“Oh, I’m pretty dumb all right.” Atlanta turned her glare to me. “I must be, for trusting you.”
“Do not think too unkindly of him, dear. He was only following orders. As you will too, once my king and I are wed.” Idria patted Atlanta’s head again. Atlanta stiffened and bristled at Idria’s touch. “And do not worry. You will have plenty of time to prepare yourself for all that is to come now that we are here, and the truth is finally out.”
“I’d be interested in hearing that, my lady.” Atlanta’s glare felt like a huge weight on my shoulders. A noose around my neck. “All I’ve ever wanted is the truth.”
“Then you shall have it.” Idria clapped her hands together, looking positively delighted. “In two weeks’ time, the wedding will commence. And as Queen of Rutharia, I will need heirs, of course. That is where you come in, my dear. Alas, my own heat has not come in yet, but to secure our lineage—I am sure you will be a most suitable incubator until I am able to give my king heirs of our own.”
“Incubator?” Atlanta spat.
“Very pretty,” the Rutharian king said again. His smile was all fangs.
“Oh, behave, darling.” Idria swatted at the king playfully. “At any rate, that should sort everything out nicely. The children you bear for my king will be wed to one of Lieja’s offspring—Lieja? Are you pregnant yet, you insufferable slut?”
From behind us, Lieja slunk out from the crowd of courtiers with her head bowed and her hands crossed over her lap.
“No, my lady,” Lieja said apologetically. “I fear I have not found a mate capable of breeding with yet.”
“How annoying,” Idria scoffed. “And after I gifted you such an extensive, diverse harem!”
“As you know, we Jeorkanians struggle with reproduction just the same as your race. We have so few males, and—”
“Poor Lieja.” Idria moved to her and took Lieja’s face in her hands. “Have you tried with a Lunarian yet, I wonder?”
Lieja’s eyes lit up in a way that I despised. “Well, no, but—”
“Mm. Well, I am sure that Apex would be happy to give it his best shot.” Idria giggled girlishly. “Perhaps more than one, even. Isn’t that right, Apex?”
I swallowed, then nodded. “Of course, my lady.”
“Baz-terd,” Atlanta hissed at me.
I supposed I deserved that. I was sure Atlanta would agree—as did Ronan and Gallix as they thundered forward, both their eyes deeply red.
“You can say that again.” Gallix cracked his knuckles and snarled. “You might be able to kneel there and take all this, Apex, but I will not.”
“Nor will I,” Ronan agreed. “Atlanta will not be used for your little games, Idria. She may not have the protection of your agent’s body, but she has the protection of ours.”
Idria blinked twice, then snorted.
“Capture them, then,” she ordered, snapping her fingers at the Rutharian soldiers that surrounded us in a crescent arc.
To Gallix’s and Ronan’s credit, I was certain that they would have put up quite the fight if they had been given the chance. But before they could move, two of the Rutharian berserkers pulled out guns and shot them simultaneously. Ronan and Gallix slumped immediately, then began to twitch on the floor. Atlanta gasped, then dove for them, but not fast enough. I caught her in my arms, holding her away from them until their eyes closed and their bodies stilled.
“Stunned,” I whispered to her. “Not dead.”
“It doesn’t matter,” she snarled back to me. “You might as well have killed them yourself, you baz-terd. And me along with them.”
“Oh, dear.” Idria frowned. “Apex, I really did believe from your reports that she was better trained than this. Take her away and punish her. She must be better behaved than this by the time the wedding takes place.”
“I will never behave!” Atlanta shouted. “Not for you—not for anyone.”
Idria sniffed and turned her head as the berserkers hauled Ronan’s and Gallix’s limp bodies away.
“You will behave, Atlanta,” Idria said with certainty. “If Apex cannot make you, then my king will. I can assure you of that. Really, it will not be so bad for you once you are able to obey. We will cleanse my planet of the rebels, do away with my idiot brother, and then all of our people will be able to live in prosperity. Lunaria. Rutharia. Jeorkania. And Earth. And you will be able to see your sister again! Perhaps you will even be able to share in breeding duties, hmm? I think that would be very nice.”
Atlanta struggled against my hold, but I squeezed her tight and lifted her as I rose. She kicked and screamed the entire way back to our room. I had to carry her there, over my shoulder as her fists pounded against my back. She was so fierce, for a moment a wicked part of me considered actually punishing her. Particularly when she bit me.
But of course, I would not.
“Stop,” I said firmly as I placed her on the rug before the bed we had shared for so many nights now. Did nothing that had taken place in that bed mean anything to her? Apparently. As soon as she was out of my arms, she threw herself at my chest, teeth bared. Her fingers went to my neck, though she could not squeeze hard enough to choke me. Her other hand scrambled for my dagger, but I pulled it free and tossed it across the room before she could take it. This time, I had no doubt, if
