Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64702 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64702 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
“You’re Emma?” I ask, surprised as I’d pictured the nurse who put together my care package as middle-aged and frumpy, not petite and adorable, for no good reason. “Thank you so much for your gifts.”
“I’m so glad to help.” Emma motions around the table. “Everyone here is as new to the city as you are.”
I blink to find everyone staring at me, as if I’m a two-headed beast. “Hello,” I greet. “I’m Addie. I’m happy to be here to fill in for Katie.” I’ve left off my last name, by intent.
“Your eyes.” The comment comes from the gorgeous blonde at the end of the table. “Emma said you’re staying with Creed. Are you his lifebond?”
“Intended lifebond,” I amend, feeling the explanation like a punch in the gut. “We haven’t completed the blood bond.”
“Wow,” the woman says, and sits back in her chair as if dumbfounded. “That must be…terrifying.”
Agreeable murmurs follow.
And here we go, I think. “Why would that be terrifying?”
“He was Julian’s second in command,” said one woman, who introduces herself as Brenda.
“They called him ‘The Punisher,’” said another.
“Even the other Zodius soldiers feared Creed.”
Similar murmurs follow from around the table, and I absorb them all with only a hint of shock. He’d been “The Dark One” and now “The Punisher” to them. And all I can think of is how much hell Creed is living as punishment for his sacrifice. Protectiveness is a prickly bear, and I have to damp down my energy.
“Did he hurt any of you?” I demand, knowing full well he did not.
A pause ensues, and everyone seems to glance from one to the other before the single word, “no,” passes around the room.
“He saved you. He is now hunted because he saved you, and yet you dare act as if he is the enemy? If he hadn’t broken his cover the night he rescued you, you would have all been injected with some drug Ava is experimenting with, which most likely would have killed you.”
A redhead introduces herself as Brenda and then clears her throat before making her case. “Please understand, Addie, Creed was an extension of Julian. We were not to talk to him or look at him without fear of reprisal.”
Another adds, “He scared the hell out of us. We went through hell at Zodius.”
Another adds, “If someone crossed Julian, they were either thrown to the wolves—”
“Or given to Creed for torture,” another woman finishes.
Okay, that does sound rather ominous, but I’m a general’s daughter, and I understand the rules of war. A soldier’s job is often an unpleasant one. Creed had to push limits inside Zodius. He had no choice.
“Did he hurt any of you?” I repeat.
Silence and a skittering of eye contact follows, before more confirmation murmurs of “no” follow. “Just the other soldiers,” one of the women says. “And I’m Jessica, Addie.”
“Hi, Jessica,” I say.
“But we were sure he would,” one girl assures me. “He scared the other soldiers, so we knew it would be horrible to anger him.”
“Of course he punished Zodius soldiers. He probably wanted to kill them. Creed is, and always has been, a Renegade. Those soldiers were not only your enemies but also his. Ladies, this is war. If anyone doubts that, think again.” Pride swells. “The information that Creed discovered inside Zodius Nation was invaluable to our efforts to protect humanity.”
Emma delicately clears her throat and sets her napkin on the table. “I was never afraid of Creed.” An awkward discomfort follows. Several women cut their gazes away from Addie, unwilling to say the same.
“Every soldier close to Julian used us like sex slaves,” Emma continues. “We were expected to please them any way they saw fit. Then we had to submit to one medical test after another. Afterwards, we did it again with one soldier after another. Creed came to me. Only to me. How he managed that, I don’t know, but then, as we said, Creed was feared. He did what he wanted, when he wanted to do it.”
Bile gathers in my throat. She was his woman inside Zodius. No wonder Creed was withdrawn before the lunch meeting. No wonder he’d said goodbye outside the restaurant.
Emma covers my hand with her own. “But he never once touched me,” Emma confesses. “He told me to lie and say he did.”
The entire table gasps, and a breath heaves from my lungs, tears gathering in my eyes. “Please say that one more time.”
“He didn’t touch me or anyone else.” Emma scans the table. “Did he ever touch any of you?”
Everyone quickly chimes in with their promises that he had not.
Emma offers me a comforting smile. “He said if I told anyone the truth, it would put all of us in danger. He didn’t want anyone acting suspicious when we plotted an escape. He said everyone had to hate him. Julian expected it.” She glances at her friends. “So, I lied to all of you, and I’m sorry, ladies. I was protecting you.” She shifts her attention back to me. “And that is why I wasn’t afraid of him.”