He pursed his lips. “Be silent. No. Say nothing else. I’m in the middle of a meeting. Nod your head if you understand.”
She saluted him. “Ten-four. And I’m not disobeying you,” she said. “An explanation about an action never counts as words. Everyone knows that.”
He worked his jaw, tore his attention away from her, and resumed his telepathic conversation with the other Astra.
Sensing a hotter than average gaze on her, she scanned the faces—him. Ian. The one with short black hair, shining black eyes, and smooth dark skin. He studied her, always the most curious of the bunch.
“Are you as bored with the meeting as I am?” she asked. “And don’t worry. Stating facts doesn’t count as words, either.”
“Oh, I’m enjoying myself immensely, I assure you.” Ian did the Astra head tilt. “You are causing problems among the troops. A debate rages. Some believe you aid Erebus willingly, and you must be interrogated properly. Others believe an interrogation isn’t worth a war with the harpies.”
“Smart.”
Halo slung his arms around her. “Heed my next words, harpy,” he said, motioning to Silver. “Silver will read your mind, and you will let him, without protest.”
Her stomach pitched. Read her mind? Share her universe of insecurities with a veritable stranger? “I’ll die first,” she hissed, ripping from Halo’s embrace. She wanted him, yes, but she would never agree to this. “My thoughts belong to me and those I choose to share them with.” For someone to take what she did not offer... “I will kill him first!”
He was unmoved. “Had you told me you become the beasts in the beginning, this would not be necessary. You didn’t, so it is. Now you will prove your loyalty to your sisters and do this.”
That cut swift, sure and deep. “I did the best I could with the circumstances presented to me. I hate what I did to you. Like I said, I made some mistakes, but so did you. Don’t use mine as an excuse for yours.”
She spun to leave, but he caught her wrist.
“Do not resist this, harpy. You’ll only hurt yourself. This time, you won’t find an ally in me.”
“Shall we invite Vivi to poke around in your head? By the way, she won’t use telepathy but an ice pick. At my request!”
If forced, Ophelia would play her ace: the boon Silver owed her. She could keep him out of her head with a single command—Do not read my mind today or any other. But then, that might be what her diabolical Astra wanted. Why not force her to burn through everyone’s boon without a fuss?
Halo squeezed her wrist with bruising strength, wrenching a gasp from her. The striations in his eyes frosted over, no longer spinning. “What either of us does or doesn’t want is irrelevant. You made sure of that. Now, you will pay the price.”
Okay. So. Her confidence wavered. This wasn’t Halo; this was the Immortal. The Machine. She hadn’t gotten through to him at all. This male felt nothing.
He continued, “One way or another, we will verify everything Erebus has spoken to you and how the beasts are affecting you.”
She had to get her Halo back. Can give a little to get. “Astra,” she said, molding herself against him once again. “You don’t have to use Silver. I wish to share with you. Let me.” And she did. She told him everything.
Strain darkened his expression each time she mentioned strength. A bad sign? A good one? Was she reaching him, even a little?
The other Astra appeared to have a multitude of questions posed at the edge of their tongues, but no one interrupted her.
When she finished, Halo continued as if she’d never spoken. “Silver is able to read your mind without branding you. But he must put his hands on you to do it. Do not contend with him.”
Reaching Halo? Big nope. “You are so wrong, darling. Silver is unable to read my mind because I have a boon that says he is forbidden, now and forever.” He wanted her ace? Very well. Take it. “What’s next? Does someone else wish to try?”
Both Halo and Silver looked to Roc, who shrugged. Translation: Don’t ask me. Finally, Silver offered a rigid nod.
Halo refocused on Ophelia, his ice unthawed. “There will be no mind reading. But there will be a reckoning, as promised.”
He clasped her hand and flashed her to his bedroom, remaining in the duplicate realm. Oh, wow. The place was a warrior’s wet dream. He stored his weapons here. Everything lined up perfectly, nothing out of order. The only piece of furniture was the bed, and it was the only surface free of weaponry.
He released her and rumbled, “You want me, Ophelia? Knowing I do not, will not, trust you?”
As her gaze met his, her breath hitched. He didn’t like her, but he wanted her too. He wanted her bad, despite everything. His irises spun faster and faster.