Nero Blood

mental picture of him. I trace all the details. The blackness of his h

e vividness of

ll it into me. I let his arms wrap a

s my entire mind. “I promise, I will

ar my entire b

hard and the odds are i

this out,” I say to him. “I need you to s

do anything. He could destroy planets, com

do this. He canno

rds of promise, and I have to remember

the massive bed. I slip under the covers, pulling them up and over my head where I can

around me warm. I swear I feel the brush of a hand

hear his vo

xy. But I feel him with me, and his promise

swings open and three people walk

it isn’t anywhere near me. We

pt well,” a fem

r out of my eyes and take a

black clothing, carries a tray of food, enough to feed six people. The other, a man w

zips it, revealing a sophisticated l

ehind her back. “You will have approximately three hours to work with Edan Calwin today, and the n

o as the woman sets the food on a table and th

uards standing on either side.

nd a chance

e food. Get dressed. I will be back

d and walks out, leaving me l

from the food to the door

, even if I am starving. They could have put anyt

work for him, so it make

ood, and it does l

they left. It’s made of fine leather and cotton, hi

Of how fine Valen and I would look,

ving the tho

room and turn the water

shoulder. I hate how much I like the clothing they brought me. They even

orce myself to eat a few bites, knowing I have to keep up

gs open, and in steps 12-3 w

,” she say

ike the way into Cyrillius’ quarters. There are ten doors along this hall. I count the

e hall, heading in the opposite

, headed this way or that. There are important diplomats stepping out of

ive. All scurrying to w

ere, there

every ounce of will I have, I lock everything inside