Page 16 of Seduce

Silla’s nails dig into the palms of her hands, and I despise them both even more.

“Drizella is one of the best hackers in the kingdom,” I tell Cinder quickly, worried for my girl’s safety. “Isaac's counter proposal is that she join our mission to gain access to the Underground. Poisons, hackers, people who are well spoken who can discuss the issues in the kingdom that those in the Underground tout as issues are what you’ll need to be successful in this mission. Without those things, we will be set up to fail, just like the other assets who went before us.”

Isaac comes around the desk, squeezing in to speak to the Queen as well. “I did Drizella’s assessment when she came through intake, and I was floored by how well she could code. She has laser focus, and I couldn’t figure out for the life of me how she got caught for hacking,” he says incredulously.

Carefully, so she can’t see, I pinch the shit out of the fucker. He’s poking the bull right now.

Cinder frowns, the lines that mar her forehead deep and ugly. And then, it’s as if she relaxes, releasing whatever thoughts she was holding onto.

“There was never any real proof to back Drizella’s charges. As Queen, the courts looked the other way, pushing her indictment as quickly as possible. It was all fabricated. Sorry, Drizella. I wanted you to suffer for refusing to do as you’re told!” Cinder roars, making Silla jump with a gasp.

It’s exactly as we thought. The queen is fucking petty.

“Be as that may,” I say, ignoring her explosion. Maybe the rule for toddlers will work for errant queens as well. “Drizella will be an asset to the mission in exorcizing the threat to the throne. You want the absolute best for this, and she’s one of them, outside of the five of us.”

“How fortunate for me,” Cinder says sarcastically, rolling her eyes. “I’m rather attached to my step-sister, so she wasn’t part of the negotiations. I need something to hold over your heads after all so you all actually do what you’re contracted to do.”

“They’re not going to double cross you, sister,” Silla says, and I can tell she’s playing up the familial card. “You said the danger was growing yourself. Don’t you want to see it handled properly?”

I can feel the anxiety rolling through her body, it’s literally vibrating with it. And yet… Silla Tremaine speaks clearly and decisively, as if she’s not scared shitless of her step-sister because we asked to amend the proposal. Gods, I hope we’re making the right call right now.

“Fine,” the Queen says in a bored voice, flicking her fingers at me. “I think it’s poppycock for you to be ‘necessary to the mission’. Your best assets are on your knees like the pretty little whore that you are. You’re mine to do with what I please, do not forget that.”

Cinder is pissed. There’s a vein in her forehead that is pulsing like crazy, and I lean forward worriedly. Shit shit shit.

“Of course, Your Majesty,” Silla murmurs, dropping her head. The crown of her head faces the computer screen, which is how she’s curtseyed.

“They sayI’mdramatic,” Cinder mutters. “I will see you back at the castle, Silla. As for the rest of you, pack up, you’ll leave in two days, which is how soon I’ll be able to get your replacements to FRC. Leave detailed instructions for your positions, who knows if you’ll live to return. Oh… wait.”

Silla raises her gaze to the Queen, who is now grinning evilly.

“Where are the rest of you? Did Silla tell you what would happen if you managed to succeed?” Cinder asks.

“No, Your Majesty. We didn’t get to that part of our negotiations,” I rumble.

Looking at the Trio over my computer, I jerk my chin for them to join us. Once they stand behind me with murmured greetings, the Queen nods.

“Should you actually manage to pull this off, you’ll have your freedom. In my eyes you’ll always be branded as traitors, but I won’t say a word. Leave the kingdom, have babies, I don’t fucking care,” Cinder says, throwing up her hands.

“I hate to ask, but does this offer include Drizella as well?” Sidney asks, his fingers gripping the back of my chair. I can feel the indentations behind my head, hidden from where the Queen can see.

We’re all nervous to hear her answer. Something tells me…

“No. This girl will always be mine,” Cinder says callously, refusing to care how she sounds. Silla said that she was acting oddly around her, and I can see it plain as day. She doesn’t look at my girl the way that a step-sibling who grew up with her should.

She stares at Silla as if she’s a possession.

Rather than fight about this, I nod. “Then we accept, as long as Drizella can join us in our mission,” I agree, purposefully wording it in ways that can’t be misinterpreted.

Cinder sneers, but nods. “So be it. Good night.”

As she signs off, Silla sags with a gasp, having refused to show Cinder an ounce of weakness. We refused to call her ‘Silla’, instead adopting the name that the Queen uses so she couldn’t accuse us of untoward familiarity. It’s obvious that we adore her though, which means Cinder will never give her up.

“Fuck, that is not the way a sister should be looking at you, Silla,” Ayden mutters, blowing out a breath. “I’m sorry if we just made this more difficult for you.”

Shrugging, Silla turns away. “You meant well,” she murmurs. “I really need to go. My punishment will begin the moment I return to the car.”

“Punishment?” Andrya squeaks, hands shaking.

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