Abyss - Book Five of the Alpha Series - MxM

Chapter 24

The rising sun peeks over the horizon, its light glimmering through the window slats, signaling that dawn is upon us. Yawning, I lean back against the corner I've found myself in and absently wipe at the blood that covers my arms. I feel sticky, coated in the horrors of this unending night.

 Fillipa, Anuetta, and Steffan share a carriage with me. I hadn't demanded to ride with the guard this time; I'd learned my lesson.

My strigoi friend crosses the short span to sit beside me, carefully brushing my hair out of my face to examine me, though I glance away, not wanting to look weak in front of the ambassadors. I feel exhausted, and yet I don't think I could sleep if I wanted to, with all that has occurred. 

"Does anyone know where we are going?" I finally managed, vaguely aware of the gash on my hairline. I take the offered handkerchief and press it to the wound. 

"Zee train station, Your Grace, eet's zee fastest way to get to France." 

"What about the war? Are we running away?"

They all exchanged glances and finally, Fillipa spoke. "Our jobs, as ambassadors and rulers of our people, are to survive long enough to speak for them. Once the treaty is made, we can return with weapons and whatever reinforcements it will take to abolish the corruption that has been allowed to fester in your father's court. For now, we have to survive. We can not let all those deaths be in vain. If they are willing to go through all of this trouble, you are on the right path, Your Grace." 

Slipping back into the corner, I resist the urge to pull my knees to my chest and lament ever attempting such an impossible task. 

With our numbers reduced and the fact that we don't have an army at our disposal, it seems like departing as we did was our only option. The carriage lurches, and Anuetta emits a shrill shriek. We all ready ourselves as the door opens, but it's only Verando.

 He's completely naked, I assume from his time as a wolf. "They seem to have backed off, for now, the only trains that run the distance from here to France are quite a distance from our current location. We will have to camp for the night."

"Camp? Weeth zese beasts 'unting us? We weel be seetting geese!" Anuetta frowns.

"Ducks." Fillipa corrects. 

"It is our only option. The horses have to rest, and we need to regroup. Many of the soldiers who have accompanied us are wounded." It never surprises me that he cares about others, that he wants to check on those under his command, even though he had been willing to leave them all behind only hours ago. 

I keep that fact to myself, only nodding numbly.

It seems to impress Fillipa, though Anuetta could do without his sympathies. 

"We will take a break in a few hours to eat and water the horses, rest while you can. It's going to be a long night." 

I want to ask him to stay, I want to check over the many bleeding places I can see on his naked form. His expression is unreadable; the prediction he had made had come to pass. I wonder if it was difficult to be right about such terrible things. 

"Merci for rescuing me, Rando." Anu, unashamedly, takes him in. 

He pulls his lips into a thin, unimpressed line and turns his attention to me. "Are you alright? DO you have any injuries?" 

I nod, offering him a small smile. "I'm fine, just a cut... nothing major."

Relief washes over his face. "Everyone, get some rest." Pushing the doo open, it swings back to close as he jumps out. His two feet turn to four as I catch a glimpse of the gray fur out the window slats.