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She’s just as much of a monster as we are. Fuck the humans. They had her, and they mistreated her. She’s ours now.
When we reach a run-down shack that seems to be on stilts and constructed of mismatched metals, Aria shoves Akuji and me into the shadows on the side of the structure. We hunch there as she glares at us, the sound of heavy breathing and muttering coming from inside the building. The stench of this place makes my nose itch. The scent of unwashed bodies, sweat, decay, and death are all too much for my oversensitive senses.
“Don’t move, I won’t be long.” She glares at us before turning and walking away.
“Your mate is kind of scary,” I murmur to Akuji, and he chuckles as he watches her retreating form.
“Isn’t she just?” His voice sounds soft and loving, and I wonder if that’s what I sound like when I talk about my Tally. “Yours is very smart, it must be intimidating.”
“Nope, I love that she can put me on my ass, scientifically speaking.” I grin at him, and he chuckles, clapping my shoulder.
“I’m happy for you, brother. I truly am. You deserve someone who sees your brilliance and your love for all things brainy.”
I roll my eyes and grin back at him. “And you deserve someone who can handle your crazy.”
He laughs harder than before, and we both freeze when we hear what’s happening inside.
Akuji straightens and begins to growl. Sighing, I reach for him, knowing what this means, but I could no more hold him back than they could me if it were Tally. Instead, I watch him storm into the shack.
We are going to end up killing every human here.
“Monster! Monster!” I hear someone scream.
Yep, these two are as sneaky as, well, monsters.
A moment later, I hear a tell-tale death gurgle and almost smack my head. Akuji just killed someone…or maybe Aria. I wouldn’t put it past her. Fuck, I better go see if they are okay. Tally would be so pissed if I let her friend get hurt.
Sliding around the corner, I’m just about to go inside when I hear a soft thunk.
Turning, I crouch automatically, but it’s no use. An object flies at me, expanding and pinning me to the ground, and then electricity shocks my body. The agony rips through my still healing nerve endings as I jerk and snarl under the assault.
Through my pain, I see humans storming towards us.
Not again!
The electricity is too strong, and I start to black out, only coming to when Aria screams. That noise cuts through me. It’s the same sound Tally made. I manage to turn my head to see her screaming on a human’s back while Akuji lies on the ground, unmoving. With dawning horror, I watch them knock Aria out.
Not again.
Not ever again.
I release the haze, and with an anguished roar, I rip from the net. I hear them yell at each other, but I don’t care. I cut through their masses, gutting them and ripping off heads. Blood splatters me while objects hit me, trying to take me down.
My only thought is of Tally.
If I die now, no one will save her.
I push through the pain, tearing into throats, but more and more soldiers converge on me until a bigger shock hits my neck, right between the connection to my brain and spine, and I cannot fight the waiting darkness anymore.
I plunge into it, her name on my lips once more.
THIRTY-EIGHT
TALIA
I’m led to the emergency showers near one of the labs, and a guard stands at the door as I strip and wash, getting all the blood and vomit from me. I almost cry again as I scrub at Cato’s blood before I force myself to keep moving. I can’t help him if I’m an emotional wreck and break down. They are all counting on me to protect them, so I need to be strong.
I would do anything to have him here and feel him pull me into his arms and promise me everything will be okay. That’s when I realise just how much I’ve grown to depend on Cato. I always promised myself I’d never trust another man again, but I do.
