The Skin Thief

Chapter 91

"Are you sure you're both ready for this?" the commander asks, though I know his question is aimed more at me than at Marcus.

"Yes," we both reply. He nods his head, his lips pulled into a tight line as his eyes fall on me.

"This is unlike anything you will have done before, Miss Astor. This is highly dangerous and confidential. Do you understand?"

"I do, sir."

He sighs and stands up. "Her training has been going well?" he asks Marcus.

"She is a fast learner. She can hold her own well enough, not that she'll need to. I won't leave her side at all."

"Good," he replies. "The only reason why I am allowing someone as untrained and inexperienced as Miss Astor to go on this operation is because of you. If it were anyone else going in the field like this, then it simply wouldn't be happening."

"We know," Marcus chuckles.

The commander doesn't laugh. "I'm sticking my neck out for you here, Kaiser," he says. "Make sure this operation is a success. Do you know how difficult it is to get permission to use a Backstreet Portal? Especially when someone coming with you isn't fully trained in combat and even more importantly, has no training in escape, evasion and interrogation."

That's what he thinks.

I hold my smile back and keep my expression neutral. The commander looks at me and lets out a long sigh, shaking his head.

"You understand, Miss Astor, that if you are captured by the Athainians, you will be tortured."

I gulp and nod my head. "I understand," I say, adding a little shake to my voice to make it seem that the idea of that makes me nervous.

The commander looks back at Marcus, his expression stern.

"Look after her, Kaiser," he warns once more. "If it's discovered that I got a civilian who has access to highly confidential information captured and killed in the enemy realm...." He trails off, shaking his head and rubbing his temples.

"She is safe with me, Commander," Marcus promises once more.

The commander looks between the two of us and leans back on his desk.

"Go," he says, "a car is waiting."

"Thank you, Sir," Marcus says. He just huffs.

"The only reason I'm allowing this is because we are desperate, Kaiser," he mutters. "Any other situation and an operation like this would be immediately dismissed and laughed at."

Marcus chuckles. "I know, Sir," he replies. "But it's going to be a success, you'll see."

The commander doesn't reply. He just gestures for us to leave with a dismissive wave. We turn and exit the room quickly. I let out a shaky breath and clench my clammy hands into tight fists.

"Are you sure you can do this?" Marcus asks softly as we step into the lift.

"I'm sure," I say to him, praying that the message has been sent through to my family and that no one recognises me. All it will take is one look and my cover is blown.

Dread pools in the pits of my stomach, making me feel nauseous.

"What did the commander mean by being desperate?" I ask, trying to distract myself slightly.

"The Redbird operations are causing a lot of trouble," he replies. "The President and our top military officials want this solved. Quickly and quietly."

"That bad?" I ask, trying to keep my voice light-hearted.

"They know where one of our main smuggling portals is, they're stealing our weaponry and equipment we've already sent over there ready for..." he trails off. I know what he was about to say.