After overhearing Asher, East, and Arrow’s conversation about me, falling to sleep seems impossible. My body is coursing with way too much adrenaline, and my brain is crammed with worried thoughts of why Asher thinks he knows me. Plus, while I hate to admit it, fear is another reason dreamland isn’t beckoning me. Yet, somehow between freaking out and bursting with frustration, I must’ve dozed off because I’m suddenly being shaken awake.

I jolt as a cold, steel hand touches my arm. Then I bolt upright with my fists raised. My reaction is out of instinct. After living on the streets for years, sleeping wherever I can, like behind dumpsters, I’ve learned that being woken up by someone usually isn’t a good sign.

It takes me several blinks to process my surroundings; that I’m in the bedroom East created for me, sitting on the floor, and that Arrow is standing in front of me with his hands in front of him.

Jeez. After years of dreaming about what it would feel like to sleep in a bed again, I ended up dozing off on the floor.

“I was just trying to wake you up.” Arrow eyeballs my raised fists. “I promise I’m not going to hurt you.” Despite his mechanical features, his eyes radiate a stream of warmth.

I gradually lower my hands to my lap. “Sorry. You just startled me.”

The wheels in his arms turn as he lowers his hands. “That’s completely understandable. You’re in a strange place with a bunch of strangers. No one can blame you for being on guard.”

“You’re very understanding for a cyborg.” I sweep tangled strands of hair out of my eyes. “Sorry. That was probably rude.”

He shakes his head. “Not at all. You’ve actually been very nice to me.”

I start to laugh, then falter at the sight of his serious expression. “You’re joking, right?”

“No, I’m not. You’ve been very nice to me compared to most humans and paranormals. Neither are fans of cyborgs. I think it’s because we don’t reveal our feelings very well, so we come off as harsh and cold, which in turn, makes others harsh and cold toward us.”

I discreetly eye him over. He’s dressed in all black, from the leather necklace around his neck to the clunky boots on his feet. He’s also wearing a shirt today, so all the gadgets and bronzed metal in his lean arms aren’t on full display. I’ll admit, he’s very attractive for a cyborg. Maybe even good-looking in general.

“You don’t look harsh or cold.” I stretch my arms above my head and yawn. “And you actually seem pretty emotional to me.”

He offers me a small smile. “That’s because I’m not an average cyborg.”

My brows pull together. “What are you, then?”

Gadgets hum as he winks at me. “A rock star cyborg.”

I smile. I can’t help it. With Asher’s mood swings and Easton’s shameless flirting, Arrow seems like the calmest of the three, which makes me feel more at ease.

Rising to my feet, I stretch out my stiff muscles. “You play the drums, right?”

He nods, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “I do.”

“Is it fun?”

“Yeah. And relaxing. It’s probably the only time I’m ever really relaxed.”

“How good are you?” I wave off my question. “Never mind. You wouldn’t be in a band if you weren’t awesome.”

His lips start to spread into a smile, then curve downward as I massage the back of my neck. “Did you not like the bed?” he asks. “If so, East can make you a new one.”

I shake my head. “The bed’s nice. I’m just not used to having one.”

He blinks, looking lost. “A bed?”

I lift a shoulder. “I’ve lived on the streets for quite a few years, and beds are pretty rare out there.”

He slants his head to the side. “Is that normal in your world?”

“For humans, it is.” I pause. “Wait, my world? Are you not from here?”

He shakes his head. “Many cyborgs come from the Steel World.” He marches past me and toward the hologram window. The screen is displaying a lavender pool of water stretching between mountains. The scene would be lovely except for the monstrous, fanged beasts looming at the shore. “And we’re not in your world anymore. We’re in Shimmerland.” He lines his palm to the screen. “Show me outside.”

The Hologram fades and a window pops up on the wall. Beyond the glass, stretching as far as my eyes can see, is a frost-kissed sky. Silver sunlight reflects along a field of shimmering violets and trees. Fortunately, no glowing eyes are peering from the distance, yet I can’t help wondering …

“Those fanged beasts on the hologram … are they in those trees?”

“They are. They only come out at night.”

I inch toward him. “What do they do, exactly?”

“I … I don’t think I should tell you. It may frighten you.”

“Am I going into the forest to steal an object for you guys?” As afraid as I am, I’ve always thought it’s better to know what I’m getting into. “Because, if so, I need to know about those beasts so I can at least try to be prepared.”

Arrow rubs his lips together, contemplating. “I think maybe I should take you to Asher.”

“Can’t you just answer me?” I plead.

Wariness creeps into his expression. “I can, but I think it’d be better if Asher tells you.”

I frown. “And I think it’d be better if you told me. You’re much easier to talk to.”

A trace of a smile graces his highlighted bronze lips, a startling yet beautiful sight. “As true as that might be, I think you should give Asher a chance.”

I elevate my brows. “And why’s that?”

“Because, while he may come off intense sometimes, he’s actually a really good paranormal. In fact, he’s pretty much the only reason I’m standing here and can function.”

“What do you mean by that?” I inquire, curious about Arrow, but also about Asher.

He starts back across the room, and then opens the door. “Another story for another time, okay? Right now, we need to get you ready for your first mission, which does require Asher’s help.”

I suppress a grimace. “Fine, let’s go talk to the genie.”

He chuckles, as if I’m hilarious, but I’m not trying to be funny. My enthusiasm about talking to Asher is hovering at about a negative one hundred right now. Plus, talking to him means I’m one step closer to endeavoring on my first mission, into the woods filled with creepy beasts. My only hope is that the mission will take place in daylight. Considering the ideal time to steal something is well into the hours of nightfall, though, I’m probably going to see those beasts whether I want to or not.