Page 77 of Mongrels United
As usual, her day was too busy for her to stop and examine the thought, but she promised herself she would find time to figure it out.
Later.
* * * * *
Camilla Lippi didn’t like to get up much before noon. She was a nocturnal creature whose habits had once matched Nash’s. So he waited impatiently until well after midday before calling her. This time, he’d do the sensible thing and speak civilly via a screen.
Not that he could move from the bed, anyway. He’d woken to find himself stiff and aching, and the wounds throbbing under the gro-skin, to the point where he croaked out to Clip to print him another painkiller and bring water.
Then he’d slept for another few hours.
Now he felt human enough to confront Camilla.
She seemed surprised to see him when their screens meshed. “Nash! Well…you’ve been noted by your absence lately, darling! Wherever have you been?”
“Busy,” Nash said shortly. “I saw your little performance in the Aventine Markets yesterday.”
“Ah…yes.” She almost purred. “I’ve been getting the most wonderful feedback about it.”
“What in the stars’ names were you thinking? Theshard, Camilla?”
She drew herself up straighter. “It’s a legitimate platform. There are unanswered questions surrounding the shard that people have a right to know.”
“Since when did you give a damn about other people?” Nash shot back.
“Since having a great many very interesting conversations with some very interesting people. People you once liked to party with, Nash, my darling, so don’t roll your eyes at me.”
“You’re not political,” Nash said patiently. “Youhatepolitics.”
“But I do like what comes with winning,” she replied airily. “And they say I can win, Nash.”
“Win what?” he asked, feeling like he was missing half the conversation.
She rolled her eyes. “The Captain’s chair, silly! Carpenter will be forced to call elections in the next year, and I intend to run.”
Nash was genuinely lost for words. The concept of Camilla as captain of theEndurancewould not form in his mind. At best, she could only ever play at the role, for that was what she was good at—playing.
“You’re on very shaky ground, using the shard as a platform,” Nash said finally. “The people who coalesce around the shard issue are not your sort of people. They’re more ruthless than you think.”
Camilla laughed lightly. “It’s not as though I have to actuallybelieveall that stuff about the shard. I just have to connect with those who do, and win their votes.”
Nash stared at her, genuinely dumbfounded. Again.
Camilla put her hand on her hip and tilted her head at him. When had he stopped thinking that her fashionable, extreme slenderness was sexy? She looked undernourished to him, now.
“You simply don’t understand what true power is, darling,” she chided him.
Nash smiled, his mouth pulling into a predatorial grin that should have put her on the immediate defense, but Camilla didn’t read people, not the way Grady could. “Oh, I know power,” he told Camilla flatly. “I know it better than you. I’ve had arealpower player teach me.”
Camilla blinked, then gave a confused laugh. “Well, whatever,” she replied. “You can congratulate me when I win, Nash, and then I’ll forgive you for hiding away from me all this time.”
When theEndurancegrinds to a halt, I will. He held his teeth together to stop himself from spitting it out aloud. Then he said, “Before you run off to your campaign, Camilla, there is one thing you can do for me.”
“Oh?” She looked instantly interested. “Tell me.”
He did.
Chapter Thirty-Three
