Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 80431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Next, a vertical wall emerged through an opening in the floor, slick with water pouring from the sprinklers. There were no ropes, footholds, or levers on the ten-foot wall.
Zorion ran across the floor at what he thought was his top speed because his feet barely touched the ground. He leaped and kicked against the wall to give himself the small boost he needed and latched onto the ledge with his fingertips.
The lights returned as he dangled and then silence filled the vast space.
Zorion let go and dropped to his feet.
Cipher and his men walked toward him with satisfied grins stretching their ugly faces.
Zorion was about to tell them all what they could do with their simulation—then he saw him trailing a few feet behind.
Valor.
Instant calm filled Zorion.
He watched with bated breath as the man he’d met last night emerged from the shadows cloaked in head-to-toe emerald.
He strolled across the room as if he owned the place.
The deep-green hood was so low he couldn’t see Valor’s bright-hazel eyes, but he could feel their gleam.
Zorion wondered if Valor knew how dangerously beautiful he was.
With only three-quarters of Valor’s face visible, Zorion focused on the sculpted features he could still see.
Every part of him hollered to close the distance, to touch, to feel his aura of security again, but he held still.
When he was close enough, he could almost hear Valor’s thoughts—Are you okay?
Cipher gestured for Valor to come closer.
“This is Zorion. He is the other half of your two-man team.” Cipher was inching backward. “The director insisted it was time you two meet, yeah?”
Cipher paused and watched the two of them.
As if unable to resist, he and Valor inched closer.
Cipher and his cowardly men continued to give them room as the guards hovered, their hands over their holstered tasers.
Zorion guessed it was a precaution just in case he and Valor started to fight each other.
“Uh, are you guys good?”
Neither he nor Valor answered Cipher. They stood in each other’s orbit and drowned everything and everyone else out.
No one else knew they weren’t making a first-time introduction.
Valor closed in until their chests were pressed together. Zorion leaned his head to the side, keeping his breaths even. He heard one of the guys whisper.
“Shit, what’s happening?”
I don’t know,” another answered in what he probably thought was a secretive tone. “Maybe it’s the animal parts making them act this way.”
“I think you’re right,” Cipher said.
“Sure, let them think that,” Valor said so low against the rim of Zorion’s ear it was impossible for anyone else to hear.
“Uh, maybe you should shake each other’s hands or something,” Cipher suggested.
“Allow them to observe each other,” Dr. O’Reilley said over the intercom. “This is a natural effect of the transformation.”
There were gasps and hums of astonishment from several yards away as Valor nuzzled Zorion’s throat.
“I want them to think we are more animal than man,” Valor said.
Zorion gave a subtle nod.
“You are strong and spectacular.” Valor’s lips gently caressed the sensitive skin behind his ear. “I can sense your anger, but I need you to stay calm. We will get out of here, I swear it.”
“Holy shit.” Cipher chuckled, then clicked a button on what sounded like a two-way radio. “Director, give me a couple of weeks with them, then we go to phase three.”
Zorion tensed.
Valor pressed into him harder.
“Easy. I won’t let them take this from us.”
“Swear it,” Zorion stressed.
“I swear that no one will ever be able to take what is mine.”
They weren’t acting…this was real.
“I won’t be caged and only let out when they want me to kill for them,” Zorion bit out.
Valor’s rumble was so powerful Zorion felt it in his own chest.
“Hawks are predators that can’t be tamed,” Valor growled. “Do not fear these simple men.”
Chief Aiken Oakley
Valor
The elevator doors slid open and Valor didn’t take his eyes off Zorion as the guards flanked them and led them in opposite directions.
The sight of Zorion’s strong back retreating clawed at Valor. His instincts screamed for him to lash out and rip the guards to shreds. But he forced the rage down and walked patiently into his own living quarters.
The moment the door closed, the silence bore down on him. He went to his terrace and took a deep breath, needing the scent of the outdoors to settle him.
An hour later, he got into the shower. And like last time, he traced the random scars on his chest and abdomen, wondering where they came from.
Valor stared at his naked body in the mirror, wanting to get familiar with who he was now and stop obsessing over who he used to be.
His eyes were golden and his skin was olive-toned as if he’d lived on an island or someplace tropical.
Jo had said his name was Oakley, and he was a hero in the Navy.
Valor didn’t know if a semblance of Oakley was still inside him, waiting to return. If he was, would Zorion like him better than Valor?