The Perfect Outcast by Melissa O. Hansen

Author:Melissa O. Hansen [Hansen, Melissa O.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Immortal Works
Published: 2020-09-08T05:00:00+00:00

The next morning, after Rex joined Alina and Jade in their room for breakfast, Baylor poked his head in and announced they must all complete a wilderness survival course before traveling to Jaden.

“Lance’s orders,” he emphasized. “But Jade, you’re permitted to observe the exercise portion since you’re recovering from surgery.”

“Do we have to do this?” Rex complained. Alina knew how much he wanted to get to Jaden and see Camden.

Baylor glared at him. “You have no idea how dangerous it is out there.”

An hour later they met in the basement of their building, in a large gym surrounded by mats, climbable walls, and shooting ranges. Baylor, dressed in electric blue sweats and white running shoes, was already running laps. He ordered them to follow.

Alina sprinted off gracefully and enjoyed the exhilaration of being good at something. She’d hated to run in Pria, where kids made fun of her. Now she knew why. Rex looked angry as he ran with arms flailing, his face twisted into a grimace. When he passed Jade on the bench, she smothered her laughter with a towel.

They spent the morning learning first-aid skills and shooting poisonous darts similar to the quills from the killing stones. Baylor explained how the darts killed creatures and humans instantly, and as there was no antidote, they must handle the guns with care. This did little to help Rex, who became too nervous to shoot straight. Jade fared slightly better. Alina hit every target dead in the center, and Rex kept calling her a show-off.

They took a break for lunch, and as they sat on a mat eating, Baylor walked to a woman on the other side of the gym and kissed her on the lips. A young girl hugged him, and the three of them chatted lively, their voices echoing across the room. Baylor glanced in their direction, then made a discreet but accurate impression of Rex running. The woman and girl broke into laughter. Rex was so hungry he didn’t notice.

“Do you think that’s Baylor’s wife?” Jade asked, which got Rex’s attention. He stopped chewing and looked at them.

“And maybe the girl is his daughter,” Alina said. “She looks about my age.”

Jade nodded. “Come, let’s go introduce ourselves.”

They polished off their lunch, stood up and started across the gym. Baylor walked to meet them halfway.

He introduced them to Janet, his wife, a handsome woman with smooth, dark skin. Her jet-black hair was pulled into a spiky bun, and her exercise clothes flattered her fit, muscular body. Their daughter, Trinee, was a year younger than Alina. She had clusters of blemishes on her cheeks and full lips above her bright teeth.

Trinee smiled at Alina. “My father says you’re doing great—you’ve mastered the course and it’s only been a few hours.”

“Well, it’s easy when you’re—like me.” Alina didn’t know if she should speak about her immortality. But Trinee already knew.

She leaned in to whisper to her. “Don’t worry, I know about you, and I’m not jealous. My dad said being immortal isn’t as great as it seems.

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