G I G I

Arezo returned from the second interrogation at sunset. She searched the room for a split second before her eyes landed on me. In that quiet way of hers, she walked around the perimeter of the room to sit next to me. I knew she felt slightly out of place in our group and that I was the one with the strongest connection to her. Only time would make her truly one of us.

"How did it go?" I asked, giving her a prompt for a conversation that she looked too unsure to start.

"One of the army leaders had to be tortured to near-death before she revealed any information," she said, clearly happy I had asked about her experience. "It was very grueling even to watch, but I would be lying if I said I did not enjoy watching her suffer."

Something in her expression made me ask, "Did you know her?"

A pause. "She was one of the lieutenants who trained the unit of soldiers I was in. Those first weeks with her were...dehumanizing, to say the least. It is only fitting that she would have the same experience now."

"If we ever encounter one of the other army leaders outside of the ONNT and you want them to suffer, I could deliver. You can take your choice: exploding their brain in their skull, snapping every bone in their body, atrophying all their muscles. I suppose it depends on how vengeful you're feeling that day." I cocked my head, trying to gauge if her veiled expression held any horror. "Unless you're not as sadistic as me and don't find catharsis in violent revenge."

But to my surprise, she was not disgusted and said back, "Those options do sound like they could hold some potential good memories." She gave me a small smile then, the first time I had ever seen her with a smile, but the similarity of it to her sister's ruined the pleasantness of the moment. I looked away.

"What is it?" She asked, a look of concern suddenly marring her striking features.

I shook my head. "Nothing."

She didn't let it go. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, no. You're fine. It's just..." I trailed off, unsure of how she would take it if I told her the truth.

Realization bloomed in her dark eyes. "It's me, isn't it? I remind you of Neve."

"You look and act exactly like her. It's almost like having her back. But...not."

"I know. I don't look into mirrors anymore." She paused, eyes far away. "I'm not like her. Not where it counts. She was always better than me, anyway."

Look who you're talking to, I wanted to say. "I've only known you a short time and I know that's not true."

She faced me, determined. "It is. She only joined Imperium to ensure I was safe. I hardly got to see her all those years, but it was enough for her. Even after everything I did. Even after I basically dragged her into their clutches after me. Sometimes...sometimes I think her death is my fault."

I should have known she'd be guilty. After all, I felt the same way about her death. "You were a child. You still are," I said, even though Neve informed me that Arezo was eighteen, only a year younger than me.

Arezo's dark eyes turned glassy. "Even in Pakistan when we starved in the streets as children, she gave me her portion of food if my stomach still ached with hunger. She always gave and gave, never taking anything for herself."

I struggled with what to say that, my throat suddenly feeling awfully tight. Any more serious talk would threaten to make me break down. "How did she do it—how did she manage herself and us? I can't even handle my own problems."

Snorting, Arezo stared at me for a moment longer in that same mysterious way her sister used to. I began to get uncomfortable under her unwavering glance, not able to discern what she was thinking. "It is strange to hear you joke and laugh when I used to be worried for Neve to be in league with you."

Raising a brow, I asked, "Strange in a good or bad way?"

She tilted her head at me, brushing her short hair behind an ear as she contemplated this. "A good way."

"I hope you're not still worried. Because I promised her I would help protect you, even when she couldn't. I intend to keep that promise for her."

"Only if you promise to teach me how you use that thing." She jerked her chin to the bow and arrows I'd dropped on the floor at my feet after practicing with it moments before she arrived. "I was near the explosion when you were helping free the others from our army. I saw it all. Your aim couldn't have been more perfect."

I found myself smiling again, secretly pleased that she'd noticed my skill with a bow rather than the power I had been born with. "It's a deal."

Out of the corner of her eye, she surveyed the others—Riley complaining about something, Kane doing his best to look as if he was not hanging on every word she said, Jaxon purposefully annoying Delphinium by resting his crossed feet in her lap. "If I'm staying here...do you think they will like me?"

Upon her question being asked Benton turned from where he was sprawled strangely in a chair. "You think you won't fit in? You're suffering from extreme emotional turmoil. You've shown your violent and vengeful tendencies. You've committed plenty of crimes." He gave a scoff. "You're already one of us."

"The one thing you're missing is some sort of superhuman power," I pointed out. "But instead of being worth it, as you'd imagine, it brings only more psychological trauma. You're better off without it."

But Arezo quirked an eyebrow. "I don't know many people that would pass up an opportunity to read others' thoughts." Her words were tinged with humor.

"Once they had it, I'm sure they would wish for it to be taken from them," Benton said, sure of himself. "The sheer weight of constant chatter in your mind is enough to drive a man insane." He then gave a wild smile that would have easily driven anyone less bold away.

"From what I've heard, half of you are insane already," Arezo pointed out, seemingly becoming more comfortable as time went on.

But the slight smile dropped from her lips as she turned to me, realizing the implications of what she said. "I didn't mean it like—"

Benton interrupted her, giving a cackling laugh. "Oh, I like her already."

I only shrugged it off. "Turns out being subjected to horrible childhoods and mental abuse doesn't bode well for the sanity."

From across the room, Jaxon looked over. "You just recently realized that? You obviously haven't been spending enough time with the rest of us."

"Or Arlo, Jake and Benton in particular," Riley said, preoccupied while playing with a strand of hair. "Those three give Orion a run for his money."

I expected Benton to try and fight the accusation, but he only sat back and smiled like he was receiving an award. Not turning an ounce of his attention from his book, Kane said, "I dare you to tell Jake your opinion of his psychotic nature when he comes back."

"How much will you pay me?"

"You need to be paid to do it?" Jaxon snorted. "If you really had the balls, you'd do it for free."

"Ten dollars says he takes it as a compliment," Delphinium said.

Riley shrugged. "I could use the money. I say he'll threaten to cut out my tongue and storm away."

Then, Kane did look up to give Riley a flat look. "You're a thief. What do you need more money for?"

She and Jaxon shared a disapproving look at the audacity of Kane's statement. "Keep that up and I won't buy you anything with my winnings."

"A pity."

Jaxon leaned forward, propping his metal arm on a knee. "Forget about him. Buy me something instead."

"Done." She thought for a moment. "How does an oil can sound, tin man?"

Jaxon's sharp smile didn't falter. "Maybe you should save the money and buy yourself a new attitude."

"Or maybe I should sew both of your mouths shut for some peace and quiet," Kane muttered, but there was no fire in his words.

"Are you getting cranky because you haven't taken your pain meds yet, or are we just disrupting your angry brooding?" Riley asked, turning her attention back to the strongman. But I didn't miss the way her eyes softened at the sight of him.

"My money's on the second." But Jaxon got to his feet. "Come on, Traversa. We can take our fight elsewhere." As they walked away, Kane's narrowed eyes followed them. Riley looked back at him once with a feline smile, fully knowing what she was doing to him.

"Keep in mind that I can read your thoughts, Kane." Benton shook his head, giving a wide gesture of his arms. "As your older brother, I should never be subjected to such—"

Kane stopped him with a flat glower. "I can still kick you out of my room, you know."

"At this point, I might wish for it." From the couch, Delphinium snorted.

I turned to Arezo, who had watched our crew's interaction in silence, wearing a bit of a smile. I wondered if she'd ever had anything like this before. Likely not.

"That was probably a better introduction to the team than I could ever give," I told her, eyes on the bickering siblings.

"Yeah," Benton said to her, that insane smile that infuriated Kane still on his face. "Welcome."