Ancillary Sword (Imperial Radch, #2)

by Ann Leckie

I’d be wasting my time attempting to direct you too closely. You’ll do as you like no matter what I say.

“Nothing you can do to me could possibly be worse than what you’ve already done.”

“I am aware of that,” she said, “and aware of just how dangerous that makes you. I may well be extremely foolish just letting you live, let alone giving you official authority and a ship. But the games I play aren’t for the timid.” “For most of us,” I said, openly angry now, knowing she could see the physical signs of it no matter how impassive my expression, “they aren’t games.”