Chapter 6

I spot Dylan just before he disappears past the trees. Watching my feet, I carefully follow his trail. I crouch behind a large bush. One wrong step, and I’m dead.

He hasn’t noticed me. At least, I don’t think he has.

Axel told me to gather information. It’s for the pendant. That’s what I keep telling myself as I trail behind him.

Dylan weaves between the trees, never looking back. I keep a fair distance, ducking behind shrubbery or trunks whenever he stops. The deeper we go into Cobra, the more unfamiliar it gets.

I glance down at my feet. I know there are traps scattered all through their territory. I can’t afford to get caught in one.

I look up again. Dylan’s gone. Stopping, I scan the trees. Nothing. He’s just simply…vanished. Where did he—

“You can come out now.”

Dylan’s voice murmurs beside my ear. I whip around. He’s standing right behind me, staring. My heart nearly stops as I stumble backward.

Crack.

Dylan’s expression shifts immediately. “Don’t. Move.” His voice is tense. I glance at my foot. The ground has sunk slightly beneath it. “What do I do?” I ask, my chest tightening in panic. “Dylan!”

He circles to my back. “There’s no way to disable it,” he mutters, his voice strained. “Then what am I supposed to do?” I gasp. He doesn’t answer. The ground shifts beneath my feet again. Dylan’s eyes widen.

“Help!” I scream, my head thumping. He glances at my foot. His jaw tightens. Dylan takes a step closer.

“What are you—”

The ground gives way beneath my feet.

Dylan lunges. His arms slam suddenly against my waist, knocking the air out of me as I tumble to the ground with a hard thump. But he doesn’t land with me. He’s at the edge. I hear the trap snap open beneath him. Spikes shoot upward, gleaming in the afternoon sun. Dylan jerks backward, barely avoiding them. One grazes his leg, tearing through the bottom of his pants.

“Dylan!” I scramble to my feet and grab his wrist. “Raven!” He gasps. “Come on!” I shout at him, my feet digging into the ground, pulling him. He manages to get one knee up, and together, we haul ourselves onto solid ground.

I breathe hard, my chest rising and falling rapidly. “You’re bleeding,” I pant, noticing a deep scratch on his ankle where the pants tore.

“It’ll be fine,” he breathes.

“You almost got impaled,” I snap.

He raises an eyebrow. “Who’s fault was that?”

I freeze. “Sorry,” I mumble.

“What are you even doing here?”

“I—”

He snorts. “Don’t lie, little Blackbird.”

“I was following you,” I admit.

“Why?” His eyes narrow.

“I…was curious,” I say quickly. He sighs. “You said that last time.”

“You disappeared,” I murmur. “I wanted to know where you were going.”

“Why?” He scoffs again.

“Do I need a reason?” I say, my fingers curling against the soft grass.

“When you’re trespassing, yes,” he mutters, standing up.

“Where are you going?” I ask, getting to my feet.

“I’m going back,” Dylan murmurs. “To Cobra.”

“You can’t just leave me here,” I protest. He cocks his head to the side. “Why not?”

“I’m going to walk into another trap and get myself killed,” I admit. A faint smile tugs at his lips. “Do you think I care?”

My eyes narrow. Dylan laughs. “I’m joking. I’ll escort you to the border.”

“You really shouldn’t be here,” Dylan observes as he steps over a couple of leaves scattered on the ground. “Yeah, well, too late.”

“Brilliant observation,” he says dryly, glancing at me.

“I know right?” I joke. He rolls his eyes. “Hurry up. I have stuff to do.”

“What stuff?” I ask curiously.

“You don’t want to know,” he mumbles. I raise an eyebrow. “Now I do want to know.”

He sighs. “Of course you do.”

“Is it a secret?”

“Yes.”

“Dangerous?”

“Maybe.”

“Interesting?”

“Little Blackbird.” Dylan stops in his tracks, looking slightly amused.

“What?”

“Stop asking questions.”

I look at him for a moment. He’s so…different from what I imagined an assassin to be. “Stop staring too,” he mutters, turning back to the path. “You’re just like a little kid,” he murmurs under his breath.

“I heard that,” I say flatly.

“Awesome,” he says.

I roll my eyes, following him. I realize Dylan’s taking a completely different path. “Where are we going?” I ask, dread creeping up my spine.

“The border.”

“Why aren’t we going back the way we came?”

“That trail isn’t safe.” Dylan points to a spot in the ground. “Avoid that.”

“No kidding,” I scoff. “How are you not dead?”

“I’m from Cobra, little Blackbird,” he chuckles lightly. “Technically, you’re an enemy.”

I stare at him. “Technically?”

“Don’t get used to it.” He steps over a few tree roots. Finally, he stops. “We’re here.”

I recognize Eclipse’s territory immediately. “Thank you,” I murmur, crossing the boundary with relief.

“You’re not welcome,” he replies.

“Did you find anything?”

I shift uncomfortably under Axel’s expectant gaze. “Nothing useful.” Axel stares at me for a moment longer, sighing. “Did you try to find information?”

I hesitate. “I followed him.”

“That didn’t do anything?”

“Nope.”

“Try something else next time.”

I have a very strong urge to argue. But I know better. Instead, I dip my head. “Very well.”\

“Don’t waste my time,” Axel murmurs.

“Alright,” I say as he turns to leave. Deep down, I do know. Some of Cobra’s traps. Dangerous paths. Dylan’s route. I don’t know why I’m keeping it from him. All I know, is that I don’t want Axel knowing.

I haven’t gotten closer to the pendant. Not yet. But now I knew where Dylan went. And I know how to get there.

Maybe that’s all I need.