Rankin quickly raked her nails over my chest while I was wounded and I shamed myself by responding. My hips went up in that instinctive thrust. Her eyes narrowed.

  “You’ve been keeping that from me…” Her tone became crueler than usual. “Oh, honey. We can play as rough as you like!”

  Her hand immediately found my wrist and traced a painful, fiery path down my arm that didn’t break the skin but still stung enough to make me snap my eyes shut. I wouldn’t break. I wouldn’t…

  Her mouth moved on me, stole any rational though. The drugs were always my curse and I jerked angrily on the ropes.

  Rankin’s laughter was full of heat. “I’ve always known what rings your bell, Jason.” Her hips slowly began lowering against me…

  “I know, because it’s what your father liked. He wasn’t bleeding just for my pleasure.”

  That sent me into a rage like I’d never felt and I swore if I got the chance, I’d see her dead. It was something I’d wanted my owner to do, but now, that would be my joy.

  Rankin’s fast swipe took a layer of skin from my hip, and drew a shudder.

  “Does she know your weakness for pain, how it sets you off?” Rankin punctuated her question with a tight fist in my hair and hips poised above my throbbing length.

  I refused to answer and she tilted those cheeks to slide me between them. It was another flash to our sessions, where she never let me in but made sure I rubbed every inch of her slick heat.

  “Does she?!”

  “Yes!” I ground out, trying hard not to move. All I had to do was thrust up and I’d have her!

  Rankin didn’t like my answer. She leaned down to lick at my lips, hands holding my head in place with stinging grips on his silken hair. “You were supposed to be unbroken!”

  She lunged for the fresh tattoo on my neck, biting, and lava flooded my stomach. She felt my spasm of need and ground against me.

  It pushed my throbbing length against her damp folds and I lost control, arching upward, thrusting into her.

  “Aahhhh!”

  Her growl of pain and triumph was a vague shame as I got in as deep as I could. I’d wanted this for a long time, too, and as long as I was here, I would have my fill.

  “OOhhh…” Rankin was nearly incoherent above me. Apparently denying herself had backfired and I used my knees to spread her legs further. It made her drop down onto my chest and gave me a smooth thrust-line. I used it ruthlessly, the lust and drugs firmly running the show. As the hormones surged, the frantic pace increasing, I broke free of my ropes… only to grab her hips and thrust deeper.

  Her smug laughter burned me, but I wouldn’t stop. This time, I would get what I needed!

  As I stroked harder, jerking her down to meet me, Rankin started to struggle, maybe sensing my determination to win this battle. I rolled us over, my grip on her hot body unbreakable. I shoved forward and arched in sharp waves of lust. I was taking her!

  Those claws I loathed slid down my leg as we struggled, and raked brutally over my shin bone, spilling scarlet drops.

  Using my other training, I put my hands to work and started to bring Rankin up the levels with me, but there was darkness in my heart.

  “Stop now!”

  I dropped my full weight on her instead, hands pinning her wrists. Pleasure seared us both at the motion, and I tightened my hold. So close now…

  “No!”

  Rankin’s scream set me on fire. How many times had she gotten me to that point? I thrust harder…

  Uuggg!”

  Her body arched as she flew into the abyss, and I used the distraction to yank the knife from her belt.

  I put it to her throat, hips still shoving in, straining to get deeper. “You move, you die.”

  She snarled back at me but didn’t move, and I flipped my hips harder, sliding into that tight little notch at the top where our bodies were matched perfectly. Her claws ripped into my shoulders and she cried out.

  “Yeah!”

  As I reached that forbidden summit, I then did something I’d only dreamed of in careful fear. I stood up and used my hand to finish without permission. As I exploded, standing over her, the blade didn’t leave my other tight grip.

  I gasped for air, and Rankin’s pleased laughter filled my ears.

  “Again, Jason, but this time, we’ll use the cuffs. You’re bleeding too much.”

  She held her wrists out in submission, and I shuddered. The drugs were in full effect now, and I jerked her blood-smeared body off of the bed. She was cuffed seconds later.

  Angelica

  Rankin’s screams kept me outside the door.

  During my talk with Daniel, I’d learned too much about the Head Defender’s methods to ever think Jason would just get over her. There was still a note in Daniel’s voice that I didn’t care for, and I’d spent long, hard hours trying to figure out how to free my mate.

  This, had never come to mind, but now that it was happening, I saw it for what it could be - the key to his chains.

  I hated what was happening, but I hated her being between us even more. If Jason never got what she’d withheld, he would always want it, wonder about it. Maybe, he would even see her when we were in bed together, and I couldn’t stand the thought of it. This was easier. It was also justice.

  Rankin’s pleasure wasn’t quiet. And later, when her hoarse shouts came again, telling him it hurt, to stop, I shivered but still didn’t interfere. She deserved whatever he wanted to dole out.

  Jason

  Rankin trembled against me, almost sobbing as I finally let her cum.

  I was done now, though the drugs would have given me another session if I wanted it. I didn’t. Feeling Rankin soften under me was revolting compared to my Angel, and the Defender’s smells! Yuck.

  I moved back, dislodging our bodies. If the rebel plans for the refueling stop went badly, I’d have to kill Rankin, only now, I didn’t mind the thought as much. Whatever poison she’d marked me with was gone.

  “Unlock me.”

  She sounded angry, and I was surprised not to feel terror as I did it. Had a few hours of bad sex freed me?

  I watched her dress by the dim light of the moon now peeking through the clouds, naked and thinking hard. She held no power over me. What did that mean?

  Eager to test it, I met her sated black eyes. “From now on, you’ll ask for a service, and I’ll make the choice.”

  “And if I don’t?” Rankin snarled, telling me yes, I’d won this round.

  “Then you’ll have a cold, empty toy to ride, but not a speck of the fire we’ve shared tonight. You only get me if I’m willing. Understand?”

  The club from her belt slammed into the wall by my head.

  “Yes! I understand, you lying, backstabbing traitor!”

  She stalked toward me, and drew no response. I was braced, though, prepared to protect the part of me still hanging freely.

  Instead of a blow, Rankin’s hand went to my hair and curled into it. Her face fill with an emotion I knew well - fear.

  “You’re supposed to kill me.”

  I jerked, giving away the truth, and her fingers held me tightly.

  “Make it quick?”

  I hadn’t thought she’d been affected by the Network’s betrayal, but Rankin had learned she was nothing to them, that her life’s work had no value. And I didn’t care enough to give her the secret to happiness… did I?

  Rankin stepped back. “She’s on the train.”

  “I know.”

  Her face tightened as she understood. “You have a different plan than the rebels.”

  I shook my head, not smiling like I wanted to. “Angelica has a different plan, one that may save your life, as well.”

  Rankin considered. “Whose is better?”

  “Too soon to tell.” I shrugged, turning toward the washroom. “But they’re Pruett plots, so I’d bet on both of them working.”

  Angelica

  Rankin didn’t look at me as she came out of the compartment and moved down the hall. Good thing. My jealousy was endless. Not taunting was smart, but it had only delayed the next fight. She was the enemy, and I wouldn’t ever forgive or forget that.

  It was awhile before the door opened again. Long enough for me to wonder if Jason was all right, and start considering a knock.

  His head turned, searching. He knew I would be close. What did he make of the gift I’d given? Did Jason understand why, or did he think I would hate him? …perhaps he no longer even wanted me, now that he’d had Rankin.

  It was a secret fear that vanished as soon as our eyes met. The longing I read there eased my heart and the sight of the bandage on his arm that no doubt covered a needle mark, was a comfort to my wounded ego. With me, he was willing. I opened my arms to him, not exactly sure what he needed now.

  Jason flew to me, and I wrapped him in my loving embrace. “I forgive you.”

  He shuddered at my words, grip tightening. “Thank you, for knowing I needed this… and for still wanting me!”

  His hand cupped my cheek, pulling me gently toward him. “I love you, Angel - only you.”

  I wanted to believe that, but I didn’t push. Instead, I sealed our lips, hating the smell of her that rose from his bruised skin.

  He’d already had an owner when I chose him. I hadn’t known it, but I was still so grateful to have him willing, that it didn’t matter as more than another layer of pain. It was one that I could handle. The agony of a life without Jason was the one I wasn’t sure about surviving.

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Jason

  From my spot in the engine car, the refueling stop was windy and cold. The sky was cloudy, dark, the rains clearly coming soon. I looked around in nervousness and exhaustion as a small group of guards started refueling the tanks.

  The engine room we were in was designed for keeping the train rolling. It had a roof window and two wide doors, one on either side. With pale brown panels and bright furniture, it was a nice contrast to Rankin’s darkly shaded rooms. This car had the complete controls, along with a wide space lined by two chairs and a wide couch. A shelf held blankets and other boring items and I turned my eyes back to the outside.

  The station consisted of two concrete shacks sporting large, Network remote controlled doors. Without the train code, no one got the fuel. Even Sam’s Runners hadn’t been able to bypass it. Alongside these two shacks was a brick building for guards and a thick path of stepping stones shaped like stars.

  Around the hub was a valley of short, ugly grass and rocks from the stone wall still running the length of the distance in front of us. Another matching wall ran along the hill behind, and I realized this had once been used for a homestead. The stone wall was a border fence leading down into a livestock holding area. During an attack, those coming down the hills would be just as vulnerable as their targets. That was why Rankin had picked it, I began to realize with horror.

  Rankin saw my face, and sneered hatefully. “Now, we’ll see who gets to keep you!”

  She made a curt motion, and I saw guards duck out of sight, a lot more than what she’d told the rebels there would be. Rankin had lied! Why would she do that? Was she double-crossing us? How could I warn the rebels?

  As if drawn by my thought, bikes and horses began to appear on the horizon like a swarm.

  Beside me, Rankin stiffened in anger. “They lied!”

  I couldn’t stop my laugh. It was supposed to be only half a dozen rebels. Five times that had appeared. Angelica was in the lead to bring them down the hill toward the train, and my admiration grew. I’d thought she was still on the train.

  “I’ll teach them to double cross me!” Rankin growled, moving toward the front of the compartment. “I chose this stop with that possibility in mind!”

  Her hand went toward the thick rope that controlled the engine’s whistle. “It is breeding season…”

  Breeding season…

  Pythons.

  I flung myself at Rankin’s feet, my duty to the rebellion not done. This was the real reason Candice had sent me into the lion’s den - to help them.

  “Please, don’t, please.” I grabbed at her arm. “We’ll go back to the way it was.”

  Rankin shoved me hard enough to slam my head against the side of the train.

  “They’ve taken my life! It was never about you!”

  She reached for the whistle with an ugly snarl. “With them dead, I get it all back!”

  I jumped at her again, and she sent a vicious boot into my chest.

  The pain! I was no match for her strength or her fighting kills. But that wasn’t what I was supposed to rely on…

  Whhhooooo…

  The train whistle was rusty, not very loud, and it gave me another boost of courage.

  I stood up and moved toward Rankin again, slowly, showing her I was calmer now.

  “Stay back,” she warned. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I will. You know that.”

  I nodded. She would kill me for what I was about to do. “I want you.”

  Rankin’s head snapped to me, eyes instantly turning pink.

  “What?”

  I took a step closer. “When you’re done here, I’d like to offer a service.”

  Those orbs turned crimson, but I didn’t celebrate yet. I did smile - invitingly.

  “Right here, in this car.” My fingers went to the cloak covering me, removing it.

  Her hand paused on a second pull.

  I moved by her as I took the garment off, letting her scent my freshly washed skin. I slid onto the small couch and smiled up at her. “I’ll wait here for you.”

  My fingers went to the buttons of my pants…

  Her hand let go of the rope, a shudder ripping through her stiffened form…

  Sensing how far I would have to go, I began to touch those areas that she craved. I had nothing for her without the drugs, but it didn’t seem to matter. Having me willing was something she’d dreamed of, why she’d let me live, and I used her weakness against her ruthlessly, trying to buy time.

  I gave her the smoldering glance that the Network had taught me so well. “Can I touch you while I do this?”

  Rankin stepped into reach eagerly.

  Angelica

  Whhoooo!

  The whistle startled me, sent fear rippling through my Changed body. There was only one reason to blow it. Rankin had betrayed us.

  “Get to the train!”

  Sam’s shout got us moving faster, but a low rumble in the distance said we might not make it that far. The snakes were coming.

  We’d known Rankin wasn’t to be trusted, but the sight of that first python was a horrible reminder that the Head Defender wanted all of us dead.

  I gunned the Mopar, bouncing roughly down the hill. Jason was probably doing something stupid right about now, and he would need me.

  Half a mile from the train, a python split the ground between us and it, rising up in a flurry of dirt and rocks that our few horses shied from.

  Bodies hit the ground, and rebels immediately gained their feet and ran for the metal safety of the train.

  I spun wide of the snapping horror now giving chase and was sickened by the screams behind me, but I didn’t stop. We’d openly attacked a Network regiment and transport. There was no going back.

  Pulling alongside, I lunged for the steel ladder and hefted myself onto the Network Rider. The Mopar crashed into the side of it like a small bomb blast.

  I turned from the debris, ignoring the pain as shrapnel sprayed. We had to gain control of the main engine cars or we didn’t stand a chance.

  Against my will, I took one fast look behind me and was glad I had. I ducked.

  Thud!

  The bullet slammed into the side of the train by my head. The guard who’d fired it from the ground aimed again...

  I saw my sister’s big hand coming up behind her and turned back to the climb. There was an awful crack, followed by a thud.

  I pulled myself on top of the car and headed for the front, where the whistle was. I had no doubt about who had pulled it.

  All around the train, rebels and guards were battling, firing, dying. The ten foot python had made it to the end of the train and was being battled by both guards and rebels as it struck viciously. The guards were aiming at the snake, understanding they all needed to work together to survive, but the rebel males only had sights for the women who’d enslaved them so cruelly. I mentally marked that group of men from my list of survivors as the snake turned their way…

  Jason

  I held Rankin on that edge as long as I could, but she was burning hotter than I could control. Even the pain of my grip on her throat wasn’t going to stop her from exploding, and when it was done, killing me would be one of the first things she did.

  I felt the drugs finally start to work and wrenched her head back to make her look at me. “You are not allowed to cum until I say so!”

  My shout was followed by a sharp thrust that sent furious need into her eyes. I watched her struggle with herself, fighting like she’d never had to before, like she’d done to me and the other bachelors.

  Outside, screams and gunfire echoed, but Rankin only knew the heat and pleasure I had her trapped in. I turned the fire up another notch as I began to use her body for my pleasure. It drove Angelica insane, and I was betting it would have the same effect on Rankin. If I could buy a little more time, the rebels would get here.

  Rankin trembled as I stroked, frozen muscles stopping herself from going over that edge. I didn’t close my eyes and lean my head back like I was enjoying this duty, but there was no denying the lust in my body. She had no idea what was coming, but I did and I moved faster. This was what she’d done to me for all those years, used my lust to control me, keep me in line and afraid. I was using hers to end her reign of hell over the bachelors and rebels alike.

  I grabbed Rankin by the neck, pulling her down to thrust harder. From this angle, I was able to see the incoming guard freeze in the doorway as she spotted us.

  My heart dropped. Only seconds left now. Come on, Angelica…