Page 90 of Alien Jeopardy

It doesn’t matter that he’s the only non-person person I know.

“What does fast track mean?” Rex asks, his tail tight around my ankle.

“It means, my surly Draegon friend, that today’s challenge will be your last! Because I’m sick of you two.”

“Rude,” I tell Ken. I make a face and bite off another chunk of the godawful protein bar.

“Would you prefer to continue to compete, Ellison Price?” Ken’s hologram eyes seem to glow.

“No, Ken, I would not,” I make myself say. “If you want us to win the competition, that’s fine by me.”

“Oh, don’t be so hasty, Ellison.” Ken smiles, and I step back.

His teeth aren’t right. They’re pointy. Pointy, and there’s too many of them, like the AI had no idea how to make teeth look right.

The overall effect is truly freakish.

“Uncanny valley, much?” I mutter.

“Today’s challenge is unlike any the two of you have faced so far.”

Rex reaches for my hand, but the hologram raises one finger, shaking it at him like he’s a naughty child. “Ah-ah!”

We both freeze.

Literally.

I try to blink, but I can’t move.

“There. Today’s challenge, your final challenge, your capstone assignment, your senior reality thesis?—”

I glare at Ken, and he narrows his eyes at me, pausing before he picks up his speech again.

“Will be conducted separately. The challenge is simple. Find your way back to each other. When you find each other, the challenge is complete, and you will be rewarded.”

No. I don’t want to be separated from Rex. We’re supposed to be together.

No.

I don’t want to do this alone!

Ken claps his hands.

Whatever I want doesn’t matter because when I’m finally unstuck and able to blink, Rex is nowhere to be found.

I’m alone.

CHAPTER

FORTY

Ka-Rexsh

My mate is gone.

A roar bursts out of me, and I sink to my knees, overcome.

For a long while, it’s the only thought in my mind, fear for her and anger the only emotions I’m capable of.