Their gates are imposing as we approach, patchworked together metal and old tech we have no name for or knowledge of how they work, just like a Harrow Gate. We lost that knowledge long ago, sometime after it all stopped working. It’s been at least a thousand years at this point. If anyone knows what the machines are, they aren’t telling us. So, just like us all, the Black Spur Union has recycled them to create their intimidating gates.
“Dox!” the guard says, grinning. “Back so soon?”
“We’ve been summoned,” Dox replies, producing the job letter.
The guard’s face changes when he sees it, his smile dropping immediately. “Oh. Good luck.”
Gone is the charming guard who apparently has a soft spot for my best friend. In his place is a man who now looks at us like we’re marching to our death.
“What was that about?” I whisper to Dox as we move past him.
“No idea,” she admits, wincing. “It’s an unusual reaction.”
When the gates open for us, we pass through. I follow Dox because she seems to know where we’re going. It’s been a year since I’ve done a job for this gang, and everything looks different to me now. But Dox seems to know what’s going on, so I follow her through the roughly built fortress until we reach a large room. There’s a massive chair built from old parts at the front, sitting on top of a raised step. It’s a throne, as if Orion is a king. I suppose the leader of the Black Spur Union is as close to a king as one can get here in Dross.
“Ladies!” he says as we step into the room, opening his arms wide. “Welcome. You came faster than expected. Good.”
Dox stops in front of him and puts her hand on her hip, leveling him with her gaze. “What is it you’re lookin’ to hire us for, Orion?”
“Straight to the point as always,” Orion replies, grinning. “I like it. Very well. We have need of a courier service, as stated on the job request.”
I watch him carefully. “And what’s the cargo?”
Orion finally levels his gaze on me, something flashing in his eyes that makes me nauseous. “Vesper. It’s good to see you. What’s it been? A?—”
“Cut the pleasantries, O,” I grunt. “What’s the cargo?”
A muscle jumps in his jaw. Once upon a time, Orion and I had a thing before I realized how stupid it was to sleep with the leader of one of the most powerful gangs in Dross. I’m lucky. I was able to break it off without incident. But I’m very much aware that it was only because Orion let me walk away.
His fingers steeple together like I unnerve him. Good. I hope it fucks with his head that I don’t want him. He deserves no less.
“Very well,” he says, his eyes staying on me.
He gestures with his hand toward a door on the side and they open. A woman comes stumbling inside when she’s pushed from behind. Her eyes are wide and she frantically looks around, as if searching for allies. She won’t find any in this place.
In her arms is a baby, brand new, pristine, and untainted yet by the horrors of Dross.
Dox tenses, but there’s no other outward sign of her reaction. Me? Not so much.
“A baby?” I scowl, jerking my gaze back to Orion. “You want us to deliver an infant?”
“Don’t act so horrified, V. You’ve done worse to survive,” Orion goads.
It takes everything in me to keep the heat from my cheeks, because he’s right. I’ve done terrible things to survive. I’ve taken food out of the mouths of children. But that doesn’t mean I want to do something like this. I did those things when there were no other options. I don’t have to do them now.
“And where is the infant to be delivered to?” Dox asks carefully, her eyes flicking between me and the mother. “And what is the payment?”
I whip my head toward her. “We’re not seriously considering this, are we?” I hiss under my breath.
She doesn’t answer. Not yet. Because she’s doing what we always do. Weigh all the options.
Orion smirks. “The child will be delivered to an Ascendant courier where it will then be delivered to Luxe.”
The mother’s eyes widen. “What?” she gasps. “You told me he would have a better life!”
“And he will,” Orion nods. “Anything away from Dross is better.”
Except . . . there have been rumors for years about why Luxe would want children. Rumors about why they’re willing to pay so well for them. And none of them are good. Clearly, the mother has heard those rumors, too.
