arp, pungent smell of c

brain did-she rolled violently to the side, pulling

d her was a chaotic mess of exposed copper pipes, hissing steam valves, and glowing g

imple gray tunic. The massive, jagged wounds on her arms and legs were cl

spinning silently in her abdomen, heavy and full. It had ab

door of the roo

usted metal IV pole standing nearby, and dropped into a combat st

trench coat. His silver-gray hair was tied back in a mess

saw her aiming th

ross his face. He slowly raise

s voice a deep, gravelly rumble.

tricted section of the Tower's library. Elysium Academy was

"Are you going to sell me b

rickety wooden chair from the corner and sat d

fed. "Please. We collect the Tower's enemies like tradi

ad," Elara

at the bottom of the abyss, the High Tower

nsion. She didn't believe in uncondi

ooked like an interesting piece

around the doorframe. It was th

er filled with a bubbling, neon-green liquid. "I

e back of his head hard. "Don't poison t

them was so jarringly different from the rigid, cutthroat hi

ling beaker from Jasper's hand and

lazy demeanor vanishing. His

ey offered. "No strings attached

hidden trap, the greed that she was so used to seeing

e place to maste

metal pole until it clatte

she said, her

eyes flicked down. His gaze locked onto

e body went

e he had been struck by lightning. Raw shock, followed by

t instantly. She pulle

idn't say a word. He just turned on his heel and wal

bed. She rubbed her thumb over

gun, but the past was al