"Sorry," I murmur, realizing my nails made little crescent moons in his skin.
He shakes his head slightly, a silent reassurance I haven't hurt him. I'm continuously surprised by how perceptive he is even though he almost never directly communicates. In some ways,his silence makes him easier to understand than the other alphas.
The sun is finally beginning to sink, drawing away the heat. In the distance, I can make out the first sign of civilization since we left the black market. There's a cluster of low buildings, the remains of a pre-war train station that has somehow survived both the apocalypseandthe subsequent years of abandonment. Amazingly, it isn't a raider fort.
Raven wasn't exaggerating about the timing. We'll reach it just as the sun sets.
The armored vehicle and motorcycle have gone up ahead and stopped at what appears to be the crest of a shallow hill, waiting for us to catch up. As Knight carries me toward them, I can see the three alphas gathered in a loose semicircle, Raven gesturing animatedly as he speaks to Geo and Nikolai. The conversation pauses as we approach.
"Perfect timing," Raven calls out, his voice carrying easily on the still desert air. "I was just explaining our boarding process."
Knight comes to a stop beside them, and I feel his muscles bunching beneath me. Before I can ask what he's doing, his hands come up to steady me as he carefully lowers himself to one knee, making it easier for me to dismount.
Raven is there in an instant, offering a hand. I take it and slide off Knight's shoulders, my legs wobbly after hours of riding.
"Thanks," I murmur, squeezing Knight's forearm. He nods once, then rises to his full, intimidating height.
"As I was saying," Raven continues, looking far too pleased with himself, "my contact has arranged for us to board in thecargo section. Less scrutiny, more privacy.Andmore room for Knight."
"And this contact of yours is trustworthy?" Geo asks, his single eye narrowed in suspicion as he leans against the side of the car, an expensive cigar hanging from his lips. It smells good. Smells likehim.
Raven's smile turns sly. "As trustworthy as anyone in my line of work can be. In other words, they know what happens to people who cross me."
I raise an eyebrow at that. It's easy to forget, with all his charm and flirtation, that Raven is just as dangerous as the rest of them. Perhaps more so, since people rarely see him coming.
"What about him?" Nikolai jerks his chin toward Knight, who responds with a low growl at the sound of Nikolai's voice.
"He'll need to stay out of sight until we're in the car I arranged for us," Raven admits. "We can't exactly parade him through the station."
"And once we're on the train?" I ask, voicing the concern that's been nagging at me. "What then? We can't exactly hop off at the Surhiiran border and expect a warm welcome."
Raven gives me a wink that makes my heart go all fucking fluttery. Apparently, it hasn't learned its lesson. "Leave that to me, goddess."
It's not a satisfying answer, but it's the only one I'm going to get. The real answer probably involves multiple felonies I'd rather not be able to testify about if I ever end up back in civilization.
I look up at the station in the distance, then back at the four alphas surrounding me. An unlikely escort for an even more unlikely mission.
The absurdity of it all hits me suddenly, and I have to stifle a hysterical laugh. If my father could see me now, he'd probably die of shock. His perfectly bred, well-behaved omega daughter, leading a band of renegade alphas on a quest for answers.
For the first time in my life, I'm free of his control.
Free to do whatIwant.
And what I want right now, more than anything, is the motherfucking truth.
Chapter 10
AZAREL
The stench hitsme even before I reach the entrance. Unwashed bodies, their fluids, and every illicit substance to ever exist.
I pull my scarf higher over my nose even though it does little to filter the assault on my senses. It's the only thing about my outfit that could possibly mark me as Surhiiran, but the crude material should blend in just fine in this shithole.
This underground market, this den of depravity, is exactly the kind of place I've spent my entire military career either avoiding or eliminating.
And now, I'm voluntarily walking into it.
For her.
