Page 18 of Agrippa's Acceptance

“Agrippa,” he said and it was not a polite greeting. Aurora had probably insisted he stop ignoring her, but she wouldn’t have minded if he kept treating her as if she was invisible.

He motioned to Amelagar. “Wake him.”

She stiffened. “He should stay—”

“Now, he barked.”

Agrippa wanted to defy him, but she didn’t quite dare. Turning back to the bed she found Amelagar awake and he took her arm and drew her next to him. The general glanced at the way Amelagar held her but didn’t comment.

“You wish to speak to me General?”

Balthazar stepped forward. “Hamurabi said you can start your duties within two days. I need you to start now.”

“That’s not—”Amelagar’s glare cut her off. “I am ready General. What do you need me to do,” Amelagar asked.

“I need the two of you to prepare for a mission.”

Agrippa froze in place. They trusted her enough to send her on a mission? While she’d worked with Anatu she’d been watched by the other cyborgs. More likely this mission was so dangerous they didn’t want to sacrifice a cyborg doing it. Still, she suddenly felt as if she walked on air.

As if he’d read her mind, Balthazar fixed her with a look so vicious, she recoiled. “If you betray us, we will skin the ryhov out of you while you are still alive.”

She swallowed back a whimper.

“Do not threaten her,” Amelagar’s voice was low and rumbling.

“Understood?” he pressed. Ignoring Amelagar.

“I said, do not threaten her.”

At the same time she said, “yes General.” No more walking on air for her.

He turned back to Amelagar who glared at the general. “I will send you mission reports, update her as well.” He pointed with his thumb towards Agrippa, a very clone like gesture. “Get strong, soon I will brief you both.” He nodded at Amelagar and turned and walked out.

Agrippa got out of his way, but to be fair to him, he’d never tried to walk through her like some of the other cyborgs.

Amelagar pointed at her. “Bring me clothes.”

Chapter Sixteen

Amelagar dressed, not bothering to find privacy. He stepped into his pants and smoothed it over his strong thighs and up. Her ryhov going crazy, Agrippa turned her back to him. She’d seen him mostly naked in the regeneration tube. But this was different. More intimate.

“You find my body repulsive?” he asked directly into her ear.

She screamed, turned and almost fell on her butt. He grabbed hold of her arm and steadied her. She shrugged off his hand, or tried to. The stubborn cyborg wasn’t about to let go until he wanted to. “Don’t scare me like that.”

“Why would me talking to you scare you.”

“You gave me a fright because you came up to me unexpectedly. I didn’t expect you to talk right into my ear all of a sudden. And it isn’t as if I don’t have reason to be scared of you.” She wanted to bite her tongue the moment the last words left her mouth.

“Why do you have reason to be scared of me?” So much for hoping he missed that.

“Well you are bigger than me and uhm kind of scary looking,” she mumbled.

“The truth,” he demanded, no inflection in his voice.

She bit her lip, then blurted, “I saw you kill the captain.”

“You said you are not a clone.”

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