Changeling Winds: Episode Two (The Bachelor Battles Book 2) (36 page)

It was a secret fear that vanished as soon as our eyes met. The longing I read there eased my heart and the sight of the bandage on his arm that no doubt covered a needle mark, was a comfort to my wounded ego. With me, he was
willing
. I opened my arms to him, not exactly sure what he needed now.

Jason flew to me, and I wrapped him in my loving embrace. “I forgive you.”

He shuddered at my words, grip tightening. “Thank you, for knowing I needed this… and for still wanting me!”

His hand cupped my cheek, pulling me gently toward him. “I love you, Angel - only you.”

I wanted to believe that, but I didn’t push. Instead, I sealed our lips, hating the smell of her that rose from his bruised skin.

He’d already had an owner when I chose him. I hadn’t known it, but I was still so grateful to have him willing, that it didn’t matter as more than another layer of pain. It was one that I could handle. The agony of a life without Jason was the one I wasn’t sure about surviving.

Chapter Twenty Three

Jason

From my spot in the engine car, the refueling stop was windy and cold. The sky was cloudy, dark, the rains clearly coming soon. I looked around in nervousness and exhaustion as a small group of guards started refueling the tanks.

The engine room we were in was designed for keeping the train rolling. It had a roof window and two wide doors, one on either side. With pale brown panels and bright furniture, it was a nice contrast to Rankin’s darkly shaded rooms. This car had the complete controls, along with a wide space lined by two chairs and a wide couch. A shelf held blankets and other boring items and I turned my eyes back to the outside.

The station consisted of two concrete shacks sporting large, Network remote controlled doors. Without the train code, no one got the fuel. Even Sam’s Runners hadn’t been able to bypass it. Alongside these two shacks was a brick building for guards and a thick path of stepping stones shaped like stars.

Around the hub was a valley of short, ugly grass and rocks from the stone wall still running the length of the distance in front of
us.
Another matching wall ran along the hill behind, and I realized this had once been used for a homestead. The stone wall was a border fence leading down into a livestock holding area. During an attack, those coming down the hills would be just as vulnerable as their targets. That was why Rankin had picked it, I began to realize with horror.

Rankin saw my face, and sneered hatefully. “Now, we’ll see who gets to keep you!”

She made a curt motion, and I saw guards duck out of sight, a lot more than what she’d told the rebels there would be. Rankin had lied! Why would she do that? Was she double-crossing us? How could I warn the rebels?

As if drawn by my thought, bikes and horses began to appear on the horizon like a swarm.

Beside me, Rankin stiffened in anger. “They lied!”

I couldn’t stop my laugh. It was supposed to be only half a dozen rebels. Five times that had appeared. Angelica was in the lead to bring them down the hill toward the train, and my admiration grew. I’d thought she was still on the train.

“I’ll teach them to double cross me!” Rankin growled, moving toward the front of the compartment. “I chose this stop with that possibility in mind!”

Her hand went toward the thick rope that controlled the engine’s whistle. “It is breeding season…”

Breeding season…

Pythons.

I flung myself at Rankin’s feet, my duty to the rebellion not done. This was the real reason Candice had sent me into the lion’s den - to help them.

“Please, don’t, please.” I grabbed at her arm. “We’ll go back to the way it was.”

Rankin shoved me hard enough to slam my head against the side of the train.

“They’ve taken my life! It was never about you!”

She reached for the whistle with an ugly snarl. “With them dead, I get it all back!”

I jumped at her again, and she sent a vicious boot into my chest.

The pain!
I was no match for her strength or her fighting kills. But that wasn’t what I was supposed to rely on…

Whhhooooo
…

The train whistle was rusty, not very loud, and it gave me another boost of courage.

I stood up and moved toward Rankin again, slowly, showing her I was calmer now.

“Stay back,” she warned. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I will. You know that.”

I nodded. She would kill me for what I was about to do. “I want you.”

Rankin’s head snapped to me, eyes instantly turning pink.

“What?”

I took a step closer. “When you’re done here, I’d like to offer a service.”

Those orbs turned crimson, but I didn’t celebrate yet. I did smile - invitingly.

“Right here, in this car.” My fingers went to the cloak covering me, removing it.

Her hand paused on a second pull.

I moved by her as I took the garment off, letting her scent my freshly washed skin. I slid onto the small couch and smiled up at her. “I’ll wait here for you.”

My fingers went to the buttons of my pants…

Her hand let go of the rope, a shudder ripping through her stiffened form…

Sensing how far I would have to go, I began to touch those areas that she craved. I had nothing for her without the drugs, but it didn’t seem to matter. Having me willing was something she’d dreamed of, why she’d let me live, and I used her weakness against her ruthlessly, trying to buy time.

I gave her the smoldering glance that the Network had taught me so well. “Can I touch you while I do this?”

Rankin stepped into reach eagerly.

Angelica

Whhoooo
!

The whistle startled me, sent fear rippling through my Changed body. There was only one reason to blow it. Rankin had betrayed us.

“Get to the train!”

Sam’s shout got us moving faster, but a low rumble in the distance said we might not make it that far. The snakes were coming.

We’d known Rankin wasn’t to be trusted, but the sight of that first python was a horrible reminder that the Head Defender wanted all of us dead.

I gunned the Mopar, bouncing roughly down the hill. Jason was probably doing something stupid right about now, and he would need me.

Half a mile from the train, a python split the ground between us and it, rising up in a flurry of dirt and rocks that our few horses shied from.

Bodies hit the ground, and rebels immediately gained their feet and ran for the metal safety of the train.

I spun wide of the snapping horror now giving chase and was sickened by the screams behind me, but I didn’t stop. We’d openly attacked a Network regiment and transport. There was no going back.

Pulling alongside, I lunged for the steel ladder and hefted myself onto the Network Rider. The Mopar crashed into the side of it like a small bomb blast.

I turned from the debris, ignoring the pain as shrapnel sprayed. We had to gain control of the main engine cars or we didn’t stand a chance.

Against my will, I took one fast look behind me and was glad I had. I ducked.

Thud!

The bullet slammed into the side of the train by my head. The guard who’d fired it from the ground aimed again...

I saw my sister’s big hand coming up behind her and turned back to the climb. There was an awful crack, followed by a thud.

I pulled myself on top of the car and headed for the front, where the whistle was. I had no doubt about who had pulled it.

All around the train, rebels and guards were battling, firing, dying. The ten foot python had made it to the end of the train and was being battled by both guards and rebels as it struck viciously. The guards were aiming at the snake, understanding they all needed to work together to survive, but the rebel males only had sights for the women who’d enslaved them so cruelly. I mentally marked that group of men from my list of survivors as the snake turned their way…

Jason

I held Rankin on that edge as long as I could, but she was burning hotter than I could control. Even the pain of my grip on her throat wasn’t going to stop her from exploding, and when it was done, killing me would be one of the first things she did.

I felt the drugs finally start to work and wrenched her head back to make her look at me. “You are not allowed to cum until I say so!”

My shout was followed by a sharp thrust that sent furious need into her eyes. I watched her struggle with herself, fighting like she’d never had to before, like she’d done to me and the other bachelors.

Outside, screams and gunfire echoed, but Rankin only knew the heat and pleasure I had her trapped in. I turned the fire up another notch as I began to use her body for my pleasure. It drove Angelica insane, and I was betting it would have the same effect on Rankin. If I could buy a little more time, the rebels would get here.

Rankin trembled as I stroked, frozen muscles stopping herself from going over that edge. I didn’t close my eyes and lean my head back like I was enjoying this duty, but there was no denying the lust in my body. She had no idea what was coming, but I did and I moved faster. This was what she’d done to me for all those years, used my lust to control me, keep me in line and afraid. I was using hers to end her reign of hell over the bachelors and rebels alike.

I grabbed Rankin by the neck, pulling her down to thrust harder. From this angle, I was able to see the incoming guard freeze in the doorway as she spotted us.

My heart dropped. Only seconds left now. Come on, Angelica…

“Rankin!”

She stiffened in my arms, hearing and wanting to pull back, but I mashed against her like I’d been taught and placed my lips on her ear.
“Now.”

I rocked, and she dug her claws into both of my arms as her body clamped down on mine.

“
UUugggg
!”

I kept moving, drawing it out, and buying every second I could as her guard seethed with anger. It was the best I could do.

“Pull…that… whistle!” Rankin’s eyes snapped into fury as she started to recover. She rolled us over, hands going to the acid canister on her belt. “And don’t stop hitting it!”

Angelica

Whhoooooo
!

I didn’t stop in my run over the top of the cars. I jumped across the gap, ducking low to avoid the gunfire.

Whoooo
!

The engine car was one of the few with a roof, and I didn’t hesitate to jump through the glass like I was an avenging demon sent to claim Rankin’s soul.

Whoooo
!

Jason

The acid went flying in the chaos and I scrambled to pull up my pants. I glanced up to see Rankin club Angelica in the back of the head and I shoved the Defender out of the way as I flew to my owner’s side.

Whhooo
!

Rankin moved back with the electronic stunner at the ready, smirking. I understood in that instant - her defeated air had been an act. I’d been tricked.
So had Angelica.
Well played
, I thought in horror.

Angelica was dazed and I helped her lean against the side of the car, not sure what to do now. The noises outside the car said the rebels and guards were still fighting, but in here, there was only silence except for the whistle.

Whhooo
!

From where we hunkered (the guard now pointing her gun at my head) I had too clear a view of the horror about to hit this train. Rankin didn’t realize what she’d done, but I did. I’d seen her pets, the ones she kept in the Hound den but hid from the Network. She’d been breeding them, using them to kill her enemies in their homes, but this time, she’d called wild pythons to do her bidding. It was a mistake we would all pay for.

These snakes were hungry from breeding heat, and angry to be interrupted. They swarmed toward the stopped train like an army of brown and black soldiers. As they got closer, their size became clearer. Roughly as long as two Mopars, even the smallest among them was double the size of our biggest fighter. Guards and rebels began lunging for the safety of the train.

The snakes moved stiffly, unable to manage those lightning-fast turns of the past, but their speed had increased. They chased the rebels down with a series of winding slides that ate up the rough ground like it wasn’t there. Even uphill, they didn’t slow, powered by thousands of tiny stubs on their bellies.
Stubs that, in time, might even evolve into feet.
I shuddered at the thought.

Whammm
!

The train lurched, tipping violently, and Angelica lunged for Rankin. They rolled, struggling, as the train slammed back down, headed toward the open door.

Whamm
!

The pythons were attacking the train, probably thinking it was an intruding snake. I rushed toward the fighting females.

The guard I’d forgotten about fired, and I was saved by the train’s awful shuddering as the huge reptiles began to rip it open. The woman’s slug slammed into the wall by my head, and I changed direction, lunging for her instead.