Chapter 30

Warmth built deep in my core, and the sensation spread through me. With the same vivid draw as being summoned by Jericho himself, I could feel the prick of pain as something sharp penetrated Butterfly's marking.

Was that from Alessi? He wouldn't hurt her. I knew he wouldn't. Not when she had those scars on her arms. I didn't trust him for much, but I trusted him to respect that claim I had on her. Though there had been a number of strange sensations spiking through our bond these last couple hours, and it was hard to tell what was actually going on with her since I'd distanced myself from the situation.

The heat flared beneath my skin, and now I was certain she was bleeding.

The sensations were vague and only translated to me in the event something was in physical contact with my marks, but the surges had been getting stronger and stronger lately.

Butterfly should be in the Yellow Sector by now—probably half way through—answering simple trivia and riddles. At worst, maybe she'd have to tell a secret or two or perform some mildly demented tests of her fear threshold. I'd admit it was my least favorite sector by a long shot, but there was no reason it was a particularly dangerous one. I'd only failed out of it once, and that was Alessi's fault.

I was fairly certain it was Jericho who manipulated Rai to add a "love test" challenge. Having the option to kill the spy or let him fuck me for an audience was exactly the kind of shit the king would come up with.

Then again, Rai was always questioning my loyalty to the crown, as if betraying Jericho had ever been an option for me. If only he fucking knew.

I shoved my hand through my hair as that prickling sensation intensified.

Why was she bleeding anyway? Had she already breeched Orange? Did she get captured by Cronus? I needed to catch up if so. I promised Jericho I'd interfere with anything that might result in her immediate death, which I had every intention of doing, but she shouldn't need me to any time soon. I swear to the ninth circle, if she died in the Orange Sector before I made it back by her side, I'd take Alessi's fucking head for failing me.

I stood and turned toward the Yellow Sector, brushing away a green vine that had started getting entirely too friendly with my right shoulder .

There was no harm in checking on her, I determined. Not for her wellbeing or anything, but because, as always, I had a job to do. That was the only reason.