thought of losing their precious city coaxed paranoia from normally sane minds.
I peered out at the daggerlike treetops of the Kitska Forest cresting against the horizon. As easy as life would be inside the damning white walls, I’d grown to prefer the shadows of Cruor.
Leena stared at the tracks, brow furrowing. “Remind me why we’re traveling this way if you can just move from place to place with the shadows? Seems like we could get there faster with your magic.”
Ozias offered a kind smile. “It doesn’t work like that. Over a great distance, the most we can do is project our awareness. We can hide in a small area as long as we want, but actual shadow travel is limited. It takes considerable power to go more than a few miles, and it’s draining.”
Kost hissed, rounding on Ozias with a tight glare. “Stop spilling Cruor secrets.”
Ozias lifted his palms in apology. “Sorry, Kost. Not like she could do anything with that knowledge, anyway.”
“You don’t know that.” He spared Leena one disdainful look while adjusting his glasses. “No matter. The train is coming. Better rein in Calem before he misses it.”
Leaning against one of the vendor stalls, Calem chatted with a woman selling hand-stitched tunics. He bent low to whisper something in her ear, and she giggled.
“Calem.” My voice was no more than a murmur. Through the hustle of people and barked calls for sales from vendors, no average person would have heard it. But Calem’s back straightened, and he sauntered over to us with a lopsided grin on his face.
“Is it time?” He pulled at one of the loose strands dangling from the sloppy bun on top of his head.
Leena buried her hands in the pockets of her leather jacket. “How can you tell? I don’t see it.” Black calfskin pants were tucked into knee-high onyx boots, the only smear of color on her a teal cotton camisole Kost had acquired. I’d stopped asking long ago how he knew things, like Leena’s clothing size.
Kost barely deigned to give her a glance. “We can hear it. Our senses have been heightened by death.”
“I guess you don’t consider that a secret.” A smile touched her lips.
Kost twitched. “If anything, it should be a warning.”
She prodded further, and I had to admire the way she didn’t back down in the face of Kost’s obvious distaste. “Then why do you wear glasses?”
“Preference. Ozias?”
Ozias grunted and slung four of the five bags over his shoulders, tossing the other one at Calem. “Here you go. I left the light one for you.”
“Fuck off.” Calem’s harsh words didn’t reach his eyes, and he strapped the bag on with a smile. “I’m so ready for this. Ortega Key, here we come!”
Leena’s gaze slanted to his sleeveless arms. “You know we won’t get there today, right?”
“One can dream.” He winked, rocking back on his heels, and a strange frustration brewed in my chest. I turned back to the tracks. A low hum vibrated through the air, signaling the train’s approach. On the horizon, a black mass appeared. Running on a mixture of rycrims and steam, it barreled to select cities across our continent. Traveling everywhere else happened either by foot, mount, or boat.
The train came to a screeching halt before us, and a gust of wind following in its wake blew Leena’s hair right into her face. She swept away the haywire strands and slipped through a staggering mass of bodies.
Gone. Carried away with the wind. My limbs froze, and my gaze tore through the crowd. I should’ve been more attentive. I’d assumed she’d stay put now that she’d received her contract. But maybe she’d seen through the loophole. Decided her fate would be better without us.
It wouldn’t have been a wrong assumption.
“Noc.” Kost’s eyes darted from person to person. Calem’s face blanched. Ozias shoved forward, creating space where there was none, and we followed him into the parted sea.
“I know. We’ll find her.” She could run all she liked, but we’d catch her. It wouldn’t be like before. This time, we knew what we were dealing with.
She, on the other hand, didn’t.
People flooded around us, jabbing elbows into sides and grunting half-hearted apologies. Had she gotten on only to slink off to another set of doors? Black shadows pulled from hidden corners of the train, pooling around my feet and circling my ankles.
“Hey, over here.” Leena’s voice broke through, and my eyes were at once riveted to hers. Legs stretched out across five seats along the back of