Giran’s lips quivered. “If you save my son, Your Majesty, I will spend the rest of my life making sure no one ever questions your decency, mercy, or reign. I will give my life for you.”
“Good. ’Cause I need you to rally the CDS to an emergency session as soon as possible. The steps I’m going to have to take are severe and extreme. It’s a move I don’t want to do without the full support and knowledge of the CDS.”
He bowed low. “I will see it done, my lord. You are truly an asset to the people. May the gods bless you for your benevolent mercy, and give you the longest and happiest life imaginable.”
Darling scoffed at his obsequious fawning. The only reason Giran was here was for his son. If anything went wrong or Darling failed in his mission, he’d be the first to lunge at Darling’s back. “Don’t flatter me, Giran. I know what you really think about me when you’re not worried about your kid. Everyone in the universe knows since you’ve been extremely verbose about it. And I would rather have your sincere hatred than unctuous friendship any day.”
Giran straightened and let his aristocratic mask slip so that Darling could see his real emotions. This wasn’t an aristo in front of him. It was a father who was terrified of losing his son because of his own stupidity. “Sincerely, Darling, thank you for at least trying to help me. I do mean that.”
“Let’s hope the gods listen to your prayers.” Because they had very seldom listened to his. “Now, go. Every second wasted is one more your son lives in danger.”
Giran left immediately.
Darling turned to Gera who was still waiting for orders about Zarya. That was the only thing that…
His gaze went past Gera to the monitors he’d had on for the last few days so that he could watch the news and stay abreast of the Resistance attacks, and the gerents’ confederacy of dunces.
All four of the wall mounts showed clips of a League raid on his territory. It was one thing for Giran to tell him. Another to see it in full color. The League soldiers were shooting indiscriminately into crowds of innocent people, and shoving bystanders around. Men, women, and children.
How dare they! Those were his people.
He’d tear them apart for this.
But that anger fled as he saw the one thing that sucker punched him. It was a video of Zarya in cuffs, being led out of the Resistance HQ and placed into a transport by League soldiers.
His stomach lurched.
Grabbing the control off his desk, he turned the sound up.
“… League command is refusing to comment or speculate. But again, they have routed the Resistance and taken all of its leaders into custody.”
They flashed to one of the League high commanders. “We were invited here by the members of the CDS, and we have now taken control of the cesspit of the Caronese Empire. The CDS is no longer the ruling body here and they will be required to submit to our rule until such a time as we deem they are safe.”
“And what of Governor Cruel?” the reporter asked.
“Since we have been provided with proof of his diminished capacity and known ties to the Resistance, we are relieving him of his duties. If he refuses to surrender himself to our custody, we will be forced to issue a bounty on him and arrest him.”
That actually made Darling laugh. “Bring it, punk. But you better stock up on body bags.” He wouldn’t go down without a fight.
He locked gazes with Gera.
“How did they capture her?” Gera asked.
“I don’t know. But don’t worry. I will get her back.”
She gave him a kind smile. “I have faith in you, my lord.”
He wished he shared that faith with her. Because once he set his arrogance aside, he knew the truth. Going up against the League was suicide. It was one thing to defend himself against random assassins sent in to kill him.
It was another to take an army up against them.
Darling clutched at the remote. To get Zarya back now would require the kind of bombastic lunacy people wrote warning fables about.
Great. Arturo was right. My only purpose in life is to serve as a warning to others…
His gaze went to another monitor that showed Zarya from a different angle. There was no fear showing on her face at all. She walked with the grace and dignity of a queen.
But he knew her well enough to recognize her fear. Underneath her icy fa?ade, she was terrified and she had every right to be. Much like with Giran’s son, a woman in League custody never fared well.
Touch her and so help me, I will kill every one of you…
“Hold on, baby,” he whispered. “I’m coming for you.” Even if it meant his life.
The saddest part? He’d be damned lucky if that was all they took.
24
“We’re so dead.”
Running her fingers over the restraints on her wrists, Zarya took a deep breath as she tried to stay strong for the men and women around her. Even though Pip had been the Resistance leader for almost two years, she’d worn that responsibility a lot longer.