FOURTEEN

Anton

THE TRAIN’S HORN WHISTLED overhead as I sat crouched in the back of the train car. The red mask was heavy, straining my neck just to keep up appearances. Next to me was the she-wolf, her hands bound by thick cuffs and another bag thrown over her head. She was related to the wolf Astaroth had.

The damn fool had pushed me into saving her while he remained free of Wolf Slayer’s title. The crowd of nobles would never know and King Zadicus would realize he made a grave mistake.

However, I was stuck taking the she-wolf to a rendezvous meet up with the leader of the Gears Rebellion, Zion Reose. Through Astaroth’s influence, there was a chance that the rebellion would work with me.

I reached up and took off the red mask, discarding it behind a set of crates. I had long-since abandoned the cloak at the castle, where Astaroth would find it easily. The she-wolf adjusted her weight, snarling at the sound.

“You’re fine,” I mumbled.

She said something incoherent from under the hood. I sat there for a moment. I could take it off; explain myself as rebellion member hired by the prince. It wasn’t far from the truth. I was a member of the Gears Rebellion, but Astaroth never hired me. This was just a cover story while I gathered information.

“If I take off the hood, you have to not scream or attack. There are guards everywhere on the train,” I told her.

Silence.

I took that as a sign to slowly pull the hood over her head, careful not to pull at her hair. She shook her head as I tossed the bag to the floor. Golden eyes glared at me through dark lashes.

“So, you’re Luna Sybill of the Hollow Claw Pack,” I said. Sitting back down, I gazed at her. She was lanky and tall, muscles barely visible under the baggy clothes. “I’m sorry you had to witness that chaotic event.”

“Wolf Slayer,” she growled.

Raising my hands, I shook my head. “I am not he. His Highness, Astaroth, asked me to pose as Wolf Slayer to lower the guard of the Royal Court. In truth, I am to escort you to the rebellion, who will help you get back to your pack, safe and sound.”

She scoffed. “And how do I know you won’t kill me once you’re done?”

“Because I value the happiness of my prince, and he wants his wolf happy.”

“You mean my son?” She let out a snarl and leaned forward, eyes flashing silver.

I nodded.

She was brazen enough to threaten me. How curious.

Sitting back against the crate, I watched her inch closer while she bared her canines. The threat was obvious. Yet, I didn’t move.

A thud on the metal roof echoed through the car. I smirked and ran my hand through my choppy walnut-brown hair.

“Looks like the rebellion has arrived.”

She paused, her eyes darting to the roof and following the sound of footsteps to the door. It whisked open. For a brief second, darkness from the night sky flooded the car, and then three people swung into the car from cables, their skin-tight suits reflecting the night.

The first one to land stood up, pressing a button on their belt, and the cable retracted with a satisfying whoosh. The others copied the movement.

“Agent Malik, I’m surprised you’re away from the prince,” the first member said, unlatching her helmet. Long silken strands of ochre hair fell past her shoulders.

“Agent Clarisse,” I responded with a bow of my head. “Astaroth has asked for assistance.”

Clarisse arched a perfectly waxed eyebrow. “Assistance? With what?” Her jade eyes then shifted toward the Luna. “The wolf. You really want us to take that thing back to its pack?”

Luna Sybill growled. She lurched toward Clarrise, spouting slander against our kind. With a sigh, I grabbed hold of the back of her shirt and restrained her for a moment. She look back at me, eyes glowing gold this time.

I narrowed my eyes. “You all want peace, don’t you?”

The agents shifted their stance. Clarisse raised her gloved hand.

“We’ll take her, on one condition.”

There was always something with the rebels. I had been a part of their organization for decades, learning the ways they functioned and why they sought to take down the royal family. Zion was a former member of Duke Tempest’s guard until he had been betrayed by the heir. Revenge tasted great when the royals stripped him of everything, including his family home. Conditions were a piece of their alliance. Every new member of the rebellion had to uphold those same values.

“State your terms,” I said coolly.

Clarrise walked toward Luna Sybill, grabbing her by the hair.

“The prince must hand over his maspets to be taken in as allies of the rebellion.”

Luna Sybill snarled. She snatched Clarrise’s wrist and pulled until it was in front of her face. Opening her mouth wide, she bit down. Clarrise howled in pain, going for her hip, where a dagger was strapped.

I rushed forward, drawing a pistol from inside my jacket. I pressed the barrel of the gun to the Luna’s head. She growled, kicking at me with her bare foot. As I jumped back, I instinctively pulled the trigger, my senses on fire. Before I could react, the gun let off a loud boom, and blood and brain splattered the inside of the train car like a Zuse painting. Luna Sybill gave a slight jerk before dropping to the ground. Her body convulsed as blood pooled out onto the wood floorboards.

Swallowing, I looked at Clarisse with wide eyes. She grasped her arm, applying pressure to the bite wound. An agent came to her side, pulling out a small med-kit.

“Damn dog!” she hissed.

I slowly backed up and slumped against a crate. I had killed her. My actions had betrayed Astaroth’s single command. The Alpha of the pack was going to die because I was stupid enough to draw a weapon on her. Yet, Clarisse did nothing wrong; she hadn’t attacked or provoked.

Clarisse snapped her bloody fingers. “Hey, don’t let what the mutt do cloud your judgement. You gave her the benefit of the doubt. If anything, we can claim we were ambushed by the guards and she got caught in the crossfire. Death is a part of war, and your precious little prince knew that.”

“But I-”

“Don’t. She knew exactly what she was doing when she bit me. For now, you’ll leave the train quitely and head back toward castle.” The agent tightened the bandage around her arm, causing her to wince with a hiss. “We all have our part to play. You keep your side hidden, and the prince won’t come for any of us.”

I nodded silently. Standing up, I peered out of the train car to see the streets quiet for the night. A few lampposts were lit, and everyone was inside. I unhooked the buckle to my belt, a long cord stretching out from it. Swinging in it my hand, I watched the streets pass by until I spot a tree, and I flung the buckle toward a lower limb. It caught and I was yanked from the car.

My body slammed into the tree limb with an oof. The temperature outside had dipped lower, to an almost freezing as my breath came out in little puffs when I pulled myself onto the limb. Its thickness was a foot wide, giving me enough of a perch to stand up and survey my surroundings.

Off in the distance stood the Castle of Eminence, eerily glowing under the braziers. My heart pounded. I had to make it back before dawn.

Smearing a bit of blood on my face, I scowled.

And I had to clean up, too.