Page 19 of Stranger's Choice
Auraelie wrapped her arms around herself and nodded again.
“Five hells,” Sebin said, slipping back into Continental. If Tjalik had told him about this side to the Emperor’s Will, he wouldn’t have been so hesitant to agree to help—if the rebels even saw the Will as fellow victims of the imperial throne, which was not a given. Having a ruler who considered it his right to take such choices away from the people who served him was not acceptable. And from what Auraelie had said about the bodyguard, it was a generational problem, not a new one.
He wasn’t sure overthrowing the Emperor would get Tjalik what he wanted, but it was looking like a better and better move in Sebin’s mind.
He glanced back at Auraelie. She still stood there, her arms wrapped protectively around her abdomen. He could see her biting her lip through the sheer veil.
“I promised I wouldn’t touch you,” he reminded her.
She didn’t relax.
“Auraelie,” Sebin spoke softly, careful not to let his anger out, lest she think it was directed at her. “I will not rape you, no matter what your emperor wants.”
