Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 134: Crisis

Chapter 134: Crisis

As the familiar scent of home assailed his nostrils and the laughter of his wife and child echoed in his ears, Alex found himself back at home, in the kitchen, cooking with his beautiful Isabella and their troublesome daughter.

It was all fun and games until it was not... until the painful reminder that it was just a dream struck Alex like a thunderbolt.

With a wry smile at the corner of his lips and a sad look in his eyes, Alex gazed upon his family.

"Alex?... What’s wrong?"

"Dad, you look sad."

Both wife and child spoke up simultaneously, leaving Alex even more pained.

Practically forcing the words out of his mouth, he replied. "I’ll be leaving now."

"Huh, but why?"

"Don’t go, Daddy. Stay with me and mummy."

Alex tried to speak but found himself unable to say anything reasonable.

His heart ached and until a full minute passed did he have the courage to speak up. "I’m sorry, little one... but I promise I’ll return. It might not be immediately but don’t worry, I will come back."

And with those words, Alex stepped out of the kitchen, and seeing the familiar darkness that encompassed his memories, he let out a deep and tired sigh.

Soon, he awoke from his slumber to find Nadia’s face barely inches from his own.

His eyes first landed on the red kite-shaped crystal embedded in her forehead before moving on to her fox-like eyes and aquiline nose.

They trailed further down, moving from her dark lips to her cleavages before he caught himself lacking.

Taking a deep breath, he tried to pull away but Nadia suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist, keeping him in place.

Though her brows were furrowed, revealing she was in some kind of discomfort, her eyes remained closed allowing Alex to guess that she was still sleeping.

He slowly reached out and placed his hand over her own before trying to remove it but Nadia resisted.

Trying once again, he paused as Nadia spoke up.

"No, Alex. Don’t go... don’t leave me." She softly said as her body trembled slightly.

Alex watched on before reaching out to place his hand on her cheek.

"Nadia... wake up, it’s a dream." He gently remarked.

Nadia’s eyes fluttered open not too long after.

Oblivious to the situation at first, upon understanding what was happening, she quickly pulled away while revealing an embarrassed expression.

"Sorry for that."

"It’s fine," Alex said as he slowly sat up in bed.

Glancing at the windows, he added. "It would seem our overnight escapades caused us to sleep in."

Nadia looked over as well before replying. "It seems that way."

"Mn." Alex nodded as he got to his feet. "I’ll wash up."

"Alright."

***

minutes later and a knock was heard outside Alex’s and Nadia’s room.

With both getting ready to step out, the surprise visit was beyond their expectations.

’Who could it be?’ the question crossed their minds at the same time.

Nadia wanted to get it but Alex gestured for her to continue with what she was doing while he moved to get it instead.

As his irises flashed a bright golden color, he reached for the doorknob and turned it before slowly opening it to find Booker at the other end carrying a large bag in one hand and a knife in the other.

His bloodshot eyes were enough for Alex to guess he was contemplating murder while silently standing there.

"Booker..."

"If it were the girl... I’d have attacked." Booker remarked without mincing words.

Alex revealed a wry smile as he replied. "You’d have died."

"I’d still attack."

"... What do you want?"

Booker let out a sigh. "Here to give you what we agreed on, of course.

Then, tapping on the large bag he was carrying, he added. "Everything you want is in here."

"What are the chances of an explosive being in there?"

"80%."

"... Come in," Alex replied before stepping out of the way for Booker to enter.

As the latter entered, he glanced at Nadia seated in front of a large mirror.

His gaze lingered briefly before he moved to the opposite end where a chair and a table were placed.

Taking his seat, Booker placed the bag he was carrying on the floor and stabbed the knife into the table.

"..." Nadia was unsure of what to say as she watched Booker act so brazenly.

It was slightly comical albeit threatening as well.

"We were just about to come over to get the information we asked for. There was no need for you to come to us."

Booker snorted. "Considering the state you left me in yesterday, you should be grateful I didn’t set a trap for you."

"It still won’t work."

"It’s worth trying!"

"Ahem." Nadia coughed awkwardly, diffusing the situation before it got out of hand. "How about you share the information you have with us?"

"It’s all in the bag," Booker replied. "I’m not about to start reading it out for you."

"Thank you for bringing it over and we apologize for not being able to save your men," Nadia remarked, catching both Alex and Booker off guard.

Booker remained speechless for quite some time before he regained himself enough to reply. "... I don’t accept your apology."

"At least, I tried," Nadia said, once again throwing Booker off his game.

Coughing awkwardly, he spoke up. "Alongside the info in the bag, I’ve got extra news for you."

"Oh, pray tell," Nadia remarked with a vague sense of interest.

Meanwhile, Alex closed the door behind him before moving over to the bed to join in on the conversation.

"It seems my place wasn’t the only black market hit."

"Hmm."

"News reaching here is that the other Extensions were hit and based on what I learned... few were as lucky as me."

"All with the same excuse of being sent by the Monarch?" Alex asked.

Booker nodded. "That seems to be the case."

"It would seem Krobridge is in the middle of a crisis... one bigger than it appears to be right now." Nadia couldn’t help but comment.