I ripped my head from side to side, trying to saw through the gag.
“If you can just admit that there is a moral gray area here, I think we could do a lot of good together. I’ve heard you’re sitting on afieldof information, and I’m open to discussing how we can help the community with that knowledge. If you don’t like how I’m running things, we can discuss more ethical approaches. In exchange for your partnership, I’ll share all my resources with you. You’ll be comfortably wealthy. I’ll ensure Mitus is provided for far better than what G.P.O. can offer.”
I snapped out a severely muffled “fuck you”. If he cared so much for his team, he would’ve provided for Mitus the moment his father died for servicing their company. Instead, Dr. Gable let him suffer. Parentless, traumatized, and impoverished.
“None of that tempting?” He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “How about eternal life?”
I knew his aging had stopped, but the reality of this male living forever on stolen lifeforce induced a wave of nausea in me. Was that a possibility?Were thegoddesseseven immortal? Mortality wasn’t often on my mind. I’d faced my own death plenty.
“No, I didn’t think so,” he hummed. “How about this, you work with me, and I call my men off that pretty little red head you’ve grown so fond of in Cyciciah. Wereallyappreciate you leading us right to Drifael, then dropping her off in the market. Between her and Faeryn, one might think you’ve been trying to help us all along.”
Every cell in my being erupted. My teeth tore through the gag as my jaw shifted fully feral. My body bulked to its full size, ripping the seams of my clothes. The cold steel of the cuffs sliced into my growing wrists and ankles. I saw the world in red as I let out a roar, yanking my shoulder free from the claw that held it back and lunging for Gable’s throat. His pulse pattered visibly under his skin. I could bite it out. I could—
One sharp prick. My legs faltered under me.A second pinch. I collapsed to my knees.A flutter on my back shoulder. I crashed with a heavy thud onto my chest. My lips parted and eyes rolled back. My growl was weak, difficult to hear over the pounding of their heart beats. Or maybe that was my own pulse slowing down from racing to a sleepythud-thump.
“Get him in the van. I’ll meet everyone at Tesilvis. Then we can continue this conversation without disturbing the locals.”
Theo
I was nauseous, dehydrated, and very…verygroggy. My head rocked back and forth, smacking against the cold metal wall behind me. I was aware enough to realize my body feltdifferentand slowly shift back into my normal form. Being feral felt unnatural. A sharp peeling sensation pained my wrists and ankles, morphing into a miserable burn once my limbs had shrunken to their normal size.
I blinked towards the sting of my wrists. Red seeped around the cuffs, spilling onto the reflective metal bench I sat on. They’d shackled each hand to the seat, separating my arms so they couldn’t free one another. I wasn’t holding my own body weight upright; something was strapped across my chest to keep me vertical. The room was one rectangular metal box with benches lining three sides and a set of doors on the fourth. The rear compartment of a van? G.P.O. had one like this for transporting people. Why was I in it? Had shit gone down with Arne? My recent memories were fuzzy, at best.
Tears filled my vision. I felt devastated but didn’t know why. My chest heaved, I started to sob. When was the last time I cried at all, much lesswept?
I thought back to the last memory I had of tasting my own salty tears. Cool light peeking through blue branches. The smell of wet dirt. A growl between sniffles, directed to something watching from nearby. I’d been walking down the mountain after leavingVivian.
I jolted against the restraints, my heart racing.Vivian was in danger!I couldn’t remember the details yet, but they didn’t matter. I had to get fucking moving. Act. Do something to free myself and go help her!
I struggled against the shackles, tossing my restrained body as much as I could. The van rocked with my efforts, but it wasn’t enough. Barely reaching my fangs to my wrist, I triedbitingthrough the damn cuffs. They didn’t budge. My blood dribbled down my chin.
Muffled voices sounded through the wall to my right. Their tones annoyed.Good.
I roared out, rocking the van as much as I could manage. I’d make myself a problem they couldn’t ignore.
The vehicle slowed to a stop. It was likely I was about to be tranquilized again. Not much I could do aboutthat. But at least they weren’t driving me further away from my mate. South. I needed to go south to help her. The beastly noises of untamed wildlife bled through the van’s walls. We weren’t near civilization. My journey across the continent to Vivian would be long. There was no time to waste.
If I was lucky, they’d get cocky and within distance of my feral form’s leg. It was a good deal longer with its added joint. If I could shift fast enough and trip them in my direction…
The sound of the passenger-side door opening. I’d need to be fast to make this work.
“Load him up with enough to keep him knocked out until we get there.” The words were hushed, urgent. They didn’t want to be heard by what howled hungrily nearby.
Then… nothing.
Several minutes passed. What thefuckwere they doing? The driver door clicked open.
More prolonged silence. I’d expected to hear the two guards talking.Something. I shook off the anxiety that crept up the back of my neck.Focus. Just get them close enough. One of them had to show up soon. They were probably just fumbling with the tranq.
I watched the silver handle of the back door turn with a metallic squeak. Finally.
Get them close. Shift. Trip. Get them close. Shift. Trip. Extend your reach when they don’t expect it. If they stumble it’ll give you the change of tide you need.The door started to crack open.Go time. Focus. Turn everything else off and get the job done.
It was dark outside, but the fluorescent lights of my holding room illuminated a crown of curlygoldenhair framed between the two open doors.
A… goddess?
She pulled herself up and closed the doors behind her, confusion creasing her brows. Her posture straightened, the curls on top of her head pressed flat by the low ceiling. Her arms crossed over her chest, speckles of red dotting her deep skin. Her clothing was all black, but some areas were darker and appeared wet. Was she covered in blood?
