by Amelia Jade
Connor shook his head. “They’re doing something different, Flint. I can feel it. I’ve run into two Agents now, one of whom was as strong as I was. The other was much stronger. I don’t know how they’re doing it, but they’re refining the Extremis Serum, making it better.” He paused. “I think they might have captured an Alpha.”
Flint froze. “Why do you say that?”
“It’s the only thing that explains how they could make such quick advances in their Serum.” He paced back and forth. “When Ajax first came here from Genesis Valley, he fought a large number of the Extremis Agents. They were strong, but he could take them on and win. Hell, he did do that. Flint,” he said, putting his hands on the desk and looking across at the smaller man. “I would lose to the brute I faced the other day, and easily. It wouldn’t even be close.”
Connor shrugged. “It could be worse than we know,” he said softly.
“What do you mean?” Flint asked.
“They could have another shifter. What if they caught a shifter more powerful than a bear, and were able to derive the serum from their blood? They wouldn’t have to drain it of blood completely. They could just mix its blood with bear blood, and create something superior.” His eyes narrowed. “I have to find out,” he said, using his command tone, letting Flint know that this was going to happen no matter what.
“You’re going to be awfully exposed if you do this,” Flint said at last, sitting back into his chair.
Connor followed suit, sighing as he did. “I know Flint. I know.”
“You’ll have to use one of the outer safe houses. One that has no connection back to us. Only to you.”
Connor nodded. When he, Jared, and the rest of the Sentinel team had first arrived, one of their first jobs was to go out and create some safe houses that were only associated with them, not the Underground. The information was all compiled for everyone to use, but it just helped ensure that they would never be breached entirely. It was one of these places that Flint wanted him to use now.
It was more dangerous, because the Underground didn’t watch those places, and if he needed help, he would be all on his own. Flint was effectively giving him permission by disowning him. Connor didn’t like it, but he knew the Underground took priority over any one person. The organization had to be preserved above all else.
“I know, Flint. But it has to be done. What if they have formulas that prevent a shifter from being able to change? Or deny us our strength? If anyone is going to know this, it’s an Extremis Agent.” He shrugged. “It’s not like I’m going to be doing something stupid, like say, breaking into their headquarters.”
Flint glared at him, not impressed with the reminder of the ridiculous mission Ajax had undertaken upon his first journey to King City. Connor still couldn’t believe that he had managed to break into their headquarters and escape, without learning much more about them.
The only information he had managed to procure was that they had been founded by the Order, a group of rogue dragons who thought that they should be at the top of the pecking order, not the human governments of the world. The Order had been dealt with by other dragons already, but it seemed that offshoots like the Agency were determined to go ahead, despite the demise of their founders.
“I’ll make something happen,” Flint said. “But you have to tell Maddy.”
Connor nodded, suddenly hesitant about the whole plan. Arguing with Flint was one thing. He had done that before and would do it again. He was okay with doing that. But having to tell Maddy?
He swallowed nervously.
***
“What is it?”
The question came out the instant he entered the room and made eye contact.
How the hell does she know?
“You’re walking funny. Very nervous-looking. Tell me whatever it is you don’t want to tell me. Let’s just get it out in the open,” she said firmly, standing up from the chair she had been relaxing in and stepping closer to him. “No sense in beating around the bush. What have you done that I’m not going to like?”
His jaw dropped open in surprise.
Maddy snorted. “You seriously have the look of someone who swallowed a frog, Connor. I’m not blind nor stupid. Plus, we’re in a bit of a predicament, and you are a good man. Which means that you’re willing to do something stupid to protect me or something. So whatever it is, spit it out so I can tell you that you’re dumb and we’re doing this together.”
He shook his head. This was not going the way he had imagined it. Then again, he reminded himself, he had imagined it would involve a lot of throwing of objects and screaming. The almost serene calm that Maddy was exuding was throwing him off guard.
“Why don’t you tell me what it is you’re planning that makes you care so little about what I’m about to say?” he returned, watching her closely.
She jolted, but barely, and covered it up quickly enough that he barely saw it. In fact, if he hadn’t been looking for it, Connor doubted he would have known.
“When I figure it out, I’ll tell you,” she replied. “Now, tell me what you’ve gone and done.”
Connor didn’t sense a lie in her words, but it was clear they weren’t the complete truth either. Still, she had admitted she was up to something, which was more than he had expected. But he was now forced to acknowledge her words.
“Flint is going to get you out of the city.”
Maddy frowned. “Wasn’t that the plan all along?”
“Without me.” He tried not to laugh at how similar the conversations were.
“Why?” Unlike Flint, there was no protest from her. She had known he was up to something, so the news wasn’t entirely shocking to her.
“Because I draw too much attention.”
Her eyes narrowed. “That’s not all. Tell me the whole truth.”
Connor sighed and collapsed onto the bed unhappily. “When I led them off the other day, they caught me. They took my mask off.”
Maddy looked away, upset. “They know what you look like now,” she said.
“Yes.”
“What else?”
He swore to himself as she pressed him. Connor had hoped to get away without telling her his next plans. So much for that.
“We need to capture someone alive who can tell us about all these new serums,” he said after a long pause.
Maddy looked at him hard as she thought over his words. “You want to capture one of those, what do you call them, Extreme Agents?”
He smiled briefly. “Extremis, but yes,” he admitted.
“That sounds like a pretty dumb idea,” she stated bluntly.
“I’ve had better,” he replied. “But whether it’s a good idea or not, it needs to be done. If they have other serums, ones that can affect other abilities, either enhancing them or denying them, then we need to know about it.”
“And capturing one of those is something I can’t help with,” she said at last, dejected. “I would be far too much of a liability.”
Connor didn’t respond. He didn’t have to. Maddy knew what she was saying was the truth. He didn’t need to reinforce the fact.
“I’ll be able to work better knowing that you’re safe,” he said softly. It was cliché, but it was the truth nonetheless. He needed to say it aloud and for her to hear it from his lips instead of having it implied.
She smiled wanly. “I know. But that doesn’t help me feel something other than useless,” she said with a shrug. “I want to be able to help, not hinder.”
“You’re smart,” he said. “Perhaps we could get you a job in Genesis Valley, helping to analyze these formulas. Find a way to make us immune to their effects, perhaps?” He smiled. “It’s not frontline work, true, but trust me, it’s extremely important.”
Maddy frowned. “I’m not sure I have the proper set of smarts for that,” she told him. “And why can’t you come with me, and then go do this once the rest of your team is back?”
He hesitated. It was a good question, and
one he had thought of several times. “I’m not sure I can tell you a logical reason for that,” he admitted. “It just feels right. I need to go do this, and not go with you.” Connor winced. “I know that sounds stupid and ridiculous, but there it is.”
To his surprise, Maddy didn’t instantly scoff at his thoughts. All she asked was one simple word. “Why?”
“Something to do with the Agency, the serums, us, the Underground, and the mole. It all blends together somehow.” He made a mental note to go and find Flint. He hadn’t mentioned the mole to him yet. They were going to have to do some internal hunting once Maddy was gone. That was why he had gone to Flint, and asked him alone to arrange her extraction. If nobody else knew it was happening, she couldn’t be betrayed either. Connor had to do everything he could to keep her safe.
Maddy nodded slowly. “I understand.”
He blinked. “You do?”
“Yes,” she told him. “I’ve always felt that I don’t belong. I’ve just known it. Something about me is different than the people I’ve met before. I just don’t know how, but it is. I can’t explain it either, but it’s one of those things I just know.”
“I think you belong,” he replied.
She gave him a small smile. “I don’t feel completely out of place around you.”
He began to relax, still in shock that the whole thing hadn’t devolved into a shouting match. She knows you better than you think. There was some definite truth in that statement, he thought, reflecting on the calm way she had handled the issue. It was very unusual, and yet extremely welcome at the same time.
“Don’t think you’re out of the woods yet though,” she said sternly.
Connor sat straight up. What?
“Move your ass back,” she told him, getting up from her chair and approaching the bed where he lay.
“Okay?” he said, confused but doing as she said.
“Now, it won’t be night for a little while yet, so you had better hold me tight until I have to leave,” she ordered.
“Absolutely,” he promised, wrapping his arms around her as she settled into his lap, his lips nuzzling into her neck, kissing her softly with affection.
Don’t grow too attached. She’s going to be in Genesis Valley while you’re here.
Connor didn’t acknowledge the thought. Instead, he simply turned his bear loose on it. He allowed the animal mind to fight with his own subconscious, subduing it quickly, allowing him to cuddle in peace with the woman who somehow meant so much to him.
He didn’t want to let go.
Chapter Twelve
Madison
She glanced at the clock, stretching and rising. Connor had kept his word, holding her tight for hours on end until they both felt the urge to get up, even if it was just to move. Now they were walking around the dance floor. In the late afternoon several more chairs had been rolled out and placed strategically around small tables, forming private little areas that groups of men and women—almost all dressed in business attire—could gather around. Even now she spotted seven... no, eight groups, all of them enjoying a drink or two as they unwound after the day.
Maddy doubted it was all pleasure, but nor was it all business. There was likely an even mix. She spotted one group of three men, with three women, all of whom were dressed to impress, though they were wearing evening clothing, not business attire. That was a group unwinding. But just past them, four men were scribbling on paper and making notes, constantly pointing things out to the others. Business.
“I need to use the men’s room,” Connor told her, leaning in to give her a peck and making his way across the floor.
She nodded. The movement of her head drew her gaze upward to where the heavily tinted windows were set into the wall. Up there was Flint’s lair, and the handful of serums they had captured. Connor had told her about the case that she was to carry the one filled with serum vials, and a sample of whatever had been on the knife that prevented his healing. It made her nervous. The idea that she would be carrying something so potent and potentially world-changing was enough to leave her feeling queasy, at a minimum.
You can do this.
Maddy knew she could. That didn’t make it any less terrifying from her perspective. What was she, an unenhanced human, doing getting in the middle of everything? She was such an easy target. All it would take was one Agent, Extremis or not, to bring her down. Then all of their work would be for naught.
She hated that. Hated knowing that no matter how mentally strong she might be, she just couldn’t keep up in this new world she had discovered. Connor was right; he would work easier knowing she was safe, because he couldn’t protect her forever. If she stayed, at some point her normalcy would get her captured. Or killed.
But what could she do about it?
Maddy stared at the windows, wondering if Flint was in there. He had done something about it, by creating the Underground. He was only human. She snorted at the invisible quotes around the world normal. There was nothing wrong with being human. It wasn’t until one entered the world of shifters that they suddenly became useless.
Unfortunately for her, there was no way to change that.
Or was there?
Maddy jolted as an idea entered her head. It was crazy, and stupid, and quite likely the least logical thing she had ever done in her entire life. Yet there she was, contemplating it.
“This is stupid,” she muttered to herself. Why are you even contemplating this? You know it’s just as likely to get you killed as it is to actually help anyone. What would your death do to Connor? It certainly wouldn’t help him, that’s for sure.
Another voice spoke up inside of her as she continued to wander the floor, trying to ignore the fact her “random” wanderings were bringing her closer to the door that led into the back. Where she would find what she needed.
Are you just doing this because of him? You only just met the man; you have no idea what that means for next year, let alone next week. You could be making a huge mistake, based on nothing more than intuition.
“Perhaps,” she said aloud, ignoring the look one of the nearby women gave her. “But at least I would be doing something for once,” she said with a hiss, her decision made. For too long she had lived cautiously, never taking any risks, always waiting for life to come to her.
It was time that she took life by the horns and dictated her own terms.
She made her way into the back, and then took the metal stairs that led up to Flint’s office. The door was slightly ajar, and as soon as she knocked she was given leave to enter.
“Maddy, good to see you,” he said, quickly hanging up the phone.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she told him, shrugging as sheepishly as she could.
“What can I do for you? I’m just finalizing arrangements for your transport for tonight,” he informed her.
“Actually, one of the door guys—I forget his name—saw me wandering and asked if I could ask you to come down to see him.” She shrugged her shoulders, trying to pretend like she was still new and hadn’t made an effort to memorize everyone’s names.
Flint frowned. “Did he say why?”
She shook her head. “No, he didn’t. Seemed urgent though.”
“Of course it is,” he said with a roll of his eyes. “It’s always urgent. Okay, I had better get going then.” He moved around the desk and headed for the door. Maddy followed him slowly, but not making any attempt to slow down. Flint moved down the stairs and disappeared around the corner when she was halfway down.
Maddy reached down to tie her shoe, just in case Flint noticed she had stopped, but he hadn’t. Once she was positive he was out of earshot, she raced back up the stairs and into his office, searching for what she needed.
There. It was on the shelf to the left of his desk, just like Connor had said.
She looked at it, eyeing the contents, wondering which one was which. Something caught her eye, and she picked one up to inspect it closer.
Maddy smiled. Someone had helpfully labeled them for her. There were five altogether, though only three were what she was looking for. The others were ones she had no intention of touching. She was stupid, not idiotic. Right now it was a small difference, but it was enough of one.
“Now what?” she asked aloud, suddenly getting cold feet. Pocketing what she had come for, Maddy turned and headed for the exit, unsure if she now wanted to follow through with it.
Someone will notice it’s missing.
Shit. There was no getting around that; the empty spot would be instantly visible. If she was going to do this, she was going to have to do it then and there.
Maddy closed her eyes, summoning any remaining courage she had. If Flint came back and found her, she would be in a lot of trouble. It was now or never. Helpful, or unhelpful.
Time to make a choice.
***
With an angry growl she twisted the lid off and poured it down her throat.
Nothing happened.
“What the fuck?” she said, tilting it over her mouth, trying for every last drop.
Had she grabbed the wrong one somehow? Fear sank its talons into her stomach as she glanced at the label on the lid.
Extremis Serum. Sample 1 of 3.
No, that was the right one. But nothing was happening. She was a half-blood though. The serum was supposed to work on her kind! To turn them into superhumans.
Maddy sagged into one of the chairs as she realized even her last-ditch crazy plan had failed her. Just like always, she was now destined to fade into the background, forgotten by all.
She rolled her eyes, and placed the vial back in the container.
“Fuck,” she said. The liquid was clear, but it was noticeably obvious that the empty vial contained nothing. She needed something to fill it with. Looking around the office, her eyes settled on the mini fridge.
Whispering a prayer, she opened it and saw what she needed. Carefully she grabbed a bottle of vodka, pried the lid off, and filled the vial. Putting the cap back on the vodka and the vial, she put both back in their respective spots, and then left the office behind, trying to ignore the massive feeling of failure that was settling over her. She couldn’t even take a drug right.
