I blink at him. “I don’t—”

    But he’s not done. “If I save ye again, lass, my boss is going to know I’m not working to win ye to the Myriadian cause but simply protecting ye.” His accent thickens with every word. “I’ll be punished in the worst possible way. Do ye ken? Do ye even care? Do ye want me harmed?”

    He knows I don’t want him harmed. To suggest otherwise can only be an attempt to manipulate me. But why would he—

    Remember your trust in me...

    Frowning, I stare up at him. I think I understand. He’s playing his part...which must mean we’re being watched.

    “I care about you. I love you,” I tell him, my voice soft. Whoever lurks nearby won’t be able to doubt my claims. The truth saturates my voice. “I love you with every fiber of my being.”

    Killian inhales sharply, his nostrils flaring. His hands settle on my waist, his grip strong enough to hold me up if I fall.

    “Ten.” My name is a benediction on his lips.

    “I don’t want you in danger, Killian. Not now, not ever.” More truth. But I have a part to play, too. One meant to keep this boy out of harm’s way. “Just...don’t help me again, okay?”

    He searches my gaze, and whatever he sees seems to undo him. Again he presses his forehead to mine, our exhalations mingling. “I’m sorry about your friend.”

    A crack in my chest. “My grandmother,” I croak.

    He brushes the tip of his nose against mine. “I’m sorry, lass.”

    “Ten!” Victor comes barreling around the corner. He spots Killian and lifts a Stag. He takes aim, demanding, “Where’s Javier? Where did your people move him?”

    I sheathe my swords at last and spread my arms, covering as much of Killian as I can. “Don’t shoot,” I command. “Please.” I’m speaking to both of them. I can’t tell Victor what Killian has done, so, I’m sure this comes across as a major betrayal to Troika. Again. But I won’t back down and allow Killian to be hurt.

    Victor’s gaze darts between us; he’s clearly unsure about his next move.

    “Javier’s gone?” All this pain and death for nothing! “Do you know where he is?” I ask Killian.

    “No, but I’ll do what I can to find out.”

    Maybe Meredith could use the Eye to search—

    No. No, she can’t. My chin trembles.

    “What about the person he infected?” I ask.

    The space between Killian’s eyes crinkles. “To my knowledge, only Javier and Dior are infected. If you heard otherwise, I’m thinking you heard a lie.”

    Something in our favor. There are two infected people rather than three. “Let’s go home, Victor. Please.” I don’t want to leave Killian, I need him, but I have no other choice. I’ll see him again. I have to see him again. I’m breaking down from the inside out, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to put myself back together. But he can. He’s done it before. “We have to go while the Buckler is down. We need to regroup.”

    Killian backs away from me. Every cell in my body screams in protest. Chase him! I don’t. The separation allows Victor to approach him unimpeded.

    Victor’s finger twitches on the trigger, spurring me into action.

    I jerk up my knee, nailing his wrist, using one hand to push his arm to the side and the other to take possession of the weapon. He has no defense against me. He’s a Messenger, not a Laborer, and fighting isn’t his specialty.

    “No more killing,” I tell him.

    He glares at me. “You want to go home, we’ll go home.” He punches a code into his data pad and takes my hand.

    “Ten,” Killian calls.

    Too late. I’m caught up in a beam of Light.

    MYRIAD

* * *

    From: Z_C_4/23.43.2

    To: K_F_5/23.53.6

    Subject: Excellent job!

    Your skill continues to amaze me, Mr. Flynn. One small quibble. You were supposed to pretend to kill our soldiers in order to “save” Miss Lockwood’s life, thereby placing her in your debt. You actually killed them. Why?

    Whatever the reason, I can’t bring myself to punish you. Miss Lockwood seems willing to do anything to keep you safe.

    Do you think she’s ready to take the next step and betray her realm for your sake?

    Might Equals Right!

    Sir Zhi Chen

    MYRIAD

* * *

    From: K_F_5/23.53.6

    To: Z_C_4/23.43.2

    Subject: No!

    I need more time.

    As for your men—oops. My bad. No, you know what? It’s their bad. They held me back at knifepoint and REPEATEDLY INJURED TENLEY LOCKWOOD. She was not supposed to be injured in ANY way. They could have killed her. If they had, you would have lost your ace. Is that what you want?

    Might Equals Right!

    ML, Killian Flynn

    MYRIAD

* * *

    From: Z_C_4/23.43.2

    To: K_F_5/23.53.6

    Subject: Focus on the details that matter

    None of the injuries Miss Lockwood sustained were life-threatening. How do I know? She survived. But without some type of injury, she could have saved herself. You wouldn’t have been needed.