Athena's Ashes Read Free Page A

study her fingernails while she snuck glances at the motionless soldiers. Three men, three women. Two were Ileth, one Delfine, and three humans. None of them had Finn’s intimidating presence, just the same cold glare that he’d shot her when they’d first met back on Hesperia. That look had almost turned the blood in her veins to ice.
    But this was quite the honor guard for a lowly thief, even if they weren’t as scary as Finn. What exactly had they told everyone about her?
    The door slid open again, and a tall, muscular woman marched into the room. Her jet-black hair was pulled back into a no-nonsense bun, and wrinkles framed cool gray eyes.
    The agents snapped to attention, saluting as she took a seat at the head of the table.
    Renna continued to lounge in her chair, legs outstretched. She wasn’t MYTH yet and didn’t owe anyone a salute.
    After the admiral had taken her seat, two more humans with major’s stripes on their chests entered the room—one male, one female. Renna’s muscles went rigid. Larson. What the hell was he doing here? Her skin crawled with his unexpected presence. One of Navang’s last reveals was that Major Larson worked for Pallas. He was a traitor to MYTH and to the Coalition.
    He was also apparently part of the admiral’s advisory group.
    Something surged in her implant, sending a zap of pain through her. Renna sucked in a sharp breath and squeezed her eyes closed. Her mind spun and sputtered as her implant tried to process a new stream of information. Unlike feeling the facility’s communications arrays when she’d first arrived, this was sharp and painful, like needles stabbing into the soft tissue of her brain. A slow trickle of data started to download to her implant, easing the pressure enough that she could open her eyes.
    The admiral quirked an eyebrow. “Is everything all right, Miss Carrizal?”
    Renna forced her voice to stay steady. “I’m fine, ma’am.” She’d have to be careful, especially with Dr. Samil. They couldn’t know about the changes happening in her head or they’d never let her go.
    “Very well then, let’s get started. I’m Admiral Kamila Usamov. We’ve brought you here today to debrief you on the Myka Aldani rescue mission and the destruction of Draven Navang’s facility on Vall.” The admiral steepled her fingers and watched Renna, letting the silence stretch between them.
    As much as she wanted to be stubborn and wait the woman out, Renna needed to make them think they had the upper hand. Engaging the admiral in a battle of wills wasn’t part of the plan. After thirty seconds, long enough to make it look like she was putting up a fight, Renna dropped her gaze to the table.
    The admiral smiled, but before she could speak, the door slid open again.
    Renna’s jaw dropped as a dead man stepped into the room.

THREE

    “Major Dallas?” Renna’s words were barely a whisper. The major had been the one who’d recruited her for the mission to rescue Myka; it was his fault she was sitting here today. But he was supposed to be dead, killed in the attack on Hesperia.
    “Hello, my dear.” His blue eyes crinkled as he smiled and took the seat beside her.
    Renna’s thoughts did cartwheels through her head. “We thought you were killed in the explosion when we left with Myka.” Finn would be so relieved his mentor was still alive. She couldn’t wait to tell him the good news.
    Dallas chuckled, shaking his salt-and-pepper head. “Takes more than a bomb to kill me. Our bunker held, and eventually another MYTH team was able to get most of the staff out. I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”
    Her face tightened into a frozen smile. There were a few other words she would have chosen instead of “well,” but at least she was alive.
    Usamov nodded at him. “Thank you for coming, Major. As the original commanding officer for the Aldani mission, your input is invaluable.”
    “Of course, Admiral. I’m honored to be included.” Dallas squared his