To have everything you’ve ever wanted given to you only to be snatched away.
If this was her plan, she fucking succeeded. She didn’t need to kill him to destroy him. He practically handed her the keys to his ruin. He’d told her everything. She’d turned everyone against him and stole his bloody metal heart right from his chest. If she thought she was going to get away with it and live, she had another thing coming.
Hysterian strode off his ship, scanning the shipping tarmac. He knew she couldn’t have gotten far.
Twenty-two minutes ago, she was where I’m standing.He closed his eyes and seeded into the wireless connections and electrical currents all around him. He fell out with a curse, finding it devoid of security and cameras.
Hysterian jumped atop his ship, surveying the horizon, but dust clouds obscured much of the field. His eyes flicked upward. The swarms around Mt. Etta had grown larger in the past hour. Several ships took off or readied to take off around him. He heard the rumble of a ship landing in the distance. Something flew past his head, sending his hair flying—a female locust. His eyes flicked to the sky, finding hundreds more heading for the mountain.
He cursed, recalling what the delivery man had said. Below him, people scurried for cover and ships closed up. Some people cheered, some laughed, others jeered, striking his nerves. His facial recognition software didn’t recognize any of them.
Hysterian checked his gun, sliding it back into his belt, knowing he was going to have to search on foot. He didn’t have much time if what the man had said was true. If the locusts were going into a breeding season, time was short.
He needed to find Alexa before that happened.
He was going to have his revenge. No locust was going to take that from him.
The flapping of wings filled his audio as he surged forward, picking a random direction, sniffing the air. It only served to remind him how inadequate he was compared to others who had animals that were naturally good hunters and trackers. A frog couldn’t hunt or track.
All the more reason to get his hands on Alexa and make her pay.
He stalked through the ships on the tarmac, searching groups of people, demanding answers from them. Hysterian found no sign of her or Horace. More ships readied to take off, more still closed up for the day.
Worry set in. He hurried his steps.
Where the fuck is she?
He missed her by mere minutes. She couldn’t have gotten far.
A group of people rushed by him, ducking with their arms above their heads. He grabbed them and checked each one, sending them fleeing in terror soon after.
The sky darkened.
This time, when he heard shouting, he didn’t ignore it.
He came upon two men arguing. They were alone. Hysterian gritted his teeth, turning full-circle. Wind swept past his ears, and dust got in his eyes. His brow dripped.
“Alexa!” he roared.
No one answered.
Another ship took off. Hysterian watched it break through the locusts, killing hundreds, sending body parts flying everywhere. Still, Alexa was nowhere to be found.
Fear took hold.
When the ship vanished, he stared at the place it had been.
He couldn’t have lost her. It was impossible. She was in his arms hours ago.She was…
The dust swirled around him.
I’m coming for you.
Twenty-Six
Alexa wipedthe sweat from her face as she washed her hands in a puddle. Her grimy complexion stared back at her as the water settled. Her roots were showing, revealing her naturally translucent, shimmering hair. She hadn’t dyed it in over two months.
She no longer cared if people knew she was a half-breed. There wasn’t a reason for her to care anymore.
