Read Changeling Winds: Episode Two (The Bachelor Battles Book 2) Online

Authors: Angela White

Tags: #futuristic love story, #apocalyptic romance, #angela white, #action romance, #Fantasy Series, #romantic horror, #apocalypse rebellion

Changeling Winds: Episode Two (The Bachelor Battles Book 2) (14 page)

BOOK: Changeling Winds: Episode Two (The Bachelor Battles Book 2)
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“Yes. There are hundreds of warheads under the ground in the west. Even bad odds say a few of them will be useable.”

Far below these two remorseless leaders, the timed utilities flickered on to spotlight an enormous billboard of the last episode’s final match. The tattooed woman on that canvas was bloody, dangerous.

“What about them? When do we stop playing with fire?”

There was an amused chuckle and a shrug. “They’ve served themselves through the Network for a very long time. When our generosity finally runs out, we’ll get rid of every last wild Pruett left in New America.”

“And, until then?”

“We’ll be careful. There’s still a lot of time before the meeting. Track them and keep in contact with Rankin, but leave them alone otherwise. We need them caught off guard. If they suspect a double cross, we may lose all we’ve built.”

“Would they come here…attack the complex openly?”

Now the leader’s voice held a tremor of unease. “It’s what I would do.”

“Is there a contingency plan in place, in case they do?”

“Of course.”
The Head of the Council moved away from the window. “You know how to run, right?”


Yy
..
es
.”

“Good. They won’t give you that chance, but it’s good that you know how.”

 

 

Jason

The view out the window was depressing and I turned away. The train was traveling through water zones now, the kind that kept the Network in control, and the people were awful to see. The workers were paid well according to Rankin, but the conditions were lethal. Only one in every ten drillers survived their fifteen years underground to get those full benefits.

The motion of the train was soothing, but the feeling of rolling out of New Network City, was wonderful. It made me cheerful, and I started with the questions as soon as Angelica came back through the door.

“Have you thought about your mate questions yet?”

Angelica stopped, shoulders tensing. “No.”

I stood up, drawing her attention to my body. “Would you like to…”

“No.”

“Okay.”

Angelica wore the same clothes out of the complex that she had during the games, and I already loved watching her legs move in those tight black pants. They weren’t as nice as Rankin’s fighting clothes, but Angelica’s fit her better and seemed to be more useful. There were pockets and pouches all along them and the inside of her thick cloak. The shirt was a long sleeved button-up, over a half top that exposed her flat stomach and made my mouth feel heavy as she adjusted her clothes. I looked away before she turned her head.

The buffet car on the train was one to rival the live bachelor meals at the complex. Everything from expensive pastries and chocolates to succulent meats were spread out on long tables that never emptied. It was a luxury my new owner didn’t splurge on. We ate from her packed supplies, the dried meat and hard bread filling, and she watched me with heat that made me feel safe instead of a prisoner.

 

Angelica

I waited for the sound of the shower, liking his neat fetish, and then began gathering a few of the things I’d scrounged from the Network.

I had a quick delivery and update trip to make, and now, while Jason was busy, was best. He didn’t need to get involved with me and the family business any more than he already was. As my mate, he would have been welcomed, though. I wondered what type of partner he might have become, and then stopped myself from taking the painful dream any further.

As I closed the door behind me, I did a slow sweep to make sure the five guards I’d hired were on duty outside this car. The time for dreams might come again if I could find a replacement among Baker’s rebels, but either way, now wasn’t the place for it. I had a small window before those the Network sent after us would catch up, and I didn’t plan to waste it. There were contacts to be made, and dragons to be slain.

 

 

Jason

Drawn by the sounds Angelica made as she packed the small bag, I watched her leave. She’d left her gear, meaning she was coming back… There were rentable males on the train. Was that where she was headed? I certainly hadn’t given her any relief.

Shower still running behind me, I cracked the main compartment door, and was a bit hurt to see that was indeed the car she disappeared into after a quick haggle with the guards.

Seeing my protection was about to settle in until she came back, I slipped into the hall with a feeling of scared excitement. This was a side of my personality that I had to keep hidden from Rankin, but also the Network. Males who showed my levels of excitement were often castrated.

I didn’t see anyone but my guards as I slipped into the drafty hall. It was normal for the train to only carry a few dozen passengers and their kind spent the ride in one of the service cars, getting their hair (and other things) blown or bloated.

Whirrrr

I grabbed the wall for support as the train shuddered, picking up speed. The feel of flying along inside it wasn’t one I cared much for, especially in the wind. It rattled the cars, mainly in the curves, sending waves of unease through my stomach and chills down my back from the added draft.

I walked up to the guards on the renting door, and donned a timid expression. “She told me to follow.”

They knew better than to argue and their hungry curiosity trailed me as I slid in behind my new owner. Belonging to a Pruett had its advantages. Just inside the door, there was a long banister with thin poles on the top and I stayed behind it.

Consoles and computers on one end, each rental car was filled the rest of the way with a wide, well-padded, bench-like seat. It ran the length of both sides and provided numerous spaces… positions.

On the walls above these benches, were titanium cuffs welded into the frame. More cuffs clinked against the edges of the long bench seats, muffled a bit by the plush covering that allowed for comfort while enjoying the allotted hour.

A closer inspection of the car revealed drawers under the benches and I assumed it held all the day to day necessities for these slaves. So far as I knew, the train males were never allowed out of these cars, unless they were with a renter. And since most renters were desperate Changelings, walks in the sun between stops were a rare treat. Couches and pillows overflowed with naked slaves, and their used, fragile skin. Their eyes were hollow (dead) and my stomach turned at the thought of seeing Angelica rent one of them.

She had moved to the front of the car, where another set of guards lurked. She held out a slip of paper and I watched in shock as they left her alone with the half dozen men. She would use all of them?

Now the males were taking notice… recognizing her? I couldn’t be sure.

The door behind me slid open and I lunged for the corner, yanking a hanging cloak over my head as heavy steps entered.

“We’re all full here.”

Angelica’s voice was hard.

I heard a snort.

“All of them?”

“I’ll only be an hour.”

There was a heavy pause, and I felt the newcomer deciding if she wanted to challenge Angelica.

“Fine!”

The door opened again, heavy feet leaving, and I slid the cloak back enough to see Angelica now standing in the center of the room.

“Pruett.”

At her announcement, the males came to life!

“How is Baker?”

“Did the rebels make it to the Safe Zone?”

“Any news of the West Coast?”

Angelica punched in a series of choices on a small wall screen, and the males hurried to serve her as the food appeared. They joined her for the meal without permission, digging into the whole chickens like they were starving.

I listened, realizing they probably were. The Network doled out one meal a day to the males and that included the Games prizes. They never let us forget that we were at their mercy.

“He lives. That’s all I know at this point.”

“And the Network?”

“As strong as ever,” Angelica muttered bitterly.

Their faces fell and I realized these males were like some of the Bachelors - careful information exchangers.

“That was the new Head Defender’s personal guard that you sent out.”

Angelica’s voice sounded as surprised as I felt. “What’s Rankin doing on this ride?”

“On the way to meet up with troops, we heard.”

“Or to reclaim her property...”

That had me tensing. I’d waited too long to tell Angelica all of the truth. Now these strange males would expose my shame.

“He looks remarkably like his Father.”

“Does he?”

“Yes. His father was one of us. His Mother found him pleasing and bought him. They had a good life together, but she burnt out. When Rankin wanted found out, she was in no position to defend them.”

“Rankin killed the entire family. Jason was the only survivor.”

“But only because she knew how he would look when grown...”

Angelica’s intelligence was scary.

“Her second chance to have what she hadn’t meant to kill?”

The males confirmed it.

“We all think so. It’s no accident she keeps him so thin. If he were bigger, she might confuse him for a ghost and snap before she can legally buy him.”

Angelica knew now. Shame filled me, the kind that I understood I didn’t have to carry, but didn’t know how to get rid of it.

“That explains a lot.”

“She’s a hard one - likes the begging.”

“Explain that.”

“When she chooses one of us, there’s never satisfaction, only pleading for relief that doesn’t come.”

“She makes her men suffer our torment.”

“Yes.”

Angelica turned her head toward the corner I was hiding in.

“And she’ll come for him - no matter if it goes against the Network?”

“Oh, yes. We’re out of New Network City. She won’t rest until he’s hers again and you’re dead.”

Angelica gave them that harsh, fighting smile, and the tame train males flinched back.

“I’ve played this game before, and now I’ve got nothing to lose.”

“But your new mate…”

“Will be freed.”


Ahh
.”

They touched her in sympathy, not drawing any of her heat or tension like I
did,
and I wondered what it was about them that killed the need. Was it because they were used already? She didn’t seem the type. More likely, it was because they were so thin, so
hungry
.

All the food was gone, and I wasn’t surprised to see her wave one of them toward the console.

“Another full round and then some deserts - chocolate.”

They spent the entire hour eating, talking, exchanging information, and I’d almost forgotten where I was as I listened, learning things I never would have suspected.

“Yes, we can confirm that. People have already begun to come in for the meeting.”

“Male or female?”

“As many of each.
It seems there are more males in the West.”

“We even heard a tale of an entire city of men. Such is likely the dream of a drunken fool, but nevertheless, we’ve heard it.”

“I’d give a lot to see that.”

“Yes. If the Network knew and didn’t tell anyone, it might cause their downfall.”

Angelica snorted. “It’ll take more than that.”

She gestured toward the mess they’d made, and the men hurried to clear the evidence.

“Would you like to pass messages somewhere?” she offered.

“Would you be headed west from here?”

“That could be.”

“We’d tell Baker that there’s something bigger going on than the power meeting, that too many troops have been sent out.”

“We’d tell him a new Safe Zone would be a good idea.”

That was a secret I’d thought only the bachelors knew, and it was a surprise to find out that wasn’t true.

“I’ll be sure that falls on the right ears.”

“Will you also tell him now is the time if he plans to move against them? We’ve never seen more confusion as the new generation is brought in for training.”

“Training?”

“Every two generations, the next set of rulers are brought in and updated so they can take over. It’s the way the Network keeps control.”

Angelica’s head was still turned toward my hiding place… how I would get back without being seen?

Like she read the thought, Angelica stood up.

“I’m sorry to leave you here.”

“We’re sorry to see you go.”

I ducked lower, holding my breath.

She moved by me, for reaching the door…

“Come along now, Jason.”

My mouth dropped open as she stepped through, and I hurried to do as I’d been told, now worried over a punishment.

BOOK: Changeling Winds: Episode Two (The Bachelor Battles Book 2)
2.37Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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