PTE

ZEKE'

h hungry desperation. Fortune lay curled in the corner

lungs protested with each shallow she inhaled. Her limbs felt det

they'd fused into her flesh. Her dress was tattered, the fine fabric now a sticky second skin.

And she hadn't come this far to die li

The shadows around the fire danced like spirit

e Zee

en he sipped that drink with arrogant nonchalance... she had watched. Absorbed. The arch of his bro

d copi

ne. Voice texture. Even sce

ity was both a gift and a curse, it could be done only when she was fully conscious

needed to

ming. She tilted her head, the fire's glow casting her face in ora

You are the fla

osed h

ng beneath her skin. But then it surged, rising through her bones, rattling her teeth. She g

e shifting as her features stretched and hardened into Zeke's sharp symmetry. She gasped i

ss. Her arms stretched, her shoulders broadened, and her spine lengthened.

d themselves across her forearms in precise whorls, bleeding out from her pores like living art

reamed

. Gritting her teeth.

lar replication. Her vocal cords burned as they reshaped, and

o the floor of the cage, panting li

longer Fort

Zeke Zee

didn't sta

held her captive tore against his strength. She pulled hard, gritting her teeth, and with one fi

Zeke hadn't needed to. He believed

bulkier, more powerful, and she was still adjusting to his center of gravity. But s

with a groan. She fl

e corridor padding

echoe

Built like tanks, dressed in black, armed to the teeth, and loy

oked up

tched in surp

onfused. "Didn't see yo

fear. The voice. She

alm, chilling tone. "Change of plans. The girl's been deal

You're done alr

narrowed. "You're qu

y looked down.

le. "You know the boss w

" Fortune repeated

s,

k to the steel door and bolted it shut with three heavy clicks. Cocaine

he sound of their boots behind her sent a tremor down her spine. If eit

ghts, heading deeper into the compound, pretending she had a

going, boss?"

eplied smoothly. "There's s

You want us to

silence an

s,

d with weapons and surveillance feeds. Every glance in her direction held fear and revere

, she was

get out soon, really out, she'd collapse. Her body couldn't hold his shape for

eded a

cape

needed

the security hallway split, one led to t

like Zeke would. Her mind raced. She couldn't take them

ordered. "I nee

"Standard pr

Do I look like a man

rked. "No,

Guard the corridor. If anyone comes throu

erst

wed. As soon as she was out of sight, she broke into a run, lungs screaming in protest. She h

h unmarked doors, found one that wa

d with cleaning supplies, crates of

limbs shook violently. Her hands trembled as she grabbed a water

two more before letting her body slide to the floor, still in Zeke'

hold this sha

out of the c