Warrior's Pain (Cadi Warriors Book 4)(72)

“I don’t know,” Aculus growled.

“Please give me a chance to try,” Riley begged.

“Fine. I have some small incendiaries. I will get them to you. Find a way to get alone, then press the sensor on your necklace. We have a day to do this. After that, my people will be here.”

“I’ll take this,” Aculus said to the attendant as he left the nearby changing room.

A sobbing sigh fled Riley. She felt like she’d just been given a stay of execution, though the weight of the noose was still heavy around her neck.

I can’t do this anymore. I can’t.

She talked a good game with Aculus, but inside she was cracking up. Riley slid to the floor, pulled her knees to her chest and gripped them tight. The pressure weighing down on her made it hard to breath. She pulled in rapid breaths trying to get a bit of air. Riley’s fists clenched as she stared up at the ceiling.

“Why?” she cried not caring if anyone heard her.

Riley recalled challenging Fate. She’d goaded it into throwing everything it could at her, and it had. The sadistic bitch, Destiny, put not only the lives of thousands into her trembling hands, but then she twisted the knife, making her fall for a man who was untouchable. Riley sobbed. Even if she was successful on Distraho, her future offered her nothing but heartache.





Chapter 11. Broken




Cyprian de Praefectus

Cyprian had Adeoda’s body wrapped the way you would a fallen warrior. The male didn’t deserve the respect, but he did it anyway. Cyprian granted the male the final honor of taking him home, rather than incinerating his remains off-world. Somewhere on Cadi, Adeoda’s kin would appreciate the gesture.

“I will have him taken to your vessel,” the Overseer said.

“Thank you.”

Cyprian was glad to get out of the morgue. The smell was unbelievable. They entered the nearby shop to find the Verrater guard and a shop attendant hovering around a changing stall.

“She won’t come out,” the guard huffed in frustration.

“What happened?” Cyprian demanded.

“I’m not sure. She went in to try things on, then I heard her sobbing when I came back to check,” the boutique attendant said with fluttering hands and a frown.

Cyprian heard the soft, strident sound of Riley sobbing, on the other side of the frosted door. It was the single most devastating sound he’d ever heard. Riley wasn’t the type to fall apart when her dress didn’t fit properly. Something was very wrong.

You shouldn’t have threatened her about the pendant, Cyprian thought, as guilt swamped him. He had a feeling the mysterious data chip hidden in her necklace was behind this breakdown.

“Female slaves get this way sometimes,” the Overseer commented.

Cyprian wanted to slug the ignorant tentacled male.

“I will handle this,” Cyprian said as he slid open the divider.

Riley sat curled in the corner. When she lifted her face, he saw a hopeless look in her swollen red eyes. He thought the sound of her distress was hard to bear, but seeing her despair leveled him.

“If you need anything else please contact me,” the Overseer said.

“Do you have a nearby room that is available?” Cyprian asked as he scooped Riley up. He needed someplace he could take Riley without fear of being interrupted by Mave and his crew.

“Of course. My guard will escort you.”

Cyprian cradled Riley in his arms, as he followed the Verrater guard to the closest suite. The little manx was really starting to worry him. Riley wasn’t crying anymore, and had gone disturbingly still. Her eyes stared blankly past the people and scenery, as they passed by. Cyprian entered the room and kicked the door closed.

“Little Manx, look at me.”

Cyprian tipped her chin up. Riley blinked at him as she focused on his face. Her brow furrowed as she studied him.

“Life isn’t fair,” she gave a slight bitter laugh, her chin quivering. “It culls the sick and the weak from the herd with cruel efficiency. It doesn’t care if you can’t handle the avalanche of bullshit that it rains down on you. It doesn’t know the meaning of mercy. It takes and takes, till you have nothing left to give, then casts you aside.”

Cyprian ran his palm along her cheek, as he sat down on the bed. His thumb soothed the crease in Riley’s brow. Riley’s fortitude and cleverness kept shocking him, but everyone had their limit.

“You’d charge into the heart of battle, if you thought you could make a difference, wouldn’t you?” Cyprian asked.

“Sometimes that’s the hand that Fate deals.”

Up to this point Cyprian thought he and Vintor were masters of subterfuge, however, what Riley had been up to not only rivalled, but surpassed the game he played. With only herself to rely on, while occupying a defensive position, Riley manipulated the Overseer into giving her back the necklace. He’d known commanders who accomplished less in battle.