A week later, the sky was gray, casting a bleak shadow over the mountains, but no rain had fallen that day or the previous. Of course, this meant it was only a matter of time before a thunderstorm rolled in.

Cerberus had rolled in ash again, coloring his coat with streaks of black and gray. He tended to stain his pelt the most during the fairest weather. The remains of the castle hearth's fires rubbed off on my thighs, dulling the shining leather. Bits of charcoal that clung to his fur ground into the fingers of my gloves as I struggled to keep my grip. It was difficult; both my hands and wrists ached as if injured. I dared not mention it. Besides, I likely only strained them while riding down the mountain's steep terrain.

The village of Stressil was one of my smaller towns with no wall, nor any defense. Just outside the cluster of homes and supply shops were two dozen smokehouses where they smoked and salted their catches. The people were mainly fishermen who trawled the forest streams flowing from the mountains. It was one of the first villages I captured, and by far one of the most useful. They never rebelled before.

We followed the cumbled remains of one of the old world’s black stone roads. Off to the side was the rusted remains of one of the gasoline-powered vehicles that had been so common once upon a time, this one of the giant eighteen-wheeled transportation trucks. This one was smashed into a tree and sunken to its floor in years of mud. The lycans gave it wide birth; a pregnant grizzly had taken up residence the previous fall.

A crowd was already gathered when we arrived. They scattered to a ring as we bounded into the town center. The people seemed suitably frightened; they knew denying me was unwise. But there was something else in the air, a kind of quiet retaliation. Tension spread through me. I faked confidence anyway.

"Hello Stressil," I said, casual, but voice dangerously low. Judging by the lowered gazes and fidgeting, the effect was not lost on them. "I expected a hundred or so fish this year. You’ve caught the first of the season, am I wrong?"

The lycans’ growls emphasized my point. I only brought six of them, it was a small town, barely a village at best. Besides my favored four of Cerberus, Thorn, Graniteback, and Red, I also selected Blackbear, a dark-furred male named for his large paws and squarish snout, as well as Nightmoon, whose coat vaguely resembled that of a skunk. However, it was her rare blue eyes that made her unique. If I remembered correctly, she was one of Thorn's offspring, not that familial bonds mattered much to the lycans.

I slid from Cerberus. Where I sat was rubbed clean, leaving a white imprint like the wings of an insect on his back. Perhaps it would have been funny, were Cerberus not so intimidating. He stood upright, dwarfing the other lycans. Only Thorn came close to his size.

Stressil had no stage, so I simply stood surrounded by my snarling servants. "I think I am owed an explanation." My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for the respected voice of the village, their mayor of sorts . A small smile crossed my face as I spotted her. "Carleen," I purred. "Why not come here and tell me what's the matter?"

The middle-aged woman glared at me, but made no move to come.

"Bring her to me." The quiet command whispered under my breath was enough for the lycans’ sensitive hearing. Thorn was the first to react, leaping from his position and landing a few feet from the woman. One swipe of his paw knocked her to the ground. The lycan snatched her forearm in powerful jaws as she attempted to rise, dragging the stumbling woman into my ring of canines. My stomach turned at the sight of blood beginning to stain her worn tunic as she was thrown at my feet. Thorn was always a little rough. Still, I couldn't let that be seen. The Lady of the Lycan Mountains dined with her monstrous legion. She wasn't squeamish at the sight of blood.

"Carleen," I leaned over her kneeling form. "That looks like it hurts. Now, why don't we get this sorted out so you can get that bandaged up?" I hooked a gloved finger under her chin. "Why isn't there a cart here waiting for us?"

At first, her voice was a whisper, "Estil..." Then there it was, that spark of rebellion. Her gaze was steady as she stared up at me. "Because we don't serve dogs."

The lycans howled in fury. Their snarls filled the silence.

"Kill her!" Nightmoon growled. "Don't take such insults!"

"Let me maul her, my lady," was Thorn's snarled request. "Her scars will remind her to never rebel again."

Red offered a different suggestion. "Just take the fish. No one here can stop us."

"Silence!" I barked. I couldn't let them think they could sway my judgment. I must also appease them. Either way, I absolutely couldn't show weakness. I looked down at Carleen. Her body trembled, but she still held that rebellious resolution.

A slight weight tapped my hand, then my shoulder. I turned over my palm, catching one of the icy shards on the leather of my glove. Within moments, the hail began to fall in earnest, covering everything with shining ice like fallen stars. The frozen raindrops gathered on the lycan's fur until they were melted by their body heat. Hail collected on Cerberus’s shoulders, running down his back and washing away the soot in streaks of black and white. My gaze returned to my captive.

The lycans wanted blood, but I couldn't give in to their demands. Hopefully, the fish would sate them.

"No," I said, ignoring their snarls of protest. I didn't let it show how much the sound scared me. “She must submit to me." I forced a smile. "But I’m sure I can make her want to."

My wrist stung as I pulled my glove from my hand. I held in my hiss and placed my bare palm on the woman's cheek.

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Her eyes rolled back in her head. She let out a contented sigh as my touch worked its way through her veins. I pulled away, half-smirk genuine this time. People were always more easily swayed once they came down from their initial rush.

Then she started choking.

Carleen fell back, coughing. Her body twisted and jerked as it fought for air until white foam filled her mouth. I stood, frozen and unable to look away as blood began to drip from her nose, coloring the foam red. Soon even her eyes were crying bloody tears.

I clenched my jaw as I watched the woman I only meant to persuade choke to death on her own spittle. It seemed she was one of the rare few who couldn't handle my poison, no matter how small the dose. I wanted to yell, to express my anger and frustration.

I didn't mean to kill her, I really didn't. If only she had listened. If they had just given tribute, then I wouldn't have had to come here at all. She could have lived a few more winters.

But I couldn't let the lycans know this wasn’t my intention. The Lady of the Lycan Mountains had complete control of her toxicity; that is what they must believe. So I bit my tongue and glared at the woman as if she died just to spite me.

Graniteback's growl alerted us to the arriving party. I followed the elder's gaze to a troop of forty mounted men. Most were armored soldiers, the other two I recognized.

"Lord Perimone." I couldn't help my friendly tone, excitement thundered in my chest at the sight of him. Was he on his way to my castle? Would he beg for another taste of my poison? Would he surrender Askance? His party was clearly too small to be any sort of fighting force. "And of course hello to you too, Howens. Don't think I would forget Perimone's vice lord…though everyone else seems to."

Howen's face soured ever so slightly. I hoped that would irk him. It seemed losing to Perimone was still a sore topic, even over a year after the election.

Perimone, however, seemed more concerned with the people of Stressil than my insults to his military commander. His face fell as his gaze landed on the corpse of Carleen. The lord looked genuinely sad, an expression doubtlessly practiced to win the public's affection. "This is terribly unfortunate."

I shrugged. "Indeed. And easily avoidable. If only these good people here hadn't so stubbornly refused to give tribute." Yes, this was their doing. They were far too weak to rise up; they shouldn't have even tried. Her death should be on their conscience, not mine.

Perhaps it made him angry that I demanded taxes of a people technically within his domain. If it did, he didn't show it. He looked over the villagers, fishermen and their families, with a pitying gaze. "Is this true?"

At first, none of them said a word. But then there was that one, the loyal follower of their fallen leader, that stepped forward. Perhaps it was the expected aid of the lord that gave him courage. Even still, his thick beard trembled as he spoke, "We are people of Askance. We will not pay taxes to this false ruler."

I knew they hated me, but his words, 'false ruler', shook something in me. They spoke not of fear, but of anger, of rebellion, and perhaps more than this simple refusal of tribute. Thorn and Cerberus must have sensed my tension. The others quickly joined their collective snarl. The soldiers lowered their spears while attempting to steady their dancing horses.

Perimone pulled his reins, though his thoughts didn't appear to be focused on his rearing mount. Despite this, he quickly brought the animal under control once my warriors quieted. It was a few moments more before the lord spoke again.

"Then, as your rightful leader, I ask you to give in to her demands."

I was just as surprised as the villagers. It was not an answer I dared hope for. My poison was corrupting his mind. The people of Stressil didn't appear quite so excited.

Like any good leader, Perimone had words to justify his decision. "There has been enough death here today. If the tribute damages your winter supplies, please allow Obria to send aid."

Of course, like any loyal followers, the people accepted his judgment without question. It was in their interest, after all. Little did they know their interests would soon be handed to me. They may not love their leader so much then.

Perimone turned that practiced pitiful expression on me. It was truly a masterpiece, I nearly believed it myself. However, the knowledge of what I had done to him kept me safe from the lie. The only truth in his eyes was the desperation. He was starting to crave the drug.

"You're choosing the wrong path, Desire," he spoke quietly, almost regretfully. As if he could regret my choices. Still, I held some sorrow for him. The drug would destroy his ambitions, as it had so many others. But he chose this role, whereas I was born into mine.

"You're not the lord who banished me," I said. "You're not the man I wish revenge upon. However, you would do well not to stand in my way."

Perimone was silent. Then, "I have read that case file. I’m sorry, I wouldn't have sentenced you to such a fate. I understand your distress, but please, realize these people are innocent. They don't deserve to be punished for the previous lord's mistakes."

"No," I agreed. "They had nothing to do with that. But they're pawns, and pawns who rebel must be punished."

The lord sighed. "Please Desire, I want to help you. "

My teeth ground together. "If you wanted to help, then where were you when I was sentenced?" I may not have had a formal education, but I knew how the Asken government worked. Read my case file? What a joke of a lie. He was elected Lord a year ago, but he was a politician long before that. "You were a council judge during my trial. You could have spoken for me! But you were silent, just like everyone else, while that man sent me to a politically correct execution! Because I was sick! In my mind, you're almost as guilty as he is!" More important to rid themselves of a ‘diseased’ girl than save her. I should have never tried to warn them about my poison. They didn’t understand, and they refused to listen.

Perimone's eyes closed. "That was a mistake. I wouldn't make the same choice now. I am genuinely grateful you recovered.”

"No!" I snapped. "You don't get to be forgiven! I won't forget yesterday's wrongs just because you changed your mind today. It doesn't work that way. You didn't speak up when an innocent girl was punished. You don't get to fight when I take revenge. I won't let you!"

His eyes didn't meet mine. He tugged on his horse, turning the animal around. The regret was back in his tone, though it wasn't for his actions, it was still for mine. "I hope..." He paused. "I hope one day you realize the whole world is not your enemy." He began to ride away.

I took a deep breath. My emotions had overcome me. I almost forgot the essential element of control. "Perimone wait!" The lord stopped and looked over his shoulder. I ran to his side, ignoring the guard's spears turned my way and the snarls of the lycans. Reaching up, I gently brushed his cheek with my bare hand. It wasn't much, but I could see the shiver run through him. I forced my smile to be soft, not malicious. "I hope you’ll learn how to help me."

He nodded. "I hope for that too."