Titan's Rise: (Children of Titan Book 3) by Rhett C. Bruno

Author:Rhett C. Bruno [Bruno, Rhett C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aethon Books
Published: 2019-05-13T16:00:00+00:00

Eleven

Kale

“I want someone watching every access onto this level at all times,” Rin ordered my guards once an elevator dropped us off on our assigned floor. “Every door, every window, every vent cover. If you need to sleep, too bad. Catch up on rest after we’re back aboard the Cora.”

“Yes, ma’am,” they answered. They were exhausted. A cool shower would’ve been good for them, especially since the Assembly Building was kept balmy to accommodate its mostly Earther occupants. Someone had lowered the air-conditioning on our floor in a gesture of amity, but it still wasn’t enough to keep my back from dripping sweat.

My people did as they were asked anyway. They knew what was at stake. I offered each one a nod of encouragement as they went by. The bloodier they were, the deeper I bent my neck. It was all I could do, considering I too was exhausted. Dealing with the Cogent, whose body was carried into one of the rooms, the explosion, more potent gravity than I was used to—it was a miracle I could keep my eyelids open. Skipping taking my g-stim may have been a mistake.

“Your room is in the center, Kale,” Rin said. “Only one wall of windows. Keep the shades down.” She pointed to a door halfway down the gracious, freshly polished hall. Potted plants lined it at precise intervals.

“Good,” I replied.

“Yours is across the hall, outsider,” she said to Aria. “I’ll make sure someone is posted outside… listening.”

“Thank you,” Aria said.

“It isn’t for you.”

I placed my hand on the small of Aria’s back to keep her from arguing, then led her to her door. “Are you okay, Aria?” I asked softly.

“I’m fine,” she said. “What do you mean?”

“When you saw Madame Venta. I’ve never seen you like that.”

“It’s just been a long time. Organizing this over coms was one thing. Standing in front of her… Let’s just say it wasn’t easy rising through the ranks of Venta without getting my hands dirty.”

“You don’t need to explain that to me. You should get cleaned up though. You’ll need to look like one of them.”

“Is that the only reason?” she asked. The bags under her eyes belied the playfulness in her tone. “Come in with me, Kale. I’ll help you relax. Trass knows we both need it.”

“I wish I could.”

She took my hand, either completely forgetting that Rin was stooped in our shadow or deciding not to care. “You can. You have to.”

“If I stop focusing for one second—”

“You might actually enjoy life a little.”

I exhaled. Constantly, I teetered on the precipice of snapping at her and knowing she was right. Her fingers cupped my gaunt cheek, cold despite the temperature, and she turned my head to face her. Her nails ran down my jaw and along my neck, sending a chill up my spine. My mind was instantly drawn back to the first time I shared her bed—a few nights after I’d executed Director Sodervall and declared Titan’s independence.

She’d come to check on my

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