by Frost Kay
“You need to get that crap under control,” Bastian said quietly.
Blade’s upper lip curled back as his gaze traveled to Sid’s arm wrapped around her. “It’s difficult when the Sarpe is taunting me.”
“I’m not a piece of meat,” Allie growled.
Blade again gazed at her with emotion glinting in his eyes that she didn’t want to acknowledge. “That you are not. You’re so much more.”
Heat crept into her cheeks, and she looked away. Why was he still flirting with her? What game was he playing now?
A growl rumbled from her side as Sid rubbed his thumb across her shoulder.
“Sid,” she sighed, weariness sinking into her bones. “Stop being annoying.”
“Babe, I was just checking some things. Calm down. I’m done.”
She dug her elbow into his ribs for the calm down comment and laid her head on his shoulder, trying to keep from coming out of her skin. As the prison ship loomed closer, her breath sped up. Stars above, if she went in there, would she come out?
Studying the prison, she concluded that it looked old and decrepit, rust marring the outside between the faded white and yellow paint. Somehow, it made the huge airship seem even more sinister. Did they really imprison the most dangerous aliens there? It looked like it was about to fall apart.
“It’s more than it appears,” a deep voice rumbled from beside her.
Allie craned her neck to stare at Blade. “What?”
“You spoke out loud,” Bastian commented, smiling at her.
Oops. She grinned sillily, her nerves getting the better of her. “I hope so, because it looks like it’s one blow away from falling apart.”
Her breath hitched as a smile touched Blade’s mouth. Holy bananas. She’d forgotten how attractive he was when he smiled. He looked like an elfish pirate, a little bit devil, a little bit fairytale. Utterly alluring and completely off limits.
Allie managed to tear her eyes from the roguish Av and caught Bastian’s eyes. He arched a dark eyebrow at her, and she raised both of hers, a silent conversation passing between them.
His look said, ‘I saw that.’
Hers said, ‘So what?’
She dismissed him and looked back out the window. Enormous metal doors slid open, and the hover entered the bay, darkness blanketing them. One by one, blue lights lit the gigantic bay. Hundreds of sleek silver fighters sat in neat rows beneath them. Everything was modern and new. It looked nothing like the outside.
“I see what you meant,” she commented as they entered another small red and white bay with one hover parked inside.
They touched down and her nails bit into her palms as the bay door closed behind them and the room pressurized. A door to their left slid open across the bay, revealing Coal, Virgil, and Lev.
“Are you ready?” Sid asked, squeezing her shoulder gently.
No, but she’d do it anyway. Allie slid a look to Blade. “Take me to the monster. Let’s get him to hang himself.”
If Blade was surprised by her comment, he didn’t show it. The hover door opened and, one by one, they crawled out and into the bay, making their way over to the waiting men.
Virgil smiled encouragingly as they passed through the door and into the empty corridor. Her eyes adjusted as the door to the bay slid shut. Allie twisted to stare over her shoulder at the huge door as a series of locks set in place. She gulped, feeling like she’d entombed herself. Turning back to the group, she blushed as she realized everyone was staring at her.
“You ready?” Lev asked.
“Sure thing, puppet master.”
He snorted and spun on his heel, his boots soundless on the metal floor. Allie trailed the group, wincing every time her heels clicked on the floor. Every clack seemed to cause her anxiety to flare. It was like she was making her own death march. Goodness, she was morbid.
She observed the hallway, and her brow wrinkled as a thought occurred to her. “I’ve been here before.” Pausing, she spun in a circle. She’d most definitely been here before.
“You’re right.”
Her jaw dropped, and she glared at Coal over her shoulder. “You held me in this place?” She waved her arms. “I’m Human. I could’ve been killed or attacked.”
“You were perfectly safe.”
“It was a scare tactic,” Sid said.
Coal sighed. “But it didn’t scare you.”
“That’s because I didn’t know this was where you kept all the real baddies.” She chuckled. If she had known what this place was, she might not have been so forward. Luckily for her, she hadn’t known. “Y’all are unreal.”
“Why, thank you,” Coal preened.
She rolled her eyes. The man was as vain as a peacock. “Not everything is about you,” she grumbled as they continued down the twisting corridors.
No matter how hard she focused, she couldn’t remember all the pathways they’d taken. The hallways didn’t make sense. Some sloped up while others sloped down. Some curved while others were straight. “Whoever designed this place must have been inebriated when they drew it up.”
“Not quite,” Blade commented. “This place was designed in a similar way to a maze or labyrinth. It’s meant to confuse.”
“Well done.” She was confused all right.
“This design helps prevent a breech.”
“That seems smart.” She watched as Lev swiped his wrist comm over the little black square imbedded in the wall, and another door appeared. “Wait. How do you know how to get around?”
“We had to memorize the paths,” Coal answered.
“That sounds tedious.”
“It was.”
The saliva dried in her mouth as they entered a small room with nothing inside it but a sleek black couch. No window or doors. Essentially a white box.
Sid slid a hand to the back of her neck and began to massage the tense muscles there. She forced herself to relax and smiled up at her friend, his black scales glinting in the harsh light.
“Thank you.”
His solid black eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled, flashing a little bit of fang. “I just know how to handle you.”
She groaned and pushed at his arms, still unused to the scaled texture of his skin. “You just can’t help yourself. There’s always a little bit of innuendo to your words.”
“If you’re ready,” Blade cut in.
It was like someone had doused her with a bucket of ice water. She glanced in his direction, and his expression was completely blank as he continued.
“We’ll lead you into the next room. There’s a two-way glass. You’ll be able to see him, but he won’t be able to see you. He’s been incapacitated by indigo alloy. There’s no way he can move or hurt you. Just remember that.” His expression softened as he gazed at her. “Take a deep breath to calm yourself. I promise, it helps. We’ll go in when you’re ready.”
Allie swallowed around the lump in her throat as her fear surged back in full force. She glanced around the group and hid her shaking hands in her black dress that didn’t seem to cover enough of her skin. Even though she knew all these men could protect her, she still felt unsafe. Vulnerable.
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” Blade whispered.
He’d spoken softly, but the words held conviction and rang with truth. She stared at his face and nodded, believing him.
“I’m ready,” she breathed.
Lev, Coal, and Blade each scanned their wrist comms over the white wall, and the little square began to glow as another door appeared.
The pounding of her heart seemed to fill her ears as she followed the group into the dark room. Unable to help herself, she turned toward the mirror and the air in her lungs froze. The monster that had haunted her dreams sat perfectly still, chained to a metal table in an enormous gray room. She gasped as his blood-red eyes focused on her. The way he stared made her want to hide, but she was rooted to the spot.
A smile curled his lips, releasing her from his spell, and she
backpedaled, bumping into Sebastian. He placed his hands on her shoulders and squeezed, murmuring into her ear.
“He can’t see you. He can’t get to you.”
It didn’t feel like he couldn’t see her. It felt as if he peered right through the glass. Could she really do this? If he affected her this much here, how bad would it be when she sat in the chair across from him?
Allie tore her gaze from the glass and met Blade’s eyes. Her heart slowed, and a calm descended as they stared at each other. She may doubt her ability, but if she went by his expression, he had complete confidence in her. She could see it.
She took a moment to compose herself and calmed her breathing before throwing her shoulders back. “I’m ready.”
The floor-to-ceiling glass window wavered, and Lev held his hand out. “Would you like us to go first?”
“No.” She’d go in first. The last thing she needed was for Sloven to think her weak. Men like him could smell it a mile away.
Without thinking about it any longer, she strode through the wavering force field and into the draughty, gray room. Immediately, Sloven’s eyes latched on her. Allie kept her pace sedate, and didn’t slow, even though all she wanted to do was turn around and run from him.
Her walk across the room seemed like it took hours, and her jaw clenched at how the former king seemed to drink in the sight of her. Allie paused behind the chair and stared impassively at Sloven. With some disgust, she noticed how nice he looked.
“Aren’t you going to sit down?”
She fought a shiver as his voice seemed to curl around her and stroke her skin. Carefully, she sat in the chair and placed her hands on the table, keeping her gaze even on the monster in front of her. He took his time as he searched her face.
“How are you?”
She tipped her head to the side as she studied him. That wasn’t the question she was expecting. “I’m not here to chat,” she said, proud that she kept the waver out of her voice. “I’m here as you asked.”
“You reek of fear. Did they force you to come here?”
The hair at the nape of her neck rose at the violence in his voice. Some of her fear burned away as anger took the forefront. “The only person who has hurt me in this room is you.”
His hard gaze softened. “That was just a lovers’ spat. I’d never hurt you.”
Allie barked out a laugh and held her hands up, displaying the scars. “These beg to differ.”
She fought not to cower back as a smug smile crossed his face.
“Those were just a little gift.” He nodded at her feather necklace and the leopard marking on her neck. “I needed to be represented as well.”
She was on her feet and leaned into his face before she knew it, rage blinding her.
“Allie?”
“I’m fine,” she growled at Blade. “I’ve got this.”
Sloven’s gaze slid over her shoulder. “He’s a little overprotective.” He gave a little sniff and glanced up into her face. “It seems he just can’t stay away from you. He was all over your skin that night.”
She blanched but latched on to her fury. “I’m not here to talk about him.”
“I’m sure.” He smiled and seemed to study her collarbone. “I told you you’d see me again. It seems like it’s just in time.” He glanced into her eyes. “You don’t look well. How have you been feeling?”
“Fine,” she bit out.
He whistled. “I don’t think so. Your face and body say differently.”
“That’s none of your business.”
He laughed. “That’s where you’re wrong, my dear. My cyan marks beg to differ.”
The room wavered as his words penetrated her mind. Her hand crept to the cyan marks that had grown and crept across her skin like unwanted vines. “What do you know of them?” she whispered.
“I’ll only tell you if you’re nice.”
Her smile was brittle. “Don’t you know? I’m Southern. I’m always polite.”
He leaned closer as if to tell her a secret. “You’re not the only one with plans or poisons.”
“What?” Poison? Her mind scrambled as she thought about the night. There was no way he could’ve poisoned her. She’d watched him make her drink.
“Kisses can be deceptive things.”
Kisses. She stared at him as the room began to spin. He’d used his as a weapon just as she had. “Why?”
“Protection is important when you’re in my line of business.”
“You mean murdering.”
“Semantics.” He bounced his eyebrows. “Come closer.”
She gritted her teeth and did as he bid. Allie hid her cringe as he inhaled deeply and whispered in her ear.
“I’m not a patient man. You’ll die in mere weeks if you don’t get the elixir soon, one I happen to have on hand.”
Allie jerked back. “I don’t need your help.”
His rumble of laughter set her teeth on edge. “Oh, Allie. I’m the only one who can help you.”
“What do you want in exchange?”
“I want many things, but what I need is a spy.”
“No.”
His expression darkened. “If you don’t accept, you won’t be the only one who dies. It wasn’t just a poison, but a virus that will kill everyone you’ve ever been in contact with.”
“No,” she breathed.
He smiled at her. “Tick tock.”
Part II
Onyx Elixir
9
Scaly Man Fish
Allie pressed her forehead against the bathroom wall, hot water rushing down her back. She spun and leaned against the slick tiles. Her breath hissed from between her teeth as the cold stone bit at her skin. Her legs wobbled, and she slowly slid down to the shower floor, putting her elbows on her knees and her face in her hands. How had it all gone so wrong?
In the blink of an eye, her life had changed. There was no going back. She was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Part of her wanted to curl up on the bottom of the shower and just go to sleep. Maybe, when she woke, the nightmare of her life would be over.
She wasn’t that lucky.
Fatigue weighed down on her heavily as she tipped her head back, embracing the warm water on her face. Muted voices reached her ears, causing her to wince. She didn’t even want to think about what nonsense awaited her. She leaned forward into the spray and focused on the little splatters of the shower. Water caught on her lashes, but she didn’t care. If she concentrated enough, the world went fuzzy. That’s what Allie needed. Oblivion.
A soft hiss filtered through her consciousness, angry male voices echoing in the bathroom. Her spine snapped upright. Oh, no, they didn’t. Couldn’t they give her a few moments of peace?
“Don’t even think about coming in here,” she snapped, her voice gruff. Her fingers touched her throat. She was lucky to have much voice at all after all the screaming she’d done. Coal had called her a screeching banshee. Her lips tipped up in a faint smile. He wasn’t far from the truth.
The door hissed shut again, cutting off the yelling and cussing. Allie relaxed against the tiles again, then paused, her brows furrowed together. Just because the door was closed didn’t mean there wasn’t an alien spying on her.
She rolled her head to the side to peek out of the shower cubicle, pulling the curtain back just a bit. Her red-haired friend leaned against the door. Jer sighed heavily before sliding down the door to the floor, her long legs folding gracefully underneath her.
“You’ve been here for a while,” Jer said, her eyes closing.
“It hasn’t been that long.”
Jer’s brows rose. “I was sure you’d turned into a mermaid.”
“I’m tired,” Allie said defensively. “And I had to be able to wash off…” Her raw skin throbbed at the thought. She’d practically scrubbed off her skin attempting to rid herself of Sloven’s filthy touch. It hadn’t worked. Even now, her skin itched. Somehow, she had the feeling that his handprints had sunk into her, and
no amount of scrubbing would ever remove her disgust.
Her gaze dropped down to her chest, to his mark. The cyan lines spread out in an insidious web over her irritated skin. The image wasn’t that far from the truth. He had managed to get something inside her that she couldn’t get rid of.
Allie jerked and blinked water from her eyes as Jer’s distorted voice filtered through her dark musings.
“Huh?” Super articulate, Allie.
“You have to get out of there sometime.”
“I know.”
“The sooner you get out, the sooner it will all be over.”
She doubted that. It was about to get a lot uglier.
“It’s like a Band-Aid. Just rip it off quick.”
Allie snorted and peeked out of the shower. Jer cracked an eye open and smiled sloppily.
“I’m sure you’re sparkly clean now—as long as you don’t have scales. There’s nothing I could do about that.”
“A scaly man-fish,” Allie muttered.
Jer started and chuckled under her breath. “You say the weirdest things.”
“And you love it,” she retorted.
“You’re all right.”
“Back at ya.”
Allie pushed aside the shower curtain a little more and stared at Jer. Dark smudges marred the skin underneath her friend’s eyes. Even the small spattering of freckles across Jer’s face stood out against her pale complexion. Guilt churned in Allie’s belly. She’d been so out of it she hadn’t really noticed something was going on with her roommate. What a poor friend she was.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
Jer stared down at her hands like they held all the answers to life, then glanced back at Allie, giving her a weak smile. “As good as anybody can be.” A shrug. “As good as I can be knowing my best friend is sick.”
Allie swallowed hard. Not sick. Poisoned. Contagious. Her heart squeezed. Everyone she came in contact with could be sick.
“You’re not looking so hot yourself.” Allie retorted.
Her friend rolled her eyes. “I believe that’s like the pot calling the kettle black, missy.”