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“Saved a mother and her child from being trampled by a panicked runaway team of horses pulling a carriage. Unfortunately, I used my own body to protect them.” He grimaced. “I can still hear the crunch of my bones breaking and a pain so sharp I passed out each time I woke long enough to feel it.”

She blinked at him. “It must have taken months of rehab to heal.”

“Nope, because, that same day, I became a Zodiac Warrior. As I lay there bleeding out in the mud, unable to move anything below my neck, I closed my eyes and found myself in a dark place. In that nothingness, a voice spoke to me and, in a nutshell, asked if I’d like to become a champion who would serve and protect those in need. Given the war had just ended and I had no clue what to do with my life, and the fact I was on the verge of dying, I agreed. Next thing I knew, I was draped over the Capricorn medallion in the portal room, bleeding out and literally sensing my soul leave my body, which is rather frightening and unpleasant. What followed is hazy. I remember feeling as if I were on fire one moment, then freezing cold the next. I know I passed out during the process. When I did recover my senses, I was covered head to toe in a layer of thick dust. I rose without thinking, my injuries healed without lasting pain or effect. The Astraeus for the Capricorn constellation saved my life, and from that day forth, I’ve been a Zodiac Warrior. Best thing to ever happen to me.”

“Congrats on passing your cult initiation.”

He shook his head. “You really are stubborn. What will it take to make you believe?”

“I’ve yet to see anything convincing.”

“Moving from Nevada to Iraq in the blink of an eye wasn’t enough?”

“Was it a blink? I mean, for all I know, when you kissed me, your lips passed on some kind of drug, putting me to sleep, whereupon you then transported me via plane to Iraq. Then, when you knew I’d be waking, ensured we were locked in the same embrace I’d recall, making it seem as if no time passed.” She’d had time to come up with some theories.

He stared at her. “You really think that’s what happened?”

“It makes more sense than you teleporting us halfway across the world.”

A low whistle emerged from Capricorn. “Boy oh boy, you are going to feel so dumb when you realize everything I’ve told you is true.”

“Prove it.”

“How?”

“Teleport us right now. Without a lip lock,” she warned, wagging her finger.

“We can only starbeam inside the portal room or outside Tower.”

Her lip curled. “What a surprise. You have an excuse.”

Capricorn glanced at the ceiling. “A little help?”

No one replied, and Zora was done playing pretend. “I don’t suppose you have washrooms in this tower. A shower and clean clothes would also be welcome, seeing as how you’re planning to keep me here for a while. Speaking of which, where am I sleeping?”

“Knowing Tower’s sense of humor, you’ll probably be bunking with me,” he muttered.

“Why would we share? This place seems big enough to host hundreds.”

“Tower decides where visitors stay.”

“You tell Tower, then, that I’d like my own space. Preferably with a phone so I can call my mama.”

“No one tells Tower shit. And I’d add you should be nice to Tower, or you might find your stay uncomfortable.”

“Is the AI system running things that sensitive?” Zora asked as she exited the library.

Zora never heard Capricorn’s reply, as she screamed, rather loudly, as she suddenly found herself being rocketed upwards through the ceiling!

CHAPTER 10

Used to Tower’s tricks,Capricorn didn’t freak when he and Zora were suddenly being zoomed upwards.

However, his skeptical beauty shrieked and cursed. “Mother fucking holy god Jesus fucking Christ I’m going to die.”

They wouldn’t, but he could understand her qualms, given they were encased in a clear bubble that rose rapidly, with no care for the ceilings and floors, even furniture, in their way. They rocketed through the levels of the tower so fast that everything they passed appeared as a blur.

By the time Zora ran out of breath and panted, their cocoon emerged onto the very top of Tower, a massive stone terrace, well above the clouds, high enough in the atmosphere that it should have been tremendously cold and hard to breathe. However, Tower wasn’t one to let its inhabitants suffer, even those who refused to believe.