Bells were ringing, reminding us that our time was up. Madam B warned me that once I heard the sirens, I’d only have thirty minutes to make it to the transport. My heart sank at the harsh reminder that our time was coming to an end. “I don’t want to go,” I whispered into his chest while breathing in Maverick’s scent and committing it to memory. “We still have so much to discuss. What all has happened these last five months?”

Maverick slowly eased us both to a seated position and smoothed out my hair. Grabbing a cloth from nearby, he began cleaning me with gentle movements. I wasn’t embarrassed by his care, but I winced when he washed the sensitive parts of me. I prayed that my ache stayed with me long after I’d left this tower. I wanted to walk around the next few days remembering tonight. “Without the cure, Cavil has to cling to the rejection, his fetters, and his weapons to maintain control. He’s keeping me here to find the last puzzle piece to the cure.”

I’d figured as much. Cavil wouldn’t be happy until he had it all. “He’s keeping the system in place with fear,” I replied mostly to myself. “Louis is working on a way to disable Heat. He and Kemper think that an electromagnetic pulse could disrupt their frequencies.”

Maverick went still for a moment, and I watched his eyes flash as he disappeared into that place of his mind where he calculated different odds and outcomes. “It could work,” he finally said. “I’ll research some and send my findings back with Blythe.

At the mention of her, bile rose in my throat, and I forced myself not to become anxious about their arrangement. I knew that Maverick loved me. I was confident in our connection. Nevertheless, Maverick must have seen something in my gaze because he then said, “It’s only you for me, Ash. Always you. Besides, she's a bit annoying.” I smiled a little. “Is Jules okay?” Maverick asked. “And the others?”

“They’re okay,” I replied, unsure if I should tell him about Jacob. “Jacob is struggling, but I think he’s finally getting the hang of his mindspeak.”

Maverick’s face twisted up in confusion and concern, and I immediately regretted saying something. The bells rang once more, reminding us that we only had twenty-five minutes left.

“I promise he’s okay, but I don’t have time to explain.” I stood then stared at my torn dress on the bed and floor. Seemingly satisfied by my words, Maverick joined me and tossed me one of his shirts that hit well past my thighs. Putting it on, I then looked longingly at the bed, wishing I could jump back in and snuggle Maverick some more. Here, I could almost forget that we were in Cavil’s domain.

A knock on the door made us both pause. “Mav, open up,” Cyler’s gruff voice said. We both slumped in relief, and Maverick hurriedly opened the door for Cyler to walk inside.

“Wanted to make sure you didn’t miss the bells,” Cyler said before looking at me. The way his dark eyes took in my long legs and Maverick’s white shirt falling off my shoulders made my breath hitch. “Lucky bastard,” Cyler whispered under his breath before moving towards me and crashing his lips to mine once more. Somewhere, the bells were ringing the twenty-minute warning bell, but I didn’t care. His kisses were devastating, tearing down my awareness and making it so I could only feel him. “Fuck, you look so good, Babe. You’re practically glowing, and I’m going to be hard all month thinking about this.” I smiled as he nibbled my ear, my eyes rolling back as I trailed my fingers along his shoulders. There wasn’t enough time.

“Guys, you have to go. I’m sorry,” Maverick said, making Cyler growl and spin around to face him.

“Next time, I get her. Understand?”

Maverick simply nodded and moved forward, bypassing his brother to kiss me on the forehead, whispering, “Bye, I love you,” before Cyler picked me up to cradle me in his arms. Without a second glance, he started pounding his feet on the wood floor and out the door. The hallways were a blur as Cyler ran. Drunk guards and men in white suits with lipstick stains on the collar were passed out in the halls.

Cyler bypassed the gathering room and carried me to a hidden Walker elevator, putting me down once the doors closed and wrapping me up in another soul-shattering kiss once more.

Nine floors. On the ninth, his hand was up my shirt, caressing my breast. There was an urgency in his touch that made shooting tingles travel up and down my spine. As we passed the eighth floor, he grasped the cheek of my ass, crushing him to me. It felt like several lifetimes had passed in his hold. I was found and claimed again and again. The seventh floor, he bit my lip and tugged. The sixth, he traced the edge of his fingers between my thighs. He thrilled me, hinting at eternity but filling each last second together with his touch. By the fifth floor, he was stroking me. He kissed me like he’d never see me again as he teased. He inhaled my sighs as I gasped for air at the fourth and third floors, moaning into this mouth as he reawakened my sensitive nub with his fingers.

At the second floor, he slammed his palm on the stop button, rubbing more, bringing me closer to the cliff of oblivion as he kissed me. Claimed me.

“Come for me, Ash. We don’t have time, but I need to feel your release on my palm. So later, when I stroke myself thinking of this moment, I’ll have this memory to keep me going.”

He felt so good. He moved like a man determined to be on my mind until I saw him again, and I knew I’d be thinking of this trip in the elevator until my dying day.

His words broke me apart, and I let go of the crushing tidal wave of sensations then. Biting down on his shoulder to stop the screams, the embers within me that had been silent from our distance ignited in a blaze of relief. I burned bright in that elevator. He breathed life back into my soul and made the lingering numbness I’d been clinging to completely disappear.

And when Cyler straightened my shirt, kissing me once more as the doors opened, I let out a hiss of air. The pristine lobby was full of Companions loading onto transports, but I wanted to stay in the elevator.

“Fuck, Cy,” I whispered under my breath. My legs were shaky as he guided me to my transport, where the other Companions were grinning mischievously at us.

“Fuck is right,” he groaned while adjusting himself.

We had almost made it. I had nearly sat down in the transport headed for the Zone, forgetting that I was in Cavil’s home and that we were in danger. Almost. But a slurred voice stopped us in our tracks.

“Cyler Black, is that you?” Cavil’s voice said as he slapped a woman on the ass and stumbled forward. Drool gathered at his lip, and he took another gulp from his flask. Maybe my initial reaction should have been anger or even fear.

But my first thought at seeing Cavil was disgust and wonder. How on earth had this drunk idiot stayed alive? He’d made enough enemies as it was, and in this state, he was incredibly vulnerable. He must have been here escorting Jade to the transport.

“Hello, Commodore,” Cyler growled out. I felt Cy’s hand on my shoulder, pushing me into the transport and out of view.

“How many times do I have to tell you that it’s Emperor, now? Don’t let her go too far. I need to see what pretty little Companion caught your eye. I’ve been throwing girls at you for months!” I stood up, knowing that I had no other option. All I could do now was pray that my disguise was enough.

I looked at Cavil then to the ground. I filtered through what I knew of Companions, and one rule stuck out firmly in my mind: “When all else fails, be submissive.”

“Ah, pretty little thing,” he cooed, lifting my chin with his greasy finger and smiling at me in awe. “I’m so happy to see you’ve moved on, Master Black. You must enjoy life, not spend it pining.”

Cavil rubbed his thumb along my lip where my red lipstick was rubbed off. “It appears as if you enjoyed her company very much.” I breathed in his whiskey scent, coughing when I choked on the strong smell of alcohol and smoke.

“What brothel do you belong to, my dear?” he asked.

Thankfully, it was Jade that answered for me. From within the transport, the Companions were watching, each holding their breath as he gazed at me. “Madam B’s brothel in the Zone, Emperor. She’s with me,” she said. Could he hear how her voice shook?

“Yes, yes. Well, as you can tell, I like my guests to be happy. I’m an honorable man. A good leader. Please tell your madam that I’d like you to attend each event I host until we leave at the end of the week.”

From the corner of my eye, I saw Cyler’s mouth drop open in shock. “End of the week? I thought we were staying through the month,” he asked.

Cavil finally retracted his hand from my chin and swayed a little before staring at Cyler. I took advantage of his distractedness and settled into the transport with a shaky exhale.

“Yes, well, that was the original plan. But I find myself feeling homesick.”

Cyler nodded his head and flashed his eyes to me. This meant that we didn’t have a month, we only had a week.

“Who knows, Cyler. If you’re a good little boy, maybe I’ll let you take her back with us,” Cavil cackled while stumbling away.

Cyler wasted no time. “Go, I love you,” he said with a frantic intensity that looked eerily like fear. I’d never known Cyler Black to be afraid of anything, but the fire in his shifty eyes had me worried. He shut the transport door, and we were immediately off, but my heart stayed behind at Cavil’s tower.