Shady

“I am,” Pratik assured him. “What would you like me to do first?”

“Aren,” Pratik said, hesitantly taking his hand to shake it. “Aren Presha, sir.”

Pratik nodded vigorously, biting back a sigh of relief. “Yes sir.”

“My freedom is all I want,” Pratik said, also circling to keep it between them. “I’m not going to get that from Tarr. You’ll have the ear of whoever you ...

“Convince Tarr to turn me into his little bitch,” Pratik said, pleased that he was actually listening. “He doesn’t view me as human. Get me into his meetings. His interactions ...

“Exactly. Easily underestimated.” Pratik took a deep breath. “But I’m smart. You know I’m smart. I can be useful if you’d only let me.”

“I can be an excellent ally,” Pratik jumped backward, avoiding the blade. “Even better without a hole through my middle.”

Pratik gave him a swift, hard shove, the leapt back out of the way in case it didn’t work — or in case he recovered quickly. He didn’t want to ...

“Alright,” Pratik agreed. “Fair. Sounds like a sensitive matter… difficult to have the full burden on your shoulders alone.”

“Etha seems lovely,” Pratik agreed quickly. “Do you have a plan?”

“And your alternative is what?” Pratik made sure his tone was inquisitive not accusatory.

“Now you’re just being difficult.” Pratik glanced back at the window behind him, then looked back at Utrid. It would leave him with serious injuries. But at least a hope ...

Utrid was too smart for his own good. At least, too smart for Pratik’s good. The peace and quiet was a stronger story than the prank. But it clearly wasn’t ...

“You can’t honestly expect me to be okay with this plan of yours,” Pratik scoffed. As if he was going to roll over and literally die, just to make Utrid’s ...

“You weren’t. But now you do know.” Pratik put his hands out in front of himself, trying to placate the angry General like he would try to soothe a defensive ...