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over as the leader of the Opposition.”
    * * * *
    I probably should have been pissed off—furious even—that he had hidden his role in the Opposition leadership from me, but a wave of relief washed over me.
    I pointed at him. “You are Ahriman’s second in command?”
    “Yes.”
    “Always have been?”
    Armise shrugged. “For the last five years or so.”
    “And that’s what Neveed is flipping the fuck out about?”
    “Likely.”
    “Well shit. Then that means we kill Ahriman, you take over and the war is done. Why the fuck are we wasting time on any of the Committee members?”
    “Because you and I take Ahriman without killing them first and there will be an immediate coup attempt. Not to mention—”
    I scrubbed a hand through my hair. “It’s never fucking that simple. Of course. What else?”
    “Pretty sure that while I used to be Ahriman’s next in the chain of command, that position has been ceded to someone else.”
    “Is that why he needs you back alive?”
    Armise shook his head, his forehead creasing. “No. There’s something else.”
    “And you don’t know what it is?”
    “I have my suspicions.”
    “Any of those suspicions have to do with a modification that could shield something in your body?”
    “What do you know that I don’t?” Armise answered, his voice dipping low, reverberating from his chest.
    “Dr Casas—Feliu, the President’s doctor who removed our chips—said he thinks there’s something being shielded inside your body.”
    “And this is just coming up?” Armise growled at me.
    I arched an eyebrow. “Like you being Ahriman’s second in command?”
    Armise cracked his neck and eased. “Granted. Now what exactly did Dr Casas tell you?”
    “That there was a slight mechanical hitch during your scan when we transported in from the stadium. He doesn’t know what it is, but his intuition is telling him something is off.”
    Armise started to pace, the muscle in his jaw ticking. “We have to go after Ahriman. Now.”
    “If you’re with me then this is where we stay. We make sure the President survives whatever the Opposition is planning for him then go after the Committee members. You said it yourself, they have to be first. Ahriman’s trying to lure you back to Singapore. He’s using you for something.”
    Armise’s head snapped up, hands balled into fists. “Exactly my point. I will not be ruled by him. Or by anyone. And I will not be used.”
    “Protecting the President is important to me. This is where I have to be.” And I need you to be with me here was left unsaid.
    Armise stepped up to me, putting his hand to my neck, circling his long fingers around. He cocked his head, those silver-blue eyes holding me to the spot more than his hand. “Why do you have to be so goddamn loyal?”
    He leant forward, capturing my lips in a soft kiss. He wrapped his arm around my back drawing me closer until my chest was pressed to his—skin against the soft cloth of his worn T-shirt. I hooked my arms around his waist, placed my leg between his and pulled his body tight against mine.
    The kiss deepened, his tongue licking along my lips and inside my mouth, his body moving with mine. The room was filling with the steam from the shower still running in the en suite, and I breathed the heaviness of the air in, the scent of Armise’s sweat and the musk of his balms fuelling my need.
    There was a heavy knock at the door to our quarters and Armise let out a ripe swear and dropped his head on my shoulder.
    “Can’t a man even get enough time to take a hot shower?” I grumbled to Armise. “What?” I yelled at the door, reluctantly pulling away from Armise’s hold.
    The door creaked open to reveal the frightened face of a soldier in full uniform. “Aircomm with the President in the control room. Fifteen minutes. Both of you.”
    I huffed. Of course Neveed didn’t have the strength to call for us in person.
    “We’ll be there,” I replied in a crisp tone, dismissing