Newcomers weren’t shunned, but they weren’t welcomed with opened arms either. Protection and suspicion kept most residents in tight familiar groups. Anyone who didn’t know where they were going inside your city was definitely not familiar.
“I guess I’ll have to do this the hard way.” I peered down at the fox that stood close but didn’t touch. “I doubt you’ll be welcome here.”
He showed a little of his sharp teeth.
I shrugged. “I’m not even welcome here.”
The fox whined, his head tilting back with it.
“I’m sorry.” I shooed him with both hands. “Go on now. You don’t want someone slitting your throat just to have a nice silver fur hat.”
As if he understood me, he jerked his adorable head in the direction the snobbish woman had disappeared. He raced away, his furry tail swooshing back and forth.
My companion on this trip was now gone.
I was truly alone.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Please just tell me where the Military House is,” I begged.
Yet another resident of New City lifted their nose in my direction and passed me by. The streets were crowded, and the buildings were too polished. I’d literally had to buy a pair of sunglasses. All of the sparkling windows and gleaming metals and coppers were hard to view. I was used to the concrete coloring of the military bases around the world. My eyes couldn’t handle all of the vibrant colors at once, each new turn down a different street startling with a kaleidoscope of brilliant shades of the rainbow.
And it was so shiny.
I groaned and rubbed my forehead. I stood frozen on the sidewalk of another street of visual pain and peered left and right. No one was going to speak with me.
I was running out of time!
I only had fifteen minutes left.
I wished again for the hundredth time since entering this godforsaken city that the Military House had a number listed in a directory. Any directory. I had checked them all when buying my sunglasses.
I stretched my back muscles and started running.
Ten minutes later, I stopped to take a breath.
My hands were on my sides while my chest heaved with much-needed oxygen. Sweat beaded down my temples and under my heavy sweater. I dropped my bag for relief from the weight while I searched frantically for any indication of where I was supposed to be.
I had stopped directly in front of the ginormous building that wore a golden crown. This street was even more blinding because of the damn thing. I turned and glared at the white monstrosity.
Then I read the lettering on the massive sign in the sloping courtyard of grass. Fucking unbelievable.
It was King Corporation.
I couldn’t get away from the man.
The man who put a damn crown on his building.
He couldn’t be any more arrogant if he wanted.
A group of men sauntered by, all tall and fit. They held coffee cups in their hands and sipped the hot liquid with leisure as they chatted together. They wore simple dress slacks and collared shirts. But all ten men paused in their trek in the courtyard where they were heading to King Corporation. As one, they straightened and turned around, scanning the area with their laser focus.
I glanced around for signs of fighting.
Except no trouble was happening.
There were only more innocent people in their flashy attire walking toward their destinations, a few with swords strapped to their back or hips and others with knives like mine. It was all very normal.
The group of men kept glancing side to side.
I hesitated but grabbed my bag and hurried in their direction. Ten people to ask were better than one on the street.
The guy in the middle muttered, “I didn’t think he was coming back until tomorrow. I still need to get that project done. I figured I had another day.”
They all appeared confused, still searching.
“Maybe he returned early,” another guy mumbled.
“Excuse me!” I stated, still out of breath. I waved my hand and caught their attention. When they didn’t instantly ignore me like half the people in New City did, I moved even faster. I stopped directly in front of them, and asked quickly, “Do any of you know where the Military House is?”
All ten men froze where they stood.
My red brows puckered.
They were going to ignore me too. I just knew it.
“Please,” I begged. My head was tilted all the way back to stare into their eyes. They were damn big. “I only have a few minutes before I need to be there. Will you please help me?”
The man in the middle coughed behind a quick fist and stared hard at me. “Where did you say, miss?”
My eyes widened in delight. Those were more words than anyone had spoken to me all day. I rushed to speak, babbling, “The Military House. I only have a few minutes remaining before they lock their doors.”
He blinked at me, inhaling deeply. His gaze ran over my features, his own eyes wide—but it looked like shock. “We can escort you there. It’s just a street over.”
“Yes!” I grabbed his hand and yanked him behind me, already walking over the soft hills of grass to the sidewalk. “Do you mind if we run?”
“Not at all, miss.” When I released his hand, he started jogging just a little in front of me. He peered back over his shoulder. “Is this a good pace for you?”
“It’s fine. Please just get me there.”
There were pounding feet behind me.
I sucked oxygen at the quick run but glimpsed the glass of the building next to me. In the reflection, the other nine men were running behind me at a steady pace. It was extremely odd, but these men were my current saving grace—as long as they actually took me to the right place. Though, I was impressed none of them spilled their coffee while they ran. Their cups didn’t have lids. My hand would have been burned all over if I were doing that.
They had been right. It was one street over directly behind King Corporation. The golden crown even shaded a portion of the building at this time of day.