Archaic (Reverse Harem 2)

“Know yours when it comes,” I say.

I grab my coat and head for the door with Penny and Hiro on my heels. The High Council of the Primals is on the other side of

Russia, at the epicenter of one of their largest cities. We hop a train and ride in silence as my mind swirls. Memories of Kyle and his kiss. His smile and his laughter. Memories of how he would hold me close to him at night and helped me discover my biggest strengths as my body continued to transform. I lean my head against the window and watch the snow-covered hills pass by. My mind wanders to Sebastian as fear clenches my heart.

The farther I get away from him, the greater it hurts.

The train dumps us at the station, and the three of us make our way through the crowd. The smell of Primals is nauseating. Cats and Bats and Wolves and Rats. Each with their own scent and their own emotions and their own speed. I can hear the blood rushing through their veins, and I can smell their lust for their mates.

My feet creep along silently as Toshi’s scent fills my nostrils.

Reminding me of the bond we had shared.

The way our bodies had synced as we drank and danced in that small village.

“Come on, Clarissa. Just a little while longer,” Hiro says.

“Shouldn't we have a plan?” Penny asks.

“We do,” I say. “We’ll have to split up. Once the Council knows I’m alive, they’ll stop at nothing to kill me.”

“Wait a second, you didn’t tell me that,” Penny says.

She gets in front of me and holds out her hand to stop me in my tracks.

“Move,” I say with a snarl.

“This isn’t a suicide mission, sweet cheeks. If you stand to lose your life from this, we need a plan,” she says.

“She’s right. Warriors with no plan are unwise. And unwise warriors deserve a fate worse than death,” Hiro says.

“That one of your delicate proverbs?” I ask.

“No, simply common sense. Cats didn’t evolve the way we have by being unwise,” he says.

“So what do you suggest we do?” I ask.

“With my pull on the Council, I can go through the main entrance.

Request an audience with the Council underneath the guise of an urgent manner. Penny, there’s a storm drain on the far western corner of the building. You can sneak into the building through there and find your way to the center of the building. That’s where the Council sits.”

“On it,” Penny says.

I watch her scurry off into the shadows before her opossum body runs around the corner and off into the distance.

“So how am I getting in there?” I ask.

“If you can stick to the shadows and camouflage your scent, there’s an unguarded door. At least, it’s unguarded during the evenings. Camouflage your scent, cover your tracks, and move with swift feet. You’ll have the toughest time getting to the middle, but it’s not hard. Follow the red stripe on the wall and keep a level head about you. Keep an ear out for my voice. Once I get to the center and start talking, you can use it to weave your way through the rest of the corridors.”

“This is pretty intricate,” I say. “When did you come up with this?”

“On the train. Your distraction was obvious.”

“Can you blame me?”

“No, but it is dangerous. I can only buy you so much time, so use it wisely.”

“Where’s this door I’ll need?” I ask.