"Like you would know," Warren scoffed, his eyes rolling.

It was safe to say that Warren and Tanu's interrogation had derailed. After the shock of seeing her old lover and newish friend/enemy had worn off, annoyance had quickly replaced it.

Mere minutes into an infuriatingly circular discussion of loyalty, veiled comments and jabs had added up until the chemistry between Warren and Vanessa had become volatile.

On the upside, she felt like she was winning whatever they were doing. Over the past thirty minutes, Warren's hair had become a mess from his running, frustrated hands—that had to count as a victory.

"I would," Vanessa fired back. "Spring of 2004 sound familiar?"

Warren raised his eyebrow in warning. Oh, was that too specific?

Oops.

She had had enough of being poked and prodded like she hadn't already bared herself to him. How much more of her loyalty could be tested? She was tired, so tired of being trapped in a cage. Anger coursed through her veins.

Irritation twitched in Warren's jaw. "I don't know if you've realized, but we're not alone."

"Oh, I'm certain Tanu expects enough," Vanessa snapped.

The man in question stood stoically and further from her cell than Warren, who was currently dragging his hands down his face. "You're infuriating," Warren said.

Vanessa laughed and lounged in her beanbag chair. She could feel the sharpness of her tongue and relished in wielding it like a knife. "Tanu, let me fill you in. Warren and I were mission partners in the Knights for about, what? Three years?"

"That's a fun term—mission partners." Warren wrinkled his forehead. "Is that what you call stabbing me in the back as soon as it benefited you?"

"I'm sorry, okay?" Vanessa threw up her hands. This was barely relevant to their current conversation. Like only, 80% relevant. Honestly—kind of rude to keep bringing it up. "How many times do I have to apologize?"

Warren's eyebrow quirked up, and for a moment, Vanessa saw the Burgess resemblance to Patton. "I believe that may be your first."

The tight anger in her throat broke as she stifled a surprised laugh. "Oh."

Tanu took the stunned silence to spread his hands placatingly. For a man caught between two volatile people with a long history, he was surprisingly calm. "How would you feel about ingesting a truth serum?"

Vanessa straightened and the hair on the back of her neck prickled like a porcupine. Cold fear curdled in her. "Absolutely not."

"Come on, Vanessa," Warren said. He brushed his fingers over his knuckles. A nervous habit. "You understand how fraught our trust is in you."

Adrenaline flooded her body and she hid her trembling hands behind her. She shook her head again. Her mind remained hers and hers alone. They could cage her in the Quiet Box or the dungeon, but they couldn't extract her mind. No. That was unfathomable.

"Consider it." Warren locked eyes with Vanessa. "Consider the impossible task we have of convincing ourselves and others to trust you if we only go on your word."

"I've already helped you with finding Kendra, and I exposed Maddox," Vanessa protested. "Not even to mention the massive secret of the Sphinx I revealed."

"You're right." Warren sighed, and ran his hand through his hair. He looked back at her, a small pleading smile in the corner of his lips. "But, we need more."

Vanessa stiffened. It had been many years since they had last fit together like puzzle pieces. But in this fleeting moment, Vanessa felt like she had found their frequency again. She heard his unspoken words.

He was asking her to trust him.

"Fine," Vanessa capitulated. She leaned back in the beanbag and steadied her voice to prevent any embarrassing revelations on her next words. "But only with you. Alone."

It was a foolish thing to think considering their fraught relationship at the moment, but Vanessa still believed in Warren's kindness. That he wouldn't be cruel to her in her most vulnerable state. Was that naïve? Most certainly. Vanessa knew it was so. But, Warren had always made her feel naïve.

Tanu held up a hand. "Now, Vanessa, our trust doesn't stretch nearly that—"

"Okay," Warren interrupted. He turned to Tanu and opened his hand. "Could I have the potion?"

Tanu lowered his voice. "Warren. You can't expect me to leave you with her alone."

Warren squeezed Tanu's shoulder. "Please?"

After a tense stand-off where Vanessa avoided Tanu's targeted glance, the potion master capitulated and deposited a small, clear vial into Warren's hand. He pointed at Vanessa. "All in one gulp. Like a shot."

She nodded her assent.