Page 90 of Shielded Heart

You’re being stupid again, Arc. Just keep your head down and keep digging—discreetly.

Clenching his jaw, he lifted his hand, intending to dismiss the entry and continue searching the holocom, but he stopped before making the appropriate gesture.

The comm ID probably didn’t even lead to Straek’s superior in the Syndicate—it would be too obvious, too foolish, especially after all the deliberate obfuscation in place on the groalthuun’s holocom. It was more likely to be some sort of joke, perhaps at the expense of one of Straek’s associates who thought a little too highly of themselves.

He brought up a secure commlink channel on his secondary holo screen, engaged an additional layer of reroutes—claiming Straek’s comm ID as his uppermost mask—and entered the comm ID forBoss. Without allowing himself further internal debate, he made the call. His voice-disguising software appeared onscreen as the commlink sought a connection. He quickly adjusted the settings, adding random distortions that would be difficult to filter on the other end.

The connection-in-progress tone ceased abruptly. For several seconds, there was only silence. Arc waited, lips pressed together, heart thumping.

“So, is he dead, then?” asked the person on the other end. The voice was deep, raspy, almost robotic.

Arcanthus’s heart stopped, and his breath caught in his throat. Heknewthat voice.

“The sedhi?” he forced himself to reply.

“We both know this conversation wouldn’t be happening if the sedhi were dead. Straek. You killed him, right?”

Arcanthus drew air into his lungs as quickly and quietly as possible.

“Just sayyes, Arcanthus. Save us both the time.”

The events fell into place in Arcanthus’s mind, and he suddenly understood—Straekhadbeen eyeing Samantha as a potential trafficking victim that day in the Ventrillian Mall. The groalthuun had reported to his superior within the Inner Reach Syndicate’s hierarchy with the images he’d captured. A few of those images contained clear views of Arcanthus’s face.

And Straek’s boss just happened to be the individual who’d betrayed Arcanthus on Caldorius a decade before.

Vaund.

“Not often you’re caught speechless, sedhi,” Vaund spat. “I seem to recall you always running your mouth when you were younger.”

A swell of anger paralyzed Arcanthus for another instant before he found his voice; he wouldnotshow weakness, not to Vaund.

“And you certainly have a talent for running yours, Vaund, especially considering I cut off half your jaw.”

“But who wound up the lesser man in the end? Who wound up whimpering on the ground in an alleyway?”

The memories—still startlingly vivid after all this time—threatened to rise to the surface of Arcanthus’s mind. He gritted his teeth and shoved them aside. “If you just wanted to reminisce, you could’ve invited me out for a few drinks. You didn’t need to send a hit squad to get my attention.”

“You’re tough, sedhi. Resilient as a sewer skrudge. But this time, I’ll make sure you don’t have anything left to drag your rotting carcass away with. Not arms or legs. Not your tail. Not even your wagging tongue.”

“My only regret after all these years is that taking offyourtongue didn’t shut you up.” Flames roared in Arcanthus’s chest—flames that had burned for a decade. “I picked you up. I saved your life, I paid to have you fixed.”

“You’re the one who fucking broke me to begin with! Do you think I’d be loyal to you after that?”

“Would you have preferred death? Is that why you did it? You betrayed us all, Vaund.”

“I would have preferredvictory.” The metallic buzz underlying Vaund’s voice grew more pronounced. “And I claimed it from you eventually. Ibeatyou. Only to find out now you’re still kicking—albeit with cybernetic legs.”

“Is that why you haven’t sent word up the chain, Vaund? Because a loss like that, a stain on your reputation, would end your career? Because youdidn’tactually win, despite what you’ve been telling your superiors?”

“I don’t need anything but my own bare hands to kill you, sedhi.”

Arcanthus snickered. “I suppose that’s why you sent a dozen men after me the other day. I know this phrasing is insensitive, given your condition, but you need to face it, Vaund—in a straight fight, I’m the winner. Every time. You’re going to need better thanyouif you want to take me out.”

Vaund released a frustrated growl. The comms fell quiet for several seconds save for the low rasp of Vaund’s breathing before—frustration replaced by smugness—he asked, “How’s your terran, sedhi?Samantha?”

Fury silenced Arcanthus, its impossible heat creating immense pressure in his chest that made it difficult to breathe.

“Hope you haven’t used her too hard,” Vaund continued. “It would be a shame if you diminished her market value. I could make a lot of credits off a female that delicate and innocent looking.”

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