But maybe that’s where I belong.
I look at Teol. She’s a good person. I don’t want to drag her into my life. Elix gets it. Aurelius too, I think. But maybe it’s best if I stay away from her even if I want a friend. I can’t stand the idea of someone else getting hurt for me.
The drone is quiet for a moment as Elix approaches. Then it says, “It looks like blood.”
“That Talhuskin smashed my face pretty hard against the wall. Just hope he got a black eye in return. And I’m not going to bother wiping it off. So you’re just going to have to look at it or go away,” I snap.
Elix touches my cheek, gives it a quick inspection, then draws me into a hug. “Tell me you’re okay.”
“I’m fine.”
As he holds me, I sense a growing pressure between our hips. “Seeing me beat up has you turned on?”
“What? No.” He leans back and motions to the Talhuskin still writhing on the floor. “Can’t help it. It has a mind of its own when I see you, smell you, or even just hear your voice at this point. But that move, that was amazing.”
“I couldn’t stand the thought of her being hurt because of me. Gashnaar either. What was I supposed to do? I don’t want a vacation on the Pearl of Gaia.” I shrug. “This has been enough of a reminder that I am not welcome in this world anymore.”
“Don’t say that.” Elix cups my face. “You are a much better person than most. You took a bullet for your friend, metaphorically, since it was a laser. But that’s an honorable thing to do.”
Security swarms the area and a few head our way, catching the cameradrone’s attention.
“But please don’t ever do that again,” Elix says. “Promise me.”
I shake my head and look into his bright gold eyes. “I can’t. I’d do it for you.”
Elix inhales deeply and then kisses me with passion.
A slurry of concerns about ABR policies and rules muddle my desire into a knot until I can’t sort it out, so I just stop caring. His touch feels so right, so perfect, that I don’t give a damn about the rules anymore.
I’m tired of hiding, running, being put in a corner where I’m just scraping by. I’m going to take what I want.
Fuck everybody else.
I grab Elix and draw his mouth deeper into mine. In doing so, I bump the concealer controls on the sides of his neck. His green color fades through like ink in water, and he looks like a fucking rave glowstick.
Everyone around us slows and turns to find the source of the light.
He pulls back and slaps his neck. “Zariah? What did you do?”
I grimace as Elix sways like he doesn’t know what to do. He tugs his ball cap lower on his head. “We need to go, now.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“I’m the law, privately but the law. I really needed to keep my cover.”
“I’m sorry.”
Elix guides me toward the exit while Teol and Gashnaar get handed their prize at the end of the race arena. I’m happy for them but unnerved by the security that simultaneously surrounds us.
“I know.” Elix warily watches the guards, too, and lowers his voice. “I got lost in the heat of the moment, and that’s my fault. I don’t blame you. But now we have to deal with those consequences.”
“You need to come with us. Now,” one of the ABR officers says.
28: Elix
Five security guards surround us, dressed in tactical gear. They escort us down the hall and a short run of steps into the guts of the ABR complex.
They sit us in hard plastic chairs. Further back in the room is a workbench with a cameradrone lying in the center of the bowled steel.
