Free Revealing Eden by Victoria Foyt Page B

that could kill a man—to rip off a long strip. Then he flung it at her dismissively, without a word or look in her direction.
    “Thanks,” Eden muttered.
    She tied it around her father’s leg, alarmed by the amount of bleeding. He groaned but kept his eyes trained on Bramford. Even now, at death’s door, he appeared to be distracted by possible solutions and heady calculations.
    “Where are we going?” she asked Bramford. “My father needs help.”
    “Far away,” he said.
    “Out of bounds?”
    He turned to stare out the window, his silence impenetrable.
    Eden sat back, wrapped up in her thoughts like her companions, as the jet zoomed past the fire zone and into the dark skies. A hundred questions filled her head. Mostly, if they flew out of bounds, how would they survive without the Uni-Gov to take care of them? She never thought she would miss it but she couldn’t imagine a single night without its oppressive but sustaining presence.
    She stole a glance at Bramford, trying to guess what hewas thinking. She felt a twinge of compassion as she considered how dramatically his life had turned. And something else also warmed her heart. She traced his broad chest down to slim hips and muscled thighs. The raw animal power coiled within him, just waiting to explode, fascinated her.
    Eden found her body tilting towards his. Maybe it was illogical for a Pearl to be drawn to such a dangerous creature, but she wanted to touch him.
    His eyes cut over to her. She jerked back and felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She heard him grunt, as she turned away. But what did it mean?
Watch out, I eat girls like you for breakfast?
    Soon, she saw the huge sign for Bramford Industries glowing in the dark above an airfield. At the end of the tarmac, feverish activity swirled around a stealth scramjet, which was capable of hypersonic speeds. You either had to be in the military or as powerful as Bramford to own one. Or as he
used to be
.
    Eden heaved a sigh of relief as they landed with a feather touch. Immediately, Bramford scooped up her father and swept outside, heading for the terrifying jet.
    “We’re not going in that, are we?” she asked, hurrying after them.
    “Come,” Bramford said.
    She hesitated. They wouldn’t be safe anywhere on this godforsaken planet so why not stay there, on the ground?
    She watched Bramford climb the stairway to the jet’s cabin, taking the steps two at a time. Her poor father dangled like a bug over his shoulder. Bramford’s bare feet pounded the metal steps. His muscular legs flexed with each leap. Themagnificent torso swayed. Like a star-struck fan, Eden imagined he could do anything—even crush the huge aircraft in his hands.
    “What’s the matter with you, Eden?” Bramford yelled.
    Exactly
. What did she care if he was powerful or even sexy? More than ever, she resented him. Only her concern for her father pushed her to follow him.
    A uniformed flight attendant appeared in the doorway to the cabin. Her dark face tightened at the sight of Bramford.
    He barked at her. “He’s been lasered. Get medical aid.”
    “Yes, sir,” the attendant said, hurrying inside.
    Eden realized with amazement that Bramford assumed her father’s bloody leg had shocked the attendant, not Bramford’s grotesque condition. Maybe he didn’t know how strange he looked or else he had forgotten. Even now, as this monstrous creature, he probably felt no different on the inside.
    Inside, Eden was never a Pearl. Sometimes at twilight, before she opened her eyes, before the damning critic in her head reminded her how ugly she was, she felt normal. Then she felt like the Real Eden.
    But how would Bramford feel when he looked in a mirror or when he saw the damming looks in others’ eyes? Maybe now he would know how it felt to be judged by your appearance.
    As soon as Eden stepped into the cabin, the ship’s engines began to whirr. She froze, painfully aware that the already slim odds of anyone ever seeing the