"Pascal?" I called softly to the omega-shaped lump in front of me.
A muffled version of Pascal's voice called back, the pitch high from fear. I grabbed him as best I could and dragged him out of the cab.
"Don't make any sounds," I whispered. "I'm going to sneak you away while Devereaux distracts the men."
He let out a muffled grunt in reply. Though I wanted to hide Pascal in the forest as soon as possible, it was difficult for me to carry his weight all on my own with my disability. I glanced at Devereaux. The men were still fruitlessly fighting him off. I had to act fast. I ripped the burlap sack off Pascal's head and tore the cloth gag out of his mouth. He spat and shook his head.
"My hands and legs," he said.
They were bound, too? I felt a roll of sickness in my stomach. Pascal's kidnappers had gone through a lot of trouble to make sure he didn't escape, but why? Why did they need him so badly? Or were they just not keen on losing anobjectthey'd paid for?
Fury made me work faster. Soon Pascal's arms and legs were loose. He sighed in relief, shaking out his limbs.
"Thanks, Florian," he said.
"You're welcome. Now we have to hide."
"Hey! He's stealing the cargo!"
The carriage driver's nasally shout cut through the fighting. My stomach dropped as the men whipped around and saw us. They instantly forgot their useless attacks on Devereaux. The burly man barrelled towards us like a bull while the skinnier man trailed behind him, both their faces twisted in anger.
"Go!" I told Pascal, shoving him towards the forest. It was him they wanted. He needed to get out of their reach before they caught up with him.
"You little..."
I heard the burly man's deep voice close to my ear a second before I realized how close he was. How could someone so big be so fast? My body seized up with fear—but only for a moment. Defiance washed over me, taking its place. It was like Devereaux's transformation changed me, too. I wasn't going to sit back and let people do bad things to me any longer.
Once Headmaster suggested I might use my cane as a weapon. Well, now I was actually going to.
"Get away from me!" I yelled, swinging my cane in his direction.
The man stumbled. He apparently didn't expect me to fight back. Then he turned his head and ordered, "Grab him. Any omega will do. It won't know the difference."
A cold icicle of fear stabbed me. What wasit?What were their plans for Pascal?
I didn't have long to think about the horrifying implications. The men were on me now. I was clearly an easier target—Pascal was further away, and I walked with a cane.
There was no running. I had to stand and fight. I braced myself, brandishing my cane like a weapon.
Just before the men grabbed me, an inhuman shriek split the air. A dark shadow flew overhead with two sprawling wings and a long, devilish tail.
Devereaux.
Baring his stone fangs in a hiss, he grabbed the two men by the shoulders and lifted them like they weighed nothing. Even the big man looked like a ragdoll in his clawed grip. They screamed, flailing in Devereaux's grasp, terror filling their eyes.
"If you wish to live, do not ever threaten Florian again," Devereaux growled, his voice deep and gravelly.
They nodded frantically. I thought that they looked so scared, they'd agree to anything right now. Not that I felt much sympathy for them in this moment. Even without knowing the full details, they intended on kidnapping me or Pascal and handing one of us over to anit.Whatever that was.
"Florian!" Pascal panted, out of breath as he ran to my side. "I thought you were right behind me—whoa! What is that?"
I put my hand on his arm to soothe him. I knew my friend must've been shocked at seeing Devereaux's form.
"Don't worry. That's just Devereaux," I explained.
Pascal slowly blinked his one eye, then let out a laugh. "He looks, uh, different than I imagined."
"It's a long story. I'll explain later."
