Page 70 of The Divide that Binds Us

Derrick smacks his teeth.“Drake was right.She ain’t ready, plain and simple.She had the earpiece and everything!Rio, when I tell you that Natasha completely derped and said a bunch of nonsense, I mean she REALLY screwed up and looked more suspicious than when she walked in.Terrible acting!Zero out of ten.”

My jaw drops.“What?But she was at the library and randomly remembered one of the Elite members, like it was no biggie.I thought she was fine.”

“Well, NOT ANYMORE,” Eric groans.“She remembers nothing about Elite, AND she collapsed in the lobby when we got back.She’s in the infirmary now.”

“Interesting,” Lynn murmurs.“If her memories are sporadic, what does this mean for the procedure?Is she stable enough to keep?Or toss away?”

I swallow hard and avoid her gaze.

“Neither!Let’s just put her in a box and ship her back to Elite like a present.Where is Drake, by the way?”Eric asks.

“Busy with other matters,” I mumble.Like trying to figure out how to approach his love interest being a tree!But he is only as safe as I allow him to be.Evangeline being part of Elite is complicated, but it benefits us if we can get her to talk about her friend.If I must manipulate Drake, then so be it.

I just wish I wasn’t so hasty with brainwashing Natasha; I could’ve learned so much before she lost those memories, if she cooperated.

“There is still time to find her, Commander,” Lynn says.“The night is not over yet.”

“Where in the ass noodle of Naven are we gonna find Malice?”Eric pulls on a stray thread of the office carpet.“We’d have to search all six islands.”

I scratch my chin.“Not Sapphire.No one goes there.”

Derrick snorts and it almost sounds like he choked.“Dude, that’s just one island, though.Sapphire is the home of transportation.If there’s anywhere we should search for a dragon killer, it’s there since they tame and train dragons as—” His mockery tone pairs with his fingers air quoting, “—TRANSPORTATION.”

My desk phone rings from an unknown caller ID.I take a deep breath and reluctantly answer.

“Hello, Ultima Commander Rio Shackler’s office.”

“Commander Rio, this is Commander Rebecca Foster.”

I lean back in my chair and place the call on speaker for the others to hear.The twins fist bump and simultaneously flick their long, purple lizard tongues with sinister grins.

“Rebecca, what a pleasure to hear from you.”

Her voice is tight and to the point.“I’d like to say the same, Commander, but I’m afraid I have a few complaints I need to address with you immediately.”

“R-Regarding?”

“First, you provided false information regarding Natasha Redly, who we’ve confirmed was residing in Ultima.Second, you’ve sent Natasha to Elite as—I guess one may say—a mole to gather information about my team.”

“I...I’m not sure—”

“Commander, we’ve addressed the team member for the disruption she brought to Ultima with her snakes.What you’ve done on Emerald Island and continue to do is harassment.I enjoyed when we handled things maturely, but I can’t foresee that happening anymore.”

Static dances through the receiver and into my computer.The screen flickers as I calm my stress levels, but the lights in the office dim.Lynn looks around as the twins are pressed up against my desk, staring at me.

“Rebecca, my deepest apologies.I should’ve come to you sooner about some matters I’ve been privy to.”

“You should have.I’ve already filed a complaint for contempt to Queen Oona and Master Cedric, but this is just a courtesy call.Have a good evening.”

I’m left with the dial tone on my end as I slowly put the phone down, mouth hanging open.My expression matches everyone else’s in the room.I didn’t think it’d come to this.Now I’m really screwed.

Eric scratches his head.“A complaint for contempt is—”

“ARE WE GETTING A DEFICIENCY?”Derrick screams.Lynn’s eyes enlarge at an alarming rate that she takes three big strides to smack the back of Derrick’s head.

“Shut up!”she hisses.“People may hear you.”

I nod, feeling the heaviness in my head and shoulders.The office lights flicker again, and then my phone buzzes from a text from Master Cedric wanting to have our rescheduled meeting.Immediately.

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