Page 35 of Victoria's Embrace

“That’s fantastic news! How many of her people have y’all captured?”

“Vaiz’ak makes three,” Bree answered.

“Are any of them showing progress?”

Bree grimaced. “We thought the first one, Krewar, was getting better for a bit there, but the dick was faking it to try and get us to untie him.”

“Oh. How long ago did y’all capture him?”

“Three days,” Erlain answered for Lilac.

Thinking back to her college biology class, she considered that. Detox treatments usually lasted three, five, or seven days. Of course, the time depended completely on what kind of toxin you were trying to flush out, but she thought there was a better-than-good chance their plan would still work, they just needed to give it more time.

Realizing they were watching her expectantly, she voiced her thoughts aloud. “Maybe their bodies just haven’t had enough time to flush out the toxin or venom or whatever it is. What about making them drink more water? Do you think that might help their systems get rid of it faster?”

“Possible. Thoughtfully said. She will try that.”

“Alright. Keep me updated on any progress, please. Now, clones. How many down here have been cloned, and do we know if their original bodies are safe?”

“All have been cloned except Cloud and Lilac. She does not know the status of the original bodies.”

“Bree?”

“Hell if I know. I avoid the lab level like the damn plague. There’s always at least four or five guards on patrol, because that’s where she keeps the ones she couldn’t whammy into submission.”

“Is there anywhere else to do the cloning process?”

Lilac shook her head.

Sighing, Victoria rubbed her forehead. “We still need to go. None of us have been cloned,” she explained, waving to herself, her guys, and the people and animals that came with them.

“Cloud will go with you.”

Meeting her friend’s gaze, Victoria frowned. “Are you sure? It’s going to be dangerous.”

“She is sure. Determinedly said. Lilac argues thatshewill go. Cloud says no. Lilac is the leader of their people and cannot be endangered. Lilac is upset. Cloud is resolute. Lilac says she cannot clone herself. Cloud is grumbling.”

Having a silent argument narrated to her was more than a little bizarre and felt kind of like listening to a sports event on the radio.

“They are both going.”

Blowing out a breath, relieved the dispute was apparently over, even if she wasn’t particularly happy both the Gaelli were going on a dangerous mission, Victoria asked, “Is there anything else?”

When no one offered anything, she clapped her hands together quietly. “Alright. Guys? Clones now or wait for night?”

Vi’kail opened his mouth to reply, but Thorn cut him off. “Night. You need rest,mín værling.”

Okay so, yes, she was painfully tired. Her eyes were gritty, her body ached, and her head was beginning to feel fuzzy. But it seemed… selfish to sleep while people were in danger. She felt like she should suck it up and push through. Aria wouldn’t stop to sleep.

These people needed Aria, but she wasn’t here, so Victoria was doing her best to fill her shoes. Unfortunately, they were damn big shoes to fill, and she could admit, to herself at least, that she didn’t feel at all qualified for the job.

Just as she was about to argue, Thegan grunted, “I do not mind saying I am in dire need of sleep.”

Assuming he was just saying that to make her feel better, Victoria started to give him a look but stopped when she saw he actually did appear exhausted. So did Thorn and Vi’kail, now that she was really looking at them.

Seeing that, her argument died a swift death. As willing as she was to ignore her own needs, she wasn’t willing to make her guys suffer with her.

Nodding, she sighed. “Okay. Just for a couple hours, and then we’ll go.”

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