Cloud Rebel (R-D #3)(34)

The ring had not shone for years, otherwise. Brade was determined to undo that great mischief. His Queen had charged him with this task and he was determined not to fail her.

"Where's our dog?" Invus, youngest of the Verain brothers, asked.

"Over there," Dervus pointed toward a bare patch of grass. "Probably sniffing for a place to piss." Invus laughed at his brother's words.

Somehow, the Dark King had acquired this living tool for them. As long as it kept quiet and did its job, they held back from taunting and delivering blows.

Mostly.

Not far away, Gerrett, the mute Sirenali, had his back turned to them. Did they think him deaf as well as mute? It was better if he ignored the insults, as any rebelliousness on his part would be met with blows and curses, at the very least.

The last burns he'd gotten from Ralvus still hadn't healed completely. Better not to react, he told himself. Much, much better.

"I say we drive to the nearest town and ask questions," Invus suggested.

"Good enough," Ralvus agreed. "There's nothing here."

*

Corinne

"Honey, what's wrong?" I asked. The call came from Auggie's phone, but it was James placing the call.

"We, uh, have problems," James muttered.

I wanted to say you and me both, honey, but I didn't. James was upset enough as it was. I still felt shaky, but not as bad as I was before Val had gotten me away from Rafe. "Do you want me to come?" I offered instead.

"I wish you would," James sounded lost. Something else was going on beside murder and chaos.

"We will arrive shortly," Val took the phone away and spoke to James before ending the call with a thought.

Auggie's office was our destination in a blink.

*

The minute we arrived, I understood James' dilemma. Nathan had been called away to work with Captain Finch in Quebec. James was worried about Nathan's safety, after the massive explosion there. He didn't want Nathan anywhere near that.

"Honey, we don't always get to pick and choose where we're sent," I pulled him into a hug.

"I'm sorry, Cori," he mumbled. "I just can't help it. I'm afraid for him."

"I know."

Nearby, Auggie cleared his throat. James stepped away, looking ashamed. I leaned in to kiss his cheek. "Don't worry," I said. "Until we actually have something to worry about."

James jerked his head in a nod. "Auggie, what's going on?" I asked.

"We have two dead police officers in Corpus Christi and no idea where those ASD *s responsible for the deaths are. Plus, we've had a sighting of Zoran's double in Dublin."

"They're making clones of him?" I went still. Val's hands dropped onto my shoulders, attempting to keep me calm. We didn't need more Zorans. After all, Auggie and I knew Zoran was merely Reginald Phillips in disguise.

"Auggie—what was the word on Phillips—after the attack in D.C.?"

"Madam President thought it best to report that he was in seclusion," Auggie mumbled before turning away.

"Great. So everybody still thinks he's alive. This is the worst possible news, you know. They can haul a clone out and present him as Phillips and we're in deep shit again."

"I realize that now," Auggie blew out a breath. "Madam President thought we could announce his death after a while, from a long, ravaging illness. She didn't want the people to mourn again so soon after so many others died."

I didn't want to get into the mistakes made by Madam President before and during that meeting; if I'd been allowed to attend, so many things could be different, now.

"So we have at least one clone of Zoran. Possibly more. Many more," I pointed out instead.

"Yes. I have a request from Matt, too. He wants you to work with Finch in Quebec."

"For how long? Finch is an insufferable prick, if I remember correctly."

"Dearest, I will be with you," Val spoke quietly behind me as his fingers massaged my shoulders. "He will be respectful or I will teach him manners."

"Manners and Captain Finch are polar opposites," I said. Val dropped his hands as I turned to face him. I didn't add that it wasn't fair that ass-hat Finch was still alive while Nick and Maye weren't.

"Matt, uh, asked Dr. Farrell to take Jennifer and Brett to Quebec—Shaw said they were getting restless and wanted something constructive to do. Both have training in explosives," Auggie said.

"Are they there, yet?"

"They're still in Port Aransas, but they're getting ready to board a plane."

"Tell them Val and I will take them," I said. "I think they need our presence more than anything else, right now. What about Leo?"

"He's flying to Quebec now to meet Finch's team."

"Good."

"Cori, what about you? What happened in Italy?" Auggie began.

"Auggie, I don't want to talk about that. It's upsetting."

"You know Leo won't leave it alone."

"Tell Leo we'll talk. Someday."

"Dr. Shaw may not understand the Larentii mind," Val supplied. "While Corinnelar has many human traits and habits remaining, she is still Larentii. I may ask my father to help her compartmentalize her grief and terror, in order to function at her best when needed."