Page 85 of Dead Wrong

“I did say that, didn’t I?”

“You certainly did.”

Taking a deep breath, I brushed off the remaining snow from my garments, then extended a hand out to Bastien. “Would you permit me a do-over? Hello, I’m Tobias, and I’d love to get a drink with you.”

Bastien considered my offer for a moment, then took my hand in his. “Nice to meet you. And I know just the place.”

* * *

As the train began to slow, I returned to the cabin to find Bastien snoring into the cushion, his arm bent at a strange angle above his head. The squealing of the brakes caused him to stir, and when his eyes landed on me, a smile crawled across his lips, so precious that I wanted to lean in and take it from him.

But instead, I knocked on the door of the cabin next to us. Kaine pulled it open, running a hand through the shock of hair between his ears.

“What’s all the knocking about?”

“We’re arriving at the station,” I told him. “I just thought you should know.”

“I got ears, haven’t I?” Kaine asked, but then his scowl morphed into a playful grin. “Alright, give me just a tick, and I’ll come gather the two of you. We’ve got a little ways to go into town, but we’re not far now.”

“Far from what?” I asked, still curious as to the destination.

“You’ll see, Greene.”

The door shut in my face, and I returned to Bastien, who had managed to rouse himself enough to sit upright.

“That was a quick ride,” he said, voice thick with sleep. A trail of dried drool lined his mouth, and I had to stop myself from wiping it away.

I moved to the window, looking out at the small town that grew closer with each passing second. The buildings were squatty and old, with slanted roofs of rusting metal and trees far too tall to be outside of the forest.

“What kind of place do you think Brierwood is?”

I had never been this far outside of the Magi Cities before, so it felt a bit like landing on an alien planet.

“It’s a mortal town,” Bastien answered, pulling his shoes on one at a time. “We used to get some of the dairy into the café from around here. I’m surprised I can’t spot any cows from the tracks.”

A mortal town? I guess it made sense that the Rebellion would be better off hiding amongst mortals. If they were going for a place that the Adored would be less inclined to look, they’d found the right one.

The train settled into the station, a whistle signaling when it was clear to disembark. Once we were on the platform, Kaine guided us out through the station and into the quaint little town. The train station was off the main thoroughfare, a collection of buildings lining the narrow road on either side with a shabby-looking city hall sitting at the end of it. Old vehicles spewing plumes of smoke puttered down the street, mortals traversed the sidewalks with bags and strollers and dogs on leashes. It was sort of picturesque in that quaint way that only a greeting card could capture.

“I’ve got to go ahead and make sure everyone made it,” Kaine announced as we departed the train station. “You two should be safe around here but don’t wander too far. I’ll come get you in an hour or so.”

“We can’t just come with you?” I asked, not too thrilled at the idea of wandering around a new environment when I couldn’t defend myself from what else may be lurking out there.

“Patience,” Bastien muttered beside me.

“I won’t be long,” Kaine reiterated. “Don’t cause a ruckus, and you’ll be just fine.” With a final nod, he headed off into the town, disappearing around a corner and leaving Bastien and me standing in front of the train station.

I nearly jumped out of my skin as the train whistled behind us, signaling its departure.

“You need to relax,” Bastien said with a laugh. “Come on, let’s take a walk.”

“Not like we have much of a choice,” I muttered, following Bastien’s lead.

We emerged onto the main street just as the lights overhead came on, a buzzing electrical noise permeating the air. The sun had nearly set at this point, the late afternoon warmth still lingering on the pavement below.

“Wow.” Bastien marveled at our surroundings, peering through a storefront at the mannequins displayed in garments that seemed years out of fashion. “It’s nearly the same as the town I grew up in.”

“You didn’t grow up in the city?”

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