me. What I wanted was within grasp, and I couldn’t have it.
The horn of a train floated from below, my eyes watching it curve onto the bridge, gliding across to the fae side.
“The items will be departing on the train before dawn. Without a hitch, I assure you.”
“It will make both our countries very wealthy. Once it is out there, we will control the trade—become untouchable. Have power and unyielding armies at our fingertips. Trust me. What I have seen… there is no question it works.”
My attention stayed on the train, the thought sprouting up like a geyser. It was the only thing I had left. To feel alive. Free. Every minute from now on, my life would whittle down to a point. The freedom I took for granted, I would only dream about later. Sergiu, Lazar, and Istvan would all control me in some way.
This would be my last opportunity. And giving them a big fuck you by going after something of theirs would be even better. Nothing to really hurt them, but enough to give back to the people they were abusing. Enough to notice. And I couldn’t deny my curiosity about what they were exporting out of here. What would make them more powerful than Ukraine?
“You said ask you anything?” I watched the train pull away from the fae stop, heading off to its destination. I knew at four forty-five a.m., the last night train would be traveling back across the same bridge, stuffed full of cargo.
“No.” Caden followed my eye line. “No, I told you, not again.”
“You said anything, unless you changed your mind about kissing me.” I hoped he would choose that option instead, lay me down and let me feel the stars explode inside.
Caden didn’t respond, his gaze still on the tracks. He wouldn’t give in. He was far too stubborn. Once he decided on something, he locked down on it. Crossing that line was a no-go for him. But this was still a maybe.
“Last time.” I nudged him. “You know everything changes after this night. Let’s have one last time being crazy. Being us. The Robin Hoods of Budapest.”
He snorted, shaking his head. After a few beats, he let out a sigh, his shoulders dropping in surrender. “I can never say no to you.”
Only when it came to having me as his.
“Last adventure.” I held out my hand.
He clasped my hand in his, lacing our fingers, sorrow crinkling his eyebrows. “Last adventure.”
Whatever lay in our future, we had this last night together. Caden and Brexley.
Our last night of being free.
Chapter 7
“I can’t believe you talked me into this.” Caden shifted beside me, tugging on the black beanie covering his ears. Every day it was getting warmer, but with the chilly breeze whipping off the Danube, it was hard to believe summer was close.
“You are graduating in a few weeks, and I’m…” I broke off, my throat strangling on the thought. I doubted they would even wait until I graduated to marry me off to Sergiu. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were planning a summer wedding. The sooner they could merge our countries, the better for them.
And whatever was on the train leaving Budapest this morning would apparently create an even stronger bond of power.
I couldn’t deny it was more my curiosity that brought me here, the desire to see what they were doing. How dirty was the world I was stepping into? It was only fair I understood what I was getting into since they were making this my circus. If Istvan wanted me to be the powerful one in this union, I needed to know everything going on.
Yes, I could have asked him. But I doubted he would have told me, and he fully deserved this hit. They both did for using their kids as chess pieces for their own power. The two leaders were about to make my life hell. It was time for a little payback.
“Two minutes.” Caden glanced down at his watch, pulling his hat down around his face, his dark eyes glistening from the eyeholes. Both of us dressed in black, blending into the dark, but the air was crystal clear, which made us a little easier to see.
The vibration of the train coming down the tracks hummed beneath my feet. Right on time.
“Stay on point. Last time you cut it far too close.” He moved closer to me, his body pressing against mine.
I nodded, pulling my mask over my face, nerves dancing along my limbs. Every