“If you attack the prison, you’ll be playing right into their hands,” Capricorn said. “They’re ready for you. It’s how we ended up here in the first place.”

“I’ll recruit my assistance, and I won’t be attacking alone,” Bianca said. Then there was a moment, and it was like she’d said a word with monumental emphasis.

My heart skipped a beat.

Sixty-four miles away, we were still in the headquarters. Cameras and projectors put images of us in the gazebo-like structure. But she’d known that, she’d realized it right away, and been put off by it.

Sixty-four miles away, and she had me, without an action or a word spoken.

I looked at Sveta, ready to communicate something, and I saw it in her eyes.

She had us. All of us.

“I took over a world with my power,” Goddess said.

“Bianca—” Amy said.

Goddess half-turned, hand raised. Amy went silent.

Goddess finished, turning toward the projected images. “That is not a takeover that happens if I need to be where I assert my power. Let the hounds come baying.”

Gleaming 9.3

“Bianca. This wasn’t what I agreed to,” Amy stated, a tightness in her voice.

“I told you the damn stakes.”

“No, Bianca,” Amy said, firmer. I watched the projected image on the wall, and saw the little creature crawl out of the space between duffel coat and body, perching on Amy’s shoulder. She held what looked like a razor blade melted into the plastic end of a pen, but the nib of the pen was a spike—the resolution and angle weren’t good enough for me to see. “This isn’t okay. This is not how you win me over.”

I blinked a few times, my thoughts turning over.

“Amy,” Goddess said. “I like you. I like your father—”

“Then don’t mess with my family.”

“—but I can’t make concessions to win you over if I lose everything else. You know the stakes, you know the situation, and if you want to change my mind, you’d better stop posturing and start thinking of some good fucking arguments or options. I have no patience right now.”

“Okay,” Amy spoke with measured words, “I would appreciate it if you would free them to think coherently so they can also come up with arguments and options.”

“They’re clearheaded. Or they will be.”

“They’re stunned.”