Dark Empathy by Archibald Bradford (inspiring books for teens TXT) 📕

food and a decent night’s sleep, and after that we would still need time to prep you.”

Rebecca voiced her objection again, pressing past Cordelia to stand before the grey-haired woman and state the obvious.

“But she’ll know something is wrong!”

Miranda smiled with one side of her mouth and shook her head.

“No. She won’t. Because we are going to come up with a plausible lie, and we are going to drill it into your mind to the point that you believe it too. Though again, that is assuming we receive the go-ahead from the council.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose and shook her head slightly as she considered the prospect of sending an untrained Lapine into such danger.

When she again looked to measure Rebecca’s resolve she barked out a sharp laugh.

“The hardest part for you is probably going to be your ears.”

“My- wait, what?”

“Rebecca, your ears have been flat to your head since the Hornets brought you in.”

She blinked rapidly, realizing that the Aegis woman was right.

It took a bit of effort but she managed to straighten them most of the way back to normal, struggling to mentally override her own body’s natural response to stress.

Miranda nodded.

“Better, but still needs work. Simple things like this can give you away instantly. It’s just the kind of thing undercover operatives train to repress.”

The bunny swallowed as she focused more on her ears than she probably had since she had them pierced. It flew in the face of her every instinct, like exposing your belly to a predator, but she managed to straighten them completely.

Then, at a hidden gesture from her bond-mate, the Amazon sharply clapped her hands together and Rebecca’s ears went flat to her head again when she flinched.

“And now you are dead.” Miranda said bluntly.

“I’m trying!”

The operative held her hands up placatingly, but Cordelia stepped in then.

Having determined that there was no talking Rebecca out of her current course of action, she had decided the only thing to do was help her in any way she could.

“What if she had a reason to be nervous?”

Miranda pursed his lips.

“What do you have in mind?”

“A few weeks ago I was mugged. Well, more like poorly threatened by a scared kid, but whatever.” Her eyes flickered to the Hornets around her; “So what if she was attacked? It would explain away any nerves or jumpiness.”

The operative’s eyebrows rose and her eyes widened in surprise.

“That… might work. No, actually, that would definitely work. And it would also explain her brief absence; the lawkeepers would take you into protective custody while they contacted the Aegis.” She scratched at her chin for a moment, then gave a decisive nod; “Alright, you were attacked while passing through part of the slums on your route, by a pair of women who looked just like us.”

Despite the seriousness of what she was attempting to do, the Lapine had to suppress a giggle at her words.

“It’s not enough though.” Cordelia said slowly.

“What do you mean?” The Aegis operative asked with a puzzled frown.

The baker stepped in front of Rebecca, her head tilted to one side.

“She needs proof.”

The Lapine blinked.

“Proof? What pro-”

She was cut off when Cordelia drew her arm back and her fist made contact with the bunny’s face.

Several things happened at once.

The Aegis operative, quick as a whip, seized the brunette and pulled her away while the others let out startled exclamations.

“Cordelia!” Christine gasped, dropping the plate of neatly sliced carrots she had just brought in from the kitchen.

“Honey!” Oldeera likewise cried out.

Meanwhile Rebecca stumbled back as her hands cradled her cheek.

“Sonofabitch that hurt!”

“Like I said: proof.” Cordelia said smugly as she shook out her hand.

“That wasn’t necessary!” The operative said severely.

She had the sense to release her though when she saw Hornets bristling all around them.

Rubbing at her jaw and wiping surprised tears from her eyes, Rebecca surprised them with a short laugh that quickly diffused the tension in the room.

“No, it’s fine, she’s right. Look!”

Standing up straight again she indicated her ears with her thumb, both quite firmly flat to her head.

The operative drew in a deep breath, before letting it out explosively and shaking her head with a chuckle.

“You got spunk kiddo. Let me see?”

With her hands she gently cupped the bunny’s face and tilted it to one side, examining the rapidly reddening mark just under her eye.

Rebecca heart nearly stopped when she locked eyes for the first time with Miranda’s steely greys.

“That was a hell of a hook Queen Loskins, this’ll be a proper shiner by morning. Though I would strongly advise you to avoid physically assaulting monster girls in front of the Aegis in future.”

“Duly noted.” She responded drily before turning to one of her Hornets; “Can you get us some ice please lovey?”

“At once my queen.” With a buzz she flew past the flummoxed Christine towards the hive’s kitchen.

“Alright, now that your cover is established it’s past time I found out whether or not we’re going to use it, here’s hoping you didn’t get decked for nothing.”

Chapter 31:Felled in Darkness

Yana was exhausted, physically and mentally, but pride swelled in her breast.

Jonathan had invaded her mind several times since she had first driven him back, consistently trying to use her own regrets against her. Each time he met with failure, her mother’s encouraging words proving to be a powerful talisman against his dark efforts.

And after every attempt he seemed weaker for the next.

Once again he stood before her, his eyes had dark circles under them and if possible he had lost even more weight.

“Back for another beating eh?” She said cheerily.

He didn’t say anything, so she shrugged indifferently and began to marshal her