Menace territory, areas in the run down parts of the city-states harbored a faction of Faeries similar to the Cyber-Fae, only most of them gave up the unnatural binding of fae magick to technology. Once they learned what the surgery would entail when completed, many of them chose death or tried to escape the horrid doctors and so called healers who performed the operations. Then they rebelled against the government, creating a low class, high tech group of outlaws who harbored an intense hatred for anything not true faery.
They weren't all that fond of the Black Angus, either.
Happy with his diversion, Frika took off down the street towards the checkpoint where he was to meet the puma.
Panting, he broke off into a sprint so fast that buildings blurred past him if he had normal vision.
Siddella's head was no doubt spinning from the sheer speed at which he ran.
Her petty attempts at trying to steal energy from him made him chuckle. She couldn't manipulate energy of the Black Angus. It just wasn't done. Most of the Unseelie had forgotten about Ancient magick that hovered here in the land. It remained alert, aware of the changes in Faery, but dormant.
Something in him awoke, calling to the sleeping power of the Black Angus. Every nerve became open to her energy, wanting to mix it with his, to strengthen them both.
Why?
Frika hadn't the time to figure it out yet. He scouted the surroundings, looking for Menace or military.
Upon coming to an empty, boarded building, Frika slowed his pace, trotting down the sidewalk until he came to what passed for the entrance.
A large piece of graffiti covered wood blocked the door. Pawning the ground, Frika stood to his full height while letting bones in his body adjust so he could walk on two legs again.
Siddella hung from his collar, forcing him stumbling back a few steps before he reached around and caught her lithe body in one hand.
She screamed.
He swung her around to face him, spinning the collar around his neck. Amused, his muzzle curled upwards, revealing rows of razor sharp teeth when he smiled.
His voice, gruff and deep, rumbled low in his chest. "Do you know what gives the Black Angus its power?"
Reaching for the chain between the cuffs and his collar, Siddella kicked at Frika. "No and I don't care!"
Frika grabbed the chain from her and snapped it in his hands. "You should care. You've just become worth a lot to me."
Siddella thrashed wildly, kicking out at him and shaking her hands. "What are you talking about? I'm already no good to you. What the fuck were you and your Black Angus doing in this city anyway? It's not good for you?"
Working to smooth out the tones in his voice, Frika called enough magick to change his head back to looking fae. "Says who?"
"Says the fucking CyberMage and his entire group of cronies, that's who!"
The mischievous smile reached his eyes. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you actually cared for me."
Siddella spat the words out. "Fuck no. I hate dealing with wolves and the Black Angus are high on my list of beings I'd rather die than be with!"
Frika let magick envelope him so that his body returned to its previous form. Fur and fang disappeared and became flesh and blood fae once again. Long blond hair fell over his hips. Muscles flexed with power. Features smoothed and Frika even lost an inch or six in height.
Siddella remained cuffed and held off the ground. "Ugh! Put me down!"
He shook his head. She was going to play hard to get, a fact that amused him. "I don't think so. You'll run away. And this is a kidnapping." He grinned.
Siddella rolled her hips against his. "I can make it worth your while if you let me go."
He cocked a brow. "You will. But on my terms."
Muscles in her throat worked. Her jaw clenched. Nervousness poured off her in waves. She couldn't actually go through with actual sex, she was a virgin! "What are you planning?"
He jerked the chain bound to her handcuffs towards him. He dragged her towards the alleyway, keeping them both against the wall. He turned and grinned sheepishly at her. "You'll see."
The sound of Siddella swallowing echoed in the space between the two buildings.
Finally Frika stopped and looked up. He saw the broken window, just as the puma had told him.
It wasn't six feet up, however. More like ten. And it didn't look large enough for them both to get through. Well, Siddella could get through it easily, her sexy little body was lithe and light.
Except for her delicious curves would prevent her from fitting into the tiny windows.
He licked his lips at the thought of exploring her.
Fuck. Another glance reassured him that his body surely couldn't fit through that hole, either.
He sighed. "Guess you're going up first."
Chapter 3
Siddella's mouth twitched in annoyance. "You're doing what?" She looked at the giant brick wall and then back at Frika. His features remained handsome except for that devil may care grin he wore.
That set something off in her that zapped her core.
"You're going through the window first. It's a command, little girl."
She snorted. "I don't take commands very well."
Frika held up a hand, pointing a sharp talon at her. "You're not in a position to negotiate."
She sighed. "And I'm not a little girl." She tried to set her hands on her hips but remembered the stupid handcuffs. "Just what am I supposed to do when I get inside?"
Frika shrugged. "I haven't figured that part out yet. I just know you need to get inside that building and so do I."
Siddella wanted to scream. First she'd been chased by the Cyber-Fae, forced to seduce a Halfling for cover, only to end up at a party thrown for the Black Angus. Then she'd been kidnapped as collateral, was that what Frika said? She stomped her foot. "I won't do it."
"You will."
"But," she gasped, "there could be Menace in there! We could be risking our lives and for what?"
Frika looked around, before looking back at her. He settled his gaze on her. Specifically his eyes focused the part her body where her shirt hung open, leaving exposed flesh.
She shivered. "Oh no. Don't get any ideas, Mister."
An eyebrow rose. "I take it you've heard about our legendary sex drives?" Frika grabbed the chain hanging between the two cuffs and yanked her to him. "Come on. I think I know another way in."
He dragged her along. She felt like kicking and screaming but that would only attract unwanted attention. They were in Menace territory. The faction of Faeries who rejected the CyberMage and his push for technology had gathered in the various rundown parts of each City-State, holding up in small colonies in an attempt to gain strength and momentum.
She would have handed over the grid codes to them but they couldn't pay her.
They'd also kill her immediately afterwards.
"Fuck," the metal rings dug into her wrists. She picked up her feet and tried to keep up with Frika's long strides.
He rounded the corner with her in tow. Stopping, he pointed to two planks of wood with that remained closed with a thick chain and what looked like a padlock.
"The puma was right."
Siddella's interest piqued. "Puma?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "More on that shortly. You can't touch that chain but I can. I hope." He reached for it with his free hand and grabbed it. Yanking hard, the muscles in his arm flexed against the fabric of his shirt.
The chain broke.
Frika hissed out a swear.
Cautiously, Siddella took his hand in hers. The wound smelled of burnt flesh. His hand was warm in hers even out in the frigid cold. Her clothes weren't going to keep her warm for much longer. She looked harder at the wound, figuring out what it was once it registered. "Silver."
He nodded.
"Who would know we'd wind up here?"
Frika shrugged. "Just the other Black Angus and the puma contact from Earth. This place has been abandoned for as long as this part of town has been empty. I figure we've got about," he heaved one of the large wooden doors back and waited.
Siddella stepped behind him. "About what?"
Frika tested the steps leading below ground. His boot hit with a thud that echoed down the chamber. "About three days before we need to leave. I'm hoping that time passes here as it does in Earth."
Interested, she continued pressing. "Why?"
"The puma I'm supposed to meet was to meet me a day after we planned and staged our fake coup. Come on."
Frika pulled on the chain.
Siddella followed as best she could into the darkness, uncertain of what was going on. She just had to follow him and hope that she could find a way to get word to her informant of her whereabouts so she could unload the grid codes and collect her payment. Then it would be off to Earth to live out the rest of her life in peace and warmth.
Keeping her hands at Frika's back, she kept close to him.
He stepped down carefully, one foot at a time until they reached the bottom. "I wonder if there's power here."
His hand slid along the wall until it stopped. With her enhanced vision she could see in the dark but because the grid drained much of her energy and kept her levels so low, it took longer than it should for her to adjust to the darkness.
A switch flipped. Light up ahead lit around the walls several feet in front of them.
Siddella gasped at what she saw.
Frika chuckled. "Figures someone would lead me here. Bet they didn't know I'd have you in tow, either."
She wondered if he was hiding more than he was letting on. If that was the case, she ahd every right to be pissed, especially since he'd kidnapped her. Ire rose in her blood. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I am suggesting that someone is playing this scenario like a game. I know they're on our side, the puma works for some sort of earthen wolf with duties similar to the Black Angus. But..." he rubbed his chin with one hand.