A headache pulsed behind Cinder’s eyes, the sign of tears that would never come. First Maha, now Iko …
“With the threat removed, I conducted a thorough search of the rest of the house and surrounding properties,” the guard continued. “I found no other accomplices.”
It was the smallest relief. Winter, at least, had not been discovered, and as far as Cinder could tell, neither had Thorne or Scarlet.
Aimery stared a long time at the guard, as if he were searching for a flaw in the story. “What became of the android?”
“I found and destroyed what I believe was its power source,” said the guard. “I threw what was left into the public trash compactor.”
“No!” Cinder staggered, but the guard behind her hefted her back to her feet.
The guard cast her the briefest of glances, before adding, “I left the bodies behind. Shall I return for them?”
Aimery waved a careless hand. “We will send a crew.”
New clomping emanated from the stairwell. Still shuddering from the news of Iko’s loss, Cinder barely managed to lift her head. She glimpsed Wolf, watching her. Though his eyes were sympathetic, his jaw was tense with anger.
They had both lost someone dear to them today.
Cinder felt like she was suffocating, like her ribs were tightening around her lungs, but she pulled strength from Wolf’s presence. Her fury started to build. Her sorrow became dry kindling, quick to ignite.
She found her footing again, and though she couldn’t extricate herself from the guard’s hold, she made herself stand tall.
The footsteps turned into a black-coated male thaumaturge and more guards.
“We have not found any more accomplices, or discerned who was firing on us from the factory windows,” the new thaumaturge said. “It’s possible they’ve retreated to a different sector. They might reattempt the insurgence elsewhere.”
Aimery dismissed the thaumaturge’s concern with a smile. “Let them try. We are not afraid of our own people.” His dark eyes settled on Cinder. “This little rebellion is over.”
Cinder lifted her head, but a low growl stole Aimery’s attention away from her. He turned to Wolf, whose sharp canines were bared. He looked feral and bloodthirsty, ready to tear their captors apart.
In response, Aimery laughed. Stepping forward, he cupped Wolf’s chin in his fingers and squeezed until Wolf’s cheeks puckered. “Besides, how could we ever lose when we have beasts such as this at our disposal?” Releasing Wolf’s chin, Aimery slapped him tenderly on the cheek. “Alpha Kesley, isn’t it? I was there for the queen’s tournament, the day you won your position in your pack. It seems you’ve been led astray by these Earthens. What shall we do about that?”
Wolf watched the thaumaturge with a hatred that could have burned the skin off his bones.
Without warning, one of his knees gave way and he knelt before Aimery. Cinder flinched, feeling the shock as if it were ricocheting through her own joints. In another moment, Wolf had bowed his head.
It was sickening to watch. All that strength. All that fury. Reduced to nothing more than a marionette. It was even more sickening because she knew how much mental strength and focus it took to force Wolf to do anything. She’d barely begun to master such a skill, yet Aimery showed no sign of difficulty at all.
“There’s a good dog,” said Aimery, patting Wolf’s head. “We will take you before Her Majesty and let her decide the punishment for your betrayal. Does that suit you, Alpha Kesley?”
Wolf’s voice was throaty and robotic as he answered, “Yes, Master.”
“As I thought.” Aimery cast his attention to the rest of his entourage. “Should there be any lingering pockets of rebellion, ensure they are swiftly stamped out. There is to be a royal wedding tomorrow, and we will not tolerate any more disturbances.”
After the other thaumaturges had bowed and scattered, Aimery tucked his hands into his sleeves and turned back to Cinder. “Which only leaves the question of what shall be done with you.”
She held his gaze. “You could bow before me as your true queen.”
Aimery’s lips curled upward. “Kill her.”
It happened so fast. One of the guards whipped the gun from his holster, held it against Cinder’s forehead, released the safety, squeezed the trigger—
Cinder sucked in a final breath.
“Stop. I’ve changed my mind.”
Just as quickly, the gun was stashed back at the guard’s waist.
Cinder sagged, her head spinning from the rush of fear.
“My queen has requested the pleasure of deciding your fate herself. I think I will suggest she offer your head to Emperor Kaito as a wedding gift.”
“Thaumaturge Park?”
He turned to the red-coated woman who had spoken. She had her palm on the side paneling of a small podship.
“This is a royal pod,” she said, “and it looks to have arrived recently.” She held up her hand. “Hardly any dust. Odd for it to be way out here.”
Aimery made a disinterested sound. “I am not surprised there are thieves about, but it could help us locate the missing rebels. Run a search on its tracking number and see what you find.”
He gestured to some of the guards. Cinder and Wolf were marched into his ship and forced onto separate benches. No words were spoken as the engines started to rumble.
Within moments, they were heading back toward Artemisia.
Aimery kept giving orders, something about medical care and bullet wounds, designating a new captain of the guard and informing the queen of casualties and prisoners. Cinder’s thoughts became muddled and she found herself staring at the profile of the guard who had killed Iko. “Disabled it,” he’d said. Thrown it into a trash compactor.