Hysterian wasn’t like a wrestler. He had a ripped, lean way to him. His neck and arms were long, and what she could see of his facial features were sharp and piercing, giving them the appearance of elongation without the uncanniness.
He was one of a kind.
He clearly looked down at them.
Pushing her sudden hatred and curiosity deep within her, she greeted him. “Captain,” she said thickly, nodding her head. His eyes went to her, and she nearly choked on her heart.
“Ms. Dear, Gilmartin, you’re needed in the menagerie. Now.”
“Yes, sir,” both she and Raul said at once, breaking the tense moment.
Hysterian remained in the doorway when Raul tried to leave, refusing to let him pass. Awkwardly, Raul waited for him to move so he could obey the order. Alexa remained behind. She was immobilized under the Cyborg’s gaze.
His cold, black eyes were hard to be under, and Alexa tried not to balk. She summoned her courage and clenched her hands.
It would be better if Hysterian didn’t know she existed. The longer she stayed under his radar, the easier it would be to destroy him. If he saw her coming…she was as good as dead.
His heavy stare bore into her, and as it did, her anxiety grew. Could he read her intentions? Did he see through her mask? Did Cyborgs really read minds?
Alexa’s fear spiked. This was too much, too fast. She wasn’t ready. Her fingers trembled.
No one should be subjected to this murderous Cyborg’s intimidation.
Hysterian stepped aside, breaking eye contact with her, startling her out of her rising panic.
“Raul, you can go now. We’ll meet you in the lab,” he ordered.
“I think—” Raul began.
Hysterian scowled at Raul, and she never saw a man cower so fast. Alexa was sure she’d been cowering a moment ago. Raul gave her an apologetic look as he fled.
It was just her and Hysterian now.
For nearly twelve years, she dreamed of this moment. She was sixteen when she’d discovered her dad’s body. This moment, in her head, was her getting justice, with Hysterian on the floor, waiting for the final blow, unable to stop her.
This moment never had her recovering from a near panic attack.
“Captain”—she swallowed, trying not to wither when his gaze returned to her—“what can I do for you?” His pupils jittered, but it happened so fast she couldn’t be sure.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Dear,” he said, reaching out his hand.
Alexa stared at it.
‘We’re not supposed to get too close.’ Raul’s warning fluttered through her head.
Hysterian’s hand was gloved, covered like the rest of him. She recalled rumors about his skin on Elyria… One touch: bliss or death.
This is a test.
Holding back her need to wipe her palm on her suit, she clasped his hand. His fingers wrapped tightly around hers, and his thumb pressed down into the back of her hand, trapping it so thoroughly that fear zipped up her spine.
Their hands shook once before she jerked it out of his grasp.
“Nice to…meet you, Captain,” she managed, pressing her nails into her palm. “Are you okay?”
Hysterian’s head cocked.
Alexa wished she could read his expression, but his mouth was covered.
She didn’t even know what Hysterian truly looked like. It bothered her. She liked to imagine he was the ugliest motherfucker there ever was, but she knew that wasn’t true. She had a picture of him facing away, looking at something outside the frame, in the lining of her bag. Just the contour of his face proved he was handsome.
All Cyborgs were uncannily attractive.
Fuck them. A lot of people are attractive and are evil.
“I run hot, Dear.”
“Is that why you cover yourself up?” she asked before she could think better of it.
“Do you always ask so many idiotic questions of your superiors?”
Her lips pursed. “No, sir. I apologize. You startled me, that’s all. I’ll get out of your way and head for the menagerie.” She needed to get out of here before she asked or did something really dumb. Getting fired before they even took off would hurt her chances of success.
She couldn’t let her dad down, not after everything she’d been through, everything she risked.
She tried to leave, but he stepped in front of her, blocking the exit again.
“I am teasing,” he said, further confusing her. “I don’t mind questions. Raul told you I was a shifter, and he’s right. I just run hotter than most, but it’s not why I cover myself, Dear.”
The way he said her name made her uncomfortable. “You were listening to Raul and me?”
“Yes.”
She was suddenly