Suited by Jo Anderton - Sample Chapters

assassinate a low-ranking, new-family member of a colonial veche.

But this had been going on for years. It did not justify Strikers. I ran a light finger over the solid silver on my wrist. Neither did it justify the weapon the puppet men had created from me. After all, wasn’t that what I was? A weapon that no other nation had, a way to wrest military and technological superiority back into Varsnian hands? That was why they had destroyed my life, my world, why they had tried to break me and very nearly succeeded. All for the glory of Varsnia.

Kichlan touched my elbow, ran his hand down my arm and pried my worrying fingers loose. “Time to go.” Just as gently, he placed Lad’s palm in my own.

The Strikers glided around a corner. Breakbell was fast approaching. “Yes, we’d better hurry.”

“One day at a time.” Kichlan patted his brother’s back. “Be good for Tanyana, won’t you.”

“Will, bro.” Lad squeezed me for emphasis. I tried not to wince. “You be good too.”

I turned my face to hide a smile, as Kichlan’s jaw slacked open.

“Let’s go.” I tugged Lad along. “Duskbell, right here?” I asked his brother over my shoulder.

Kichlan jammed fists into his pockets, hunched against the early-morning chill, and watched us leave.

I couldn’t think about him like that, looking so lonely, so lost. I needed to concentrate on Lad.