"I'm a woman and that is pretty much the only thing that would cause a woman to destroy her own people."
He didn't comment. In fact, he seemed to be extremely uncomfortable about the turn their conversation was taking. If she didn't know better, she would think he was hiding something from her.
Suddenly, Alexion went rigid in the seat beside her.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Turn right."
His tone told her it was urgent. Deciding not to argue, Danger turned off Creelman Street to the small road that ran in front of McCarthy Gym. At the end of the road was a series of parking lots.
"Stop the car."
As soon as she did, the car's engine turned off on its own and Alexion was out of the passenger side, headed toward the Holmes building. Danger immediately ran after him.
She caught up to him just behind the gym. As she slowed down, her heart hammered at what she saw there.
Deep in the shadows, Kyros was coming to his feet over the body of what appeared to have been Marco, a DarkHunter who was from the Basque region of France.
"What happened, Kyros?" she asked, her tone breathless from her sprint.
She knew Kyros hadn't killed Marco. No DarkHunter could harm another. Whatever blow or wound one DarkHunter gave to another, the one who gave it felt the pain ten times greater than the one who received it.
Had Kyros killed Marco, he would be dead too.
Kyros turned slowly to face her. He looked pale and shaken. "Don't mess with me, Danger. Not tonight."
"Kyros?"
His head snapped toward Alexion. If she thought he'd been pale before, it was nothing compared to what he looked like now. He stared at Alexion as if he were seeing a ghost… and that's exactly what he was doing.
"Ias?"
Alexion walked toward him slowly. "I have to talk to you, brother."
She saw Kyros's gaze narrow as he took in Alexion's white coat.
"You?" he asked, his voice disgusted and yet she heard a note of hurt beneath it. "You're Acheron's right hand? You're the one who delivers his ultimatum?" He shook his head in disbelief. "It's not possible. You're dead. You've been dead."
"No," Alexion said calmly, moving another step toward him. "I'm alive."
Kyros stepped back. "You're a Shade."
Alexion held his hand out to him. "I'm real. Take my hand, brother, and see for yourself."
Danger held her breath. Given his hostility, she half expected Kyros to attack Alexion.
But he didn't.
He reached his hand out methodically until he could shake Alexion's. But the instant he touched Alexion's hand, he let go and stumbled back.
She could tell that Kyros still didn't want to accept what was right before him.
"It's okay," Alexion said, as he moved another step closer to the angry, terrified Greek.
"Don't touch me!"
Alexion drew up short. She could see the pain in his eyes that Kyros's harsh words caused.
Kyros continued shaking his head as if he couldn't believe it. "It can't be you. You can't be Acheron's destroyer. You can't."
"I'm not his destroyer. I'm here to help you avoid making a fatal mistake. Whatever you do, you can't trust Stryker. He's lying to you. Believe me, Kyros. We were brothers once. You trusted me then."
Kyros's eyes snapped fire at his former friend. "That was nine thousand years ago. We were human."
Alexion searched his mind for the words it would take to make his friend believe him. But he could tell it wasn't working. There was too much anger and mistrust. It was as if Kyros were looking for a reason to hate him.
"C'mon, Kyros. Trust me."
"Fuck you."
"Then trust me," Danger said, moving nearer to Kyros. "You've known me for five years. You trusted me enough to introduce me to Stryker and let him spiel his bullshit about Acheron." She looked over at Alexion who stood with an anguished glint in his eyes. He wanted to save his friend and she wanted to help him. "I believe Alexion, Kyros. Completely. Stryker is lying to us. He wants you to die."
Kyros glared at Alexion. "I made myself sick over your death. Why didn't you ever tell me that you were alive and well? Why didn't Acheron?"
"Because I can't live in this world," Alexion explained in that same rational tone. "What would have been the point of telling you?"
Kyros returned the words with even more rage. "The point was that we were brothers. You owed it to me to let me know you were all right."
"Maybe I was wrong then, but I came here now to save you."
"Bullshit. This is just a game to you, isn't it?" Kyros looked up at the sky as if searching for something. "Are you watching this, Acheron? Fuck you, you lying bastard. How could you not have told me?"
Kyros started away from them.
Alexion grabbed his arm. "What happened to Marco?"
He shoved Alexion away from him. "What do you care? You were sent here to kill him anyway."
It was true. Because he'd killed the college student the night before, Marco was destined to die. "He'd crossed over to the point there was no way back for him, no reprieve. But you… there's still time. I can save you, Kyros. If you'll let me. Don't be stupid, adelfos."