Page 138 of The World Undone

There were new patches of grass, wildflowers budding in the cracked, fractured concrete, and more than a few nests of refuge built by the local wildlife.

It was beautiful in its own way. I much preferred it like this at least.

There were seven large vans about a hundred feet away, untouched by the brutal scorch of Max’s fire.

In a succession of unnecessarily loud slams, protectors poured out of them, most in full riot gear.

I stiffened, even though I’d known they would be here.

I felt Claude do the same at my side.

It was against our nature to willingly meet protectors, especially when we were deeply outnumbered.

They’d agreed to the terms Arnell had conveyed. Seven of us would meet here, but they were bringing fifty of their own.

If I had my way, that would leave the grounds anointed with the blood and entrails of fifty bodies when I was through. I didn’t trust a single one of them.

Honestly, I was just impressed they’d all managed to pack themselves like sardines in those seven vans and keep it to the number they promised.

“Here we go,” Eli muttered under his breath, fingers flexing over the handle of his dagger. He looked at me from the corner of his eyes, his mouth twisted into an arrogant grin. “Try not to lose your shit too quickly, eh vamp? Just remember if you get cut, I get cut.”

I winked. “Like I’m not deeply aware—at all times—of how often your recklessness has resulted in getting me injured.”

Truthfully, I forgot all the time, and was more than a little thankful for the reminder. Max didn’t like it when we were hurt.

“Serves you right, binding yourself to a fucking protector,” Claude muttered.

“Was the full patrol really necessary?” Wade’s lip curled in disgust as the protectors made their way towards us, many of them carrying dart guns likely filled with cartridges of the poison I was only too familiar with.

But it was the last arrival that had my pulse beating a bit faster than I’d have liked.

It was a frail-looking girl, her ankles and arms bound. Even from here, I could see that her eyes were pitch black, the reddish curls framing her face kept waving into a smokey-shadow.

I swore. “They brought a fucking drude. Where the hell do they keep getting them from?” They were supposed to be nearly extinct. I’d never even come across one in my particular pocket of hell, yet these assholes kept trotting them out like they were as common as bad opinions.

Atlas stiffened beside me, and I was filled with a renewed anger on his behalf.

“A drude wasn’t part of the deal,” I said, my voice tight.

The girl’s expression was drawn, half dazed, and there was an unhealthy grayish tinge to her skin that made her look half-dead, translucent. She didn’t have a good hold on the human form she was in, but she was being forced to embody it anyway. Caged in flesh. Starving.

She’d feed the first chance she was given. I couldn’t even blame her.

That’s how the council was controlling the druden they’d captured. Starvation. Desperation. The druden were so in need of feeding on nightmares, on pain, that when given the chance, they didn’t think twice—there were no options, other than killing whoever was within reach.

“Drude?” A thin white man, dressed in a standard, poorly-fitted suit took a few steps towards us, distinguishing himself in the crowd.

Claude bristled, but I had a feeling it was more so because he was offended by the man’s fashion taste than anything else.

The man arched his brow, and followed my line of sight. “Is that what you call them?” He shrugged, his gaze swinging back to Atlas. “Apologies, Mr. Andrews, I hear you are intimately familiar with their powers. One can never be too safe these days and we’re not exactly evenly matched. Consider its presence an incentive to keep the peace today. If it’s any consolation, the creature’s keeper assures me that it can’t attack until unbound. Our restrictive technology has improved exponentially in the last year—truly marvelous discoveries are made when the stakes are high.” His lips narrowed as he parted his hands in a peace offering. “Let’s just make sure it remains unnecessary, shall we?”

Nika vibrated with barely-constrained tension.

Nash insisted she was gaining better control over herself, but I wasn’t so sure.

I shot Nash a look, imploring him to keep her from pouncing. We needed to get what we came here for first, then she could have her fill—a buffet of asshole if she wanted.

He grabbed her wrist and whispered to her. She didn’t calm completely, but I could tell she was implementing more restraint.

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