Page 50 of City of the Lost
Hound covered me as we ran for the exit.
* * *
I pacedthe asphalt outside the stadium where the elites’ black vans were parked. Any trouble and Hon had instructed us to get in and activate the electromagnetic shield built in to the vehicles. It was the only thing that could disable the Genisi.
“Now this is over, we can start combing the undercity,” Azren said.
He had the brooding pout thing going again, and despite how stiff and awkward things were between us after the bathroom grope, there was no ignoring that smolder.
I tore my gaze from his profile. “First thing tomorrow.”
He nodded.
“If we find their location, then I may not have to return with you from the meeting with Elora,” he said.
I glanced up at him. “You think she’d let us off the hook that easily?”
“If she gets what she wants. Yes. She’ll want me back at her side as soon as possible.”
Why did that hurt so much? “I’m sorry you hate it so much here.”
There was no hiding the bitterness in my tone. I turned away quickly, wanting to take back the words because they were unfair and unnecessary.
His heat brushed against the back of my neck. “I don’t hate ... Wila, I—”
“Hey!” Hon jogged out of the stadium with Leo at her back, a huge grin on her face. “We got them all, thanks to you.”
Azren withdrew, taking his delicious heat with him.
I held up my hands. “I didn’t do anything.”
“You managed to stay alive the first two times the Genisi attacked you, which meant we got a third shot to bag the fuckers.”
“Well, in that case, glad to help.”
“You fancy a job?” Leo asked.
Hon elbowed him in the ribs. “Hey, I was going to ask her that.” She turned to me. “Bastion, would you like to work for Gateway?”
“In space?”
“Yep.”
“In a different universe?”
“That’s right.”
“Nah. Messed up as this world may be, it’s mine. I think I’ll stick around and keep saving its ass for a while longer.”
She snorted. “Worth a shot.” Her expression sobered. “I should warn you, Loraine is pretty intrigued by you, more so now that the Genisi were gunning so hard for you. I downplayed their attraction to you, but I’ve a feeling she’s going to be on your tail a little more now.” She paused, studying me again. “They don’t usually get so worked up about one particular person’s DNA.”
“My DNA?”
“It’s what the Genisi want, and they wanted yours pretty badly for some reason.” She cocked her head. “Do you know why?”
I shrugged. “No idea. I was raised in an orphanage. No idea who my parents are or what kind of neph I am.”
She pursed her lips. “Just ... watch your back, Bastion. Loraine’s not the only one pulling the strings at The Collective. I get the feeling there are other forces at work there, stuff they’re hiding. Shady shit. Don’t get sucked in.”
