Page 96 of Seer Prophet

My jaw hardened.

Terian kept right on going.

“…Were you masturbating, waiting for him? If so, I’m happy to wait.” He stared down at me. The pain that came off him that time felt less affected. “I hate the thought that I might have interrupted you before you’d satisfied yourself. Just spread your legs a little wider, if you would, sister. I would bemostgrateful.”

Grabbing hold of the bed sheet, I jerked it roughly over my body, turning slightly to wrap it tighter around me. Once I had myself covered, I raised the headset I still clutched, fitting it awkwardly over the opposite ear I usually wore it in.

“Alyson… dear heart! Wait! Wait!” Terian let out an involuntary-sounding laugh, one that came out almost friendly. “I am sorry! Butgaos,did you expect me to not react to seeing you lying here, naked and cuffed to the wall? Knowing Revi’ put you there for his own, dirty little amusements? I am onlyseer,after all…”

Ignoring him, I finished attaching the link to my ear.

Just then, the breach alarm went off.

It was deafening in the small space. Wincing, I covered one ear with my un-cuffed hand. I sent a command to activate the link, then another to ping Balidor. My mind churned over how Shadow’s infiltrators could have gotten in. I strained past the alarms, afraid I wouldn’t hear ‘Dor when he picked up, when suddenly, another switch got flicked––

The alarm shut off.

In the same instant, Balidor’s voice exploded into my ear.

“Alyson! Alyson! Gods! Are you inside?”

I switched to sub-vocals, not bothering with a greeting.

“Where’s Lily?”

Bewilderment touched Balidor’s voice. “Lily? Lily’s fine, Alyson––”

“Put someone in there with her. Move her if you have to. I don’t think they’ve cracked the construct totally yet, even in this compartment, but check––”

“Wearechecking it. Gods damn it, Allie! What is happening?”

“Terian.” I frowned at the virtual being in front of me. “Some kind of electronic signal. Possiblyaleimicas well, although he denies it. If it’s an illusion, it’s a damned sophisticated one. He’s definitely hacked the room’s organics. Signal’s two-way, high bandwidth, at least the illusion of analeimicfield. He’s alone. Claims he’s not here for Shadow, that he just wants to talk. He knew Revik wasn’t in the room, so they’ve likely got access to surveillance––”

“Gaos.Can you get out of there?” Balidor asked.

Ruefully, I glanced at my chained wrist.

“Not at the moment, no,” I admitted.

Terian chuckled.

I glared at him, but focused on Balidor’s voice.

“Have you tried bypassing the lock?” the Adhipan leader asked. “You should be able to override it, if you simply––”

“I can’t do that right now, ‘Dor.” I felt my jaw harden as I glanced at my cuffed wrist a second time. “Look. Don’t worry about me, okay? I’m not in any immediate danger. Find the hack. Get Dante on it.” Anger rippled my light. “And get my fuckingdaughterout of harm’s way. I want an infiltration pair in there with her, minimum. Guards on her door and surveillance on her quadrant.Yourpeople, ‘Dor. No one else. Does Revik know?”

“Not yet, no, but––”

“Good. Don’t tell him until you have to. If he comes down here, tell him to keep an eye on our daughter. She’s top priority. I mean that! I’m making it a fuckingorder.Including for Revik.”

I could practically feel Balidor’s frustration.

“Allie, Lily is fine!” he burst out. “It isyouwe are worried about! We have your daughter. Chinja, Yumi, Tarsi, and Declan are with her right this minute. We have access to every tank compartment but yours. Where is your husband?”

“How the hell would I know that?” I asked, exasperated. “I’m notinthe construct, remember? Can’t you feel him out there?”

“No.”

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