while their children just knew freedom. The clashing of all the opposing ideals sank us deeper in turmoil.
Now there was another group of us, one who only knew this world—when fae and humans fought to rule. Suppression came from all angles. Universities, museums, cafés, streets of boutique shopping throughout the city were no longer. They either crumbled in decay or were being used for something else. I certainly hadn’t realized the level of decay and despair on this side.
I was one of the lucky ones. I lived behind the walls of privilege and power. Savage Lands felt a world away. In reality, it was just blocked from our bubbled world, most of us having no real notion of why it was called Savage Lands.
Now I did.
“Get out of the fuckin’ road!” A man bellowed at me as his horse almost careened into me, its hooves crackling at the broken lane, puffing debris into my face. I jumped out of the way as the man glared down at me with a snarl. “Kibaszott idióta.” Fucking idiot.
Noise and smells attacked me, activity bustling around and jarring my nerves. My mouth parted half in shock and half wonder as I pressed against a wall, taking everything in. This was a completely different beast from what I saw coming in. In the daylight, I could see the buildings were more decrepit and neglected than I first thought, the darkness covering their wounds and blemishes. Planks of wood or tarps were used to cover up holes, broken windows, and doorless entries. Spray-painted designs and sayings were tagged on most of the lower stories.
Women, men, children, fae, human…dozens and dozens of figures darted and weaved through the small lane, winding between the transportation. There was a mix of motorcycles and mopeds, but mainly horses trotted up and down with people on their backs, some pulling wagons, carts, or small gutted cars.
The air swelled with dust, horse shit, the stale smell of body odor and chemicals. A building in the distance pumped out smoke, clotting the atmosphere with haze. The monarchy in the West was big on making everything environmentally friendly. Savage Lands had no such regulations or concerns.
Bang!
At the sound of a gunshot, I jerked around and saw the same rider who almost hit me shooting into the sky, forcing the horse and cart ahead of him to pull over so he could ride past. My gaze darted around to watch most people not even take notice of the incident.
What the hell? Was shooting a gun the same as honking a horn?
Panting, I tried to calm myself, realizing how quiet and calm my world had been in Leopold. Ordered. Clean. Simple. There were lots of people around, but I only had interacted with a handful daily. Most I saw just in passing or at parties.
Even Halalhaz had been structured. An orderly hell.
This place was utter bedlam.
Come on, Brex, you are so close.
Hope propelled me forward. I darted down another lane, weaving through streets and alleys. Keeping my head down, my shoulder cracked into someone.
“Watch yourself, bitch,” a woman grumbled, shuffling by.
Keeping close to the wall, my gaze locked on the dome in the distance. Caden, I’m coming.
Turning a corner, bricks packed my stomach, the weight halting my feet. Down the lane, two figures progressed my way, punching fear into my lungs.
Guards.
“When I went out earlier, the streets were swarming with fae soldiers.”
“They are after us.”
Shit.
Stopping every person who passed, holding up something for them to look at, their belts dripped with guns, cuffs, and walkie-talkies. Terror gushed in my stomach as my gaze landed on one of them, his familiar scarred sneer lifting his lip.
Boyd. The man who took delight in hurting me. Zander had protected me in Halalhaz, but out here, there would be nothing to save me from Boyd’s depraved power trip.
Panic lobbied through my entire body and sweat beaded down my spine as I swung around, returning the way I had come. My heart thumped in my ears as I tried to keep my pace steady, my head down, hoping to blend into the crowd of pedestrians.
Zigzagging through the throng on motorcycles and horses, I glanced up. Horror made me stumble, dread thrumming my nerves like a fiddle. Another set of guards headed my way, stopping every person who went by, holding up the same paper. From here, I could make it out enough to understand.
It was a picture…of me.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
My gaze darted around, searching for an alley or doorway—any way to