The Tracker Hive Academy Year One - Avery Song Page 0,77

his fingertips and sending me shocks of pleasure as they ran along my scalp.

"Being normal is overrated. It's accepted and praised. Follow the laws laid upon you by selfish politicians who thrive on money and power, and you stay off the radar. They try to hide that it’s a system that will take bribes to sneak people like us to the Black Market and let them silence us with torture and exploitation, all behind the mask of being good and acceptable."

He moved his hand from my hair, running it down the side of my face and along my chin. "They don't care about the pain those selfish actions cause. The torment we mentally face along with the initial physical pain. They have no clue what loss is. They sit in their power chairs and continue to make rules that favor them and their bank accounts. As for us? We're stuck and left to fend for ourselves."

He trailed his finger along my bottom lip. "That's why Tracker Hive was made. Created for people like us, who are considered ‘other.’”

His eyes held heartbreak that had me wondering what hurt him.

What embedded into his soul and left wounds in its wake to cause his eyes to reflect a need for vengeance?

"Zeke?" I whispered. "Did the system...or this world, hurt you, too?"

He grinned then, the action cold and laced with irony.

"There's a reason we have to stay in balance, Jade. Otherwise, I would have destroyed that Black Market and every politician who hides behind their wealth as they try to kill us," he declared.

I was silent, not afraid of his words but intrigued as to whether I could do something to help.

"Would there be something for me to do if you ended up doing so?" I pondered.

It wasn't like I was encouraging him or the others to go on a killing spree, but I felt an odd desire to join in.

His smirk now reached his black eyes.

"You just need to be you for me," he whispered, pulling me down for a kiss.

"Do you think...Zion or someone you trust can make something for hallucinations?"

He thought about it as he absentmindedly stroked my cheek.

"Yes. I...used to get them," he admitted, meeting my gaze. I didn't ask further, even though I was intrigued by the new information.

He'd share with me when he was ready, just as I was sharing bits of my past with him.

"I'll talk with Zion and we can get you on them in a few weeks. They're based on your elements. It'll take a little longer because you have all of them, but I think with the rest of my brothers’ help, it shouldn't be hard."

"Just let me know how much, all right?" I urged.

I had savings and wasn't too worried about the cost, but it was good to know, just in case I wouldn't be able to afford the treatment long-term. I'd have to space out the dosage, even if it meant I had to experience a little hallucination here or there.

"You're not paying a cent."

"But—"

"No, Jade," he whispered. "I won't take money from you and neither will the others. That's non-negotiable."

"Can I pay with something else?"

"If it's sex, no. I like having it freely when we feel like it." He smirked and kissed me.

"Then..."

"Jade."

I looked up to him and he smiled, the sweetness in his expression now reminding me of Zackery’s normal cheer.

"When you shift emotions like that, it really throws me off," I mumbled, feeling my cheeks grow red.

His seductive grin was back then, and he ran his hand down my back to my ass, squeezing it lightly.

"If you really want to pay, can you promise me something?"

"Sure." I was up for whatever he wanted.

"Let's do this again," he whispered. "Just talking...like this."

"Okay," I whispered.

"And Shadow Jade gets to destroy stuff."

I grinned. "As long as it doesn't cost you a fortune," I mumbled, kissing his chin. He chuckled. "She's still skipping out there?"

"I think so. Feels like she's multitasking and staring at the book."

"How is it entertaining for her?"

"She uses the blank pages as a way for her to imagine what could be there. I'm sure when we get home she'll start drawing in them or something. Where did you get that? It's not the hotel's book."

"I got it when you were sleeping. She appeared shortly after our last round."

"Ah," I replied. "Guess she likes you."

"Why is that?"

"She doesn't listen to others. Tanner tells her not to destroy something and she does that and more...but then again, she's like me and