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“There were some that were against the alliance,” Tom answered. “Maybe it ran away and hid here.”

For some reason, that made a chill run down her spine. She not only killed a vrisha but a rogue vrisha?

“Well.” Myrell broke from the group to grab her pack. “Like Lex said, doesn’t matter what it was. It’s gone now. So, let’s say we put it behind us and get the hell out of here, eh?

“Yes, please can we go back to the ship now?” Phen asked.

Dani shook her head. “We have to finish here first. Then it’s the labs.”

“You heard the woman,” Myrell said, slinging her pack over her shoulder. “Let’s go before my back gives out and I decide to grab a new spine off the rack.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Kryxis

He felt alive.

That’s the best way he could describe the fire that burned inside him.

No, not the flames that had engulfed him in that strange room that had suddenly erupted into fire. That had been a bad itch more than anything. Flames that had licked over his skin but never pierced the surface.

He’d long since shaken the ash and smoke from him and broken out of that place. Only the fire inside him remained.

And that little creature had put it there.

He suspected it started with the bite. Their little teeth attempting to sink into his flesh had been unexpected. It had also made his body light up in a way he’d never felt before. One bite and suddenly there was a heavy warmth low in his gut and a hardening between his thighs.

That had both confused him and surprised him. And he wanted to explore more, but he didn’t like the idea of beingcaught in a small room by the armored ones. Especially with their cold weapons.

So, he’d bided his time. Played a little more and waited for his new prey to be alone again. They seemed to have a knack for falling away from their group.

Then they surprised him a second time and gave him a chase. That made the fire stir, the thought of catching them making his legs tremble and his hearts pump widely.

But it was that third surprise. He looked them in the eye as they screamed at him through the glass and watched them set him on fire. They had tricked him. He’d never been thwarted like that before. Yet, he wasn’t even angry.

He was impressed. More than that, he was fascinated…Transfixed.

This strange little creature had made him feel alive.

He sat curled up against one wall in the ceiling, hearing the group moving below him. They were starting for the building adjacent. And that was worrying. Becauseshelived there.

He had respected her lair only because he’d considered her an equal for some time, in the way that she hunted. He sometimes delighted in annoying her and more than a few times considered challenging her but had let her be.

He knew she would try to take the whole group if she could. But the one who’d thwarted him—the one with dark hair and soft skin and big bright eyes—was his, and if he had to breakherto make that clear, then so be it.

Slowly, he unlatched himself from the wall and followed the group from above, keeping his sights on his littletrickster.

This time, it was his turn to surprise them.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Dani

As the map had shown, the main entrance into the next sector was blocked off. Part of the building had collapsed, creating a sink hole. Thankfully, there was a bridge connecting the buildings. From there they could make their way over to the labs.

They climbed their way up to the seventh floor without any issue. There were no bugs to be seen or any other creepy crawlies lurking, which was unexpected but a relief for them all.

When they made their way onto the bridge, however, that changed.