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Jacin's POV:

Deadline

You know what the only good thing about being on Earth is? Being away from Levana. Not having to listen to her saccharin voice or look at her fake beauty. To have a legitimate excuse for not carrying out her orders and, best of all, being able to insult her without anyone telling on me. I'll admit, I've been milking that last privilege a bit.

So no-one can exactly blame me for being a little grumpy when she suddenly calls me. I knew I should've ditched that stupid portscreen! Now I actually have to talk to her!

"Is there something you wished to discuss your highness?" I ask, fighting the urge to glare at the veiled figure in the video. She can't alter my perception through a wireless connection, so she always wears veils when she's being filmed or photographed.

"I only wanted to know why your mission is taking so long, Sir Clay." She replies.

"With all due respect my queen, there are a lot of people in this town. Finding a single person has proven to be difficult."

"An excuse I would be more inclined to believe if you weren't given a head start on this entire case. You're stationed at the area of the sighting, you are attending the academy the target likely goes to as well, you know what he looks like. You have everything you need to complete this mission promptly."

"There are many students and people around here who fit Captain Solis's description," I lie, "and the people here like to wear strong perfumes and colognes, so I can't smell if they're even werewolves."

Levana shakes her head, the sheer material of her veil swishing slightly with the movement. "I'm afraid that's not good enough Sir Clay. Now more than ever, the Royal Guard requires strong soldiers to fight for their queen. You will find this werewolf and bring him back for recruitment by the end of the long night, two weeks from now. Oh, and one more thing," she adds sweetly, "I've noticed some of the other guards shooting glances in Winter's direction more often than not lately. Of course, she is under my protection, but I shudder to think of what would happen if one of the guards happened to come across her alone."

My grip tightens on the port, its plastic casing cracking audibly.

I imagine a triumphant smile curling behind that cursed veil as the queen nods in satisfaction. "Two weeks Sir Clay, bring me my new guard." The screen goes dark and I release the enraged scream trapped in my throat.

I march into school, glaring at anyone who dares try and talk to me. They don't matter. They aren't my target.

Eventually I spot him heading towards one of the classrooms.

"Hey!" I call out and jog up to him.

Wolf pauses and turns to face me. I frown as I study his face. He looks a bit pale, and there are faint bags under his eyes.

"Are you okay?" I ask, "You look a little…"

He waves away my question. "I'm just a bit sore, that's all. Anyway, what's up?"

I raise an eyebrow. Since when did Wolf talk like a normal person and not a rock? "I need to talk to you. Privately. After school."

"I have a therapy session after school."

"When does it end?"

"At around half-past four, I think. But-"

I cut in. "Good. Where can we meet?"

"The police have been really strict about me getting straight back to the station lately. You know, with the attacks?" Wolf adds, scowling at me. Since when does Wolf scowl?

"Will the police eavesdrop if we talk in your room?"

"Wha-of course they won't!"

"Great, so we'll meet there." I say and move to walk away, when I feel a sharp tug on my collar.

"Do you mind telling me what's brought this on?" he asks with a hint of exasperation.

"Yes," I reply coolly, "I do mind."

"I'm not going to let you just barge into my room for no reason!"

"Would it help if I told you that it's a reason I can't say in public?"

"That makes it worse!"

I sigh with frustration and hold up my hand for him to see. I morph it slightly, letting the fingernails grow longer and sharper, and allowing just a touch of blond fur to grow on the skin.

Wolf's eyes widen with shock at the sight, and I quickly turn my hand back to normal. I can't have the kids here asking about why I've suddenly grown fur on my hand now, can I?

"Are you satisfied now?" I ask him.

He blinks at my hand, as if it still had fur and claws, before shaking his head. "I can't talk about that kind of thing. Too risky."

"You seemed fine with talking about it when we first met."

"We didn't talk about it though, you just asked me a bunch of weird questions and didn't believe my answers!"

I roll my eyes at his protests. "Those questions were about that."

"No, they were about some stuff I didn't even know about!"

"I find that hard to believe. Look, it'll only be a couple of minutes, and you said yourself, the police aren't going to eavesdrop. So can we talk or not?"

Wolf's fists clench, and I half expect him to punch me then and there, but he sighs and nods defeatedly. "Fine."

I watch him as he walks away. I ball of guilt forms inside of me, but I ignore it. Until I finish my mission, Winter's safety is compromised, and my mission just happens to be recruiting Wolf into slavery for a tyrant. I don't have a choice, not if I want to keep Winter safe.

"Hey, do you have a minute?"

I jump and whirl around to face whoever decided it would be a good idea to sneak up on me. Iko is standing there, looking mildly surprised at my reaction.

I take a moment to compose myself before glaring at her. "What do you want?"

She raises her eyebrows at my rudeness. "Yeesh, someone's in a bad mood today."

"I don't appreciate people sneaking up behind me."

"I didn't sneak up behind you. It's not my fault that you aren't alert enough."

I huff. "Just tell me why you nearly gave me a heart attack just now, okay?"

She smiles conspiratorially and leans closer. "Tonight, we're holding a meeting. Same abandoned building as usual. Be there."

I tilt my head to one side. "Why should I?"

"Because we're finally getting our revolution going and we need some inside info."

"What makes you think that I'll give it?"

Iko blinks at me, obviously not expecting this reaction. "Uh… because Queen Levana sucks?"

I snort. "You're going to have to do better than that Fairy Godmother."

"Let me elaborate," she snaps, glaring at me, "you said that you were protecting someone by following Levana's orders, right?"
"Right…" I cautiously concede.

"And you remember the question Cinder asked you, right?"

I sigh. ""Will they be safer while Levana is alive, or when she's dead"."

"And do you have an answer?"

I turn away, though I'm pretty sure Iko can guess what my answer is.

"Be there." She tells me again and stalks off.

A/N: Jacin's back! Feels like forever since I last wrote him!

Levana's growing impatient, and the rebels are putting pressure on Jacin. Will he help them with their revolution? Or go ahead with his mission?

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