Page 33 of Scarlet Wars
James let out a low growl. I thought it redundant, since his weapon was doing enough threatening without him adding animalistic theatrics.
Cara’s gaze flicked to me without turning her head, her lips curving into a slow, amused smile. "You must be the infamous Caden Colt. My sister wasn’t lying. You are one tasty dish."
My fingers tightened on the Chela. "Your sister?"
"Rachel Varez." She sighed as if the name annoyed her. "Different last name, same upbringing. Too bad she went soft on the Great Exposure. I would’ve loved to have her fighting with us against the insanity of exposing us to humans."
"Rachel’s your sister?" James hissed, confusion flickering behind his fury as he snapped up his head to me.
I shrugged. Didn’t know, certainly didn’t care. Though it did explain the unsettling ease of her decision-making.
Cara smirked, enjoying his reaction. "She didn’t tell you? Probably ashamed of my less-than-peaceful actions. Although, she got me that clearance pretty quick so maybe there’s still hope for our sisterly bond."
James clenched his jaw, already done with her games. "Cut the crap, Sinclair," he snapped, his patience stretched thin. “You have two seconds before I slit your throat, so I’d suggest you start talking.”
She arched an eyebrow, her lips curling into a bored smile. "By all means, slit my throat. I’m sure that’ll really improve all diplomatic relations."
I met James’s stare and gave a curt nod. We pulled back, but neither of us lowered our weapons.
“You wanted to talk to me. So talk,” I commanded.
Cara shivered theatrically. "Oh, you really are something dark and dangerous. You’ll have to tell me one day how you did it."
"Did what?"
"Turn your translation untraceable."
Silence. James’s brows lifted a fraction, but he didn’t so much as shift.
Cara’s smirk widened. "I see. You didn’t know I know. Glad to see someone can still surprise you."
"Why don’t you tell me what youthinkyou know," I replied, my voice even. "And I’ll decide whether or not I’m surprised."
"As you wish."
I motioned toward the glass table in the center of the room. Sinclair slid into one of the black leather chairs as if she had all the time in the world, crossing one leg over the other with a lazy elegance.
James stood behind her, arms crossed, his Skindo still within easy reach. I lowered myself into the chair opposite Sinclair, my Chela resting on the glass surface between us. My gaze cut to James.
Not a word about Emma.
He gave me the slightest nod in return, his green eyes dark and hard.
"We know it was you who stole our Amplifier at Hunza," Cara said, stretching out her arms along the back of the chair. "We know you had help on the ground—your buddy McGrath and his team—but what we couldn’t figure out was how you bypassed our LiaPrism. You portaled through our Layer, into the ice cube encasing the weapon, and none of it triggered a single alarm."
I translated her a drink. She lifted it in mock gratitude before taking a slow sip.
"It didn’t take a genius to realize your translation is untraceable in the Human World," she continued. "How you managed it, though…that’s one hell of a brainteaser."
I leaned back. "Why come here and tell me? I could easily kill you for knowing my secret."
The lie rolled off my tongue as if I’d rehearsed it ten times this morning.
Cara chuckled. "I have a proposition that might make you feel less murderous."
"Seems unlikely but for now, I’m listening."
She took another sip before setting the glass down. "My predecessor forced a lot of us to go along with his insane plan to use the Amplifier, to force the Collectives into recalling the Consensus. Thanks to your actions at Hunza, we were able to dethrone the bastard. The Radicals are grateful to you. And we’d like to repay our debt."
