Page 183 of Kingdoms of Night

I wonder if there’s a bathroom in the back? Or a bedroom?Because this was clearly a repurposed luxury jet, probably taken from a former human celebrity or billionaire.Maybe I can grab my pack and head back there?

“Bulkhead,” Jonas muttered, gesturing with his chin toward a shelving unit just behind us.

“And where are we heading?” I asked as the jet began to move toward the tarmac. This whole area had once been one of the government’s hidden bases in the United States, the underground bunker designed specifically for the purpose of highly classified research.

There weren’t many locations like this left for us to go. Hence my question. I also wanted to know if there was time for me to grab my bag and disappear into the bathroom.

“East.” Jonas didn’t elaborate, his attention having shifted to the pilot.

My nose twitched, aware of what he was smelling.Fear. Pain. Terror.

It was a common stench in my lab, but that didn’t make me any more used to it.

Jonas remained quiet as the plane ascended, his eyes narrowing a little when the scent didn’t change.

I frowned. “What is it?” I kept my voice low, aware that the pilot couldn’t hear us back here over the roar of the engines.

Jonas didn’t reply but unbuckled his seat belt and leaned forward a little, his nostrils flaring.

I glanced between him and the pilot.

Then I caught a new scent, one that reminded me of dead flesh.

My mouth went dry.Oh, no…

I knew that scent far too well.

There’s an Infected on the plane.

Jonas stood, his shoulders rolling as he loosened his stance.

Then he pulled the gun from his hip.

And aimed.

Right at the pilot’s head.

CHAPTERTWO

RILEY

In the air somewhere

“Jonas,” I hissed. “If you miss—”

The pilot began to convulse, causing Jonas to curse.

“You’ll depressurize the plane!” I shouted as he started forward, gun still raised.

But he wasn’t listening to me. He was focused on the now snarling human.

I couldn’t even see where he’d been bitten. However, now that I was paying attention, I could smell the infection.

Damn.

No wonder he’d been exuding terror. He’d been bitten and knew what was about to happen.

These fucking mortals. They continued to make bad decisions, which was what had spread the virus in the first place!

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