit my bottom lip to try to get it to stop quivering. In a gradual movement, I shook my head. "I don't want to live this way." I swallowed on a dry throat and peered up to the Plumas of the east. It was time to play my ace in the hole, even if I hadn't been able to prove it yet. The risk was needed. "I need to speak with the two of you alone."

Phila broke from his statue-like stance, and swiftly began jerking his white hair up into a ponytail, once more showing the tops of his pointed ears in sharp relief. "Whatever you're going to say, Ms. Valorn, will not change the verdict." He inhaled and exhaled heavily, finally meeting my gaze. "There is nothing we can do."

"I call bullshit." I raised a dark brow. "I don't think you want me to say this in front of everyone."

Instantly, his own brows pulled together.

My own Vaq were confused as hell, glancing back and forth between us.

Rule interjected, "This is highly irregular. Ms. Valorn needs to be taken back into custody and moved to her new living conditions. The only visitors she's allowed are her Vaq, or someone her Vaq approve," his eyes narrowed on the Plumas of the east, "which are not the two of you."

I kept my gaze steady on Phila. "Make them leave." My grin was wily. "I know you can."

Ever so slowly, Phila blinked. "Now this ... is interesting."

Killeg actually chuckled quietly, his words just as soft. "If the Humans elect a President such as you, Ms. Valorn, the Mian may actually have something to worry about."

I held still, except to wiggle my fingers in anticipation. "Do it."

Phila and Killeg altered their attention to the other Mian.

I held my breath. It was now or never.

They were my last hope of an ordinary existence.

I watched as they linked hands ... and a blast of chilled air instantly filled the room.

The frigidness froze everyone in place. Literally.

No one could move, the air like bricks of ice holding us in place.

Except for them. They were in complete control.

Phila and Killeg opened their mouths, and as one eerie entity, they whispered on a breeze of chills, "Go outside. Go for drinks at the bar. Enjoy yourselves. Think nothing of this. Take the guards with you. Return in twenty minutes." In a smooth motion, they released their joined hands.

The hardened air dissipated in a trickle until warmth suffused my frame once more.

I still shivered. That
power
. Blessed Joyal, their power was wicked.

I held my jaw closed so tight, the muscles ticked.

Show no fear.

My nostrils flared as Malik and Leo pounded each other on the back, enormous grins etching their handsome features. Malik asked, "Want to go for a drink?"

"Hell, yes," Leo agreed, his golden eyes altering to Rule. "Would you like to join us?"

"Of course!" Rule opened the door where we had entered. "Let's invite the guards, too."

Malik nodded. "Perfect." He peered over his shoulder to the Plumas of the east. "We'll be back in twenty minutes." A point at me. "Don't let her con you into anything ridiculous."

Phila's lips twitched. "Of course not. We'll be here when you get back."

The door shut behind them as they left.

I waited another minute until there were no sounds of the guards remaining. My attention locked on the Plumas, I decided to play it cool. I dipped my head to them in appreciation. "Thank you."

Killeg tilted his head to the side and slid to sit on the edge of the table. "How did you know?"

Mmm. It was best not to give away all of my secrets. "I'll tell you ... " I flicked my regard back and forth between them. "
After
you do me a favor."

Phila's beautiful dark eyes scowled. "We could force you."

Obviously. "But where's the fun in that?" I let myself grin. "Come on. It's got to be hell how no one else knows your secret."

"Stiller does," Phila murmured absently, turning his attention to his other half. That was surprising. And not. Stiller was their best friend and the general of their armed forces. "What are your thoughts, Killeg?"

His head teetered in thought as his blue eyes grazed over my features one at a time. "We were going to have her charges dropped eventually. I'm sure that's what she's going to ask for—"

"Actually, it's a little more in depth than that," I interrupted. "In exchange for me not telling anyone that you have Kireg blood running through your veins—that you can manipulate the psyche of anyone here—I want all charges dropped for myself and Jax—"

"His charges are already dropped. Mr. Waterston was our first priority due to the fact his life was actually on the line, whereas yours was not." Killeg shrugged a shoulder at my raised brows. "He wasn't linked to a Pluma. Therefore, he could have been given the death penalty."

"Oh." I hummed in appreciation but quickly stopped as a negative thought occurred. "How long were you going to let me rot in prison?"

"Not as long as you fear. We still wanted you to figure out your shit with your Plumas."

How to express this nicely ... "Prison is shit. I don't ever plan to go back there. Not living anyway." My nose crinkled, and I hesitated a moment. "You're not angry with me ... for the Joyal incident?"

They both chuckled quietly until Phila muttered in a gleeful tone, "Braita, we haven't had that much fun in years. Your own Vaq even loved it. We were able to maim tons of people
and
we got our specimen from the debacle. It was the litigators who did not."

Well, that was good to know. If I ever fucked up again, I just needed to make sure there was genocide available for the taking. I cleared my throat and stated with extreme politeness, "So, I'm not done yet with my demands." Both men calmed themselves, keeping their hilarity at bay. Though they still appeared too amused as they waited for me to speak. "I want to live free from my Vaq. I want the choice to be mine who I am with romantically. I want to live here in Center—with Jax." I blinked. "And I want my damned dog back." I shrugged a shoulder, ignoring the bit of pain from the laser-cuffs. "After those demands are made, I'll tell you how I knew you're hybrids."

Killeg drummed his fingers on the table, his glowing gaze solely on mine. "Do you realize how important it is that you don't speak of our nature to anyone?"

I snorted. "Let's see...being a Kireg-Mian hybrid gives you the power to influence anyone. So, yes, I would imagine most Mian would chop off your heads if they found out."

Killeg nodded. "And do you agree to never speak of it to anyone if we meet your demands?"

"You have my word."

As one, they nodded. "Agreed."

I nodded too. "So, how long until I'm out of this mess?"

Phila snorted. "It took us a good month to work our way through the litigators for Jax. But with your track record, I think the better question is how long until we have to bail you out of your next mess?" He lifted a white brow, and his lips curved sensually. "I hope you're keeping track, Braita. Because we sure as hell are."

I laughed, the sound full of amusement. "I just bet you are."

I lay on a plush bed with satin sheets. For a jail cell, it wasn't bad at all. I even had a window.

Jax had come to visit me, wholly confused by the fact that he was a free man. I had kept my word though. The Plumas of the east secret wouldn't be told.

My eyes continued to open in the darkness, just to make sure I wasn't back in the hellhole I had been in before. This wasn't a fantasy. I had the Plumas backing me. Soon, I would be released.

I would be
free
.

Freedom. It would be mine for the taking. Fucking finally.

Though nightmares plagued my sleep. Haunting dreams of what could have happened. I had gotten lucky.

If the Plumas hadn't had a particular interest in me, my situation could have been much different. For this to run smoothly, I would need to continue to be honest with them. If I wasn't ... well, it was a real possibility they would know it with their powers. The Kireg were a crafty breed and indeed knew how to manipulate people—and see into their mind.

If I could name an actual dominant race, it would be a Kireg-Mian hybrid.

Grumbling a light curse, I tossed to my left side. I would get sleep tonight.

Just ... a ... little ... sleep.

Blinking my eyes open, I groaned. A massive throb pounded my skull, a migraine unlike I had felt before.

"Hello, Ms. Valorn," Rule murmured gently.

My head shot up, and I instantly grabbed it. Oh. My. God. My head was going to explode.

Tears threatened to spill, but I squinted at my locality. I was not in my luxurious jail cell.

"Lay back down. The pain will subside," he stated.

"You drugged me," I growled. The walls surrounding me were made of red lasers so thick I couldn't see through them. There was a chair, which Rule sat on. A hov-toilet in the far right corner. And the cold black table that I lay on.

I was also practically naked. And freezing. My kidnapper had only left me in my bra and my underwear—not even socks. I was beginning to think Rule and I were not on the same page of civility.

"Yes, I did." He sighed, his brows furrowing. "It took forever for you to fall asleep naturally."

I turned and tossed my legs over the side of the table. "What the hell are you doing?"

"You see, Ms. Valorn, I find it extremely curious that my judgment is off-balance."

And ... he wasn't making a whole lot of sense. I placed my elbows on my knees and dropped my pounding head into my palms. In gentle circles, I massaged my temples. "You'll have to give me more to go on. I have no clue what you're talking about."

"My judgment."

"Explain." He was a loon.

He snorted softly. "If that is how you wish to play this game, I'll tag along. For now." He leaned back on his chair and stretched his long legs out. "First, I never would have allowed Mr. Waterston to go free. And yet I did. Second, I never would have left you alone in a room without guards with the Plumas—after your treasonous act. And yet I did." He rubbed his forehead. "I even got drunk."

Ah, shit.
I kept kneading my temples. "And you're blaming me now that you're second guessing yourself? Your
own
actions?" I glared up at him through my hanging dark locks of hair. "Do you know how insane you sound right now?"

He smiled. It was so big I was pretty sure I could see his back molars. "I said 'game' before, but make no mistake, this is no true game. Playing stupid will only bring you pain, Ms. Valorn. You will tell me one way or the other how you've been drugging my associates and me while you were in jail. I will know who has betrayed us."

My brows knitted together. "You know, I haven't been freed. I'm still a captive of my Vaq. Why in the world would you believe I had anything to do with your—what you believe—questionable actions?"