by Kamryn Hart
Things went smoothly after that. Phantom Fangs looked over the humans and Todd made sure there was no unwanted tech anywhere, on humans or on trailers. We checked the bandages on most of the human’s necks too, but all the bites were clean and safe from infection. Eventually, Caspian sent some soldiers back to grab their roaders. When they returned, we hitched up the trailers to the backs of the roaders and started moving the humans inside. Caspian promised them they would be taken care of. I wasn’t sure they believed him.
We had to really pack the humans inside the trailers as if we were packing on clay because there were hundreds of them, but we managed; it would have been bad news if Phantom Fangs had come alone without the soldiers and extra roaders. The humans did as they were told, docile, afraid, and hopeful all at once. I hated seeing the fear in their eyes and wanted to make sure they would have a better life in Wolf Bridge. I may not have approved of everything in Wolf Bridge, but it did seem like one of the better places for humans to be. And I had every intention of making it better. Equal. I didn’t know how I was going to manage that, but I was determined if nothing else.
But Caspian was right. I didn’t rule a kingdom. What could I do?
“Do your roaders have enough power to pull these trailers?” Jocelyn asked as she flitted around one of the clunky vehicles; they were definitely clunky when compared to the vampires’ streamlined vehicles. She popped the hood and investigated the roader’s brains and guts. “These engines are rather inefficient, aren’t they? Our gliders can—”
Todd growled, pushed past her, and slammed the hood shut. “They do just fine. They’re very efficient and have plenty of power.”
Jocelyn let out a deranged little giggle that made me wonder if her brain was loose and rattling around in her skull. “If you say so, werewolf. Just trying to help.”
Todd shifted uncomfortably.
“Let’s head out,” Caspian announced.
“I’m going to ride in one of the trailers,” Aerre said.
“I’ll go with you,” I said. “Maybe we can reassure them together.”
Aerre’s eyes softened. “It’s like you can read my mind.”
“Not at the moment, but apparently I know you pretty well already.”
A smile graced his lips. He reached out his hand as if to touch me, but he pulled back and climbed inside one of the trailers instead.
“We’ll take a break later so everyone can stretch their legs,” Caspian said.
I waved to him and the others. Then I crawled into the same trailer as Aerre and sat next to him on the hard floor. The humans mushed themselves together like they were trying to get as far away from us as possible even though there wasn’t enough room to accomplish that. Another werewolf came around to close our trailer. It was Koren, and we exchanged quick smiles. I noticed his hands itching at his belt like he was considering drawing his gun. The vampires hadn’t made a move, but the werewolves didn’t intend to let their guard down until we were clear of Crimson Caves.
Like Rodrick, I wasn’t worried—especially at this point—because it would have been ridiculous for them to send us off with all of these “valuable” humans of theirs just to blow us up with their big “gun turrets.” They weren’t stupid.
When the roaders started growling, our trailer rumbled, and we began to move forward. There weren’t any proper windows in the trailer, just slats rimmed along the top to let in fresh air, so we couldn’t see anything going on outside. Everyone sat silently, stiffly. I let them have their silence. When there was nothing but the constant hum of engines and an occasional bump, the humans’ bunched up shoulders slid back down into a more relaxed position.
The vampires kept their word. We were going back to Wolf Bridge, and I would have time to think. I needed to ask Phantom Fangs about Denez. Maybe I would understand more when I heard their side of the story. Or maybe I would understand less.
Aerre broke the silence and addressed the humans. “Life will be better in Wolf Bridge.”
“Better how?” a man asked sheepishly.
“I’m a tethered. I lived my life as a human there. It wasn’t perfect, it still isn’t, but you won’t be fed off of and the labor is fair.”
“You seem like their equal,” a woman pointed out.
“Not quite, but I did land myself one crazy team of werewolves.”
The humans smiled nervously and snuck glances at me. The few words Aerre offered seemed to settle them some.
“Thanks for coming with me,” Aerre said as he took my hand. He placed both our hands in his lap and traced my knuckles with the pad of his thumb. It sent shivers down my spine. I leaned into him so I could suck in his warmth and sate some of that burning need to touch. I wasn’t gone long, but I missed being close to him. To all of Phantom Fangs. I longed to be even closer.
“We’ll make sure they’re treated right,” I whispered.
“Yeah. I’m feeling more optimistic now than I ever have. For some reason, I think everything is going to be okay,” he whispered back. “That’s a big deal coming for me. You’ve sure shaken things up since you arrived, since we brought you back to Wolf Bridge. Even before that. It all started when we found out you were more than a legend. You were making waves just by being outside of your woods.” He smiled. “Thank you for saving all of these people.”
“I didn’t do anything. The vampires let them go.”
“They gave them to you. This is still all about you. The Moonlight Child, the Lost Princess of Howling Sky. It’s true. You’re both of those things. You have a strong presence—even the vampires feel it, though I’m not sure what they think they’ll get out of it. You’re unyielding. You do what you believe in, like the time you stuck up for that man who was harmed by a Prince of Wolf Bridge at the square while I stayed frozen in place.”
“That impulsiveness almost got Rodrick killed,” I retorted.
“And yet you would do it again because you don’t bend.” He took a deep breath and circled the back of my hand with his thumb. “I know I seemed reluctant to kiss you at the Full Moon Banquet. I was reluctant, but it wasn’t because I didn’t want to kiss you. Things are just confusing with you and all of your rule breaking, Princess.”
“So kiss me properly this time, Aerre. I already broke the rules. There’s nothing to hold you back now.”
“In front of all these people?”
“Especially in front of all these people.”
Aerre shook his head, but his gaze was intense. He wanted to make up for the last kiss badly enough to do it. He moved his free hand to my face and cupped my cheek. I closed my eyes. Fire ripped through my veins. Nothing felt like being close to these werewolves. My Phantom Fangs.
His lips skimmed mine. Once. Twice. He took my lower lip in his teeth and gently tugged. Then he licked away the little twinge of pain and kissed me. His lips were soft against mine and demanding at the same time. The rest of the world seemed to recede into nothingness, leaving only me and Aerre.
I wanted him to touch me all over, skin on skin, but I settled for his sweet kiss because it said it all in the moment. But I couldn’t ignore the burn in my sex, the ache spreading through my entire body. Phantom Fangs drove me wild, and it got more intense as we grew closer. More than anything, I wanted to stay with them.
CHAPTER 7
RODRICK
I WAS BEHIND THE wheel of a roader. Not my usual place. I volunteered to drive one and purposely grabbed one that didn’t have anybody else from Phantom Fangs or Sorissa hitching a ride in it. I inevitably saw them on and off as we took breaks here and there, but I didn’t stay to chat. I kept things short. The breaks didn’t last long since we didn’t have much food to go around, and it was best to get straight back to Wolf Bridge so we’d only miss one meal instead of wasting time on hunting. Keeping to myself was easy enough.
At least these humans were well fed and somehow healthy, but it made my blood boil thinking about why they were well fed and kept healthy. They were self-replenishing blood banks for vampires
as long as they were taken care of. Lesser creatures weren’t given that treatment, but apparently vampires found humans, and werewolves if they could get them, especially nutritious. But I was sure plenty had died when a vampire decided to suck them dry rather than use self-control. They were bloodthirsty monsters. And they fed often. Even if these humans had survived many feedings, what kind of life was that? The bites would scar, and these humans would never forget.
Come evening, we were nearly inside Wolf Bridge. I caught a glimpse of the kingdom through the metal mesh of the west gate we were moving toward. I wouldn’t have a roader to hide behind for much longer. I’d see Phantom Fangs again. Worse. I’d see Sorissa again.
I wanted to scoop that feisty werea up in my arms, hold tight, and never let her go when she had come running for us like an angel bright and shining against the Gates of Hell. I couldn’t believe my eyes at first. Todd didn’t hesitate. He ran to meet her. He was the first to touch her and prove she was really there. She sought out all of Phantom Fangs after that, but I held back because guilt overtook me. I had been ready to betray them all by giving Sorissa up to the rebels. I would have done it if it wasn’t for Sorissa. She changed my mind, and I was prepared for the worst when I confessed my almost betrayal. I had expected violence. I didn’t get it. I got a dismissal, forgiveness, from her and Phantom Fangs.
They should have turned on me. I proved Aerre right. They should’ve killed me for treason because that was what traitors deserved. Maybe Sorissa’s kiss saved me. She knew the sincerity of my heart when I said I wasn’t going to follow through with the rebels’ plan. They all did. Earlier today, Caspian thanked me for choosing Sorissa, for choosing them. They just wrote the whole thing off like it was no big shit.
We had almost lost Caspian, and Sorissa gave herself up to vampires. We got down to business after that. There was no room for fighting among ourselves. Aerre wasn’t even on my ass. It made me feel worse. I was twisted up inside like the gnarled trunk of an old tree. Maybe they thought they needed me to rescue Sorissa. The rebels would’ve found another way. They never would’ve used me like this, let alone forgiven me for complete and utter betrayal.
I fell in line behind a couple other roaders as we waited for the gate to rise and allow us entry. Caspian was in the roader at the front, our fearless leader.
Leader.
Merik Rexx had always been my leader, the man in charge of the rebels, but I couldn’t go back to him. He wouldn’t understand, and I wouldn’t “redeem” myself or “fix my mistake” by giving Sorissa to the rebels now, pretending like that was what I had intended all along. If I tried to explain my decision, if I tried to explain Sorissa… No. They wouldn’t understand. I wouldn’t have understood if I hadn’t met her and spent time with her myself. I couldn’t have anything more to do with the rebels. This was it. I made my choice.
Before we left to get Sorissa back from the vampires, while we were preparing, Caspian asked me to tell him everything I had given the rebels so that he could properly prepare for any backlash—more like so Todd could. It didn’t end up being anything they were worried about, especially because I told them the rebels’ numbers were so few. Caspian didn’t even bother telling the king, and if he had, he would’ve made up some story about it. I was sure of it. Because the king wouldn’t have been so forgiving of my treason. But Caspian seemed determined to keep me around.
I gripped the steering wheel tightly and glanced at the rearview mirror just to catch the blinding light of the setting sun. I tapped my fingers impatiently until I realized it was something Aerre would do and forced myself to step. The big-ass gate took its time opening. Once it was raised high and securely locked in place, the couple of roaders in front of me moved forward on familiar orange-red streets, and I followed, just another piece in our bland fucking parade.
The streets were cleared for us as werewolves and humans alike stood on the sidelines, watching us like we were exotic animals. The humans grew much denser when we reached the Tech off Zone. Caspian led us to the heart of the zone. Then he parked his roader off to the side of the street and said, “Everybody out. Let’s find these people a place to stay. Good thing we already have some new houses under construction. We’re going to need a lot more, though. Who’s in charge of building?”
A group of men walked forward, “We’ll start preparations immediately.”
“Great. Thanks. I’ll inform the king and send you better directions later. Right now, we need a place for these people to stay.”
“The barns on the outskirts will work well,” one of the men offered.
It was a good thing the Tech Off Zone, and the whole walled-in expanse of Wolf Bridge, had so much land. There was ample room for these newcomers. And, for now, people could apparently stay in the barns.
I helped the rest of the humans out of the trailer my roader was towing and pointed them toward the humans and werewolf guards sorting all the newcomers. I didn’t know the Tech Off Zone all that well myself, so I was useless in that department.
“Thank you,” the last person in my trailer, a woman, said to me. I tried to wave her off, but she grabbed my arm and said it again. “Thank you.”
All of this gratitude was not something I was used to. But it sort of felt good. It would’ve felt much better if I had known I was giving these people freedom.
Dammit.
Why did things have to get turned upside down? I would have to find, or at least try to contact, Jobe. The rebels deserved some sort of explanation, didn’t they?
I spotted Sorissa looking my way and quickly averted her gaze. The black and the white, seeing things clearly, was something I always had a gift for, and I wondered how she single-handedly managed to shift my perspective. It was like I was a compass, and she was true north. She made me realize, though I hadn’t wanted to, that the world maybe wasn’t so black and white after all.
That was what bothered me.
I didn’t know where I fit in anymore.
I didn’t know my purpose.
I wondered if I had forsaken humans for Sorissa.
“Are you okay, Rodrick?” She was behind me. I wasn’t going to turn around, but she touched my arm, and I lost my willpower. “Why have you been avoiding me?”
“I was going to give you up to the rebels. I thought… I don’t know what I thought. That you wouldn’t want to see me?”
She hugged me and said, “I’m happy to see you. I’m not mad. I think I even understand where you’re coming from. A little. There’s a lot of dissonance outside of the woods. Different sides clashing, unfairness, pain. Babaga gave me fairytales to read by werewolves, vampires, and humans. They all seemed similar to me. Yes, they all had different customs and cultures, but they wanted the same things. Happiness, family, love. Power? Maybe that’s why there’s all this war out here.” She held me tighter, but I couldn’t bring myself to return the gesture.
“I always wanted to leave my woods,” she said. “I wanted to make friends with werewolves, vampires, and humans. I wanted to find my own pack and become the first werea to reach alpha. I don’t really know the Prime War or all the terrible things the three species have done to each other, but I’ve seen enough and been through enough to know it’s all been equally terrible. Even from kingdom to kingdom. Not all werewolves are united. Not all humans. If everyone could forgive and forget, maybe the world could grow again and become something beautiful.”
Her eyes were shining, shimmering like stars in the night sky, as she looked up at me. Gods, she was beautiful. I touched her cheek, grazing her supple bronze skin with my fingertips. Then I tangled my fingers in her curly hair and pressed gently down on her scalp.
“You are too pure for this world, little fighter. And you sound just like Caspian with that naivety of yours.”
She laughed. “It’s nice to know Caspian has similar ideas.”
I wrapped my arms loosely around her waist, bringing us closer, bodies pressed together. I didn’t know it was possible to ac
he so deeply for someone. My chest. My dick. I was getting mixed messages from my own body. I wanted her to calm the storm raging inside of me. I wanted to lift her up so that we would align just right. I wanted her legs wrapped around my waist so I could feel her hot pussy against my sudden hard-on. I didn’t even know if she was wearing underwear underneath that long, plain black shift she was wearing. Was she wet for me? I wouldn’t find out because I didn’t do it.
“You see clearly,” I said. “Teach me to see clearly too, Sorissa, because I’ve lost my way.”
“Together. We all belong together. That’s all I know,” she replied. She reached up and grabbed my face, gently scratching through my beard. Then she brushed my lips with her fingers, inviting me to bend down and kiss her.
I didn’t.
The soft hum of an engine grabbed our attention. It was the carriage, the streamlined vehicle reserved for werewolf royalty. This was different than the time Alexander and Henry decided to pay us a visit in the square. The king was with them, and he was making a statement.
I had a bad feeling about how this would go down.
CHAPTER 8
CASPIAN
THE KING WAS IN the Tech Off Zone. That wasn’t something that happened very often—if ever. A grim line set my lips as the carriage came to a stop and the low rumble of its engine died. The polished metal of the doors caught the light when the driver got out and opened the single passenger door with a bow. The king and my brothers came out in a specific order. It went youngest to oldest: Henry, Edward, Dominic, Alexander, and Julius. I would have been first if I had still been considered a Prince of Wolf Bridge. I froze when I realized they each had their sights set on me.
My brothers moved to the side as the king passed through the middle of them. He stopped mere inches from me, his silver-lined dark-blue cape billowing in the wind, and looked me dead in the eye. “What’s all this?”
“The vampires gave us all of the unchanged humans they held captive. They’re asking for a truce,” I explained.
