In the end, the military training won out.
Cursing in Russian, he lowered the gun to his side.
Facing the camera, he was snarling at me almost before he’d completed the motion.
“Give me permission, Alyson. Let me fuckingdothis.”
“Revik.” Relief washed over me so strongly, I almost sighed aloud. “Revik, baby. We’ve talked about this.”
“Bullshit!” he cut in angrily. “Bullshit, Alyson!Youtalked about this. You. I’ve kept my damned mouth shut! And you knowwhyI’ve kept it shut.”
I could only shake my head.
“No,” I said. “I don’t. I really don’t know why.”
I saw his clear eyes spark with light, right before his gaze narrowed back at Cass. He didn’t answer me. He only stared at her with hatred in his eyes.
“So why now?” I asked. “Why are you doing this now, with––”
“You damned well know why!” he snapped, his anger exploding outwards as he glared up at me. “Goddamn it, Allie! Are you really going to ask me that question? When every seer in that room knowsexactlywhy I’d do it? Hell, most of themagreewith me, wife! Most would do it without asingle fucking hesitationif I asked them to, even knowing you don’t approve!”
I swallowed, nodding.
I knew he was right.
I didn’t want to, but my gaze slid back around the security station.
I saw a grim look on Neela’s face as she stared into the monitor, but behind her stood Declan, who might as well have agreed with Revik verbally from the look on his face. That didn’t even get into Raddi, Oli, and Sita, all of whom looked murderously angry.
Maybe even angry at me.
Even Chandre wouldn’t quite meet my eyes when I glanced at her.
“Yeah.” I focused back on the image of Revik through my headset. “I know. But I still don’t want you to do it, Revik.”
“Why, Alyson?Why?”
I stared at him, knowing he couldn’t see me, even though it almost felt like he could. Looking at him through the virtual reconstruction from the inside cameras, I felt my throat close, because I finally understood.
“It won’t keep me alive, Revik,” I said finally. “It won’t.”
“Bullshit!” he snapped. “Youheardthem in New York! That fucker thinks he can keepmealive if he has the two of them! We already know he can’t do it without her, or he would have killed you a long time ago. Terian isn’t enough to keep me alive. If we kill Cass, it’s over. If we kill her, hecan’tkill you. Not without killing me.”
“And what makes you think he’s not willing to do that?” I asked drily.
I turned as I said it, hearing and then seeing Balidor, Wreg, and Jon as they ran through the high doorway into the security area. Balidor’s eyes met mine first, and I could tell by his expression that he’d been listening to this, that he’d heard every word between Revik and me.
“I just know,” Revik said, pulling my eyes back to the image of him. “I don’t knowhowI know, Allie, but I do. Menlim won’t kill me. Maybe he evencan’tkill me. But as long as Cass is alive, he thinks he can kill you.”
I focused on Balidor as Revik finished talking.
I saw those gray eyes flicker in the seconds after Revik spoke.
Something in the Adhipan leader’s face hit at me, right in the middle of my chest.
I knew what I’d seen.
Balidor agreed with Revik.