Adrik (Titans #1)

Chapter 17

Ember sat in her cell dumbfounded. Adrik had dumped her in a tiny room comprised of what looked like stainless-steel walls, floor, and ceiling. A bathroom behind a door in the corner was an exact replica of the one in Adrik’s room, except it was half the size, and there were no extra amenities. The cell part of the room housed a single cot and chair that were both welded to the floor. Sitting on the cot, Ember eyed the metal door. There was no window, there were no bars. She was enclosed in a metal box. There was no hope.

Reclining back on the cot, Ember couldn’t stop mentally replaying their interaction. She wondered what she’d done to make Adrik so mad. Perhaps he was angry at his body’s response to her. Maybe he was disgusted.

Feeling hollow, Ember curled herself into a tight ball and thought about the other women. Kyan was being treated, and that was a huge relief, but where was Nova? Where was Vashti? Honestly, Ember was most worried about Vashti. Wherever she was, Vashti wouldn’t be compliant. She’d be raising hell, fighting hard, and most likely suffering for insolence. The thought had Ember swallowing hard. She should have been nicer to Adrik. Maybe if she’d been more respectful, more pliant, he’d have kept her with him or given her more information.

A beep sounded, pulling Ember from her reverie. She uncurled herself as the door slowly opened. Sitting up, she blinked up at the Medicus Titan, Obaida.

Lips in a thin grim line, he stared down at her. “Chief Commander says you have injuries that were missed.”

Shaking her head, Ember stammered, “N-no. No injuries. Just scars.”

Holding up a device, Obaida persisted. “I’ll still need to scan you. It’s not up for debate.”

Relieved at having someone to talk to, Ember nodded. “Sh-should I stand?”

“Yes,” Obaida responded. “Standing would probably be best.”

He glanced up at one corner of the cell, and Ember followed his gaze but saw nothing in the empty corner.

Kneeling before her, Obaida concentrated on the small device in his hand before lifting it and then slowly waving it in front of her body, keeping it from touching her by inches.

“How’s Kyan?”

A soft growl left Obaida before he answered, “Still unconscious.”

Worry swamped Ember. “That’s not good. Is it? She should be awake by now, shouldn’t she?”

“I would assume,” Obaida said clinically. We’ve given her fluids and nutritional supplementation, but her status hasn’t improved.”

An overwhelming sadness crept in as Ember responded quietly, “Her spirit’s broken.”

Head snapping up, Obaida stopped his task. “What does that mean? How do I repair this spirit?”

Ember shook her head sadly. “I don’t know. She doesn’t think there’s any hope…”

Obaida cut her off, standing quickly. “Hope for what?”

“She thinks we’re being held captive to be transported to some wicked end. She’s terrified. She’s been afraid for a very long time. We’ve been captives for so long that I’m afraid she’s done trying.”

“But we freed you.”

“Did you?” Ember’s brows speared down as she waved her hand dismissively at the cell she was in. “Does this look like freedom?”

Obaida glanced around, and his face blanked. “The others, your sisters, are not in confinement.”

Ember huffed a humorless sound and scoffed, “Just me.” Annoyed, she changed the subject. “What about Nova and Vashti? Where are they? How are they?”

Staring down at her, he answered her questions. “Nova and Vashti are both in comfortable accommodations,” he glanced around disapprovingly, “similar to where you were previously in the Commander’s quarters.”

“So, they’re in a Titan’s quarters? Whose?” she demanded. “Are they safe? How can you know if they’re safe? How does Adrik know they’re not being abused?”

That had Obaida’s spine snapping straight as his face morphed into anger from the obvious affront.

“Titans do not abuse females!” he gritted out matter-of-factly. It is an absurdity to even suggest it. Expression still stern, Obaida tore his gaze from Ember and concentrated on his task. It gave her a chance to study him up close.

Focused, Obaida was frowning, which only lent to the severe fierceness of his expression. He was intimidating, but not the way Adrik was. Adrik was menacing in a way that she hadn’t seen matched yet by any other Titans. Even with Obaida towering over her as he frowned into the scanner in his strong hands, muscles bulging beneath his form-fitting uniform, Ember was relieved it wasn’t Adrik with her. Something about Adrik always put her on high alert. Being near him felt like being trapped in a room with a lion.

“Why isn’t Adrik’s skin red like you and the others?”

Obaida’s gaze slowly lifted, and when his eerie green eyes blinked vertically and held hers, his expression was reproachful. Still, he responded. “Chief Commander is a Shadow Titan.” He lifted his chin and stared down his regal nose at her. “He is rare. Unique ,” he boasted.

Ember pressed, “Better?”

That had Obaida’s expression of haughty disapproval slipping. “Stronger, faster, less prone to emotion.”

But the way he tore his gaze from hers had Ember prodding, “Was he born that way?”

When Obaida remained silent, Ember asked, “Was he born that way or made that way?”

Casting a quick glance at the corner he’d looked at earlier, Obaida was quiet so long that Ember didn’t think he’d answer. But finally, he offered, “He was born with his darker appearance. As for his demeanor, it is my personal belief that Adrik’s regimented upbringing and strict training formed him into the supreme specimen he is now.”

Delicate brows spearing down, Ember swallowed hard. “That sounds horrific.”

Obaida’s face blanked before a small grin of what looked like approval curled the ends of his mouth. “I believe it was.” Shooting a look up to the corner again, Obaida cleared his throat. “Let’s discuss you . Where did this scarring come from? How did it happen?”

Glancing down her body, Ember held her arms wide and shook her head indifferently. “Captivity,” she answered simply.

Shooting her a harsh look, Obaida made to reach for the clothing to peel the material away to expose her flesh, but Ember slapped his hand and backed away from him with a hissed, “Hey! Manners!”

Obaida’s gaze snapped to the corner of the room, and he quickly straightened. “It is difficult to examine the specimen without visual data.”

That had Ember sneering. “I’m not a specimen, I’m a person. And if you want to see my body, doctor or not, you need to ask my permission.”

Obaida didn’t respond to her outburst. He stood rod straight for long moments, then hissed under his breath, “I can’t examine her if I can’t see her.”

Ember glanced up at the corner before sliding her gaze back to Obaida. “Who are you talking to?”

“You,” he responded immediately.

“I don’t need examining. I have scars. So what. They don’t bother me.”

“They bother the Commander. With your permission, I’d like to attempt to heal them. It’s a simple procedure. It will be painless.”

His words filled Ember with humiliation. She knew Adrik had seen her half-naked. She knew he’d seen her scars because he’d confronted her about them. What she didn’t know was that the sight of her healed injuries had been offensive. Her belly coiled as she realized Adrik was repulsed by what he’d seen. It explained his reaction before he’d dragged her to this cell. Knowing her face was red, and her eyes were now too glassy, Ember focused on the ground. “I’m…” she shook her head at a loss for words. She’d be damned if she apologized to these captors for what past captors had done to her. Swallowing hard, she struggled for words.

She saw Obaida’s broad chest expand in her periphery as he drew in a long, slow breath. “Ember,” he breathed out quickly. “Your scarring is not dishonorable.”

“ I didn’t say it was,” she raged angrily, turning away from him to hide her humiliation. Crossing to her cot, she sat angrily, annoyed that Adrik’s low opinion of her felt so significant. She’d only just met the male; she was his captive! Why the hell should she care what he thought of her appearance?

“I didn’t mean to offend you,” Obaida began.

“I’m not offended. I don’t care if my appearance is…” Disgusting, repulsive, ugly? She settled on, “Unappealing.”

“I know I offended you.” She watched him shoot a dark look toward the corner. “The scent of your humiliation permeates the air. I apologize if…”

“Don’t worry about it,” Ember cut him off and said, “No, I don’t want your procedure.” She lifted her chin. “Adrik will just have to stay… bothered .”

Obaida attempted correction. “I didn’t mean he was bothered in that context.”

“I don’t care what context my appearance is bothersome to Adrik.” She lifted her chin. “Kindly tell him he can eat a dick.”

“Eat a…” Obadia’s brows knitted in confusion. Bowing his head, he backed toward the door, clearly uncomfortable. “I apologize again. I meant no offense. A meal will be delivered shortly. And I will relay your nutritional suggestion to the Commander.”

The metal door behind Obaida whooshed open. Before he could exit, Ember shot to her feet and called out, “Wait!”

Obaida stilled and shot her a questioning look.

Before he left, she needed to know. “You said Adrik is less prone to emotion.”

Obaida’s eyes narrowed.

“ Less. Prone. ” she repeated, then asked, “But he is capable of it. It is there? Emotion does exist for him?” She refused to believe that he’d faked their interaction.

Brows spearing down, Obaida frowned hard. “Of course. Commander Adrik grapples with emotion daily. Pride in his ship, in his crew. Fear of failing a mission, of failing us and our home planet. The difference between him and us is that he is in supreme control of himself. We see of him what he allows us to see. We know of him what he allows us to know of him. Without the hope of a pairing, his existence is lonely and hopeless in a way the rest of us will never understand, but…” As if catching himself admitting more than he should, Obaida’s seconds-earlier contemplative gaze sliced to Ember and then quickly away.

But she’d heard it.

“Without hope of a pairing?” she asked. “What is a pairing? A marriage? Why can’t he have one?”

As if struck by a lightning bolt, Obaida’s posture went rod straight as he slammed to attention. Fists balling at his side, jaw clenching hard, Obaida stared straight ahead and was immobile and silent a moment before clipping out, “Yes, Commander!”

Then Obaida was gone, leaving Ember in her cell as she pondered what had happened. Turning slowly, she glanced up at the corner that Obaida had repeatedly given his attention to earlier. Stepping closer, she narrowed her eyes. There was nothing there. Nothing she could see anyway. Aloud, she mulled, “Less prone to emotion?” She snorted delicately. “Could’ve fooled me.” Walking to the cot, Ember sat and continued speaking aloud, unsure if Adrik could hear her or not. “You were plenty mad at me.” She cocked her head toward the corner and half-grinned. “Maybe it’s just me, though.” She gestured toward the cell. “Apparently, I bring out the best in you.” She smiled wider, genuinely entertained at how annoying she knew she could be. Slowly, her smile faded. “I-I’m sorry if I offended you. For whatever I did to deserve this.” She stood to face the corner. “If you let me see my sisters, I will be a model prisoner. I won’t challenge you. I won’t speak out of turn. I won’t…” she stalled, almost unwilling to offer up the next words but doing it anyway. “I won’t fight you.” The words felt like glass coming out of her throat. “Whatever you want. Whatever you ask of me.” She inhaled sharply, then exhaled slowly. “I won’t fight you on it. Kyan is dying, and Nova will be terrified wherever she is. And if you think I’m a handful, you haven’t met Vashti. I’m certain she’s tormenting whomever you have guarding her. She’s certain to snap his control, and that scares me for her.” She didn’t know what else to say or how else to explain it. So, she ended with a simple, “Please.”