It’s been a while, but he knows that face. “Aiden. So, you lived through the detonation. What are you doing here? Going for a swim?”
He takes a few more steps forward. “Saw you cross in Dagon. You should be careful. The city’s crawling with alphas.”
“What do I care?” Lucas sneers.
“Lots of people looking for you,” he says. “Lots looking for that omega, too.”
Lucas shifts forward and hardens his stance. “I asked you once. Not going to ask you again. Why are you following me?”
“I’m a trader,” he says. “After the collapse, everything went to shit. I need work.”
“Work...”
Aiden’s smile wavers, and he soon looks pathetic. Turning, he nods toward a well-maintained vehicle. “I’ve got a rover, all terrain. Newly serviced. If you want to get to the Iron Eye, you need a vehicle. I’m your ticket there,” he says, throwing his hand forward to block my next reply. “I know, I know. We aren’t allies.”
Lucas grins. “We blew your fucking leg off, remember? Come to think of it, I’m sure I watched you die.”
Aiden’s eyes grow intense. He rolls up his pant leg, revealing a bionic leg. “I can take you there. To the Iron Eye. Hell, we can go anywhere you want.”
Too good to be true. Aiden was loyal to himself only. He’s a total scum-bucket. Definitely not to trustworthy.
“What’s in it for you?” Lucas asks.
He lowers his head, sighing. Reaching into his pocket, he fumbles around and finds a holograph chip. He grips the round edge of the chip and flips it into the air. Round and round, it spins until it hits the ground.
A beam of light expands from the center, projecting an image of a large temple.
“The Temple of Sarrian,” he says.
“What’s there?” Lucas asks.
“Unimaginable treasure,” he whispers, eyes glowing. “Nature’s true essence. A room made of solid gold. I can make us filthy rich.”
Lucas frowns and bites the edge of his tongue. Tall tales were never his bag.
“No, thanks,” he says. “I’m not doing this for the money.”
Aiden bends forward, grabbing Lucas by the wrist. Lucas shoves off him, but Aiden gets the last word in. “The trek through the Iron Eye is impossible. None have survived besides those that dwell beneath it. If you want a chance at getting through there alive, you will need me to assist. Once we’re in, we’ll find the temple.”
“I’d rather die than join up with another ouroboros. You’re all traitorous scum,” Lucas hisses.
“She’s alive, Lucas,” Aiden says. “Alive. You believe that, right? That’s why you left them.”
“I... don’t know,” Lucas growls, nearing the edge of exploding.
“Then what’s there to be afraid of?” Aiden asks. “Take a leap of faith.”
“There was a group. Separatists who believed in the apocalypse,” Lucas says.
“Extinction,” Aiden says.
“I wonder about what they said,” Lucas admits.
“That she is responsible for it all?” Aiden asks.
Blood pumping, Lucas breaks. He pushes Aiden against a rock, establishing his dominance. “What kind of question is that?”
“It’s just a question,” he groans and pushes himself away. “How far will you go for one omega? Is she worth a thousand moons, and all the stars the cosmos has to offer?”