Page 18 of Elven Crown (Court of Rebellion #2)

18

R ebecca crouched in the darkness behind a stack of shipping containers at the Port of Chicago, tightening her grip around an augmented magitek assault rifle in both hands as she scanned the docks for signs of Eduardo’s enemy convoy.

The tension of anticipation rippling through her body was impossible to ignore. Not because she was nervous about this particular mission; this team had already fought Eduardo’s guys and would have walked away from that op with far greater results if Aldous hadn’t shot it all to hell.

But Aldous wasn’t here anymore.

The giant weight of knowing the changelings’ hare-brained plans would only reap disaster for all of them no longer weighed on her shoulders.

Now, it was the weight of needing this team to succeed in their efforts. Otherwise, freeing themselves from Aldous’s idiocy would have been for nothing.

Plus, there was the added pressure of Rebecca now leading her first official mission as Shade’s Commander.

Not that much would change if things went wrong. Maxwell had blamed her for more than her fair share before she’d taken command. He would doubtlessly blame her for it still.

Only now, if anything went wrong, it would be Rebecca’s fault. Just like ensuring the success of this mission was her responsibility.

On top of all that was a bonus weight sinking in her gut and hardening into a dull pain every time she thought of it.

She had Rowan here with her team this time.

It wasn’t the first time she’d been out in the field or moving against an enemy with Rowan at her side, no matter how long it had been.

The problem was, Rebecca still didn’t know if he would shape up and join them in achieving their objective, or if he still refused to take any of this seriously.

Which was why she’d ordered him to join this op.

The Blackmoon Elf could still cause an enormous amount of damage while they were here, if he wanted. But leaving him to his own devices at headquarters, without Rebecca there to oversee him, was even more dangerous.

When it came to Rowan, no matter what she did, she still couldn’t win.

Within the still, steady darkness of the docks, a flash of violet light caught Rebecca’s attention. She looked up toward the top of one of the shipping containers stacked and waiting to be loaded, and another quick flash of violet light greeted her.

Nyx’s signal to the team in quick strobing flashes let them all know there was still no sign of the enemy’s approach from her position. But when Eduardo’s convoy of vehicles laden down with the weapons he meant to ship out came into view, Nyx would be the first to see them.

Then the team would be ready to execute their ambush.

From three other positions around the shipping yard came three other bursts of different-colored magical light—or, in Titus’s case, two blinking signals from a flashlight—all offering the same update.

No one had eyes on the target yet, but everyone’s eyes were open. And they were waiting.

Rebecca had enough patience to understand the importance of lying low, but the team had been here for almost half an hour already, which had already chipped away at the urgency of what they were doing.

Once every operative stationed elsewhere around the docks gave their signal as well, Rebecca couldn’t help but wonder if they’d missed something.

She turned toward Maxwell crouching beside her behind the shipping container and whispered, “You said this was a time-sensitive thing.”

“It is,” he replied without removing his gaze from the docks. “Eduardo’s guys will be here. Intel confirmed it.”

“Did they confirm an exact time?”

“We got a hit the second that convoy left Eduardo’s base. Judging by the way those griybreki fought us the last time, it wouldn’t surprise me if they struggled with organization.”

With a snort, Rebecca scanned the docks again. “They were organized enough to drive us away last time.”

“Not a proud moment for any of us.” Maxwell turned his head a fraction of an inch to meet her gaze, and she would have laughed if they weren’t holding covert positions right now.

Understatement of the year from the shifter.

No mission with Aldous had been a proud moment for Shade or any of its operatives, but now they had a chance to fix all that. The opportunity began tonight, right here.

A heavy metallic thump echoed on their right, and both Rebecca and Maxwell turned slightly that way, their weapons raised in defensive readiness.

The docks were supposed to be empty, and with no sign of Eduardo’s convoy entering the premises, that meant anyone else could be here making noise right now, even watching Rebecca and her team.

“What was that?” she whispered.

Maxwell started to shake his head.

“Did I just hear you openly admit defeat?” someone asked from behind them.

Rebecca spun around with her weapon at the ready and would have fired on the intruder if her reflexes had been any slower.

It was Rowan.

“What the hell are you doing?” she hissed.

Beside her, Maxwell let out a muted snarl in his attempt to remain quiet through his bursting anger. “Who told you to leave your fucking post?”

Rowan blinked at the shifter and leaned casually sideways against the wall of the shipping container. “No one. I just got bored. I mean, it’s not like there’s anyone else here.”

“They’re called orders for a reason.” Maxwell lowered his weapon away from Rowan’s chest, but his hands tightened around the grip just the same. “Following them is the only way we get anything done.”

“Well, agree to disagree.” Rowan spread his arms. “I’m sure there are other ways, but I thought I’d just stop by. You know, see where the real fun is over here with you two. But enough about me. You didn’t answer my question. You guys were talking about retreat.”

Rolling her eyes, Rebecca turned away from him to focus again on scouring the empty docks for signs of movement and muttered, “Unforeseen circumstances.”

That was a complete lie, of course. Everyone had foreseen Aldous being himself on that mission—and every other—and irrevocably screwing over his team in the process.

She didn’t have the time or the patience to try explaining any of that to Rowan. Something told her he wasn’t genuinely interested in the answer.

“And that’s supposed to be different now,” Rowan added. “Have I got that right?”

“Supposed to be, yes,” Maxwell grumbled. “When you return to your post.”

“Hey, I’m just trying to get my bearings, here.” Rowan’s smirk didn’t make Rebecca want to hit him any less than any other time she saw it, but that was probably what he wanted.

“Which leads me to another question,” Rowan continued. “Just how long do you guys usually make it through something like this before you’re all running away with your tail between your legs? Not like anyone’s been timing you. Which, if you wanted, I’d be happy to do. But that’s an important variable to consider.

“I mean, as the new guy, I’m entitled to that kinda data, don’t you think? Just so I can better understand what I’m really getting into.”

Rebecca couldn’t look at him anymore. If she did, she might not be able to control herself any longer.

He needed to shut up and give it a rest.

“Anyone?” Rowan looked back and forth between Rebecca and Maxwell, neither of whom acknowledged him, even with eye contact.

“I can tell you how much longer you won’t be here if you don’t return to your post,” Maxwell growled.

“Hey, relax, pal. No one else is even here yet. Don’t worry. I’ll get out of your way before these guys you’re going after get any farther into it.”

Rebecca forced herself to ignore him, which was her only proven tactic for getting rid of Rowan when she didn’t have it in her to deal with him.

Maxwell clearly hadn’t gotten that message.

He snarled in Rowan’s face next, as if that could intimidate the elf into following orders he didn’t acknowledge and most likely never would.

That wasn’t going to work, either.

“Hey, riddle me this, though.” Still leaning casually against the outside of the shipping container, Rowan gestured with a long, slender hand toward the end of the docks and the water glinting in calm ripples beneath the low glow of the buildings’ exterior lights. “How can anything that needs a boat to get where it’s going be that important?”

Maxwell hissed through his clenched teeth and made a commendable effort to return his full attention to the docks again.

Rebecca shouldn’t have ordered Rowan to join them. She realized that now.

If he didn’t cut it out and start taking this seriously, he would end up being almost as big of a problem as Eduardo’s griybreki when the convoy finally arrived.

But when their hiding spot behind the shipping container grew quiet again, she almost let herself hope Rowan had already grown bored with trying to rattle their cages.

Wishful thinking.

Maxwell inspected his weapon, double-checking the components and the augmented magitek rounds inside—a clear attempt to not let Rowan get under his skin.

But the Blackmoon Elf was simply too good at it.

“These weapons…” Rowan clicked his tongue, then pushed himself off the shipping container to drop into a squat beside Rebecca. The tinny echo of his finger tapping against the barrel of her rifle sounded a hundred times louder within the expectant silence of the team’s waiting. “These I just don’t understand. I can’t believe you’re actually using this thing.”

Rebecca repositioned her rifle out of his reach and whispered, “It would have been good to have these with us last time. We’re a lot more prepared now.”

Rowan barked out a laugh, making Maxwell flinch at the unnecessary volume. “A lot more prepared ? How’s that, exactly?”

Maxwell’s warning growl reverberated against the shipping container.

Rebecca finally had to look at Rowan, this time conjuring as dangerous of a warning scowl as she could muster and hissed, “We’re here first, for one. Which means we keep our mouths shut. Including you.”

Beside her, the shifter snorted and shook his head.

If she’d had more time, Rebecca would have put more energy into figuring out what that meant.

Because it definitely felt like the shifter had found her statement amusing. That maybe he’d even been laughing .

She hadn’t meant to make it a joke, but anything involving Aldous had been a joke anyway without anyone even trying.

Rowan gave them another thirty seconds of silence before he just couldn’t help himself. “So what exactly happened in that last battle with these guys we’re supposed to be waiting for? It sounds pretty bad. And if it was that bad, why would you come back for more? That’s what I don’t get.

“I mean, for the shifter, it makes sense. There’s a masochistic streak in there for sure. But if it were me , I’d wanna stay as far away as possible after getting my ass handed to me. The whole team can’t be as hungry for another defeat as our wolf friend over here, right? Because if it’s a matter of—”

Maxwell whirled around in his position with a vicious snarl and thrust his face within inches of Rowan’s. “Do you ever shut up ?”

Rowan stared him down without reaction before he cocked his head. “Do you ever lighten up?”

“When we’re on mission? No . We’re here to do a job—”

“Trust me, pal.” Rowan sniggered. “You really don’t wanna watch me work.”

“No, I think I really do.” Maxwell lowered his weapon to his side and stood back before offering Rowan a curt nod. “Right now. Let’s see it. Blackmoon doing something useful for once. I’m ready.”

“Huh.” Rowan took a giant step toward the shifter until they stood mere inches apart, perfectly mirroring matching sneers. “You’re just trying to whip me into shape with all that blustering, aren’t you? I know the tricks. Guess it’s just not your lucky day, wolf.”

Maxwell’s next growl was even louder. “You think you can just—”

“Quiet,” Rebecca hissed. “Both of you.”

Both men froze before each turning toward her with wide eyes, as if they’d had no idea why she would chastise them.

She shook her head. “Listen to me. We cannot afford another shitshow like the last time. We just can’t. That means everyone on their game, ready to go when we get the signal. So pull your shit together before it costs us this mission. Both of you. Got it?”

“We didn’t even do anything,” Rowan muttered.

“Well I’m rooting it out before you even have the chance,” she added. “Last warning, Blackmoon. Get back to your—”

The brightest burst of violet light yet appeared at Nyx’s position atop another shipping container by the dock’s entrance, distracting them all.

Two seconds later, the katari blinked into existence in front of all three of them with a crackle of violet sparks and a soft pop, her eyes wide with urgency.

Perfect timing.

Unless, of course, something else had gone horribly wrong already.