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He kneasn’t a street gang that had kicked in his door

Trinity had found hiun, an experi at the bar, and punted the door the rest of the way open Instead of stun or death rays, instead of bullets, this gun ejected darts of poison that broke the blood-brain barrier in an instant, supposedly paralyzing the victiht not, and the poisonwho else had accouards stationed on opposite sides of the entry Their backs were pressed against the wall, offering hi chi--but they didn’tone than the other in quick succession The red darts whizzed through the air and nailed both roaned, twitched, and collapsed Excellent The paralyzing agent worked Maybe a little too well Their chests stopped

Oh, well They had invaded his ho about these darts, though, was that they didn’t cause bloodshed The tips were shoved through a pyre-crystal before ejection, and the heat cauterized the ensuing wound before a single bead of blood could form

"Was that entirely necessary?" a familiar female tsked

The queen Trinity

She’d stayed

Dread increased the flow of his blood, which in turn increased the speed of his inhalations Every lungful of breath infused her scent--roses, stronger now, as if they’d bloomed in a frosted field--with his own, until he wasn’t sure if he was Dallas anyed to her

"Put the weapon away, and I’ll reveal ritted his teeth He couldn’t see her, but she’d sounded loud enough to be standing right next to him He wasn’t hers, he reht now, he was Kyrin’s, the guy who’d fed hio The guy who’d made him what he was Psychic, able to control people with his mind, and fast beyond measure Not that any of that helped hiood on your threat," he said, sheathing his gun He didn’t want to, but knew deep down she would stay true to her word All the while, he stealthily punched in Mia’s number on his cell Hopefully she’d answer, listen, realize soh, the queen walked around hi over his shoulder and chest Only, that finger ht through her, too, he realized

The top of her head only reached his chin Her hair was dark now, he saw, and chopped to her jaw, but everything else was the same Those soulful eyes, those soft lips That flawless skin

He spread his legs, hands re-from-this-spot, you-can-totally-trust-me stance

"Yes," she said, deceptively sad "I infected one of your agents"

Are you there, Mia? Did you hear that? Do you knoho I’ with? He stored the phone in his pocket "He wasn’t an agent, Trin You don’t mind if I call you Trin, do you? You’re a queen, I know, but I don’t think we need the for"

Trinity whirled full throttle, robe twirling at her feet, eyes glittering "In training? Well, that’s disappointing But no aze skittered to her fallen couard"

He owed her? Owed? Bitch "I killed two" Were there others here? Others he couldn’t see? "But you only want me to replace one? Gee Thanks for the discount"

"No discount I’ve already taken Johnny"

He bristled at this second rehed, soft, gentle, and just like before, it was like hearing bells "Not for long"

What did that uy? He’d try and escape? He’d soon die? "So why’d you pick hiht I would be doing you a favor" Another whirl, and she was gliding to his couch Another, and she was easing down, peering over at him with a half-same

"You’re allowed to show your thanks," she said

He arched a brow, a fuck-you expression she would hopefully interpret as a simple refusal, and strode over--careful, have to be careful--then leaned down and tried to pinch a lock of her hair between his fingers Like

"I liked the blond better," he said He let his ar Mia was even then gathering troops to raid his place Hoould they take her down, though, when they couldn’t touch her?

She stood, never quite brushing hihtened until they were completely devoid of color He could only watch, wide-eyed

To his knowledge, only one other person possessed such an ability Macy Briggs An AIR agent who could switch identities with only a thought Macy could change ender, bodies Everything They’d always assumed she was harht next She had married a Rakan warrior, and the two had most definitely had sex For several weeks, Dallas had been the guy’s shadow and had seen sos he’d never be able to scrub frons of cannibalism or sickness

"No reaction to ed, backed up a step If she thought he feared her, she would beco Maybe ht ad afraid She’d know he lied "I’ve seen better"

Anger darkened her eyes, but was quickly e In a feeeks, I’ll be as adept as your Macy Briggs"

Don’t show your surprise "So you’ve ed now, a mimic of his "We haven’t been properly introduced, no"

So she’d watched the agent, studied her Learned from her And Macy had never known, or she would have said so Hell, Dallas had never known "And you picked up her … talent" He snapped his fingers "Just like that?"

Trinity turned slowly, offering her profile like aat him over her shoulder "Yes Just Like That" One step, two, she walked away, not leaving the living roo hi to be cowed, he followed her Watched She ghosted through his laundry, ea up after himself Someone usually took pity on him and hired a maid (Devyn) or did the work herself (one of his many bed partners)

"That makes you selfish," he said casually

"That makes me happy Others merely wish they could take I actually can Why shouldn’t I enjoy?"

"Because those others get hurt"

"Actually, I give the Able to do anything"

"As long as they continue to infect others"

"Yes A siven so s was "a small price"? "So what happens when everyone in the world is infected?"