Lor by Lily Mayne

My role as Moric—ruler of a small and prosperous fiefdom in a quiet corner of the world—has always been painfully dull and stifling.

Until a beautiful, otherworldly creature with pink skin and a mane of golden hair falls through a strange void that has appeared in my guestroom.

And I am instantly captivated by him.

I have never seen anything like him. I have no idea where he came from, and what else is through that unsettling void—another world filled with soft-skinned, defenceless creatures like him? No tails, no horns, no claws, no sharp teeth. Tiny clothing, rounded ears, bright blue eyes. He is fascinating. And I want to keep him.

But I have no idea how my citizens and councillors will react to his presence—to the knowledge that a whole other world exists, and there is a portal to it in my guestroom. As much as I try to keep him my secret, the truth starts to slip out.

And those in my fiefdom who cling desperately onto power do their best to tear us apart. To take him from me.

I won’t let them.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon

My Rating - ★★★★★

A himbo from Earth falls into a void and lands at the feet of monsters. He's scared, they're scared, and there's a language barrier. It didn't take them long to figure things out and turn an awkward meet-cute into something beautiful. Jugs was an absolute sweetheart and Lor was no slouch.

I really enjoyed getting a behind-the-scenes look at the monster world. Learning about all of the monsters, how they interact, the politics that are way too similar to real life, how they live... it gave me all that I thought I could want from this series.

So the monsters we've met and their human mates are in the monster world. I'm so excited to see how all of these people act when they're together.

How is it possible that this series just keeps getting better and better? I'm already in love with the world-buiding, the connections between the characters (both monsters and humans alike), and everything in between. This author captures the bonds these people share so beautifully and I can't get enough!

Here's some fantastic fanart!!

Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.

She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.

She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.

Find out more at lily-mayne.com

The man he'd been before—the young soldier Luke Buckley,
who'd already been all alone in the world—was gone.
He was only Seraph now.
The monster the military had made him.

Seraph by Lily Mayne

Previous books in the series: Soul Eater * Edin * The Rycke * Gloam * Moth

I’ve already mentally prepared myself to kill the screaming, murderous monster in the cage outside our camp.

I’m used to it. It’s what I do here. Kill monsters and other people. And this monster, Seraph, is particularly unstable—has been since the moment he arrived from Collector Mary’s monster menagerie to the west, where the military stashed him away.

He’s in pain. I can see it. But he’s not a mindless beast. Not like some of the others think.

When I start guarding him in his cage every night, I begin to see the person beneath the agony that tortures his every waking moment. I begin to see who Seraph could have been if he hadn’t been twisted into this monstrous creature.

I realise that I wouldn’t be able to bring myself to kill him, even for his own sake, but it doesn’t matter anyway. He’s already dying, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. Not even when new visitors at our raider camp bring with them secrets about Seraph. Secrets the military has tried to hide.

Secrets that reveal the true extent of the horror he’s been put through.

And now… Now, I will kill anyone who tries to hurt him again.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon

Have tissues and a strong fan ready because Seraph and Lilac were so heartbreaking and explicitly filthy together!

For years, Lilac had isolated himself within the walls of the raider camp. He was the go-to killer of monsters, although his job was getting kinda redundant with all the monsters moving in. He hadn't learned to get close to anyone, though he did consider Rig and Ghost friends. And then Seraph made an appearance and everything changed.

I had an inkling of Seraph's background and I was very sad to realize that I was right. However, I fell in love with the way this author created his story. The pain of his new journey as a monster touched my heart so deeply. The humanity she infused his character with made me smile SO HARD. And what ended up growing, slowly but surely between Seraph and Lilac, was illustrated so beautifully that I'm not sure if I'll ever be the same after witnessing it.

Can I just say... the scenes between Seraph and the other monsters... so freaking sweet. I already loved them, but the tenderness, patience and understanding they showed Seraph made me love them all so much more. I can't wait to see what is next for these monsters and their human mates. Heading to the monster world sounds like it's going to be a trip!

Some gorgeous fanart:

Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.

She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.

She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.

Find out more at lily-mayne.com

Yeah, I was attracted to Moth,
even though he was an assh*le most of the time and in love with a raider.
And I was pretty sure that he was attracted to me too, even just a little.
I was also pretty sure that he hated it.

Moth by Lily Mayne

Previous books in the series: Soul Eater * Edin * The Rycke * Gloam

When I—along with my best friend and his big purple monster boyfriend—come across a fortress-like raider camp while journeying across the monster-infested Wastes, we stop to deliver a message.

Somehow, that simple pit stop turns into a seemingly impossible quest to get this camp’s missing leader out of the prison where he’s being held and forced to fight monsters and other humans. And I know exactly where it is, because I’ve been there.

Problem is, I’m making this journey with the prickliest and most arrogant guy I’ve ever met, who seems to immediately hate me on sight. Oh, and he’s also half monster. So there’s that. And he’s in love with a raider who definitely does not love him back, and he seems determined to take it out on me. So there’s also that.

But I’m not going to rise to his childish insults and barbed words. I’m not.

I’m also going to try very hard to ignore how mindnumbingly beautiful he is, even when he’s scowling at me.

But the longer we’re out here together, the more I learn about my prickly half monster companion Moth. I realise there’s a reason he’s so closed off and angry. There’s a reason he hates everyone.

There are secrets he’s been keeping, and when I find out what they are, I want to do everything in my power to help him—even though he’s telling me he can’t be helped.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon

Wow! I was begging for Charlie's book.
I was yearning for Moth's book.
Getting these two together blew my f*cking mind!!

So here's the gist:

• a virgin hero (not telling who it is)
• the sighting of new monsters—some friendly and some not so much
• Moth is a badass with a sword
• a visit with all of our favorite characters (I'm looking at you, Wyn and Danny, Edin and Hunter, Aury and Ghost, Gloam and Rig)
• hot sex. Can't have a monster book in this series without incredibly hot and imaginative sex
• deeper insight on the Wastes, the raider network, and the cramped cities the survivors inhabit.

Okay, so the mysterious Moth is half-monster and that comes with its own baggage. That is a story you have to bust this book open to discover. Know that his story is tragic and I want to fight some fictional people on his behalf.

Full of insecurities and vulnerabilities, Moth puts on a good show. He's untouchable, he's tough, and he's fine all by himself. Except it's all a lie and Charlie seems to be the only one who sees it.
Charlie finds himself extremely attracted to this beautiful male. Once they're bound to travel together to find the elusive raider camp leader, Cat, things between them were destined to change.

At least it was obvious to me.

I loved the way the relationship developed between these characters. It had an almost enemies-to-lovers vibe and I enjoyed every moment in which Charlie got Moth to melt. I don't even want to tell you any more about it because I'm afraid of spoiling it all and I really want you to find out for yourself.

And here's some fanart for this book:

Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.

She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.

She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.

Find out more here: https://lily-mayne.com

It made me forever grateful that he wanted to be with me, because the thought of him falling prey to anyone who would take advantage of his gentle nature made me want to murder things.
All the things.

Wyn by Lily Mayne

I am a monster.

A ghoul. A demon. The bogeyman. I have been called all of them. Most creatures fear me, but humans are repulsed by me. They are terrified of me. They have created legends about me, ever since they became aware of my existence when the tear between our worlds grew and we—the monsters from their nightmares—flooded through in our droves.

There is only one human who isn’t afraid of me. The only one who matters. And I will destroy anyone who tries to hurt him or take him from me. Danny is mine.

For the first time in my unfathomably long life, I know what it means to want another so much that the thought of losing him threatens to ruin me. I will do anything to keep Danny with me for as long as I can have him—for as long as he is willing to stay by the side of an ancient, scarred creature with a voice so inhuman it has sent some mad.

For some reason, Danny loves my voice. For some reason, Danny loves me. And when we both decide that his natural human life is nowhere near enough time for us to have together, we go on a journey between worlds to the one place where we can do what it takes for us to be together forever.


If I didn't already absolutely love Danny and Wyn, I would now. How adorable are these two? The love between them is surreal and I couldn't be happier for what they accomplished by the end of this story.

I'm not even going to get into what happened here. Just know that the love game is very strong within Wyn and Danny is still head over heels for his favorite monster.

I learned a bit about monster society, the beauty to be found beyond the tear, and that happy endings for these human/monster partnerships are truly possible.

If you've already fallen for these two, READ THIS BOOK!



Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.

She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.

She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.

Find out more here: https://lily-mayne.com

"You're not my weakness," I mumbled shakily against his mouth.
"You make me better."

My Rating - ★★★★★
Standalone - Monstrous #4
Release - December 3, 2021
Genre - Paranormal MM Romance / forced proximity
POV - Single 1st person
Heat - 5 out of 5
Format - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 413 pages

Other books in the series: Soul Eater * Edin * The Rycke

When a strange woman shows up outside our camp in the Wastes with monsters chained up to her RV, it feels like I’m the only one who actually wants to help them.

That big, grey-skinned monster with the cage on his head and the chain hanging from his back—something is telling me I need to help him. I need to free him. But I have absolutely no idea how I’m supposed to do that, especially when he can’t even talk to me to tell me how.

Collector Mary is finally leaving our camp to head back to her monster menagerie, so I do the only thing I can think of to help him. I go with her.

Now, this big beastie and I are traveling companions for the foreseeable future. Now I just have to think of a way to get that cage off his head, which seems like an impossible task. But I’m not giving up. He has no one else, and when I start to discover who he is beneath the cage, my motivation to free him becomes far more than just a desire to help.

This is so dangerous. The military is lurking. Vicious monsters are lurking. And when Mary turns out to be even worse than we could have ever imagined, my desperate bid to save this monster turns into a deadly game of cat and mouse.

I’m pretty sure I’m going to die out here.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon

I don’t know how it happened, but this became my favorite book of the series. While I still very much love Wyn and Edin and Aury… Gloam and Adam are in a league of their own. It could be due to the purity of their hearts, the utter lengths they would go to for each other, how they just fit… Honestly, it was a mix of things that made them the most glorious couple in the monster-verse.


Gloam was beholden to a terrible woman (I’m looking at you, Mary, you truly despicable woman) for reasons unknown. Rig was determined to free him, despite the misgivings of others in his camp. This young man, who was completely terrified of being “out there”, thought nothing of leaving his relatively safe life behind to help Gloam. He knew this monster was in trouble and he was just the person to fix things for him. And what grew between them, slowly but surely, became something truly beautiful.

Word of warning: this book was probably the filthiest of the bunch. It was definitely not safe to read around people. I gasped and choked quite a bit. I loved every minute of it!!

In the end, I’ve got so many questions and I hope things become much clearer in the books to come.
➤ What is up with Seraph? Dude has many eyes… I don’t know how I’m going to be able to humanize him. I won’t lie, it’s been easy to see the attraction with the monsters so far, despite them having black tipped fingers and turning into mist, being purple with horns, or having wings and birdlike feet (and being able to transform into a true monster). But for a rabid monster with a ton of eyes… I can’t see it… yet.
➤ So it seems like Edin was rolling up on the camp? Good thing or bad?
➤ Will Mary’s journals have viable information that can help Seraph? Otherwise, how are he and Lilac going to get their HEA? Yes, I’m already shipping them!
➤ Speaking of Lilac, did something happen to him to turn him into a silent killer? He seems to have deep emotions so I’m curious to see his backstory in his story to come.



Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.

She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.

She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.

Find out more here: https://lily-mayne.com

One's face broke into a huge, beautiful grin, and I knew that was it.
I was utterly smitten.
Totally, one hundred percent gone for this strange, winged monster with creepy black eyes
and ghostly, green-tinged skin.

My Rating - ★★★★★
Standalone - Monstrous #3
Release - August 9, 2021
Genre - Paranormal MM Romance / apocalypse
POV - Single 1st person
Heat - 5 out of 5
Format - ebook from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 317 pages

Other books in the series: Soul Eater * Edin

Life as a raider in the Wastes, where monsters roam and the military lurks, is as easy as it sounds.

I’ve been out here for a long time, and the fear that courses through my blood every time I have to step outside our camp walls to scavenge never fades. No matter how many monsters you face—and have to run for your life from—it doesn’t ever get easier.

But when I come across a bound and injured monster in an abandoned military base, I can’t leave him behind. His presence in our camp is causing tension, but I can’t bring myself to care when I get to see a different side to him—when he starts to show me who he is, beneath the pain and lingering trauma.

But despite his gentle nature, I soon discover why others are so desperate to own him. Why the military, and now this stranger lurking outside our camp, want to put him back in chains and take him away from me.

There’s something hiding under his skin. Something that threatens to upend my entire life, the one I’ve spent my years carefully protecting out here.

There’s a reason why all other monsters fear him.

Find The Rycke here: Goodreads * Amazon

After learning bits and pieces about the rycke, I wasn’t sure how this creature could be captured in a way that would engender feelings of romance. I don’t even know why I doubted his author because she’s delivered everything I could possibly hope for with every book.

Meeting Aury was such a unique experience. Here was this monster, who was supposed to be the one beast that was feared by all other monsters, and he was the kindest, most gentlest soul of them all. The author did such a beautiful job of capturing his vulnerability, even after he had just committed a horrific act. Gosh, Aury crying grabbed me in my freaking soul!

Gage was such a sweetheart. As a real pushover, he didn’t really come into his own until he met Aury. I’m really digging all of these men in this apocalyptic world full on monster-loving the hell out of their new world!


With ‘The Rycke’, we get our first real glimpse of what life is like for humans living in the Wastes. It’s certainly not pretty and I found it downright terrifying. I don’t know how I would survive in similar circumstances and can’t help but marvel at the bravery of these characters.

While I’m not sure what happens next in this series, I do recognize that there are a few people who I need to see again. What happened to the guy Hunter met in the pit? Whatever happened to his best friend Charlie? And will we be finding Rig again?

I must not forget to share the fanart I fell in love with for this book:

Aury by Femkeneri

Everyone I've met (or will meet) by grandmechantlapin

Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.

She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.

She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.

──────　♔　──────

Edin by Lily Mayne

I was just a boy when the monsters rose on earth, forcing humans to flee to the coastlines and live in cramped, dirty, military-controlled cities. I enlisted as soon as I could to escape.

Now, I’ve been in the military for twelve years and have the scars—and missing body parts—to prove it. As a hardened soldier who’s spent his fair share of time out in the Wastes—the dangerous place where monsters roam free—I didn’t think anything could surprise me anymore.

But then circumstance forced me together with a big, annoying purple monster who’s arrogant and bossy and pushes all my buttons in the worst—and best—ways. I need his help, and I hate needing anyone’s help. But the more time I spend with him, the more I realise that maybe there’s more from him that I need. And that he might need things from me too.

But I’m still a soldier. I still have responsibilities. It doesn’t matter how I feel about Edin, because we can’t be together. It’s too dangerous.

That doesn’t stop me wanting him, though.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon

I didn’t like this one as much as I did the first book (Soul Eater). I loved Edin. I loved him from the first time he was introduced through Wyn. I knew I’d love him more in his own book and I did. He was such a happy go-lucky male, but he also had so much depth to him. A tragic past weighed heavily upon him, however, he was still able to find and inspire hope, feel deeply, and, in many ways, honor his people.

Hunter was hard to like. It took most of the book for me to change my mind about him. He was selfish and self-serving. I get that he was desperate to save his friend, but even he recognized that he wasn’t being a good person. I believe Edin deserved so much more from him, right from the start. Here’s this overgrown alien who stops to help you, puts himself in danger for you, cares for you, etc. He gave far more than what he got.

I was so happy to see Wyn and Danny again and for some more justice to be served. Bye bye Mallory lol.

Edin and his purple c*ck ruled the show and I enjoyed how Hunter found a new part of himself. He loved submitting sexually for Edin. In the end, they were well-matched and I'm actually looking forward to seeing both of them again in the books to come.

Have I mentioned how in love I am with the fan art for this series???




Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.

She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.

She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.

──────　♔　──────

Soul Eater by Lily Mayne

Twenty years ago, monsters rose on earth and began a new age of civilization.

One where humans live in military-controlled, cramped and dirty cities along the coasts, and the majority of the United States is known as the Wastes. A lawless, desolate and dangerous place, teeming with monsters that have claimed the land for their own.

Including Wyn the Soul Eater.

He appears every three years, making his way across the country and slaughtering humans randomly, sucking them dry until they’re nothing but husks.

I’ve only been in the military for six months, but now I’m part of a unit tasked with trying to stop and capture him. And when I’m the only soldier out of hundreds that the Soul Eater leaves alive, I realise that… something about me has intrigued him.

But what is it? What could a twenty-three year old guy from the south, with no one and nothing in the world, have possibly done to capture the attention of a death monster with horns, blackened fingertips and a face hidden in the dark depths of his hood?

Soul Eater is the debut novel of Lily Mayne. It is the first in a planned post-apocalyptic fantasy series featuring monsters and human men falling in love. Warning: This m/m love story contains explicit content and is not suitable for young readers. There are also graphic depictions of torture and violence.





I don't know how I found this book, but I'm so freaking glad I did!

For a debut book, this author could teach other authors a few things. While it took me a bit to become invested, once I was, there was absolutely no letting go of the characters I met.

Danny was a heartbreaker. As a human, he didn't have many options for a life—live in a cramped city with little chance for employment, live in the wastes scrounging for food, or join the military. As a soldier, he realized that his life didn't mean much to the higher ups and when he and his unit are used as cannon fodder, he decides that maybe the military life isn't for him. Hunting and capturing monsters isn't what he signed up for and he can't help but sympathize with the beings who are being imprisoned and tortured.

When they bring in Wyn the Soul Eater, Danny can't help but be drawn to this incredibly strong and mysterious being that no one can understand. He can't be killed and seems to just be biding his time. And for some reason, while he killed every other member of Danny's unit, Danny survived. Not only that, but Wyn seems to be as drawn to Danny as he is to him.

And I was just here... loving every moment between them.

I loved that they both had this vulnerability to them that fed into the compassion and yearning they felt. I found their every interaction endearing and touching, even the filthy bits!

Don't even get me started on Edin, Wyn's purple demon friend. I think he gets a book of his own and I'm eager to read it.

If you enjoy stories about people finding love in the most unlikely place, with the most unlikely person, then this book is most definitely for you!


Lily Mayne writes what she loves to read: achingly sweet yet gritty romances against unusual backdrops—dark, futuristic, dystopian and more.

She enjoys reading and writing (duh), cooking and baking, watching terrible horror movies and many other hobbies that would have potentially made her an ideal Victorian maid. Just a really lazy one.

She currently lives in the UK with her husband and several fluffballs, who like to make a lot of noise while she’s writing.

Standalone - Hell Squad #1
Release - April 19, 2015
Genre - Scifi Romance / apocalypse
POV - Dual 3rd person
Heat - 3.5 out of 5
Format - ebook purchase from Amazon
Length - 217 pages
Publisher - Indie

My Two Cents

The Author

She was good.
Fast, tough, smart.
A fearless warrior.
But her strength was also a weakness.
Nina was willing to throw herself at the world because she was so damn competent, she'd never lost.
She had overcome every obstacle and out-thought every opponent.
Until him.

Standalone? - Mercenary Librarians #1
Release - July 28, 2020
Genre - SciFi Romance / apocalypse
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 3.5 / a few scenes
Format/Source - ebook purchase from Amazon / hardcover purchase from Book Outlet
Length - 336 pages
Publisher - Tor Books

My Two Cents

Excerpt

About Kit Rocha

Visit https://www.kitrocha.com/ for more information

He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster.

And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.

- Friedrich Nietzsche

Standalone - Scorpius Syndrome #1
Release - January 26, 2016
Genre - Romantic Suspense / post-apocalyptic
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat Level - 4
Format/Source - Kindle purchase
Length - 384 pages
Publisher - Zebra Books

Despair hungered in the darkness, not lingering, not languishing . . . but waiting to bite. No longer the little brother of rage, despair had taken over the night, ever present, an actor instead of an afterthought.
Lynne picked her way along the deserted twelve-lane interstate, allowing the weak light from the moon to guide her. An unnatural silence hung heavy over the barren land. Rusting carcasses of vehicles lined the sides; otherwise, the once-vibrant 405 was dead.
Her months of hiding had taught her stealth. Prey needed stealth, as did the hunter.
She was both.
The tennis shoes she’d stolen from an abandoned thrift store protected her feet from the cracked asphalt, while a breeze scented with death and decomposing vegetation lifted her hair. The smell had saturated the wind as she’d trekked across the country.
The world was littered with dead bodies and devoid of souls.
A click echoed in the darkness. About time. Predators, both human and animal, crouched in every shadow, but she’d made it closer to what used to be Los Angeles than she’d hoped.
A strobe light hit her full on, rendering sight impossible. The miracle of functioning batteries brought pain. She closed her eyes. They’d either kill her or not. Either way, no need to go blind. “I want to see Mercury.” Since she’d aimed for the center of Mercury’s known territory, hopefully she’d find him and not some rogue gang.
Silence. Then several more clicks. Guns of some type. They’d closed in silently, just as well trained as she’d heard. As she’d hoped.
She forced strength into her voice. “You don’t want to kill me without taking me to Mercury first.” Jax Mercury, to be exact. If he still lived. If not, she was screwed anyway.
“Why would we do that?” A voice from the darkness, angry and near.
She squinted, blinking until her pupils narrowed. The bright light exposed her and concealed them, weakening her knees, but she gently set her small backpack on the ground. She had to clear her throat to force out sound. “I’m Lynne Harmony.”
Gasps, low and male, filled the abyss around her. “Bullshit,” a voice hissed from her left.
She tilted her head toward the voice, and then slowly, so slowly they wouldn’t be spooked, she unbuttoned her shirt. No catcalls, no suggestive responses followed. Shrugging her shoulders, she dropped the cotton to the ground, facing the light.
She hadn’t worn a bra, but she doubted the echoing exhales of shock were from her size Bs. More likely the shimmering blue outline of her heart caught their attention. Yeah, she was a freak. Typhoid Mary in the body of a woman who’d failed. Big time. But she might be able to save the men surrounding her. “So. Jax Mercury. Now.”
One man stepped closer. Gang tattoos lined his face, inked tears showing his kills. He might have been thirty, he might have been sixty. Regardless, he was dangerous, and he smelled like dust combined with body odor. A common smell in the plague-riddled world. Eyeing her chest, he quickly crossed himself. “Holy Mary, Mother of God.”
“Not even close.” A silent overpass loomed a few yards to the north, and her voice echoed off the concrete. The piercing light assaulted her, spinning the background thick and dark. Her temples pounded, and her hollow stomach ached. Wearily, she reached down and grabbed her shirt, shrugging it back on. She figured the “take me to your leader” line would get her shot. “Do you want to live or not?”
He met her gaze, his scarred upper lip twisting. “Yes.”