The artwork above is not mine.

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    Micah was even more ethereal in person. His large ivory feathered wings were tucked around his broad shoulders. His golden hair hung loose around his face, and his piercing brown eyes, visible even from Sarai's vantage point, remained trained on the prisoners in the cells.

    His scent wafted up to her, smelling of midnight storms and arousal, but entwined with it was the stench of death. Sarai hoped he couldn't detect her own scent. She'd thoroughly doused herself with scent concealer, but this was an Archangel. His senses surpassed those of ordinary Malakim and Vanir. Even the smallest indicator of her activity here could spell her doom.

    Sarai stiffened as the Oracle's words rose unbidden. "A dark future lies before you, young Wolf. You will be set upon a path that cannot be turned from. It will lead you to your demise, and doom those you love to a fate far more cruel than your own."

    She shoved the Oracle's warning to the back of her mind. She had to find out what was going on here. What the Governor was really planning. She owed it to everyone, herself and Ruhn especially. Sarai glanced at the simple ring on her finger, letting resolve harden within her.

    "Our latest studies show that an even higher dosage is required to induce the same self-destructive tendencies within Vanir that we saw in the Human subjects," Mr. Redner said, catching Sarai's attention.

    "And you're certain you've got the dosage right? There can be no mistakes tonight. I don't want to risk her overcoming the synth."

    "Let me give you a demonstration." The Human snapped his fingers and a fourth cell lit up. Sarai clapped a hand over her mouth, smothering a gasp. Lucas was chained within the cell, his face bloodied and bruised. "This Wolf was brought to us by a member of his own pack. She accepted a generous payment in exchange for him."

    Cassia, you bitch, Sarai snarled inwardly. She held no fondness for Lucas, but even she wouldn't have sold him as a science experiment for money.

    "I'm not interested in why he's here. I just want to know if the dosage will work," Micah sighed, rolling his eyes. Redner snapped again and a male in a white lab coat entered the chamber, carrying a syringe. The other prisoners broke into a clamor, demanding that the drug be brought to them.

    The Governor tilted his head in a predatory manner, studying Lucas. "Wait." He held up a hand, halting the scientist. "This Wolf must not be very powerful if he was brought here without difficulty. Any test on him will be inconclusive."

    "He was heavily sedated," Mr. Redner explained. "My scientists accessed the records from his Drop. His power levels are equal to the Devils' Third."

    Nathalie? Sarai's heart skipped a beat. What does she have to do with this? What are you planning, Governor? She leaned closer.

    Micah approached Lucas' cell, still watching him. "All right. My curiosity is roused. Why would your packmate exchange your life for money?" He asked.

    "Because she's a bitch who cares for nothing and no one," Lucas spat. "Only wealth and power." He struggled against his chains. "You won't get away with this. Sooner or later, someone will learn the truth, and you..."

    "Proceed," Micah interrupted.

    Lucas jerked harder as the scientist entered his cell. "No, get that away from me. Keep the fuck away from me!" The male jabbed the syringe into Lucas' arms and injected the synth. Sarai flinched.

    The male left the cell and Lucas kept fighting. He yanked on his chains, panic lacing his every move. His eyes darted around his cell and the chamber beyond. "I saw you," he called. "Help me, please!"

    Sarai went rigid. "What's he talking about?" Micah asked.

    "The drug can induce hallucinations," Mr. Redner replied. "I suspect that's what this is."

    "Please!" Lucas cried again. "You're still here. I know you're here!" Her heart hammered against her ribs. She was certain the Governor could hear it. "Please, help me!" Lucas convulsed suddenly. Talons sprouted from his nails. "No," he rasped. "No, no don't let them do this to me! Please, please, I'm sorry! Please, help me!"

    Sarai clutched at the rafter, nausea churning in her stomach. "Please!" Lucas was sobbing now. He lunged at the window, shattering his chains. He slammed his fist against the reinforced glass, screaming. "Please, please, please, please, please! Don't leave me here! Don't let them do this to me!"

    He was clawing at the walls now, sobbing harder with every blow. Micah watched silently, his head still at that odd angle. "Sarai, please!" Lucas wailed. And he turned his claws on himself.

    "A dosage of this size will take a little longer to affect a more powerful Wolf, but it will complete the job," Mr. Redner said, deaf to the rapidly fading screams within Lucas' cell. The window was stained by blood, making it impossible to see inside.

    "Who was that person he was calling for?" Micah asked.

    Sarai gulped and slowly pushed herself onto her feet. She remained crouched on the rafter, but slowly inched her way towards the nearest window. "I don't know," Render answered. "As I said, it was probably just a..."

    The Governor held up a hand. "It was no hallucination. Someone else has been here." He closed his eyes, breathing deeply. Sarai moved faster. "I've heard that name before. I remember the fuss Sabine Fendyr has made over a Wolf called Sarai Ilerion."

    Sarai reached the window. She unlatched it and pushed it open. Metal screeched and the Governor's head snapped up. Sarai hauled herself out the window and appeared in the courtyard of Redner Industries. She shifted into her wolf and ran, no longer caring about stealth. What mattered was putting as much distance between herself and the Governor as possible.

    Light flashed behind her and Sarai knew Micah was in pursuit. She could hear the wind rustling through his feathers. She parted her jaws, sucking down air, and put on another burst of speed. I've got to lose him, Sarai told herself. Lose him and find a place to lay low. I'll have to explain everything to Ruhn and the Devils, and find a way out of the city. Maybe I can leave with Salem and his friend. Get to safety, make a plan, and...

    A blast of power hit the ground beneath her paws. Sarai cried out, shifting into herself as she went careening into the side of a van. It dented with the impact. Sarai took only a few minutes to gather herself, then shifted and kept running towards the front gates. They were already closed, but she might be able to jump them.

    Sarai glanced at a car parked close to the gates. She leapt onto the roof of it and vaulted over the gates. Alarms screamed behind her. Sarai kept running, panting for breath and eyes wide with fear. She headed towards the Meat Market, hoping she'd be able to lose the Governor in that tangle of streets.

    Magic sizzled past her face and Sarai yelped. Another wave barreled into her, slamming her into a building. Sarai shifted with a groan. She pressed a hand to her side, then cried out. She'd broken a few ribs for sure. Sarai hefted herself to her feet, drawing her gun as wingbeats filled the air.

    "Do you really believe you can kill me with that?" Micah chuckled, pointing to her gun. "Put the toy away, little Pup. Let's talk."

    "Go to Hel," Sarai spat.

    "I would, but I don't think the Princes would welcome me." Micah gave her a dazzling smile. "I imagine they'd feel quite threatened. Now come. We have a few things to discuss."

    "I have nothing to say to you."

    "Ah. Then let me put it this way. Come with me and tell me exactly how much Danika Fendyr knows about my little business venture, and I'll only kill the two of you. The rest of your friends will be left alone."

    Sarai narrowed her eyes. "The rest of my friends?"

    "Alternatively..." Micah drew a syringe out of his pocket. "You still die, along with Danika and the Pack of Devils, and I'll have that Fae Prince of yours tortured and crucified."

    Sarai's mouth ran dry. "How do you... You can't touch any of them."

    "Can't I? Sabine Fendyr will not mourn the loss of you or the Devils, and the Autumn King can easily be persuaded to hand over his son in exchange for, hmm, let's say control over the Avallen Fae as well as Valbaran. Or perhaps I'll let him run the Humans out of Asphodel Meadows and claim the territory soley for his people."

    "You're sick," Sarai snapped.

    "And you have a decision to make."

    Sarai forced herself to her feet. "Suck my dick," she snarled, and squeezed the trigger. Her gun went off with a bang but Micah easily dodged the bullet.

    Sarai cried out as he appeared behind her, grabbing her arm and twisting it against her back. She doubled over, her gun clattering to the ground. "Darling, if you had one, I would," Micah crooned. The syringe bit into her arm.

    He threw her to the ground and backed away. "I'd love to stay and see what havoc you wreak before you die, but I'm already late for my appointment with the Devils. Save me a spot in the Bone Quarter, won't you, Ilerion?" Micah spread his wings and soared away.

    Sarai clutched at her arm, panic welling up within her. "No, no, no," she panted. "Oh no." Help, she had to find help. There had to be something someone could do. She took off limping towards the Old Square. She had to warn the Devils. She had to find help. She had to... Her ears were ringing.

    Sarai fished her phone out of her pocket with shaking hands. She quickly dialed Danika's number. "Come on, Dani, pick up," Sarai sobbed.

    She was greeted only by a voicemail. She tried Connor next, but nothing. Nathalie didn't answer either. She tried Bryce. A low battery warning flickered across her phone screen. Sarai jammed it into her pocket and hobbled along.

    Ruhn. He would know what to do. Maybe he'd found whatever data that Witch had collected on the synth. He'd be able to warn the Devils. He could get an Aux unit there in time. He had the authority.

    Sarai switched directions, staggering down another street. If she could just get to the house and warn him... She bent over with a scream as blinding pain ripped through her veins. Sarai ground her teeth, tears dripping down her cheeks. When the pain dulled, she moved faster.

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"Ruhn!" Sarai screamed, crashing through the front door of the house. Her surroundings were spinning and everything seemed much brighter and louder than normal. "Ruhn!" She drew a deep breath, but his scent was stale. "No," Sarai whimpered.

She struggled towards the stairs, each step rattling her bones. Hot. Everything was so hot. And bright. And loud. And... Sarai toppled to the floor. Her phone flew out of her pocket, just as it lit up with a text message. She grabbed it, hands trembling. A spasm wracked her body and she nearly lost her grip, but somehow, she managed to hold onto the device.

The text was from Salem. Hey, we on for the meet up tonight or what?

Tears streamed down Sarai's cheeks as she searched for a certain file she'd saved to her phone. One containing all of her escape plans for Salem. She bit back another strangled cry and managed to send it to him.

What is this? Salem responded. Sarai?

She was busy dialing Ruhn's number. A broken scream escaped her lips and her phone fell to the floor, already ringing. Sarai braced her hand on the back of the couch, sucking in ragged breaths. She couldn't see well enough to find the speakerphone button. Everything was spinning. The call was redirected to voicemail.

"Ruhn!" Sarai sobbed. "Help me, please!" She dug her nails into the couch as claws sprouted from them. "Please, please, please!" Her tears fell harder. Sense was fleeing her mind. Too loud. Too hot. Too bright. Too much. Too... "Ruhn!" She screeched. "I'm scared. I'm so scared." Sarai tipped her head back and wailed, already clutching a hand to her chest. "Ruhn!"

Any other words she might've spoke fled from her mind as she dug her talons into her flesh. Blood sprayed, and she screamed, and screamed, and screamed. Skin ripped and bone crunched. Still, her hands were flying. Her tears were falling. Her blood was pooling.

Death did not come with the gentle darkness her mother had always spoken of. It came with searing heat and crimson light. It came with agony and despair. It came with memories of laughter and love. It came with regret and longing. It came with the knowledge of a bond broken before it could truly take form. And then, it came with nothing at all.