“Why should I? I didn’t know Chaos as well as I did Zeus.” Chaos would know soon enough that she was here. They’d always been able to sense each other. Right now she only wanted to examine the way he was standing, the tension in his muscles. There had been times when she could read his next moves, almost what he was thinking, by the energy stored in his shoulders. Today that tension was explosive.

He’s going to break you.

Chaos suddenly lifted his head.

He’d recognized her scent. He knew she was there.

She found herself tensing, too.

“Go see him,” Masenak said softly. “Now, Sasha.”

“If you like.” She slipped off the fence onto the track. Chaos was turning toward her. She could sense the tension growing in him. “You want another victim, Masenak?”

“No. I want a success. I’ve had nothing but failure lately, and it’s got to stop. But if you can’t give it to me, then I’ll take the victims instead. Two victims. You’re no good to me if you can’t do your job. Chaos is no good to me if he can’t be ridden. If you don’t produce, you’ll get a taste of the failure I’ve been suffering…right before I put a bullet in Chaos’s head.” His voice was low, almost a hiss as he added, “And then it will be your turn, Sasha. I told you everything was going to be different. I’m out of patience. Show me that either one of you is worth keeping.”

If she’d had any hope that she might be able to persuade Masenak that she would be of no value working with Chaos, it was gone in that instant. His anger and humiliation had gone too deep. She would give him what he wanted, or he would kill both her and Chaos. “I’ll try,” she said quietly. “It might take longer than you’d like. Remember, if you lose that patience, you’re only hurting yourself. Give us a chance.” She didn’t wait for an answer but focused her attention back on Chaos. She could sense his tension growing stronger. And the anger, so much anger. She was surprised that the stallion hadn’t made a move yet.

Hello, Chaos, what are you waiting for? All that ugliness stored inside you wanting to burst free. Why don’t you do it? Is it because you know you’re wrong, and I’m your friend?

Not friend. Stupid word. I told you so before. Means nothing. I am alone. I have no need of you. And I am never wrong.

Not a stupid word. And I have need of you.

You left me. You didn’t come back. The anger was rising out of control. You said you’d come back.

I’m here now.

Too late! He was streaking toward her.