Page 37 of The Rebel and the Rogue

Thanking God for the Hived-Up parts and pieces that made me more than human, I jumped down into the flames and faced the enemy.

* * *

Zenos, Astra Legion

“What the fuck do you mean, Rhord is dead?” That wasn’t possible. I’d just seen him a few hours ago. That, and he was a Forsian hybrid. Big. Tough. Hard to kill.

I was so angry at Ivy, using the stun setting to immobilize me. To get away. I’d only just recovered from it, my muscles and nerves reviving again from the powerful blocker. Before I could go after her, I’d heard of Rhord but had to learn the truth, so I’d come here.

Nev paced Astra’s private quarters, his fangs fully extended in a killing rage. “Cerberus left his body at the tunnel entrance.”

It was true.

Astra stood at the window of her tenth-story balcony. From here she could see all her territory and half of Cerberus Legion’s streets as well. “You did say Cerberus wanted to rule all of Rogue 5.”

I had. Fuck. “I didn’t think he was stupid enough to challenge you, Astra.”

She didn’t turn from the window, her gaze pensive as the city’s lights spread out like a sea of stars under the black dome that kept us safe. “Not only me. Styx and Kronos. They will not approve of this attack. Killing while a guest in another legion. This will destroy the balance of power on Rogue 5. It’s bad for business.”

Bad for business? It was worse than that. A blatant attack. He’d wanted Ivy, but this much? Enough to start a fucking war?

Nev growled, still moving as Barek approached our leader slowly, with more caution than I’d ever seen from him when standing close to her. “My lady—”

She stiffened but didn’t look his way. “I told you not to call me that.”

He stopped, bowed his head. “I’m sorry, Astra. Please, send us to avenge our fallen brother. Cerberus had no right.”

She sighed and finally looked at him, her expression not unkind but filled with regret. “Agreed. He came into my territory wearing Cerberus colors. He was escorted under the guise of peace to a meeting, where he offered us a gift. This is unacceptable. Killing Rhord under these circumstances is an act of war.”

My fists clenched at my sides as I agreed. With Ivy driving me mad with frustration, it would feel good to kill a few more Cerberus scum. “We will handle it for you, Astra. Send me, Barek and Nev. We’ll gather a few Enforcers and hunt him down.”

She didn’t move, her gaze fixated once again on something in the distance. “Jillela will replace him. She is cunning but not cruel. Do not kill her. We need her alive.”

“Agreed,” Barek stated. He understood her strategy, her thinking about more than just Cerberus dead. That was why she was leader, considering the repercussions as part of the actual plan. Risk had to match the reward.

“Good. Let’s fucking get out there and burn their house to the ground.” Nev was the youngest of us, primed to fight, his instincts still difficult for him to control.

Astra tilted her head to the side as if puzzled, and an orange-hued light flashed over her skin.

“What was that?” Barek pulled the sheer fabric covering the window nearest him aside to look at the source of the unusual light.

Astra was smiling now. “It would appear that someone has beaten us to the task.” She pointed out the window.

Dread dropped like a stone in my gut, cold and hard and immovable. No. Not Ivy. She’d stunned me to go after Cerberus. To finish her mission.

But even as I denied the thought, I knew I was wrong. I strode to the window. Ivy was out there. Alone. Not just out there, in Cerberus Legion.

“By the gods.” Barek’s reverent tone lured me to look at what I did not want to see.

Flames shot into the air on the roof of one of the buildings in Cerberus Legion. It was far in the distance, but that only meant it was more intense up close. Looking down over the city, I did some quick calculations and guessed that the building on fire had to be the canteen Ivy and I had visited yesterday.

“Why didn’t you stop her?” Astra asked. “You should be with her.”

I nodded, swallowed. “I should, but as you probably understand, a female has a strong mind and will let nothing get in her way.”

“You mean no one.”

I didn’t reply because there was no argument. Ivy had fucking stunned me to get away.

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