I snorted derisively and crossed my arms over my chest, redirecting my stare back to the wall.

Apparently Nik was over my avoidance strategies, because he gripped my chin and turned my face back toward him, forcing me to look at him. To face him. “You exercised restraint. Even when faced with what was clearly a lot of rage.” The faintest smile touched his lips. “I’m a little impressed, actually. It’s not your usual style.”

I tried to yank my jaw free, but he tightened his grip. I clenched my teeth together so hard that they creaked.

“Besides,” Nik said, “you can always finish the job later.”

I stared off to the side. Only if I survived the coming day, and that was questionable, especially if Nik wasn’t down to help me. “Nik, I—”

Pierced eyebrow quirking upward, he released my jaw.

I took a deep breath, then dove in. “I’m going after the rest of the board. Today. According to Carmichael, there’s a board meeting scheduled for this afternoon. They’re going to be voting to un-chair Constance Ward—she’s the chairman of the board—so they’ll at least need a quorum, but from the way Carmichael was talking, the other twelve board members will all be there. It’s the best chance we’ll have of getting the information we need to stop this thing.”

“We,” Nik said. An observation, not a question.

I shifted on the couch, pulling up my left knee and turning to face him. “Getting into the boardroom will be the hardest part, but once we’re inside, you can seal us in with the board—and everyone else out.” I leaned in a few inches, eyes searching his. “Once we get what we need from them, I can create a gateway to the Tent District or Bainbridge or wherever we need to be. But if you’re not with me . . .” I’d have to rely on door locks. I’d only have seconds to get the information. And I’d probably die in the attempt.

“Why?” Nik’s voice was flat, his stare distant. “Why do you care so much?”

“If I can get the cure to Dorman, he and his people will support Heru,” I explained. “He’s already agreed to—”

“Bullshit.”

For several seconds, I sat there with my mouth half open. Brow furrowed, I brought my lips together.

Nik fixed his intense, pale stare on me. “This isn’t about Heru’s revolution. It’s more than that to you. What is it, Kitty Kat? Why does finding a way to stop this disease matter to you so much? It doesn’t affect our people.” He laughed under his breath, humorless and bitter. “In fact, if it really does come down to a war between humans and Nejerets, a pandemic wiping out most of the mortals would go a long way toward evening out the playing field. This disease could wipe out millions—billions—if it gets beyond the Tent District. The infection rate is already exponential, and it’s only been contained because people so rarely come and go from that place.” He inhaled and exhaled, his eyes searching mine. “So drop the holier-than-thou, I’m-doing-this-for-the-good-of-our-people act and tell me the real reason you want to stop this thing, because the good of our people would mean letting it run its course.”