Page 83 of Meteor Storm

“I do respect her, Inquisitor Naan,” I said, inclining my head.

She took another scent of the air.

“So, that much is true. I can smell you all over her and her all over you. You’ve been mating her since your escape.”

“Yuros told us as much,” Kora informed me.

“I have,” I admitted. “I’m aware I will have to face consequences.”

“Consequences for what, Tuross?”

“For seeking vengeance against Pek-Tol. For taking a female against her will. For prioritizing my own desires.”

“As we said, we’ve gone over everything Yuros sent before your arrival. And you have a strong reference from Prince Kaelth for your involvement in the dismantling of Mekah Prime. The things you claim you must answer for are under discussion. There are factors we’re not used to dealing with in this situation.” Her eyes moved to Penny again. “Leave, Tuross.”

“Sorry?”

“Did you not hear me or are you defying an order?”

I stilled myself, glancing at Penny again. She instantly understood what was going on and her lips parted with unease as if to ask me not to go.

“They will not hurt you,” I assured her.

“I can’t even speak to them. What do they want?”

“Nothing you’re not willing to give.”

“Promise.”

“I promise.”

I turned, reluctantly heading toward the exit where the two guards still stood like statues outside. My jaw ticked at the thought of leaving Penny in there alone. Not because I thought the clerics would harm her, but because I knew she was uncomfortable. When Yuros followed me out, I looked back to see her staring over her shoulder at me. It took everything not to go back to her as I watched the guards close the doors between us.

Yuros placed a hand on my shoulder. “It will be alright. The clerics know what they are doing.”

I nodded, staring at the doors as if I could see through them if I tried hard enough, but whatever was going on in there, the room was meant to privatize it. I would not know what they were talking about until it was done. Perhaps not even then.

25: Penny

Without Thilar there, my guard immediately fortified. That room was big, cold, and I was alone with two female monrians who didn’t speak my language and I knew that whatever decision they made about the two of us would dictate both our futures and that terrified me. What they thought they could get out of me when I couldn’t understand them, I didn’t know, but—

“Do you understand me?” one of the women said.

I paused everything and blinked in her direction. Once I got past my initial shock, I nodded.

“Good. I am inquisitor Naan Lore.”

“I’m Penelope Elliot,” I introduced, keeping my feet rooted and my eyes ahead.

“We know,” the other monrian said. “My name is Kora Faal. I am a cleric. A keeper or records. Knowledge. A judge.”

“Sorry, but how do you know my language?”

“I assume Thilar learned very quickly. That must have been a shock. General Vahko was kind enough to provide a means for us to study your language in depth before you came here today.”

It still blew my mind that they were able to pick up human words with such ease, but at the moment, it was the least of my concerns.

“What’s going to happen to me? And to Thilar?” I said outright.