“Everything’s going to be okay,” he said.
I stared at the officers, knowing that they were telling me that just to put me at ease.
Everything wasn’t all right. It would never be okay.
Chapter 3
Fucking humans and their overpopulated, congested, and noisy cities fell into the top ten things that pissed me off.
Sitting back in the shadowy corner seat at the one-step-away-from-a-dive-bar Fast Times, I watched the humans scurry from the bar to their table. For it being what was considered a work night, I wondered how many of them would stumble out into the late-night traffic, ending their insignificant, worthless lives.
Damn, that was dark even for me.
I was in a bad mood.
I hated cities, especially ones that hid a population of my enemy. As I scanned the crowd, a few caught my eye. A slow, cold smile pulled at my lips as the back of my throat suddenly spasmed.
My eyes were sensitive. Every living creature threw off wavelengths. To the Arum, the energy looked like auras, shifting colors depending on the mood or emotion feeding the energy. Humans usually only displayed one color at a time. Luxen were like fucking happy, happy rainbows. It was why we could pick out a Luxen the moment we landed eyes on them, unless there was nearby beta quartz. The crystal distorted Luxen wavelengths, normalizing them until they blended in with the humans.
I didn’t pick up any difference in the wavelengths that surrounded the three college-aged men slamming down beer at the table, but I wasn’t stupid. They could take their beta quartz and shove it up their fucking asses.
Luxen stood out among humans, rainbow energy wavelengths or not.
It was more than the fact they were taller than the average human or their flawless pretty-boy looks, it was the way they carried themselves, even when they were drunk.
An air of arrogance surrounded them, of superiority that could not be mimicked by a human, because when they were among the Homo sapiens, the Luxen were a superior race.
But the three little punks at the table nearest the bar didn’t know I was there, and my presence knocked them right off the top of the food chain. Courtesy of the opal-encased tracker anklet under my boots, my true nature would remain unknown to the Luxen.
Taking a swig of the beer, I watched the Luxen stagger past me. One stopped, eyes narrowing into slits. He must’ve sensed something, but then he followed his buddies out into the night. The door swung shut, pushing the faint smell of burned metal into the bar.
Half tempted to go after them just for shits and giggles, I tipped the bottle back once more. That would be a bad idea. Unsanctioned Luxen feedings were off the menu for me now.
The door opened again, and this time it was who I was waiting for. The two Department of Defense officers strode in. The older one scowled at the thinning crowds, a scowl that grew a hell of a lot deeper when his gaze landed on me.
I tipped a bottle at Officer Zombro, lips curling in a half grin. “Howdy, partner.”
“Should you be drinking right now?” Zombro asked.
“Fuck off.”
Richards, the younger of the two, looked away, mashing his lips together. My smirk grew as they stood at the table. Zombro looked down to where my boots rested on the stool. The apocalypse would have to occur before I moved my feet.
“Good to see you’re in a fine mood tonight.” Zombro gestured at the other agent, who grabbed an extra stool. They sat. “One of these days, that attitude and mouth is going to get you in trouble.”
There wasn’t any kind of trouble that I couldn’t ass-kick my way out of, so whatever.
Richards, always the peacemaker, cleared his throat. “Did you check out the parking garage around the corner?”
“Too much law enforcement there,” I said, scratching at the label on my bottle.
“Besides, there isn’t anything I can tell you by scoping out the place. Nothing you don’t already know.”
Zombro sat back, unbuttoning his blazer. The flash of steel at his waist made me chuckle. The officer’s scowl deepened until it looked like his face would cave in. “It was definitely a Luxen. They killed a human last night in front of another.”
Damn. The Luxen were getting bold. Then again, I wasn’t surprised. “Details?”
Zombro glanced around before speaking, keeping his voice low. “Two women were in this bar last night. One of them, a Mel Dockshire, had been dating Phillip Vanderson. She apparently saw him and his brother Elijah get into an argument earlier in the day.”
“As in Senator Vanderson?” I asked.
Richards nodded. “From what we’ve gathered, the two brothers got into a pissing match and Phillip lost control of his form.”
I chuckled again. “Went all glowy in front of the human female? Nice.”
“It’s not funny. This is a serious security breach,” Zombro snapped.
“Really?” I replied dryly. “I’m going to take a wild guess and say Miss Dockshire is the one who met an untimely fate last night. So, exactly what kind of breach do we have here?”
Zombro looked away. Answer enough.
“The problem is, Hunter, she told her friend, who then saw another Luxen blow up the car with her friend inside.” Richards’ eyes met mine in a steady gaze. “There’s the breach.”
I finished off my beer and then dropped my feet onto the floor. The heavy thud made both officers jump. I leaned onto the table. “Okay. I really don’t get what this has to do with me, unless you want me to find the senator’s sons and take them out.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Zombro said. “Phillip Vanderson was brought in earlier today. He will be appropriately handled.”
Appropriately handled meant turned over to the Daedalus, the department within the DOD that handled all alien brouhaha and operated out of several government buildings, mainly good ol’ Area 51. The Daedalus ran everything when it came to our kinds. Many aliens, both Luxen and Arum, were picked up by them. Very few were ever seen again. They were like the boogeyman to both of our kinds, wielding unimaginable power within the government and conducting fuck knows what when it came to their experiments. Rumor had it that they were creating shit. As in messing with human and alien DNA. Even I was creeped out when it came to the Daedalus.
I sat back, eyeing the men. “And how does the senator feel about that?”
“He’s not too pleased.” Richards let out a low breath. “We met with him this morning. He’s very…vocal about silencing Miss Cross. He believes that if she is no longer an issue, then Phillip can be released.”
“Can Phillip be released?”
“It is not known at this time,” Zombro answered stoically.
“I still don’t see what the problem is,” I said. “If this Miss Cross saw what happened in the garage, then take care of her.”
“The department hasn’t decided what to do with Miss Cross at this time.” Richards pulled out a thin notebook. “She did witness the Luxen and is convinced that what she saw is true.”
“Then if the department isn’t sure, let the senator take her out.” This wouldn’t be the first or the last time a human stumbled on the truth. Aliens were among them and all that bullshit. Usually, the Daedalus stepped in, but the DOD was the first line in defense. “Either way, let me say this again, I have no idea what the fuck this has to do with me.”
Zombro’s scowl slipped a fraction of an inch. “It’s not that simple.”
Never was. I wanted another beer. “Do tell?”
A young, curvy waitress passed our table, slowing down as she carried a tray full of empty bottles. She sent
