Page 40 of Caged By the Ruthless Thief

I need him out of the apartment. Castor too. So I can do what I need to do. I set the cup down in front of Atlas on the table. He’s staring at it like a teenage podlet looks at his first cup of seaweed gin.

Castor takes the last sip of his coffee, which he’s tempered with sweetener and almond milk.

Altas picks up his cup. “It’s warm like tea. Good, it’s cold down here.” He lifts it to his mouth, taking a long pull, then puts it down with a click on the table. His face twists at the bitterness. “That’s interesting.” He gives the mug a little push to the center.

Castor shakes his head at me.

“When did you say Nico’s mate was returning?” Atlas puts his feet up on the coffee table and leans back, his large arms crossed over his chest. He makes Castor sitting across from him look small.

“We didn’t,” I say.

“Are you threatened by my meeting her?”

“No.” I purse my lips. But no one knows we are mated. Atlas certainly doesn’t.

“Are you planning on mating with her?” Atlas reaches for the coffee cup but then doesn’t take any. He’s not talking to me, but Castor. Because why should he ask me? My scent block is firmly in place. I’ve got vials of it stored up.

20

NICO

Dr. Pertusio stands over my bed. Or rather, Castor’s childhood bed. “Nico, I know you’re tired of lying here. But you need to be as still as you can. We want the Arg-leth to work itself out slowly.” The Arg-leth in my blood is causing my muscles to twitch and spasm at odd times. When they do, my stomach flips and a metallic taste fills my mouth.

“How about the cod fish government doesn’t use Arg-leth anymore? It’s barbaric. They were just trying to kill Nikolaos without killing him.” Dad is leaning up on his elbows.

“Alder, I’ve told you this more than once. You need to stay calm, or I’m going to have to separate you from Nico.”

“I know.” Dad sounds like a scolded podlet, and I shoot a glare at Pertusio.

“He does, Nico. Both of you need to stay calm and talk about cheerful things. Or rest in silence.” The doctor leans over Alder’s bed. He steps over my trident. “Mind if I move this?”

“That’s fine.”Cheerful things, he said. I scoff.

“It’s heavy.” The doctor moves it out of his way.

“Any chance you can take the straps off my wrists and neck?” I’m confident he won’t. But I’m awake, and I don’t intend on sleeping again anytime soon.

“Any chance you can not move around and let the medication I gave you do the work it needs to?” He glares at me. “Yeah, I didn’t think so. Give it two days, maybe one. I’ll run another series of tests tomorrow. I might up the medication. Then I can remove the straps and some of the bandages.”

“Yes, good.” I don’t know what I’m agreeing to. I’ll do anything he wants, but only because I want to be alive when we bring Annabelle home.

Pertusio nods to the guard. I’m strapped to the bed, and the guards they’ve put on me have been instructed to not talk, which leaves napping and talking to Dad. Something I’ve had enough of for now. The only person I want to talk to I have to retrieve from the other side of the ocean.

The door opens. The usual rustle of Kai’s skirts is replaced with the zipping of stiff trousers. She’s in full nursemaid mode. She’d make a good doctor. One of her mates is with her, Ari or Dar—I can’t tell them apart. And no, they’re not twins orgeminae, they’re just not interesting. Kai smiles and opens her mouth to say something, and Ari—no, Dar—touches her arm and shakes his head.

“Are you serious?” Kai and I speak at the same time.

He nods.

“Right, well, you’re not stopping me from talking,” I growl. “Tell Castor to stop the sea witch.”

Kai’s eyes go wide.

“Do you understand?”

She nods and proceeds to change Alder’s bandages. “You’re looking so much better.”

Dar touches her arm.

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