Chapter 06

Artan turned to his men and raised his gun in the air.

"Brothers! Load the armor-piercing rounds," he shouted. "We're going to crack open a mystery box!"

The men cheered and ran to their trucks.

...

Inside the fortress, I was changing the bandage on Nikolai's back. The cuts from the black market were healing fast, faster than any human's would. I peeled off his shirt to check the last one.

He went stiff. "Boss, next time you strip me, could you give me a little warning first?"

I raised an eyebrow. "What? You have a problem with it?"

"I wouldn't dare." His ears went pink again. He looked down at the floor. "I like it when you do that."

I pressed the fresh bandage onto his back and patted it. "Good boy."

He made a small sound, half a laugh and half a snort.

Then the security screen beeped. Three black trucks were pulling up in front of my gate. Men jumped out with big guns and bags full of something heavy.

"Looks like some people aren't happy about our little party," I said.

Nikolai stood up fast and looked at the screen. His eyes narrowed. "Armor-piercing rounds. And explosives." A growl came from his throat. "Boss, let me go out there and tear them apart."

"Don't get jumpy, little wolf." I pointed at the couch. "Sit down."

He sat.

I poured two cups of hot tea and handed him one. "Let's enjoy the show."

...

Outside, Artan walked up to my gate and kicked it hard.

"Come out, coward!" he roared. "Hand over the supplies, and I'll leave your body in one piece!"

Devlin stood a few steps behind him with his burned hands wrapped in rags. He cupped his mouth and yelled, "Morana! You're dead today!"

A calm robot voice came from the speakers on the wall.

[Warning. Your noise is disturbing Master's afternoon tea.]

Inside, I almost spilled my cup laughing.

Outside, Artan's men laughed too, but not for the same reason.

Artan spat in the snow. "So it's just a little witch hiding behind a computer." He pointed his gun at the camera. "Call out the real boss now, or I'll blow this cheap door sky-high!"

"You really think you're the queen of the apocalypse?" Devlin shouted.

"Get your real boss out here," Artan said again, louder, "or I blow the door!"

The robot voice answered.

[Automatic defense activated.]

[If you can't understand plain English, I'll teach you some manners.]

The walls hummed. Then a bright blue light shot out from the top of the gate.

Boom.

The blast threw Artan's men across the snow like toys. Guns flew through the air. One truck flipped onto its side. The men screamed and rolled in the snow, holding their burned arms and legs.

[Defense system cooling down.]

[Automatic defense used 5% of the fortress's main energy.]

I sipped my tea. "Got it."

Then I pressed the speaker. "Next time, find out who you're talking to before you open your mouth."

Nikolai looked at me over his cup. He didn't say anything, but the corner of his mouth turned up.

...

Half a mile down the road, Devlin had slipped away from the gate before the fighting started. Now he sat beside Eris in the back of an old car, hiding from the wind. They shared one thin blanket.

Eris rubbed her hands together and smiled. "Guess what? I bet Artan has already crushed Morana under his boot."

"Of course he has." Devlin smirked. "Artan brought a whole crew with heavy weapons. No bunker can hold out for ten minutes against that."

Eris closed her eyes like she was dreaming. "Once they get inside and find the hot steaks and the red wine..." She squeezed his arm. "Devlin, we're going to be rich."

Headlights flashed across the snow. A truck came speeding toward them. It was smoking. One of its doors was missing.

It skidded to a stop next to their car. Artan jumped out. Half of his coat was burned away, and blood ran down his face from a cut on his head. Behind him, his men limped out of the truck, groaning.

Eris's smile fell. "Wait. What happened?" She turned to Devlin. "You said it would be no problem!"

"How should I know?" Devlin's voice went high.

Artan grabbed the car door and ripped it open. He dragged Devlin out by the collar and threw him into the snow.

"Dozens of my men," Artan growled, "couldn't even break one woman's door!" He kicked Devlin in the stomach. "You used me as a damn minesweeper!"

Devlin curled up, coughing.

"You should have warned me that witch's blast door was this tough!" Artan shouted.

Eris climbed out of the car fast and backed away with her hands up. "This has nothing to do with me! It was all his idea!"

Devlin looked up at her, shocked. Then he crawled toward Artan's boots.

"I'm innocent, Boss!" he cried. "I swear I didn't know she had so many weapons. She was never like this. She used to do anything I asked!"