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“Yes, we checked! It must’ve been the other one,” one of her abductors raged.

“Do you think?” Jyk countered.

“Hibi and I are the ones who risked our tails to get the intel and follow the Osivoire. I didn’t see you waiting outside the clinic or going into the crowded cruiser hub to retrieve him.”

“Clearly that was my mistake, because you didn’t get our target!” Jyk burbled in indignation.

“He and his comrade were wearing the same covering and these exoskeletons all look the same,” the other abductor snarled in defense.

“You better not have exhausted all your disguises with this botched attempt, because the Ministro won’t accept failure,” Jyk warned.

“We haven’t,” Hibi huffed. “And I don’t need you to remind me of the consequences for failure. Looking at you is reminder enough.”

Oh shit! Maybe they’ll kill each other and I can just walk away.

“Don’t forget who you’re talking to,” Jyk hissed to his partners in crime. “Be glad we have another opportunity to put down that exoskeleton. It’s the only thing saving your tails. And knowing that everyone will be watching as he’s executed is almost as exciting as getting the male alone. But I promise you, if you foul up again and I lose my chance at revenge, you won’t have to worry about the Ministro’s wrath.”

They weren’t going to hold Aculus for ransom or torture him to exact their revenge.They’re going to kill him!

She held down the bile burning in her throat, forcing herself to remain calm before she betrayed that she was conscious. But she couldn’t play opossum forever.

I have to warn Aculus before they try again.

She cracked one eye and attempted to look around. The street they traveled was crowded, cafés, shops and other businesses lining both sides. The murderous trio continued whispering about their nefarious plans, totally distracted.

It’s now or never. Don’t hesitate. In a combat situation, you hesitate you die,she parroted her father while praying this didn’t bite her in the ass.

She bolted upright in the cart and without pause somersaulted over the back end.

“Get him!” Jyk shouted.

One of the bastards grabbed her by the brown cape as she picked herself off the ground. She quickly shed it and ran. A shot fired striking her in the back, making her stumble and propelling her into the crowd that started screaming. A stinging pain radiated from the spot but her combat shell seemed to hold so she fled along with the frightened people scattering for cover.

“Move!” shouted one of her abductors.

Another shot fired and a nearby pained scream deafened her as she pushed through the masses to reach a busy cafe. Her eyes burned with guilty tears.

Please be okay, she prayed for the poor soul.

It was clear the assailants weren’t going to give up. If they caught her, there was no way they’d let her live now.

I might have a chance if I shed this disguise.

As Nadzia swiftly wove and ducked between shocked patrons on the café patio, she swiped the spot on her wrist, making the bony shell recede. She dropped her blue jacket as she entered the restaurant.

“Please, help,” she entreated a pair of Osivoire women who stood along with several other stunned diners attempting to see what was going on outside.

She glanced back to see one of the bastards shoving people on the patio. The asshole stopped and stared at the blue coat she’d just abandoned outside the door.

“Please, I need to hide,” she repeated.

Despite looking totally different, if her assailants had been following Aculus they would know he was helping humans and would put two and two together. She couldn’t let them find her.

Aculus

“Wait, that soft foreigner is your weakness?” Axilla demanded.

Her words angered him further. No one was ever good enough unless she herself chose them.