Page 15

EON

W e walked toward the bar, jostled every which way by the crowd.

I kept my eyes on Mercy but scanned in every direction for a shock of blue hair—for the face I couldn’t get out of my head.

I saw men and women staring from all angles, but none of them were mine.

Mercy and I made it to the bar. I tried to wave down the bartender and was promptly ignored.

Mercy sidled up next to me and gave me side-eye.

“You’re rusty, girl. You sure you’re ready for tonight?” She plopped her breasts down on the sticky, metallic surface in front of us. Immediately, a bartender was there, despite the waiting queue.

“What are you having tonight?” they asked, glowing septum piercing flashing as they grinned at us.

“I’m not rusty!” I protested.

She gave me a knowing look and turned back to the bartender.

“Whiskey on the rocks,” Mercy said.

“Top or bottom shelf?”

“Top,” a deep voice sounded from behind us, “and make it two, my treat.”

We both turned to see the tall, dark man behind us. His Vysor was darkened so I couldn’t see his eyes, and he stood stoically—like a statue. Damn, luck really was on my side tonight.

Mercy eyed him up and down with zero attempt to hide her ogling.

“It’s a little dark in here for those Vysor settings.

What are you hiding under there?” At that, Maddox stiffened, crossing his arms over his chest, but Mercy was a pro.

“Tell you what, handsome—let me see those pretty peepers of yours, and I’ll let you buy me that drink. ”

A small grunt escaped Maddox, and he hesitated, but Mercy shifted ever so slightly, opening herself up to him just a bit more—showing him the reward he’d receive—and sealed his fate.

He slowly raised his hand and pressed the tip of one finger into the edge of the glass, pushing it up just enough for an eerie violet glow to emerge from beneath.

I thought my eyes were a giveaway for Flux, but his were something else.

They almost looked like the blacklights flashing over the dance floor.

Mercy hit him with her beautiful, broad smile.

“Stellarium mutation, huh? I like that.” The bartender had come back with the two whiskies, and she scooped them up, handing one to Maddox and immediately looping herself around his arm.

She pressed him away from the bar and into the crowd, and I saw a grin crack Maddox’s face.

“Uh, Mercy…” I called after her, pleading.

“You’re on your own now, E. I’ve got bigger and better things to do.” She smiled at Maddox again, and he returned it with interest. Neither of them looked back at me.

A rough-looking guy pushed his way up next to me but said nothing. I scanned the crowd again, but there was too much movement, too much noise.

I took a deep breath, and pushed it all away, focusing inward on the pulse of power in my veins.

I couldn’t risk using my Flux, at least not externally, but I was still able to feel every single electric field around me.

In a place like Magenta, I had to learn to block that out or I would’ve been overstimulated twenty-four seven.

Everything hummed with some power or AI chip here—each its own unique signature.

But I recalled that night, and the feeling of him.

The scar on my ribs ached as I searched for his signature.

He wasn’t hiding. I felt his field thrumming against the back wall of the club.

I looked up and saw his blue hair flash under the bar’s strobe lights as he lingered in the shadows.

His hair was shaved on the sides where his Vysor docked, and the rest was wild and unnaturally blue, spilling over the side of his face.

I’d been fixated on that face for so long.

Only one picture of it existed anywhere—his POM employee profile—but I had seared it into my memory.

A lean, angular face with a wicked smile and full lips.

But it was those electric eyes I couldn’t escape.

Our gaze locked, and I gave him a demure smile before turning away. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him kick off the wall. Perfect.

I set my hand down on the bar, touching the large man next to me. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t—”

He turned to me. “Oh, it’s no problem, sweetheart. Touch as much as you like.”

I laughed awkwardly and tried to turn away when his massive arm wrapped around me. “Don’t play coy now, sweetheart. Go ahead, touch.” He pressed me into his body, grabbing my wrist and pressing my hand against his lower stomach, forcing it down.

Damn, if I’d known he was going to take this role so seriously, I would’ve paid him double. I struggled against him, weakly. A few of the other patrons averted their eyes as I let tears rise in mine. “Please, I don’t—”

“Looks like the lady isn’t interested, nakayoshi.” A smooth voice rang out over my shoulder.

“Fuck off, man. Can’t you see me and the lady are having a good time?” I turned to Cy and gave him my most pleading eyes. Men—even men like him—couldn’t resist a damsel in distress. Especially one they thought they could take advantage of.

“I said, hands off.” He was so fast I didn’t see it, but I felt him pull the man’s grip off me and shove him back, just a step. His back was to me, so I couldn’t see his face, but I saw genuine fear enter my accomplice’s eyes. He threw his hands up. “Chill, man. She’s all yours.”

Cy turned around. “You all right, doll?”

“Yeah, thank you. I didn’t think he’d get so violent.” A smirk lit his face, and he said something I pretended not to hear. I leaned in, my breasts just barely brushing his chest, and put my lips to his ear. “I can’t hear—do you think we could…” I gestured away from the bar.

He put his hand around my waist and pulled me to the back of the room, away from the dance floor. The crowd thinned, a few games hanging on the wall. His hand didn’t leave my waist as he circled in front of me.

“Now, isn’t that better?” He gave me a smile that was all charm and seduction. He was beautiful, in that shattered way. Gorgeous in all his harsh edges and jagged lines. He wasn’t as big as Maddox, but he was strong—I could feel it in the light touch at my hip. And in the aching of my ribs.

“Yeah, thanks. It was just…too many people over there.” I lowered my eyes. His wicked grin grew in my peripheral.

“No worries, doll, I’ve got you. I was saying—it’s not really safe for a girl like you in places like this.”

I raised an eyebrow. “A girl like me?”

He laughed. “Yeah, a girl from Sky. This place will eat you alive.”

My shoulders slumped. “Was it that obvious?”

He laughed again, not a kind laugh. “You might as well have put a giant neon bullseye on your back.”

I shifted, pressing into him ever so slightly. “But I can trust you, right? You’re a nice guy. You’ll protect me?” His eyes dilated, and I had to suppress my grin. Hook, line, and sinker.

“Better than your friend over there, that’s for sure.” He flung his thumb over his shoulder, and my gaze followed it.

I looked over—Mercy had her tongue deep down Maddox’s throat, the two of them groping each other like teenagers in a shadowy corner.

I chuckled. Maybe I was a little rusty at this game, but Cy was still watching me, and I knew I had to play this one carefully.

I’d waited far too long to blow it by being overeager.

My arm snaked around Cy’s waist, and I leaned close, lips brushing his ear. “Then we’ll just have to have our own fun, won’t we?”

“Fuck yeah.”

I spun away from him and grabbed the handsets for the closest game off the wall, flashing him my sweetest grin. “Teach me how to play.”

He blinked, caught off guard by the bait and switch for only a heartbeat. But then his grin faltered. He barely hid his annoyance. I was walking a thin line, and I knew he wasn’t the type to tolerate too much teasing. I had to play it just right, stretch the clock without snapping the tension.

He forced his smile back on and walked over to me.

He grabbed his own handset, sliding the small metal cups over the tips of his fingers and strapping the wristband tight.

Once in place, he snapped his fingers, and the device flashed to life.

The board on the wall lit up, and I saw his Vysor glow with the game menu.

He flipped through the options, double-tapped, and with a flick of his hand, a small dart made of blue light appeared between his fingers.

“Darts?” I asked.

“I figured we’d start simple.”

I strapped on my handset, and a violet dart appeared in my hand.

He circled behind me and placed both hands on my waist—possessive.

The heat of his touch burned along my skin, tracing above the top edge of my skirt.

My stomach churned, a tangle of rage and something much worse merging together.

He wouldn’t let me dance away from him again. Good.

He explained the rules, then stepped back.

“You go first. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

I lined up my shot, pumped my arm a few times, and released. The dart missed the board entirely, vanishing in a puff of light.

Cy laughed—kinder, this time. “They don’t teach you how to aim at that fancy university?”

Before I could answer, he pressed himself up against my back, one hand shifting to my stomach.

I had the fleeting thought—God, I hoped he couldn’t feel the heat curling beneath his fingers—when he kicked my feet farther apart.

I stumbled, but he caught me, holding me to him, his mouth coming to rest on the curve of my ear.

“It’s all about visualizing what you want…before you take the shot.” The hand on my stomach clenched tighter. His other hand ran slowly up my arm, leaving a trail of goosebumps behind. He placed his long fingers over mine and guided my hand for another shot.

It flew, landing in the double-points zone.

“There, you’ve got it now. Here—this’ll help too.” He reached inside his jacket, and I saw a quick flash of fluorescent green. My chest tightened. He held out a military-grade Vector cartridge to me. I bit my lip.

“I don’t know…” I mumbled. The hesitation was real. I’d been clean for nearly six months, but that florescent green liquid was as tempting now as it had ever been.

His grin sharpened into something predatory. “You came down here for a little Magenta fun, didn’t you? This is where the real fun is.” He raised an eyebrow, a challenge wrapped in a question.

It was for the act. He’d be suspicious if I didn’t take it.

That was the excuse my brain gave as the green liquid danced in my eyes—an old friend.

I snatched the vial from him, barely remembering to look like I didn’t know what I was doing as I held it to my neck.

I fumbled with it, and his hand closed over mine, steadying it as the microneedle engaged.

His Vector was military grade. The hit was immediate—pure. Straight from the source. God, it felt good. Like going home. Like sinking into the perfect dream. Every part of my body tingled, my nipples going hard in an instant. I felt my Flux surge and all I wanted was to let go, let it consume me.

Get it together. This is life or death.

I shook my head and shoved everything down.

“First time?” Cy asked.

“Yeah…yeah…” Get it the fuck together.

“You’ll be a pro in no time.”

We played another round. It was close, but obvious he was letting me keep pace.

“I think I’m getting this now. I bet I could have you in the next game.”

His arrogant smile grew. “How about a wager, then? Loser has to take another dose?”

I winked at him. “You’re on.” I had to be careful. I hadn’t done Vector this strong—ever. That beautiful bliss was already slipping over me like an old friend, the noose tightening around my neck.

This time, he didn’t hold back, and soon the score was so lopsided I could only win if I hit a sixty-point shot.

“Hey, no fair! You were holding back before,” I whined.

He winked. “Never said I was a nice guy, doll. Should I just put you out of your misery now?” He pulled out another vial, and it was all too easy to let him inject it again.

The electricity in my blood sang, and it would’ve been easy—oh so easy—to just give in and let it dance. No. Focus. Vector had originally been designed to enhance POM’s Flux-capable security agents. For me, it would strengthen me—if I could just stay focused.

He watched me with hungry eyes as I wobbled a bit, letting my eyes defocus. I stumbled, and he caught me, holding me tight against him.

“Take it easy. Don’t want you getting hurt.” He leaned in, and I felt his mouth land on the sensitive skin just beneath my jaw. I hated how my whole body reacted—my thighs clenching together, my skin alight with Flux and Vector. He knew it too, and his hands grew bolder.

“One more round?” I asked sheepishly.

“Oh, I don’t think so. You’ve teased me enough.” I felt his tongue snake over my neck, and I bit my lip.

“Then a new wager on this game?”

He raised his head to meet my gaze. “This game? It’s over.”

“Then you’ll get whatever you want.”

He considered this, then leaned in again and whispered in my ear, “How about if I win, I take you out back and see how expensive you taste?”

I smiled at him—and this time, I let a bit of the real me slip through. I leaned in close. “All right. But if I win, how about you take me back to your place and fuck me until I can’t walk tomorrow?”

I leaned back. He stared, stunned, mouth slightly agape. “Shiiittt. I really played myself here, didn’t I?” That lopsided grin returned.

“We’ll see.” I held his hungry stare and threw my last dart. I didn’t have to look to know where it landed—right on triple twenty. He glanced over, and his eyes went wide.

“Did you just hustle me?” His mouth twitched with annoyance, but his pupils were blown wide—and it wasn’t just the drugs.

I leaned into him, wrapping one arm around his waist beneath his jacket.

With the other, I stroked through his long blue bangs, pushing them back behind his ear.

As I did, I carefully ran my fingers over the circuits of his Vysor.

This was precision work—but luckily, I was made for this.

I let the Vector focus me, power me. My Flux pulsed the tiniest amount, sending a microscopic EMP through the Vysor’s communication circuit.

It was so precise it didn’t trigger any other systems. He wouldn’t even know it was fried—at least, not until he tried to use it.

He wouldn’t be focusing on that anytime soon.

“Looks like I win this round.”