Chapter 0285
Ella POV
The intensity Alexander was showing both comforted and frightened me. The situation was undeniably dangerous, and if things went wrong, the consequences could be catastrophic. But his determination was unwavering, and I couldn’t help but feel we might actually succeed.
Alexander had never let me down before, and I wasn’t abou to start doubting him now.
Still, the lack of information gnawed at me. We didn’t know exactly where David was, what car he was driving, or what he hoped to accomplish. All we had were guesses.
He was connected to Dr. McIntyre–that much was clear–and eliminating her would protect him. That made sense. He didn’t want to be recognized, so he’d taken a rental car. That made sense too.
But how did he know where she was?
We only knew because she’d told us herself. None of Alexandler’s intelligence, none of his contacts, to locate her. So how had David managed it?
had been able
The implications were chilling. His connections to the Roguelands might be even more powerful than I’d feared. Perhaps someone within the Roguelands, someone who knew where the doctor was hiding, had decided to give David the information. I couldn’t think of another explanation.
Then, there were the phonecalls Alexander had made. He knew more about what was happening than he was telling me, and I wasn’t sure why. Wouldn’t it be better for me to be fully informed? I could help more if I knew
more.
Did he not want my help? Or was there something here that he couldn’t tell me, even in such a serious situation? Now wasn’t the time to ask. I was just going to have to deal with the curiosity that was eating away at me.
Alexander was driving so fast that the scenery outside blurred, but it still felt like we might not make it in time.
It wasn’t long before the buildings around us faded away, replaced by an expanse of empty desert. Dusty ground and jagged rocks stretched as far as the eye could see.
I realized I’d never been this far north before–not even in the original timeline, when I was queen.
David had always gone north alone back then.
Part of me was fascinated by the stark, barren landscape, but I didn’t allow myself to become distracted. There was too much at stake.
After a short while, I noticed a cloud of dust rising in the distance. Leaning forward, I squinted, trying to make out the source.
Alexander pressed harder on the accelerator, the car surging forward. As we drew closer, the dust faded into three distinct trails–three separate cars speeding ahead of us.
My heart lunged in my chest. We were closing in.
We hadn’t seen another soul for miles, so this couldn’t be acoincidence. The realization hit hard: we were catching up to David–or, at least, to whoever was after Dr. McIntyre.
But another thought gnawed at me. We hadn’t crossed any kind of border–no signs, no fences, no guards. Nothing marked a transition from southern territory into the Roguelands.
I glanced at Alexander, suspicion beginning to creep in. The man had his secrets, but could they run this deep?
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0286
Did he know some hidden route into the Roguelands? Or did he have the resources to clear the way for us entirely? It seemed so unlikely.
Or perhaps Dr. McIntyre had arranged for this meeting to take place just south of the border, in territory that was technically safe. I didn’t know enough to be sure.
Then there were the cars ahead. If David had made it this far, it couldn’t be that Alexander had paved the way exclusively for us. No, we must still be in the South. That was the only explanation that made sense.
Through the swirling dust, I caught sight of something on the horizon a building. It was low and wide, slightly darker red than the surrounding landscape, just visible against the flat expanse.
It wasn’t a boulder or a mirage. It was man–made.
There hadn’t been any other structures for miles, so this had to be it. This was where Dr. McIntyre was hiding. We were going to make it.
But we weren’t going to get there first.
The three cars ahead of us–one black and two that were different shades of blue–had picked up speed, their dust trails growing thicker as they fought to stay in the lead.
Alexander leaned forward slightly in his seat, his grip on the steering wheel unyielding as he pushed the car limits. The tires kicked up a spray of sand and gravel as we raced across the desert.
We were gaining on them, but they remained maddeningly just out of reach.
“Is that it?” I asked as we approached the building looming in the distance.
“Yes,”
“Alexander replied, his voice steady, but I could feel the tension radiating from him.
My anxiety spiked as 1 glanced at the cars speeding ahead of us. It had to be David. There was no other reason they’d be rushing toward the same remote building unless they were after Dr. McIntyre too.
to its
My heart pounded in my ears, and I dug my fingernails into my palms. I had to do something–there had to be a way to stop them from getting there first.
“The black car–it’s one of mine,” Alexander said, his calculating gaze fixed on the road ahead. “But I don’t recognize the other two.”
“Neither do I,” I admitted, my voice tight. “But there’s only one explanation.”
Alexander’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles turning white. The realization hit me like a jolt: he didn’t have a plan.
Alexander always had a plan. Always.
As if he had read my mind, Alexander suddenly said, “I have an idea. Hold on tight.”
I looked at him with confusion as he reached beneath the dash of the car and opened a hidden compartment. Then, he pushed a button.
The car surged forward, inertia pressing me into my seat. My pulse pounded as we closed in on the other vehicles. If felt like the force of our speed had forced all of the air out of my lungs.
Alexander was forced back as well, but his icy resolve didn’t change. We sped past the other cars as if we w standing still.
I felt like I was going to panic, but I forced the fear down. We had to win this time.
2/3
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0205
David would finally be out of my life.
The thought fueled my determination. I took deep, even breaths.
Within seconds, Alexander had pulled ahead of the other cats. Then, with terrifying precision, he slammed on the brakes. The car fishtalled wildly, spinning in a full 360–degree loop. A thick wall of dust exploded around us, blinding the drivers behind.
Alexander threw the car into park and his bright eyes fixed on me.
“Stay in the car,” he ordered.
I started to argue, but before the words could even leave my mouth he was out of the car and sprinting towards the nearby building.
I watched him go with anxiety twisting in my gut. The other cars were nearly here. There was no way Alexander could get in, get Dr. McIntyre, and return to the car before they got to him.
The danger of the situation was impossible to miss. I had to do something to help Alexander.
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0286
