Page 29 of Howling
Casey and Bruce are twin wolves, the brothers barely speaking, basically feral beasts in human form. They love the hunt, the thrill of the chase, and the chance to kill without repercussions. Jagger is different—he’s all smiles and jokes, but it does nothing to cover the void of nothingness in his dead eyes.The jaguar is as black as his soul. He loves torturing his prey, thrives on their screams. He gets off on hurting those weaker than himself.
Each of the fuckers are sadists.
Granted, many of the Orion are little better, the council training us from a young age to ensure our obedience.
Givvens did his best to keep me from becoming a mindless monster, tried to teach me the difference between right and wrong, but the council doesn’t want their personal soldiers to have a mind of their own. We’re programmed to be nothing more than their private killing machines, puppets forced to dance to their every whim. They use us to instill terror in their citizens to keep the people from rebelling.
They rule with an iron fist, where any weakness is ruthlessly exploited or brutally crushed.
As much as I detest my job, quitting is not an option.
Any disobedience is met with swift penalties. The thick scars on my back are a harsh reminder to obey or face the consequences. Givvens taught me to keep my head down and my emotions locked away. When I learned of the attack on him and his granddaughter, my dragon nearly burst free from my skin.
I was out on assignment, completely unaware of what was happening. When I returned, it was too late. He was already gone. The lore made a spectacle of him—dragged him through the square and left his mutilated body on display for anyone else who thought to defy them.
I nearly burned down the barracks when I learned his fate.
Smoke escapes my nose as I recall what they did to him, steam rising from my clothes. The only thing that keeps them from disintegrating is the magic resistant spell cast on them.
It was only pure happenstance that I learned the granddaughter escaped Kyperian and fled the capital. I immediately volunteered to retrieve the fugitive. They onlyallowed it because of my rank and my ability to bring prisoners back alive. I’m relentless when given a target. Many weren’t happy with the decision, but I was determined to go with or without their approval.
The lore is on edge. They’re hiding something, and I’m determined to figure out what and why it cost Givvens his life.
My dragon is furious that we weren’t there to protect him…or at least warn him of the danger.
He was the closest thing I had to family. Without him, my dragon and I are alone. Unlike other species, dragons don’t require a pack to survive. So few dragons are born every decade that we’re near extinct. We are considered a prize for those who take us captive, a status symbol.
Every council member treats us as though we are a leashed pet to do their bidding. I either work for them or perish. Without the collar keeping me restrained, I would be a threat to their rule—one they wouldn’t be able to control, and that’s unacceptable.
They believe they have me brainwashed, a minion to do their bidding.
They would be fucking wrong.
I absently touch the runes etched into my neck like a fucking collar, burned into my flesh from the innocent-looking necklace they placed on me since before I can remember. I yank my hand away when I realize what I’m doing, my dragon hissing in displeasure that we’re forced to bend to their every whim, like we’re not an apex predator.
Any time I rebel, the damn spell threatens to behead me.
Any time I question them, the pain is enough to bring my dragon to his knees.
We fight it, search for ways to break their hold, but the only way is death. I have no choice but to obey their every selfish wish.
Givvens was teaching me discipline and restraint, urging me to be patient.
He whispered that change was in the air.
Then he died, taking my salvation with him.
The only hope I have left is finding his granddaughter.
The council wants her for a reason, and I’m determined to get my hands on her first.
Every time I get close to her location, close to finding answers, she vanishes. The other Orion are furious, wanting their own pound of flesh from her for eluding them with such ease. The longer they are away from Kyperian, the more volatile and lax they become. They disappear for hours at a time, only to return covered in blood.
As much as I want to order them to stay on mission, I reckon I would find myself at the receiving end of their blades. While my dragon would relish the challenge, I can’t afford to take my eyes off the prize.
If they get their hands on the girl before I do, I highly suspect she won’t come back to Kyperian in one piece. I’ve only met her from a distance, but it was enough for my dragon to become obsessed.
Me…not so much.
