KORO’S POV By the time we got to Rujin’s chambers, my hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
The ruined dampener cuffs hung from my wrists like broken promises, and across the room, Vane was already working.
“Try not to die while I’m hacking the surveillance grid,” he said without looking up.
“No promises,” I responded teasingly.
I was surprised that Vane actually defended us and ensured that we left the room.
His loyalty to Rujin reminded me of my loyalty to my best friend, Micah.
“Wonderful,” Vane whispered.
“How bad is it?” Rujin asked.
“On a scale of one to catastrophic?” Vane asked, “Then catastrophic.” I closed my eyes, and immediately, the darkness swallowed me, and my beast rose to the surface.
“HE LIED.” My Wolf’s growl shook the entire landscape, and its silver eyes locked onto me.
“He stole us.” My Vampire stretched lazily across a frozen outcrop.
“He did.” My Wolf snarled, “We should tear out his throat.” My Vampire smiled.
“Oh no.” Its fangs gleamed.
“We should kiss him first.” My Wolf stared.
“…What?” “You heard me.” My Vampire responded.
“You’re insane.” My wolf growled.
“I am a Vampire.” My Vampire chuckled in response.
“That’s not a defense.” My Wolf snarled.
“It’s literally my species.” My Vampire teased him.
The ground suddenly trembled, and a massive shadow rose from the darkness and then we watched as Rujin’s dragon, Ignis, rose up and his molten eyes opened.
The temperature surged.
“You are both exhausting.” My Wolf immediately bared its teeth in defence.
“You stole us.” Ignis sighed.
“I have existed for twenty-five years.” A plume of plasma escaped his nostrils.
“I did not personally kidnap anyone.” “You chained us.” My wolf pointed.
“You were dying.” Ignis insisted “We were surviving.” My Wolf asserted.
“You were freezing to death.” Ignis chuckled.
“We were adapting.” My wolf responded in defence.
“You were unconscious in a snowbank.” Ignis snickered.
My Wolf hesitated.
“That’s not the point.” “It is exactly the point,” Ignis stated.
My Vampire slid down one of Ignis’s claws.
“Let’s skip to the interesting part.” Its violet eyes glittered.
“You’re afraid.” Ignis growled, “I fear nothing.” “Oh?” My Vampire circled him.
“Then why are you watching the little wolf every second?” My Wolf immediately looked interested.
“Oh.” “Don’t start.” Ignis’ nostrils flared.
“Ohhhhh.” My vampire was added.
“Stop.” Ignis commanded, and my Vampire laughed and added: “The Dragon likes him.” Ignis slammed his tail into the ground, “I NEED HIM ALIVE.” My Wolf grinned.
“That’s worse.” “It is not.” Ignis insisted.
“It absolutely is.” My Wolf spoke up.
“You are stupid beasts.” Ignis sounded annoyed.
“We’re predators.” My Vampire smirked.
“You’re idiots.” Ignis huffed.
My Vampire clapped.
“This is fun.” Ignis lowered his head, and the molten glow in his eyes dimmed slightly.
“The Syndicate is coming.” That silenced the three of them for a second, and then Ignis added.
“The old men want the circuit broken.
“My Wolf’s ears flattened.
“They can’t break it.” “They will try,” Ignis explained, and my Vampire stopped smiling.
“They’ll kill the girl,” Ignis stated as a matter of fact.
For a long moment, the beasts were silent, and then my Wolf looked away, and my Vampire frowned.
“That’s unpleasant.” “Reality often is.” Ignis nodded.
My Wolf growled softly.
“What do we do?” Ignis looked directly at them.
“For once?” The Dragon’s voice became surprisingly quiet.
“We work together.” My Wolf blinked.
My Vampire blinked.
Then simultaneously— “I hate that idea.” “Same.” “Koro.” A hand grabbed my shoulder.
“Koro.” I jerked awake.
The room snapped back into focus, and Rujin was crouched in front of me, and His expression looked dangerously close to panic.
“Easy.” “I’m fine,” I responded.
“No, you’re not.” Rujin’s voice rose in a panic.
“I’m breathing.” I snapped at him and felt out of breath.
“Barely.” I pushed his hand away.
“You worry too much.” “You stopped having a pulse,” Rujin explained.
“Minor detail,” I responded, knowing well what had happened.
“Koro.” “Rujin.” We glared at each other, and then Vane’s voice drifted across the room.
“For the record, I was already preparing a funeral speech.” I pointed at him.
“See?
He’s the supportive one.” “I’m absolutely not,” Vane responded in denial, but there was a teasing note in his voice.
Rujin stood.
“What happened?” I hesitated.
“You want the short version?” “Yes.” “Our beast had a meeting.” I pointed at my temple.
Rujin groaned immediately.
“Oh, excellent.” “It got weird,” I explained.
“It always gets weird.” Rujin nodded.
“The Vampire accused your Dragon of having feelings.” Rujin froze.
Across the room, Vane slowly looked up from the console.
“Oh?” “No.” Rujin’s voice rose a notch.
“OH?” Vane was at it again.
“No.” I pointed directly at him.
“Your giant fire lizard got defensive.” Rujin covered his face.
“I hate everything.” “I think it likes me” I spoke up.
“Stop talking.” “It definitely likes me.” I asserted.
“Vane.” Rujin’s voice was filled with embarrassment.
“Yes, Don?” “Shoot me.” “Gladly.” Vane chuckled.
I laughed, but Rujin did not.
His ears had turned red, and that made it worse.
“Oh my gods.” “Don’t.” Rujin pointed at me.
“The Dragon really does—” “Koro.” “—like me.” “KORO.” Vane was openly grinning now.
“Remarkable.” “Traitors surround me.” “You’re surrounded by witnesses,” Vane spoke up, and before I could answer, Vane’s expression changed, and the humor vanished instantly.
The security display lit up red.
“Problem.” The room fell silent.
“What now?” Rujin asked.
“Vance.” “Of course.” “He deployed the Purge Squad.” My smile disappeared.
“How long?” “Three minutes.” “That’s generous.” I snickered.
“They’re pumping nitrogen through the ventilation network.” I stood immediately and Rujin’s eyes narrowed.
“They’re trying to freeze him.” I pointed out.
“Correct.” Vane nodded.
The room temperature rose sharply, and a warning light flashed.
Then another.
“If they touch him—” “No,”Rujin spoke up, and I stepped directly into the golden boundary line.
Rujin looked at me.
“No?” I demanded.
“No.” No, he responded with conviction, The violet current returned to my wrists.
“They want you angry.” “They already have me angry,” Rujin explained.
“They want you to be catastrophic.” That stopped him.
I took another step.
“You torch a squad, Vance gets exactly what he wants.” “What do you suggest?” A slow smile spread across my face, and my Wolf stirred, and my Vampire laughed, and inside my head, even Ignis sounded interested.
“Let me handle it.” Rujin folded his arms.
“Handle it how?” “They’re bringing winter.” “So?” I bared my teeth.
“They forgot who winter belongs to.” For a moment, nobody spoke, and then Vane chuckled.”That’s either a brilliant tactical assessment…” “Or?” “Or the most threatening thing I’ve heard all week,” Vane stated.
Rujin’s eyes never left mine, and finally he nodded.
“Fine.” The word sounded reluctant.
“Damn right it’s fine,” I smirked.
“You get one chance.” “That’s all I need.” I nodded in response and appreciation that he had finally agreed.
The security display flashed again.
BREACH WARNING.
Thirty seconds and the golden tether between us brightened.
My Wolf crouched.
My Vampire smiled.
Ignis the Dragon opened one molten eye.
And together, all three beasts waited for someone foolish enough to knock on the door.