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Khalani scoffed and abruptly increased her pace, trying to distance herself from his insufferable presence. A failing effort thanks to his oversized legs matching her stride.

By the time they caught up with the others, the sun was low in the sky, and her calves and thighs were screaming for relief.

“You alright?” Serene asked as Khalani and Takeshi finally arrived at their resting spot under a half-torn bridge.

“I’m better,” she replied, struggling to catch her breath as she dropped her pack unceremoniously to the ground. “Just felt a little woozy back there.”

Khalani didn’t want to spook the others with her eerie vision of the Governor. The last thing she needed was for anyone else to question her sanity. Takeshi already did an incredible job at that.

“Come, sit.” Derek patted the empty ground next to him. “We can share a protein bar.”

The corner of her mouth quirked up, and Khalani groaned as she sat on the hard ground. All the training with Takeshi in Braderhelm couldn’t have prepared her for the miles of hiking every day under the blistering sun.

How humans managed to survive before the Great Collapse was a great mystery to her.

The temperature continued to drop, and Khalani hugged her knees closer to her chest as she ate.

“Be careful with your portions,” Brock warned. “We still have another week before we reach Hermes, and that’s if we don’t run into any storms.”

“What kind of storms we talking?” Adan peered up as he rummaged through his pack.

“Sandstorms. Nasty fuckers that can bury you alive.” Brock’s voice dipped as he stared beyond the bridge. “We’ll be able to spot most from a distance, but they move fast out here. If I tell you to run for the nearest shelter, you don’t ask why.”

“And here I thought the surface would be fun. Next thing you’ll tell me is that there are plants out here that can eat us,” Serene grumbled, plopping down beside her with a huff.

Derek lifted a finger. “Actually, there used to be a carnivorous plant species called the Venus fl—”

“Asfascinatingas this conversation is,” Brock cut in, “we need to figure out who’s taking watch tonight. Steele, you’re not doing it a fourth night in a row.”

“I can do it,” Serene stated.

“No,” Brock clipped. “You don’t even know how to use a gun.”

“Sure, I do. I just aim the pointy end at you and shoot.”

Brock looked heavenward, like he was questioning what he’d done wrong in a previous life.

“I got it.” Khalani rose to her feet. She needed the distraction.

“No way. Didn’t you almost pass out today?” Brock frowned.

“Agreed. It should be someone else,” Takeshi spoke for the first time.

Khalani snapped her gaze to him. He leaned his left shoulder against the pillar supporting the bridge. His posture was too calm against the wicked fervor in his expression.

No one else probably noticed.

“I’mfine. And besides,” she palmed her handgun, “I have no problem shooting any psychos that might wander our way. Right, Takeshi?”

“Yes, I’m sure one look at you with a gun will scare anyone straight off.”

If there were a prize for getting under someone’s skin, Takeshi would emphatically win first place. He was worse than a bug. Worse than the bacteria that lived on a bug. And she wanted nothing more than to march over and knee him between the legs to prevent procreation.

Her final gift to humanity.

“You’re so right.” She plastered on a fake smile. “Thank God I believe in shooting first and asking questions later.”

The corner of his lip barely lifted.