Page 159 of Seasons of War
“Yes, Phaedra.” His father also bowed his head. “We'll create a dedicated program directly under your supervision.”
“Bring me every person in Ciondo who works with drones.”
Zayne's brows rose before he caught it. Every person?
The High General hesitated. “We'll investigate them.”
“We'll exterminate them. This is about the sovereignty of the empire.”
Luke's eyes shifted to Zayne, and then he lowered his head further. For once, Zayne followed the other man's lead. The Phaedra had never acted this way in front of him before. No way his father would kill all the drone operators. The military needed them.
Now their emperor stalked back and forth, seething. “How could this happen?” He ripped a vase off a slim table and threw it at the High General's chest.
His father didn't flinch. Only kept his head lowered when the glass shattered on the floor.
“You let this happen. I should kill you and replace you with one of your sons.” The Phaedra lifted the little table now, heaving it at Zayne and Luke. They both kept their eyes trained down as it slammed into the wall between them. “But you,” the Phaedra pointed at Luke. “You're a disappointment.” Now he snarled at Zayne. “And you refuse to behave.”
Tilting his head back, the Phaedra raised his fists and screamed.
“I think that's enough, Xavier.” No one ever spoke the Phaedra's birth name. “Come. Let's make you comfortable.”
The Phaedra breathed heavily. “Fuck you, Brandon. Get this fucking empire in order. Get your children in order.” His voice rose more with each word. “This damage cannot be undone.”
“You're too clever to believe that.” His father looked at peace, but Zayne knew he couldn't be. “Will you really let an anonymous rebel outsmart you? This will play into your hands in the end.”
Never. Kira won this time.
“Don't coddle me,” the Phaedra said.
“Don't throw furniture at my sons.”
The Phaedra's nostrils twitched. “I'll hold you personally responsible for the fallout. These are your skies to protect.” He eyed Zayne and Luke again. “I'm advancing all aspects of our operation. It's been a full day, and Becka Rogers hasn't given us the information. Put that bitch in her place. Bring her to me. We'll see how quiet she is when she's face-to-face with her kid.”
The room spun. He'd capture Becka and torture Kira until she broke. How long did that give him to get her out of Ciondo?
And how did the Phaedra expect them to infiltrate the United's base, steal Becka from captivity, and successfully escape with her? His brother looked pale.
“Luke will lead the mission,” the Phaedra said. “Zayne will assist on the ground. You leave in two days. Don't bother coming home without her.”
He couldn't break Kira out in two days. There were too many gaps in their escape route.
“Making contact with her is far simpler than breaking her out of the base,” Father said. “My boys will go to her in person and show her the video of Kira in the tank. Tell her it's happening in real time.”
That was a devastatingly good plan. Zayne's heart raced.
The Phaedra grumbled, but he didn't refuse. He was too smart to choose the riskier operation, no matter his rage.
“We can discuss the details later,” their emperor said.
A sigh from the High General. “Can we get your medicinal tea now, my Phaedra?”
But the emperor stared at Zayne and Luke for several seconds longer while they kept their heads bowed.
Finally, he left, and Zayne sucked in a breath.
“Shit.” Luke gripped the back of his neck with both hands.
Zayne hardened himself against the rising tide of panic. It wasn't possible to get Kira out in the next two days, so he needed to sabotage this mission. Great.
