I was somewhere between dizzy and numb by the time the fights were over. I sat down next to Cerberus in the arena entryway. Cyrus left us, gone to collect our winnings from the clerk. He hadn't shut up since my lycan's final fight, but I hadn't listened to a word of it.

My fingers tangled in Cerberus's fur, working around the too tight muzzle I had been forced to put back on. I wanted to talk to him, but there were too many people present. They pointed and whispered as they filed out of the arena. It didn't matter to me what they thought, though, I hated the lot of them. They paid for this sick circus. They were just as guilty as the trainers.

If they knew how human-like the lycans could be, would they still condone the fights?

"Hey! You!"

I looked up. A group of four marched through the crowd trailed by a light hazel lycan on a long chain. I recognized him as the second-place winner in Cerberus's class. He was also the largest of Cerberus's competitors, though he was a good two feet shorter than the albino. I didn't get long to examine him; the man holding his leash was far too loud.

"Yeah, you with the albino. I got a bone to pick with you."

From the corner of my eye, I saw Cerberus's lip curl back in his muzzle. It was clear this man was going to be hostile. I tried to decide if the woman to his right was his wife or manager. Her stern expression could suit either.

"Whoa, whoa!" Cyrus pushed his way through the crowd, a small jingling purse in one hand, a stack of papers in the other. He finally broke through, stumbling into the clearing the lycan’s presence created. "What seems to be the problem here?"

The man, whom I assumed to be the trainer, looked over Cyrus before turning on him. "The problem is, that prize money should be in my manager's hand, not yours."

Cyrus let out a small laugh, though I caught the slight flash in his eyes. He dropped the hand carrying the money to his side, casual, but also almost defensively. He thought these people were a threat. "Well, then maybe you should get a stronger lycan. I clearly remember him surrendering to my client's."

"Maybe your client should get a smaller lycan," the woman snapped, "if she wants to compete in the small class." She produced a thin book from somewhere within her voluminous winter skirt, flipping it open and holding it out for us to see. It seemed she was his manager. "The rules state no lycan over six-four is to be entered in the small competition. Yours is clearly over that."

"But in a small town like this, small is also the amateur classes," Cyrus argued. His tone was good natured, but firm. "So technically my client's lycan is allowed, since he has never fought before."

"I find that hard to believe."

He sighed. "Listen, don't you think I wanted to enter him in the large classes? But I couldn't because of his coloring and he has no records. If you have a problem with that, talk to the clerk that assigned us."

"I've had enough of your excuses," the trainer hissed. He pulled out one of the strange whips I had seen used in the arena and turned to me. "Tell your manager to hand the prize to the proper winner."

Cerberus stood up, towering over the other trainer from behind me. I glanced back, finding courage in the confidence of his gaze. It was already clear Cerberus would make me a well-known trainer. I couldn't afford to be known as meek as well.

"Cyrus, give the money to me. I earned it."

Cyrus shot me a conspiratorial grin and tossed the purse across the short distance between us. I caught it in one hand before slipping it into one of the many pockets of my pants. A small smile crossed my features as I turned back to the trainer. "Anything else you want?"

His short beard was bristling with barely contained fury. I could see the blood rushing to his face. "You must think you're really something, don't you?" he spit out. "Just because your cheap albino turned out to be a docile giant."

Cerberus stepped in front of me, letting out a menacing snarl that was somewhat muffled by the muzzle. The woman manager paled and backed away. The trainer, however, stood his ground despite the visible shiver that ran through him. He shifted his grip on the strange whip, which I could now see was made of metal wire. It made a loud crack as he raised it up. Cerberus lunged.

A second crack, louder than the first, echoed through the hall as the wires wove their way into Cerberus's fur. The lycan let out a muffled yelp as he was thrown back. I felt a current cut through the air, causing my hair to stand on end.

Electric. Preene had electric whips. They had harnessed the power of lightning, a feat that hadn't been seen since the old world. And they were using it on the lycans.

No sooner had his feet touched the ground than Cerberus lunged again, this time reaching the trainer before he had the chance to raise his whip. The others in his party leapt back to avoid the falling pair. The snarling lycan pinned the man down. He threw his head up, forcing his jaws open as he let out a roar and snapping the stretched leather of his muzzle. His long teeth glistened in the dull light before sinking into the trainer's arm.

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"Stop him!" Cyrus cried. "Desire, stop him! He'll be put to death if he kills him!"

A jolt ran through me. "Cerberus, stop!" I barked. "That's enough!"

The albino froze, eyes switching back to mine, though his teeth remained firmly embedded in the man's arm. I gave a slight nod. The lycan released the trainer with a low growl. He looked around, then lunged to the side. Powerful jaws clamped down on the electric whip, breaking it in two.

Everyone in the entryway had stopped, watching us. I spotted the heads of two spears weaving their way through the crowd from the arena. Officials, no doubt. I turned, grabbing Cyrus by the sleeve and marching down the path people cleared for us.

"That was quite impressive! Really, I didn't think you could-"

"Let's leave," I hissed as I dragged him through the open doorway. "Cerberus, come!" I didn't need to look back. I could hear the lycan bounding after us.

***

"I've been wanting to stay at this inn since I came here. Would have only been able to afford the first night, then I would’ve been out of luck..." Cyrus grinned. "I made that mistake when I first started traveling, and it was quite a bit warmer then-"

I hardly heard him. My mind was still on the electric whips and the strangely small lycans. I didn't acknowledge him going in the log inn to make our arrangements. It was only when we entered the stable where lycans were to be kept that my attention was drawn to my surroundings.

On the outside, the stable was a windowless, one-story version of the inn. Yet as soon as we stepped inside, I realized the ground level was simply a room of lockers and storage lit by glowing balls on the ceiling. Electric bulbs, if I remembered my old world books. Cyrus led us down a ramp which brought us to the lower level.

The basement was made entirely of cement, not unlike the lower levels of the arena. The large room held a cool moisture in the air, so much so that condensation gathered on the thick chains hanging on the back wall. It was clear the chains were meant to attach to a collar or muzzle. There were no other lycans currently there, but their canine musk still lingered in the air along with the faint yet still sharp scent of urine.

A shiver ran through me. I recognized this place. Not this particular one, but I knew of many places like it in Askance.

"No, I'm not keeping him here."

There was a light bump on my thigh. I ignored it.

"What?" Cyrus snorted. "This is a perfectly nice stable. Cerberus will have it all to himself."

"It's a prison," I hissed. "Cerberus isn't a prisoner."

Another bump. I shook my head. I wouldn't do it. I couldn't do that to him.

"Listen, where else are you going to keep him? Outside? They won't let him in."

"Why not?"

"Because it's not allowed," Cyrus cried. "Are you really proposing to let a lycan loose? Half a dozen people will be dead by morning, if not more."

"I don't care!" I snapped, dropping the leash and spinning around. "I put the stupid muzzle on him! I'm not keeping him in this cell!"

I was nearly knocked over by the force of his third bump. I glared at Cerberus. Even on all fours, his head was at shoulder level. His crimson stare bore into me. The lycan turned, trotting to the middle chain before sitting down. Almost imperceptibly, he gave a slight nod.

I sighed, closing my eyes. He had no idea what he was agreeing to.

Cyrus's jaw had dropped again. I couldn't help but let a small smile creep onto my face. I had known him less than a day, and already I decided he was by far the most animated person I had ever met. However, it quickly disappeared as I walked to Cerberus, reluctantly reworking his makeshift rope muzzle into a collar. The chain weighed heavy in my hands as I clipped it on a strand of rope. He could easily break it, but he wouldn't.

"Leave us, I'm going to... do some training." The last part I said as nearly a whisper. It wasn't very convincing. When had I become such a terrible actor?

I listened to his steps as he trotted back up the ramp. I waited several heartbeats after the door clicked shut. It was only after I was certain he had left that I finally let go, falling to my knees. Cerberus tilted his head, watching me take in heaving breaths.

"I'm so sorry..."

He examined me a moment longer before speaking. "Were you pleased, my lady?"

I clenched my teeth. "Of course not! How could I be? It's so terrible and horrible and cruel and I know I have no place to speak but how could they-" I paused. He was still staring at me. The red glint of his eyes told me he wasn't talking about Preene. "Oh..." I took a deep breath. "Yes, of course. You fought well today. Just... I'm sorry... for making you do this."

He huffed. "I don't mind. Fighting is little more than disciplining cubs." I nodded. Soft fur pressed to my forehead. The whiskers above his eyes tickled at my brows. "I don't mind, but if you want, I could run to the next nation before the first snowfall. We don't need to stay. We could leave tonight."

I squeezed my eyes shut, grinding my teeth together. His offer was tempting, but I shook my head. "No... We need to stay here. I made a promise to your kind. Now I think I know how to keep it."

Cerberus was silent. And then, "As my lady wishes."

***

That night, I lay in the most comfortable bed I had in months. Yet I couldn't sleep, the sharp stones in my stomach wouldn't let me. I had done many things I acknowledged were nigh unspeakable. I had wiped out entire villages for my selfish desires, for a fleeting sense of control. Most wouldn't consider my treatment of Cerberus bad by any means.

But most hadn't spent years chained to a wall. Most hadn't spent their childhood as a captive.

So I lay still, motionless as a corpse, in a room more warm and luxurious than any I could remember, feeling like the most horrible person on Earth.