End of Chapter 31

Of course, things wouldn't go as planned.

"I'm sorry," Zen rushed out lips pulled into a thin line. A mission called for his expertise, and a soldier from Hemlock now stood before them waiting for his answer. "I have to go." Elysian and Icarus flanked his side, arms crossed, waiting with a scowl.

They'd taken a car—old and puttering, but still running on rusty gears. But her eyes had widened just a little when Icarus and Elysian had slipped in, filling the empty seats. Icarus gave her a nasty little smirk, and Elysian, a quick glance filled with apology. They seemed to think that she hated them, that Zen was her only true lover. But the truth was. She didn't mind them as much as they thought her to.

Zen had spluttered out an explanation. Elysian was there to buy ingredients, and Icarus had decided to accompany him. It would be too expensive to run the car twice, this had Icarus shooting daggers at Zen, eyes flashing an angry, violent crimson.

Zen, it seemed, had not received permission to use the car.

"I really have to go." Zen groaned and scrubbed a hand across his face. A low groan: as his device flashed in his hands, messages flooding.

"Lonely?" She asked.

"Lonely at Azarius," he confirmed. Their castle was mentioned once again, and now she began to put the pieces together, understanding that it was truly military headquarters, one that the House of Hemlock now dwelled at. But to place the military at the heart of the city instead of the edges at the walls was odd.

"I could help–"

"Don't be a princess," Icarus spat out gruffly, lilac eyes flashing almost a cruel silver. "You're just going to have to just wait for Zen here. Is that so hard?" Quinn squinted.

"I was just offering my services."

"If you want to kill yourself then be my fucking guest. They don't allow Alphas in Azarius, they'd shoot you down on sight." He turned. "What do you think Elysian? Is a scrawny little Beta going to do anything but be a burden to Zen?"

"Quinn, you truly wouldn't be of any help," Elysian mumbled. "Zen would only struggle to accommodate you."

"Mates," Zen chided. "Play nice." Elysian sighed. And Zen turned like a forlorn lover, cupping her cheeks in his hands. "Wait for me." his eyes grew softer, lips pressed to her cheek – a brush of a butterfly's wings. "Sorry, I know I invited you here."

"No," she shook her head. "This is fine."

"You sure? I'll be back in a bit–"

"I feed your mates Zen," she reminded him. "It's my job to kiss them all on the lips and pretend to like them."

He smiled then, something flashing in the depths of his eyes. A rush of what seemed to look like hurt and disappointment. A blink and the colours were gone, the emotions fleeting, his expression falling into a dull, sombre look that ticked in his jaw. What had she said? "Alright." He was gone in a whirl, not another moment to give her a chance to apologise. And she stepped back to survey the space, her mind stirring with Zen's face.

The markets were far richer than she'd expect it to be with their people struggling on the scraps of a post-apocalypse. But there were poultry, birds and animals, hanging in the snow, frozen from the cold. And even vegetables, oily and on display – pumpkins, onions, tomatoes and bell peppers, patches of violet colour with a dewy cover of frost. A generator burned at the centre of the town, crudely replacing what was once a frozen fountain.

"It's fucking crazy, isn't it?" Icarus muttered. "Alphas and Omegas walking around together."

Quinn blinked, now noting the people. The bundles of life, Omegas that nodded towards the kings, a sweeping bow. The smaller group of Alphas that followed their Omega. The Alpha women were clad in the uniform that Quinn did not have to wear, with their heads bowed as they trailed along the pathways. This was her luxury, her benefit as the kings' mate. "Never thought I'd see the day when there could be so much peace."

He snorted; lips quirked, ready to fucking fight her. "You're full of shit today, aren't you? Where's the spitfire? Where's the heat?"

"Maybe I'm cursing you out on the inside," Quinn replied, brow raised, arms crossed. The crazy motherfucker grinned, as handsome as always, pale lashes fluttering, eyes as sharp as diamonds. "Ever thought of that?" It was easier to talk to Icarus now that she knew him, and understood his limits and his sardonicism.

"Let it all out, it's not good for your little heart. It could burst under all that hatred." More hearts. A bad sign.

"I know you get hard when I curse. How would your people feel seeing their king waddle in the snow with a tent?"

He blushed, and it was bright red. "Oh, you fucking Beta—"

Elysian turned and stepped closer with oranges in his hands, the colour seemed to saturate the snow. "Please don't fight." Her eyes drifted then to a familiar face, a gasp ripping from her lips. Xin stood just a couple of steps before her, clad in a dark frock and with a basket in her arms, out shopping like the rest of them. Hemlock felt like a lifetime ago, and to see her friend once again was a rush of delight through her veins.

Elysian's voice broke her out from her distraction. "You know her?"

"Uh," Quinn cleared her throat, but Elysian's eyes were kind. "Xin was from Hemlock, she was a friend."

"Go talk to her then," he waved and pushed her along with a gentle smile. "We'll wait, I've got a couple of other things to look for, but we'll be here." And Quinn nodded, a smile stretching across her face.

"I'll be back soon."

"Not a step out of our sight," Icarus snapped.

"Yeah. You've got security everywhere, where could I run to?"

"Don't you dare fucking try!"

Xin was already grinning when Quinn stepped closer, teeth showing. "God, Quinn, can't believe you're here. We've heard some things, but you look better than I could ever imagine. A pack suits you well." She prattled on, bouncing on her toes. But there was something wrong with her, a gauntness to her that Quinn had never noticed before. Her eye bags were dark and hanging, and there was a shake in her hands that she concealed behind her enthusiasm. Plus, her skin was pale, as pale as the snow.

"Xin," Quinn's eyes were wide with horror. "What happened?"

"Me?" Xin waved her hands, a smile on her cheeks, skin pulling over bone. She was skeletal. "I'm here with Hyeon and his pack, Hemlock's now in Azarius."

"I heard, but you look—"

"His pack's just taking a bit more from me," she shrugged, but her hair was thin. "I'm fine."

"Does he give you enough to eat? You look like you're starving."

"Of course. Anything I could ever dream of." Her basket was raised, the produce brimming.

"Then how could this be—"

The cry from the crowd was what had her stumbling back, the people rushing forth, a stampede, a wave. The panic roared, a rise of sudden chaos that it had her blinking disoriented, arms up, Float ready. Xin was on the ground, pushed to her knees, too weak to stand. And Quinn was reaching for her, arms around her, trying to bring her to safety.

What happened?

Her eyes were spinning over fallen produce, smashed eggs running over snow, the crushed vegetables, tomatoes soaking snow. The crowds of feet. The desperation to leave. The tension. The generator pulsing heat. There was a rush of air in her lungs, blood throbbed in her ears. The roar.

Another Lonely, how had it entered the city?

"QUINN!" A man's voice screamed her name. "QUINN!" But she was far too focused on her task, on helping Xin up, on leading her to safety. And her friend took off, feet pumping, leaving her arms towards salvation. And Quinn turned, feeling hot air on her back, knowing she was fucked.

A monster loomed behind her, dripping black ink from trembling lips, skin flapping over bone. The beast roared, dragging the ropey spill of his guts through the bloodied snow. This Lonely was new, she realised. Not darkened and poisoned by inky rot, but new. He was fresh, flesh still red with vigour, eyes still wet. Her hands raised, a flash of blue forming. But there wasn't enough time, and it was coming towards her.

And then there were bodies on her, pressed against her, and warmth splattering over her.

A pant, an angry cough, blood dribbling. Icarus trembled splayed over her, eyes hot on her face, angry as blood spilled from his lips. She stared, horrified, surprised. And then Elysian, just as fucked up, an arm out to stop the monster, the other caging her in. The Lonely's fangs were deep in his flesh, splattering the ground with his blood.

Where were their bodyguards?

Where were their soldiers?

They ran to save her.

They ran.

Her shock had her freezing, her breath escaping her in a shaky wheeze. A pause in the world as she stared at her saviours who'd taken the blow, the teeth that should be in her neck, the claws that should have ripped open her belly.

The Kings had sacrificed themselves for her.

Why?

"You stupid self-sacrificial fucking bitch," Icarus hissed through bloody teeth. The monster was slain, head rolling free from Elysian's arm, but bones showed on his flesh. Zen stood over them, eyes wet with tears. Icarus was still raving mad, and his blood splattered over her skin. "Why'd you sacrifice yourself for her? What the fuck's wrong with you? You're a fucking nutcase. Why are you such a fucking idiot?"

And so are you.

A/N: Read ahead on

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