"The most dangerous weapon is one that starts thinking for itself."
***
"My body is a tool," I replied. My tone came out harsher than intended. The words were sharp. Edged with a cruelty I didn't entirely feel. "Tools get damaged in use. What matters is accomplishing the objective."
Her shoulders tightened. A barely perceptible flinch that betrayed the impact of my words. But she didn't look away. Didn't lower her gaze in the submissive posture she usually adopted when I pushed back against her concerns.
The fire in her crimson eyes didn't waver.
If anything, it burned brighter.
"And what happens when the tool breaks completely?" Her voice dropped to barely above a whisper. Carried all the weight of genuine fear. "What becomes of our plans then?"
