Page 79 of A Requiem of Fire and Ice

“One.”

“That’s ninety dollars.”

I hand her the notes—thanks to the air elemny I stole from—and she hands over the key and gestures to the stairs. Stairs. No elevator. I fucking hate stairs.

The room she gave me is compact but adequate. Before watching TV, I toss my damp and stinky clothes in the washer and dryer. Prince Reen is clever; I give him that. But he can be as bright as he wants, yet it doesn’t stop the fawning fans from showing me where he’s going.

My grin broadens at the first glimpse of him entering the Fountain of Silver.

“There you are,” I say as I lean forward on the bed. “As long as they keep recording you, I will always be one step ahead. Who’s the hunter now?”

Chapter 35

The Game [Disturbed]

My Greatest Hunt: Reen Kyong, July 16th

Crimson pools from my hand as I slide my fist out of his chest. I step away from their limp body and kick the sniper rifle that was aimed towards the back of the postal boxes. Some elemny did not care to take the money, lied to Astin and Alad about it, and proceeded with wanting to kill Pandora Hart.

They want to protect themselves, which I can understand. What I cannot fathom are the lies. Decline the money and then proceed. I may have spared their life out of respect if they had done that.

To think I am aiding in fucking protecting the unawakened brat I want to kill…How low I stoop for my hunt to go my way. Nonetheless, I shrug off the disgusting feeling, move away from the top of the building, and hop down, landing swiftly on the ground. Astin comes up from behind while he reloads his gun. “I spotted two more on the roof at the postal lockers.”

“Were they working alone or together?”

“With. It’s an organisation within the Fountain of Silver.”

I grimace. “There seems to be an organisation working for Nancy everywhere we go. It’s like a damn hive we need to eradicate.”

“Do you want me to search further away buildings, sir?”

“Yes. Where’s Alad?”

“Here, Prince Reen.” Alad arrives with food. Accepting it, we move away from the already-forming crowd while Astin flies off to find any more elemny working with Maya and wanting Pandora dead. She seems to be a hot commodity. To make matters irritatingly worse, the fans have seen me, but fortunately, they keep their distance when they notice the blood soaking my hand.

“Where did you go?” I ask Alad.

I lean against the wall overlooking the postal boxes, but a hint of doubt rises to the surface at the thought that she may have fled onto another ship and taken her chances from there. Either way, she would circle back here. It seems as if Pandora doesn’t have many safety options. She appears to throw all her marbles in immediately, hoping her plan will work.

Headstrong…the girl has that aspect that’s at least admirable. Her aura was so confident and alluring that it was almost fuckable when she left the room and smirked at me.

“You haven’t eaten well enough since leaving the orphanage,” Alad says. “I was getting worried. You seem too fixated on this hunt to care for your health.”

I grunt my response before taking a bite of the beef burger, smothered in burnt onions, pickles, tomatoes, and a tangy relish that complements the creaminess of sour cream and chives. While I eat, I watch for anyone moving towards the post boxes.

“What if this isn’t the correct post office?” Alad asks.

“Then we aren’t the only idiots,” I say. “Snipers on three rooftops are as dumb as we are if this isn’t the spot.”

“What if she doesn’t care about what Maya said? She knows we’re hunting her.”

I shrug. “I will go door to door until I locate her.”

Alad breathes a laugh. “You’re the ultimate stalker.”

I arch a brow. “Then what does that make Walkyer?”

“A helpless romantic.”