CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Xander knew he’d been sitting on the exact spot where Malin had been taken for a long time.
The wounds on his hands had almost healed, although his skin was still stained with blood. He knew he had to go soon, but he couldn’t make himself leave.
He stared at the blood drying on his skin. Malin was dead. Sweet, tough Malin.
In his heart, he knew he’d never be the same. He was hollow inside and nothing would ever fill the gaping, raw wound.
The only thing that might come close was his new mission. Killing Forge. Horribly and painfully. And for the first time in his life, Xander was going to enjoy killing.
A subtle vibration shook the scrap beneath him.
He tensed. Maybe he would get the chance to destroy the monster who’d taken her first.
The vibrations increased. Xander slowly got to his feet. He watched. Waited. Ready.
About ten meters ahead of him, the metal monster shot up, high into the air.
It was shaking, rattling, nothing like its smooth powerful moves earlier. He ran toward it, his sensors scanning for any weak points.
It reached the pinnacle of its jump. But instead of diving back into the junk, it started falling sideways, like a whale breeching.
Toward him.
Xander dived and rolled. Something sharp tore into his shoulder. The monster slammed down on top of the junk, missing him by about a meter.
It was convulsing and making a strange clicking sound that set his nerves on edge.
He rose and strode over to it. About a third of the way down the creature’s metal body, he saw the side of it turn a molten orange in a circular line.
A circle of metal plate fell out with a clang.
And Malin tumbled out.
Xander’s chest tightened to the point of pain. He stared dumbly.
She looked terrible. Her hair was mussed, her face stained with something black, her dress was almost completely in shreds now, and blood coated her left arm. In one hand she gripped a bunch of torn wiring, in the other, she clutched her multi-tool with the laser cutter on the end.
He had never seen anything so beautiful in his life.
He wasn’t aware of running.
A weary smile filled her face. “Xander, I?—”
He snatched her up and slammed his mouth down on hers. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back, trying to crawl up his body.
He yanked her up into his arms and headed for the platform. He was shaking and he couldn’t form any words.
She was alive. She was safe.
“Xander—”
He shook his head and pulled her closer.
She leaned into him, her face pressed against his neck. “It’s okay. I’m okay.”
He reached the ladder, but couldn’t let her go. Instead, he bent his legs and jumped. He cleared the ledge and landed on the platform.
