Savage Lands (Savage Lands #1)

by Stacey Marie Brown

  “Warwick and my husband shouldn’t even be in the same sentence. Your man is nothing like him.”

  “Not my man.” I gritted my teeth.

  She ignored me, continuing, “His type of dominance is something most of us dream about: feral, rough, passionate. He could make you explode into a million blissful particles. But I’m still all for causing trouble.”

  “Good,” I replied. “Because I have no notion of staying put.” I put my hand on my hip. “Just a few things I need: water, painkillers, breakfast, and an outfit that won’t make me stand out.”

  Rosie’s smile grew slowly, mischief glowing her face. “Oh luv, you came to the right woman.”

  “Be careful,” Rosie whispered as she peered out the back door first, checking the alleyway for people. “Causing mischief is one thing, but Warwick actually wanting to kill me is another.”

  “I promise.” I tucked back into the hood. The late summer weather heated the air and soaked into the buildings, causing beads of sweat to pool under my garments.

  Rosie was able to track down enough clothes left from customers to allow me to disappear into a crowd. Faded colors of blacks, dark greens, and grays. The cargo pants, cotton tank, and hooded cotton jacket were loose, submerging my identity under the clothing.

  “It’s a little warm for this, but you won’t stand out,” she had said earlier when she pulled me into her room. She peered down at my lacy underwear and silk tank I had worn to sleep, her mouth pursuing information about Warwick again. “Wore that to bed? Small bed with such a huge man. Wasn’t he only wearing an itty-bitty towel?”

  “Shut up,” I growled, not wanting to think about the night before. I would stuff that memory back into a box, never to see the light of day again.

  She sniggered, tossing me a handful of clothes. “Get dressed and come down to the kitchen. Painkillers, water, and food await.”

  Once fed, dressed, and medicated, I felt a little better. I still ached, and I had a noticeable limp, but my plan was set, my determination locked to go.

  I wasn’t going out of my way to be a brat to Warwick by leaving. I was taking my life into my own hands. I was going home.

  In prison, I learned trust was not something given freely, if at all. You looked out for yourself. And to a man who was riddled with mystery and secrets, no matter what tiny insight he confided, in the end, trust didn’t amount to much. He wouldn’t even tell me why he aided in my escape, which meant he was hiding something. He was looking out for himself as I needed to do for me. As he was disappearing each morning and up to something, and it would be very naïve of me to think the Wolf suddenly had my best interest at heart.

  We couldn’t be far from the wall dividing Leopold and the neutral zone. Any soldier on patrol along the wall would know my face. I was good at melding, slinking up on people. If I kept a low profile, I could get home. I had no doubt the moment Caden and Istvan heard I was alive, they would turn the world upside down to get me back.

  “You are returning, right?” Rosie’s expression tightened, as though she suddenly realized maybe there was more to my plans than I’d let on. Rosie had no idea who I really was, and I wanted to keep it that way—keep her innocent of my true plan.

  “Of course.” The false smile I pinned on my face hurt deeper than I thought. I liked Rosie, and the idea of never seeing her again upset me more than I imagined it would after such a short time.

  I clutched her to me, hugging her tight. “Thank you for everything.”

  “Why do I feel I should have hogtied you?” She pulled back, searching my eyes for truth. “That I’m never going to see you again?”

  “You will,” I lied again.

  “Be careful out there. Savage Lands is not safe, day or night. And if you are hiding here, people are certainly looking for you out there.” She stared at me, her brows furrowing. “Why do I feel so devastated? I don’t even know your name.”

  “Better that way.”

  She chuckled sardonically, her head dipping. “Now I know I should have tied you up. Guess he knows you better than I thought.”

  “I will miss you.” I dropped the pretense, squeezing her arm. “I better go.” I didn’t want him to return before I escaped.

  She pinned her lips together and brought me in for a quick hug before looking out into the alley again. “Go.”

  I touched her arm one last time before I slipped out the door and into the passage, going out the way she suggested to the main road.

  Caden. I will see you soon. A butterfly of excitement fluttered in my chest at the thought. I missed him so much.

  I slunk out to a heady mix of stale alcohol, vomit, and burned coffee thick in the passage. Half the world was already up and working, the other half sleeping until the night brought their world to life.

  As excited as I was to get home, to see Caden again, I couldn’t deny the twist in my stomach at just walking out on Warwick. He had saved my life, but he of all people would understand. In this dog-eat-dog world, I had to look out for me.

  Making it to the end of the corridor, I peered out into the daylight and saw people milling in the streets, urging my defenses up. When we arrived, it was in the dark, and I had been less than coherent, so I had no real idea where we were in the city. That changed the moment I stepped out.

  My eyes locked on a structure in the distance, a choked sob hiccupping in my throat.

  I could see a six-story wall about a mile from me, and behind it, the great dome of HDF. Like an old friend greeting me with shimmering brilliance.

  A symbol of wealth and strength to some, but to me, it was home.

  Chapter 31

  From what I could tell from maps of the past, Budapest had been a much different city. The once famous districts had crumbled away in a quick slaughter after the fae wall fell. Reformed in shape and use, Leopold was half of what it used to be, a thick wall separating it from the rest of Pest. It was its own walled city.

  Twenty years was a blip in history books, but for those of us living now, the decision to distance ourselves from the Western monarchy, having no personal connection to what was best for our country, turned quickly to devastation. The fae nobles in charge then hadn’t cared about humans, only power, slicing our city in a constant tug of war between human and fae control, similar to a dictatorship. Civil battles between the two sides have been going on in Budapest my whole life. Since the devastating fight when my father was killed, the two sides had gone quiet. But you could feel the rumbling under your feet, the unrest growing louder, ready to break through again.

  People do not respond or act when things are satisfactory or good. They react to fear and danger. The magic that filled the world after the fall plunged a country already deeply seeded in communism into chaos. Hungary hadn’t been free of communism all that long, and many of the older generation still remembered the time far too well, while their children just knew freedom. The clashing of all the opposing ideals sank us deeper in turmoil.

  Now there was another group of us, one who only knew this world—when fae and humans fought to rule. Suppression came from all angles. Universities, museums, cafés, streets of boutique shopping throughout the city were no longer. They either crumbled in decay or were being used for something else. I certainly hadn’t realized the level of decay and despair on this side.

  I was one of the lucky ones. I lived behind the walls of privilege and power. Savage Lands felt a world away. In reality, it was just blocked from our bubbled world, most of us having no real notion of why it was called Savage Lands.

  Now I did.

  “Get out of the fuckin’ road!” A man bellowed at me as his horse almost careened into me, its hooves crackling at the broken lane, puffing debris into my face. I jumped out of the way as the man glared down at me with a snarl. “Kibaszott idióta.” Fucking idiot.

  Noise and smells attacked me, activity bustling around and jarring my nerves. My mouth parted half in shock and half wonder as I pressed against a wall, taking ev
erything in. This was a completely different beast from what I saw coming in. In the daylight, I could see the buildings were more decrepit and neglected than I first thought, the darkness covering their wounds and blemishes. Planks of wood or tarps were used to cover up holes, broken windows, and doorless entries. Spray-painted designs and sayings were tagged on most of the lower stories.

  Women, men, children, fae, human…dozens and dozens of figures darted and weaved through the small lane, winding between the transportation. There was a mix of motorcycles and mopeds, but mainly horses trotted up and down with people on their backs, some pulling wagons, carts, or small gutted cars.

  The air swelled with dust, horse shit, the stale smell of body odor and chemicals. A building in the distance pumped out smoke, clotting the atmosphere with haze. The monarchy in the West was big on making everything environmentally friendly. Savage Lands had no such regulations or concerns.

  Bang!

  At the sound of a gunshot, I jerked around and saw the same rider who almost hit me shooting into the sky, forcing the horse and cart ahead of him to pull over so he could ride past. My gaze darted around to watch most people not even take notice of the incident.

  What the hell? Was shooting a gun the same as honking a horn?

  Panting, I tried to calm myself, realizing how quiet and calm my world had been in Leopold. Ordered. Clean. Simple. There were lots of people around, but I only had interacted with a handful daily. Most I saw just in passing or at parties.

  Even Halalhaz had been structured. An orderly hell.

  This place was utter bedlam.

  Come on, Brex, you are so close.

  Hope propelled me forward. I darted down another lane, weaving through streets and alleys. Keeping my head down, my shoulder cracked into someone.

  “Watch yourself, bitch,” a woman grumbled, shuffling by.

  Keeping close to the wall, my gaze locked on the dome in the distance. Caden, I’m coming.

  Turning a corner, bricks packed my stomach, the weight halting my feet. Down the lane, two figures progressed my way, punching fear into my lungs.

  Guards.

  “When I went out earlier, the streets were swarming with fae soldiers.”

  “They are after us.”

  Shit.

  Stopping every person who passed, holding up something for them to look at, their belts dripped with guns, cuffs, and walkie-talkies. Terror gushed in my stomach as my gaze landed on one of them, his familiar scarred sneer lifting his lip.

  Boyd. The man who took delight in hurting me. Zander had protected me in Halalhaz, but out here, there would be nothing to save me from Boyd’s depraved power trip.

  Panic lobbied through my entire body and sweat beaded down my spine as I swung around, returning the way I had come. My heart thumped in my ears as I tried to keep my pace steady, my head down, hoping to blend into the crowd of pedestrians.

  Zigzagging through the throng on motorcycles and horses, I glanced up. Horror made me stumble, dread thrumming my nerves like a fiddle. Another set of guards headed my way, stopping every person who went by, holding up the same paper. From here, I could make it out enough to understand.

  It was a picture…of me.

  Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

  My gaze darted around, searching for an alley or doorway—any way to escape.

  “Hey!” Boyd’s voice boomed from close behind me, the sound stabbing the back of my neck. The bitter taste of adrenaline coated my tongue.

  The guards in front of me looked up, and I froze in place.

  Oh, my gods.

  The team that had collected me at the door at Halalhaz and taken me down into the prison stood only a few yards from me. Zion and Jade. Their eyes were pointed in my direction, feeling like they were burning through the hood drooping low on my face.

  “What the fuck?” A hand came down on my shoulder, Boyd’s harsh voice right in my ear.

  Everything stopped. My breath, my heart…my life. A deep sob balled up in my chest, ready to burst at the idea of going back to Halahaz, especially this close to home. I wouldn’t make it out a second time. They would make sure.

  “What are you doing here?” Boyd shoved me out of the way, stomping up to Zion and Jade not unlike a bulldog. The other guard, who had been his sidekick in prison, trailed after him like a puppy.

  I gaped, a sliver of air making it into my lungs.

  “I was gonna ask you the same thing.” Zion folded his arms. “This is our terrain.”

  “No, it’s not.” Boyd lifted his head higher. “Who called you fuckers in anyway? We got this handled.”

  “Looks like it.” Jade smirked, lifting an eyebrow, motioning to Boyd’s partner. “Oh wait, that’s your bitch, not the prisoner.”

  “Fuck you, Jade,” Boyd huffed. I knew the longer I stood there, the more noticeable I would become, but I was afraid to move, to call attention to myself. My pulse thumped against my neck. I had a talent for being sneaky and ghostlike, but right now, I was afraid they could hear my heart thump like a loud drum.

  “He decided after two days of you guys sitting on each other’s dicks, to get people who will actually find her.”

  Her.

  Me.

  “And have you found her?” Boyd motioned around the pair. “I have every inch of the wall covered lying in wait for her. She gets anywhere near it, and we’ll know. I also have men combing this whole area. I will find her.” Why did it seem they were only after me?

  Biting on my lip, I slowly turned, hoping to blend in with the activity around me, and slipped down the street.

  I now realized the extent of my naiveté. I hadn’t even thought about the wall being watched by enemies ready to grab me before I could claim sanctuary. They were lying in wait, knowing exactly where I’d go. If I hadn’t overheard them, I would have been caught today and returned to prison.

  Turning down an alley, I hunkered against the wall, peering back out at the group from under my hood. The four of them still conversed in the street, unaware the very person they sought had slipped under their nose.

  Oxygen heaved out of my lungs, dropping my shoulders with relief, and I sagged into the building.

  A huge hand slipped around my mouth and yanked my body back. A muffled yelp tore from my chest, my head whirling. My world dropped through the ground as an arm wrapped around my waist and spun me around, slamming me back against the wall, pinning me in place.

  “Look what I just caught.”

  Fevered cerulean eyes sparked with rage, shoulders reaching up to the sky, his form completely encompassing mine.

  “Warwick,” I whispered against his palm, almost crying with relief. He dropped his hand from my lips. For such a massive guy, he was damn stealthy.

  His fingers wrapped around my arms, pushing me harder into the wall, his lip rising. “Shut. Up.”

  My mouth opened to speak.

  “Warning you, Kovacs,” he snarled, his muscles trembling with fury. “You open your mouth right now, and I will hand you over to them.”

  “No, you won’t.” Ignoring his warning, I pushed into him, ignoring the fierceness of his presence, glaring back at him. “First, that would be giving yourself up as well, and second, if you wanted to do that, you would have already done it. You didn’t break me out just to hand me right back over.”

  His cheek twitched, his nostrils flaring. “Didn’t I?”

  “No. Though I am curious. Why did you break me out? What is your plan, Farkas? Do you want to use me as leverage as well?”

  His eyes moved down me, his mouth close to mine, pulling my eyes to them. He rolled his lips together.

  “This is not the time.” Grunting, he pushed off me, peering around the corner, spotting the guards. “We’ve got to go.” He huffed, spinning the opposite way and hurrying down the passage. “They’re heading back this way.”

  Jogging down the path, I followed him. The paralyzing fear of getting caught didn’t return even after his comment. I felt strangely calm, l
ike together we could take on anything. Which was stupid. We weren’t a team. We weren’t anything.

  I hadn’t traveled far from Madam Kitty’s, but with the fear of guards patrolling, it took us longer to sneak back.

  “They’re stationed at the front and back entrances of the alley.” Warwick waved me to follow him into a decrepit building, the white stone painted with the sayings:

  “Sarkis will lead the resistance to the future!”

  “Markos the murderer!”

  “Sarkis is our light to a new way!”

  What? I knew Istvan had made many enemies, but he was fighting for the humans. To make us equal. It was Killian who was oppressing. Killing.

  Istvan told me this Sarkis guy was nothing more than a thug. A guerilla army wanting to become the resistance in Prague, the Povstat, trying to find their piece of the pie.

  “Kovacs,” Warwick hissed, gesturing me to follow. Touching the quotes stirred up questions in the back of my mind. “Come on!”

  Following Warwick out the back of the building, we made it back to Kitty’s, where we ran up the stairs to our room. With every step, his body tensed with rage.

  “Uh-oh! A lovers’ spat already?” Rosie leaned in a doorway, smoking a joint.

  “You!” Warwick growled, storming up to her. Her eyes widened in fear. “I told you to keep her inside the fucking house, tie her up. Not help her escape.”

  Rosie stumbled back, swallowing nervously.

  “Hey.” I jumped between them, my palms pressing into his chest, trying to push him back. “She’s not your minion. We’re no longer in Halalhaz; you don’t get to order people around.”

  “Oh really?” He tilted his head, his face barely a sliver from mine, his fury smashing against me, encouraging mine. His gaze scoured over me, hacking into my skin. “Want to test that?”

  Yes.

  No.

  “I’m not afraid of you.” My toes hit his. “She was being a friend to me. If you want to be mad at anyone, be mad at me…not her.”