Riley was livid, but she spoke so calmly, that Cyprian was surprised when she snatched a blade from his bandolier and turned on Feroze. Riley held the tip of the blade to the sensitive skin beneath Feroze’s eye, and the male instantly ceased fidgeting.
“Maybe you’re the one who’s squeamish. Here, I’ll make it so you don’t have to witness what Cyprian’s about to do to you.”
Riley pressed the tip deeper, till a bead of blood welled up. Riley had Feroze’s undivided attention. A sheen of sweat broke out on his forehead, and ran down his temple.
“In fact, it’s not Cyprian you have to be worried about, but me.” Riley was beyond pissed.
Riley trailed the sharp blade down Feroze’s cheek, then chest, cutting a thin angry line as she went. Riley looked like the Goddess Vengeance incarnate, as she methodically incised an angry welt down the male’s gut. Her eyes were narrowed and flashing in rage, while the rest of her was eerily calm. If he didn’t know better, Cyprian would think Riley was the trained interrogator.
The general stood back and watched her work. Cyprian, himself, was enraged, but he was happy to let Riley have this moment. She deserved justice for what had been done to her. It was satisfying watching Feroze squirm. Questioning the enemy had never been so amusing.
“They put something in my head, and people paid to hunt me like an animal,” Riley continued. “But I didn’t go down easy. You know what I did to the first creature who reached me in that maze of tunnels?” Riley didn’t let Feroze answer, as she pressed the knife against his crotch. “I cut off his… Well, I think you get the point.”
Cyprian repressed a snort at her twisted joke.
Goddess, where did you find this female?
“Now, tell me what else you’ve done to fuck with my day, before I shorten your ego,” Riley insisted as she cast Feroze a disturbingly sweet smile.
Cyprian saw his blade slice through Feroze’s vestments as Riley pressed deeper. Cyprian didn’t think it was possible, but Feroze’s eyes widened even further, as a distressed sound escaped his mouth.
Ouch. Cyprian cringed. That was one tactic even his sire avoided.
Feroze expected Cyprian to be violent, but Riley’s aggression had the regent out of his mind. Feroze wasn’t accustomed to females behaving this way. Cyprian was acquainted with Riley’s aggressive side. Still he never expected she could be so blood thirsty. The general wasn’t present the times Riley worked her frightening magic, manipulating Mave and the Overseer, before blowing up half of Distraho. Anytime Cyprian thought about the things Riley faced, he became angry and feared for her safety. But seeing Riley in action, and how she had Feroze quaking, gave him new insight. Riley might be small, but she was fierce.
It wasn’t appropriate given the situation, but Cyprian suddenly found himself insanely aroused.
“It’s too late. The Jurou Biljana are on their way,” Feroze stammered.
Cyprian growled. He didn’t know how the Jurou Biljana landed on Cadi without alerting anyone, but he was certain they weren’t here for a social call.
“What did you do, asshole?” Riley demanded.
“I suggest you tell her everything. Riley blew up the auction house.”
Feroze’s eyes filled with terror as they darted between Riley and Cyprian. The general’s comment had Feroze convinced Riley was crazy. He almost felt bad for the male.
“The reptiles have a weapon they acquired on Distraho,” Feroze barked as he tried to back away from Riley’s blade, but the bonds didn’t let him go far. “Please stop. Make her stop,” he begged the general.
Cyprian ignored the whining regent and hailed Daimio Kagan.
“We have a problem. The Jurou Biljana are on their way to the plantation with a weapon.”
“What weapon?” Riley growled.
“I don’t know. I was told not to worry about it. That it would do the job before anyone knew what was happening.”
Cyprian and Riley looked at each other, as they recalled the frightening weapon Jyk encouraged Mave to buy. The dangerous orbs could infiltrate the plantation and take out select targets without alerting a soul. Feroze wasn’t just planning to take out Kagan. He was going to attempt to assassinate anyone who sided with the Daimio.
“Kagan, get your family and all the regents into one of the storehouses, and cover the windows,” Cyprian barked into his handheld.
Cyprian cut Feroze loose, but kept his hands bound. He had to get to the Daimio, and help with the evacuation.
“Besides Kagan, who are your targets?” Cyprian snarled, as he shoved the male out the door.
“And where are those reptiles with the controller?” Riley demanded.