When I finish and head back, my first thought is that something's off. Cosima stands near the train with Knight hovering near her like he doesn't know what to do with himself, and Nikolai leans against a rusted pillar. But there's no sign of Raven.
"Where's the golden boy?" I ask, scanning the platform.
"Station building," Cosima replies, pointing to the derelict structure. "Said he was getting supplies."
I frown, but before I can say anything, Raven emerges from the shadows of the old station, carrying several bags. His hair catches the morning light, almost glowing against the bleakness of our surroundings.
"Success!" he calls, sauntering toward us with that easy grace that always makes me want to trip him. "The station master had quite the stash. Clothes, food, even some decent whiskey."
"You went alone?" I demand, keeping my voice low enough that only he can hear as he approaches.
His smile doesn't falter, but his eyes flick to mine briefly. "I can handle myself, Daddy. Been doing it for years."
The familiar nickname slides under my skin, both irritating and comforting in equal measure. I grunt instead of responding, taking one of the bags from his hands.
"If you get yourself killed before we reach the border, I'm dragging your corpse the rest of the way just so I can have the satisfaction of burying you in Surhiiran soil."
He laughs, the sound bright even in this desolate place. "That's the sweetest thing you've ever said to me."
Back in the train car, Raven distributes his finds. There are fresh and distinctly Surhiiran clothes for everyone, including elaborate robes for Cosima in a deep emerald. For Knight, he's found an enormous and lightly built tactical jacket that might actually fit him. The rest of us get the white clothing of the Surhiiran upper class. I've seen a few pass through the market over the years. Collected a set myself. There are scarves, too, which will help us blend in more. Knight especially.
Then again, that mask of his is so detailed and finely crafted, it looks like something that might have been smuggled out of Surhiira itself once upon a time. Wonder if he'd be willing to trade it for something else?
There's food too. Bread that's only slightly stale, dried meat, and fruit that doesn't look or smell toxic even if I've never seen it before.
"Did you steal this shit?" Nikolai asks doubtfully, struggling with the robes. He's clearly not used to wearing anything that isn't made with holsters in mind. The sight makes me snort.
"Of course not," Raven huffs. "I bought it all. Now where thestation masterprocured these fine items is another matter entirely."
"I don't care where you got it, this fruit tastes like it comes straight from heaven," Cosima says, taking another bite of the spiky pink fruit in her hand. She throws her head back with a delighted little moan that does more to my alpha brain than I'd like to admit.
Raven chuckles. "I'm going to have to plant a vineyard full of those."
I watch the others from my spot by the door as we eat and rest, taking in the strange dynamic that's formed between us. Nikolai is still coiled like a snake in enemy territory, his gaze fixed on Cosima every second he thinks she isn't looking. Raven is making her laugh at some likely off-color joke he's telling in Vrissian while Knight watches her like her laughter is the sweetest music he's ever heard. He's more man than monster when he looks at her like that.
Can't say I blame him. Cosima isn't like any omega I've ever encountered. Not like anyone, really, and it isn't just her beauty. Something about her reminds me of the world before. Not the one I knew, but the one I've seen in books and videos and pictures. There's a dignity to her, a presence that demands respect without having to bark for it like alphas. In another life, she might have been a queen.
Hell, maybe she still will be.
I catch myself watching her more than the others, noting the way she moves, the subtle shifts in her expressions when she thinks no one's looking. The naked irritation that flickers across her face when she looks out the window toward Surhiira, no doubt thinking of this fucking Azarel bastard.
That's when it hits me. I'm getting attached. To an omega, of all things. But there it is. I want to keep her safe. Want to see her get what she's after, even if it means walking straight into my death.
And hell, Raven's already in so deep there's no pulling him back anyway. If following this silver-haired force of nature into the belly of the beast is what he's determined to do, then I guess that's where we're headed.
The train whistle blows, signaling our imminent departure. Through the window, I watch as the maintenance crew scurries around, finishing their work before we pull out.
About a day left now. A day until we cross the Surhiiran border. A day until we leave this confined space that should feel like a cramped prison, considering I'm sharing it with two alphas I don't trust for shit. But instead, I think a part of me is going to miss it. Something about it—about all of us—that feels right.
And that's the most fucked up part of all.
Chapter 13
COSIMA
I stareup at the metal ceiling of the train car, tracing imaginary patterns in the oxidized steel. The gentle rhythm of the tracks beneath us would be soothing if I weren't so damn bored.
When you're running for your life through a wasteland with monsters on your tail, being bored feels like a luxury.
