Ash Princess (The Deviant Future #6) - Eve Langlais Page 0,57

and didn’t help?”

Jude was really itching for a beating, followed by a painful death, as he said, “Oh, we helped, all right. Helped cull your population so you had fewer mouths to feed and more cave rats to share.” He guffawed, and his friend Markus laughed with him.

That was cold even by Cam’s standards.

“I hope when you die it’s long and painful,” she spat. Wouldn’t she be pleasantly surprised when her wish came true?

“I’m not the one who’s going to die screaming. You should be nice to me, princess. I’m the one with a bullet to give you mercy once the dragon starts chewing on you.”

It made Cam curious. “How did you manage to chain a dragon? And why doesn’t he eat you?”

“None of your fucking business.” Whack.

Markus was cruising for a bruising, and Cam knew just the fist to give him. Repeatedly.

“Get to your feet. Both of you.” Jude waved the gun with one hand and pointed with the other toward the staircase.

“Like fuck. In case you hadn’t noticed, there’s a big fucking dragon in the way,” Cam said.

Jude smirked. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he won’t eat you.”

Not the most reassuring claim, given the beast still eyed them. Of Gellie there was no sign. Cam could only hope the little dragon knew to remain hidden.

“Markus, tell the base we’re coming in with presents.”

“Got it.” Static crackled as he activated a handheld comm device. “Secure the beast.”

There was no reply other than a deep metallic clang. Obviously, some kind of locking mechanism for the chain. Good to know.

Even better, they now had access to those stairs. Given being a prisoner beat getting eaten, Cam was more than happy to go in the direction Jude indicated. Kayda stuck by his side, head down, whether in thought or defeat he couldn’t quite tell.

He decided to keep things interesting. “Hey, Jude, have you always betrayed your people by working for the Ruby Kingdom, or is this a recent gig?”

Whack.

Cam’s head snapped to the side, and he worked his jaw as he muttered, “I see that’s a sensitive topic.”

Kayda sounded more subdued as she said, “Why would you do this? To your own people.”

“Survival, princess. It took me a few years to reach the Ruby border, and when I did, they made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

“What is the going price these days for condemning children and feeding your own kind to dragons?” Cam drawled.

“Why you asking? Interested?” Jude said with a smirk. “It’s an easy gig these days. Three months of duty at the tower base, with food and a bed, plus all the video entertainment we need. Followed by two weeks of vacation time in the Vice dome, where I can do whatever I want.”

“The Vice dome?” Cam queried.

“Gambling, booze, drugs, and sex. They have it all.”

“My father was right about you,” she said softly. “He said you were a no-good wastrel more interested in pleasure than work. No wonder he named your brother earl instead.”

Cam didn’t move fast enough. The punch to Kayda’s head threw her sideways, and he could only catch her before she hit the ground.

“Shut your fucking mouth!” yelled Jude. “Your father was a sanctimonious prick. And where is he now? Same place as my brother. Dead and gone. Now not another word or I’ll fucking slice out your tongues.”

The dragon they’d passed hissed, and Cam heard the clanking of the chain. A glance showed it straining, its nostrils flaring, steam rising from them. Hot breath hitting cold. It oozed anger, and yet the chain kept it locked in place, well out of reach of the humans it wanted to crunch.

Cam kept Kayda hugged to his side as they reached the hole in the ground. Metal stairs lit by lights covered in cages.

There wasn’t much to see down the first flight of stairs, just an open space with empty packing crates, just like the ones he’d seen the soldiers bringing out. Waiting to be filled for shipment, with what he didn’t know. He also had to wonder, how often did the transport visit?

“What are you guys doing here?” he asked.

“None of your business. I said no talking.”

Cam managed to evade the brunt of the blow. Jude the traitor was no longer keen on answering questions, and he eyed Kayda in a way Cam didn’t like at all.

On the second level, they ran into more people, all wearing red uniforms but not all of them soldiers. An older woman gestured, and Mr. Traitor went to confer. Cam