Page 9 of Monster Queen Rising

My face. Like she's comparing me to something.

"You’re different."

My skin goes cold.

"You've never seen me."

"The reports underestimate you."

I don’t look away. "You knew we were coming."

"I thought it was a possibility." Her eyes stay on mine. "You kidnapped operatives at the campground. You destroyed Site Theresa. Every operation involving you teaches us something."

Dean's radio crackles.

"Skylight breached. Fen is in."

Chapter six

Jen

Fen stands at the end of the corridor.

The corridor is silent. Guards are on the floor. The patch under my sternum pulls toward the door three doors down.

I do not open it. I turn and walk back to Vance.

She is against the wall where Crull pins her. The zip tie at her wrists is tight enough that her hands have gone a mottled red. Dean stands at her left shoulder.

Crull still has her lifted just enough that her toes barely brush the floor.

I stop in front of her. Every part of me wants to kill her. Make her swallow her own tongue. Gouge out the eyes that watched this happen. Rip her apart until there's nothing left of the woman who did this to Hollens.

I need her.

God, I hate that I need her. She's the only person in this building who knows how to save her.

"Look at me."

She does.

"You're alive because I need your brain."

Silence.

"If Hollens dies..."

I don't finish it. Crull lifts her another inch. Her shoes scrape uselessly against the wall.

"Doctor." My voice is almost calm. "Tell me what you did to her."

"I administered the Cascade Compound."

"What does it do?"

"It accelerates fetal development."

"How much?"