Page 83 of Mindeater

The omega smiles. “There’s no need for violence. If I could trust the two of you to behave, you could be set free.”

I don’t bother responding.

We both know that’ll never happen.

There’s no use asking any questions because I’m positive I won’t get any answers. I’ll have to take them. Force my way into his head and devour them all. The urge is all-encompassing, urgent, and ravenous.

“Your guardian did a number on you,” the man says. A note of sympathy in his tone. I’m not falling for it. “What they did to you is unforgivable.”

“Get out of my head!”

“But it holds so many secrets.” He jumps down from the table, swinging his hips as he approaches me. A wild hand snatches my chin and jerks my face up. “You have no idea how valuable they are. How much you’ve seen and still didn't understand. Consider yourself lucky it was me that found you and not someone much worse.”

Damn his abilities and strength. I need Ryx to wake up. If anyone can fend this lunatic off, it’s an Other. I’m woozy from the blood loss. A constant nosebleed will do that to anyone, Telex or not.

The man’s head cocks oddly, eyes drifting away from me and landing on Ryx. I follow his gaze, worried something is wrong. But then Levi gasps and lets go of my chin. “Would you look at that…” He sounds in disbelief, in awe, even.

Ryx’s gloves are long gone. Other than brief moments, I haven’t seen them bare since we were children. Very gently, so as not to wake him, the omega lifts Ryx’s right hand. I can’t help but stare, too. Much like the scar on my abdomen and the one on my captor’s jaw, there’s a black sphere swallowing most of Ryx’s palm. The skin appears calloused and raised.

“What is that?” I can’t help but ask.

Humming, the omega examines it like a physician would, twisting it this way and that way. “A countdown.”

“To what?”

Finally, Ryx stirs. He groans, nostrils flared. Long fingers twitch before his eyes flick open. Jerking his hand away, he uses the other to shove the menace back, then stumbles forward. “What the fuck, Levi?”

Levi raises his palms in surrender, grinning. “Now that I have your attention, we need to talk.”

“Like hell we do,” Ryx snarls, swaying slightly. “Damn it, give me my air back.”

Levi’s eyes flash violet, and Ryx wheezes, sucking in deep breaths.

He…he took away Ryx’s air? How?

“I put pressure on his lungs using telekinesis,” Levi explains. “You should try it sometime.”

“You cocky little shit.” Ryx lunges, almost catching the edge of Levi’s shirt, but he darts away.

While they toy with each other, I struggle to break Levi's hold on me. I try and try to get myself free.

“Let him go, Levi. I swear, I’ll—”

I fall forward right onto my face.

Ryx rushes to my side, bare hands hovering like he’ll touch me, but I growl at him to get away. My cheeks flame with embarrassment, irritation, and something…else. Why is he acting so concerned? We both know he really isn’t. And now that this Levi character has interjected himself into our mission, he doesn’t need me anymore.

He’s never needed me.

“Nina is taking them to Briar Peak,” Levi says, slightly winded. “They’ll never make it, Aryx.”

Back on my feet, I glare at them both. It seems the two were closer than Ryx led on, especially if he knows Nina.

How long were they an item? Was it more than something physical? I’m not sure I want to know.

Ryx rakes a hand through his tangled hair, hissing when his fingers snag. “How long ago did they pass through?”

Levi pretends to think for a moment. “I can’t be sure.”