“You!” Cass spluttered.

What? Theo quickly glanced at Cass. How in the gales did she know Luron?

Luron was again dressed as a gentleman with his top hat perched above his metal mask, an overcoat edged in gold, a black ascot around his neck, and fine leather boots.

“Why are you here?” Theo asked, coming between the two.

Luron twisted his head toward Theo, then toward Cass. His movements were more automaton than human, causing a shudder to ripple down Theo’s back. He still wasn’t convinced that Luron was all human, in spite of the story the Staggs family had told. He wondered if the man could even talk, despite those two holes for a mouth.

His doubts were erased when a moment later, a tenor voice spoke, hoarse and raspy. “I was instructed to follow you, Theodore Winchester.”

Theo looked at Cass from the corner of his eye. Did she hear the name? She remained frozen a few feet away with no response. He wasn’t sure what to think.

He stepped closer to Luron. “Why?”

“Because you pose a threat to the House of Lords.” Theo could barely make out the words. Had the vocal chords been damaged in the fire during the Purge?

“And what makes the House of Lords think that?” Theo clenched the puzzle box in his hand. They didn’t have time for this. The Turned would hear them at any moment and start coming.

“Because of House Winchester’s secret. You wish to change the world. But the world has no need of changing.”

“What kind of shoddy answer is that?” Cass retorted. “The House of Lords thinks the world is fine the way it is? Those echelons need to come off their sky islands and see what is happening to the rest of the population. Or maybe they’re content to watch everyone swallowed up by the Mist so they can have the world to themselves.”

Theo found her outburst astounding as well as a little amusing in its boldness.

“Theo, come on.” Cass strode forward. “We have no time for this.” She grabbed his free hand and began to pull him along the trees. He was surprised at the heat of her touch. “I don’t know who you are, but you’re not going to stop us.” She tossed the words over her shoulder at Luron and continued along the forest.

Theo, his mouth clamped shut, kept pace beside her.

Cass didn’t seem to be afraid of Luron. Didn’t she see the sword hanging at his side, or the two revolvers tucked around his waist? He could take them out faster than the Turned.

“We have a mission to finish,” Cass said, as if reading his thoughts. “And I will not let the House of Lords ruin it.” She made no comment about the name Winchester. Was that purposeful? Her face was flushed.

Theo kept in pace with Cass while glancing back every few feet. No, she was focusing on what needed to be done. Finish the mission. A warm feeling of respect rose up inside him toward the petite diver currently leading him toward the hill now appearing between the break in the trees. But he knew that focus wasn’t going to stop Luron.

“Cass.” He pulled her to a stop, then shoved the puzzle box into her hands. “Take this and go. I’ll deal with him.”

“What are you talking about?”

Yes, her face was definitely flushed and her eyes much too bright. A warning bell went off in his head, but he ignored it. There wasn’t time for anything but to escape. “I know who he is. You need to get this box to the Daedalus.”

“But what about you—”

He quickly gave her a hard shove forward as Luron drew near and pulled out a revolver. “Go!” he shouted. He didn’t care if he alerted the Turned. Maybe they would assist him in taking down Luron. All that mattered was that Cass got away.

Theo spun around and threw himself at Luron. A shot rang out, glancing off a nearby tree as the two went tumbling down onto the dead leaves. The top hat went flying into the bushes. Luron raised his revolver again.

Theo grabbed him by the wrist and twisted. The revolver dropped to the ground. With both hands free, Luron grabbed Theo’s forearms while Theo latched on to the metal-man’s neck. The ascot prevented him from getting a firm hold, but Luron wasn’t strong enough to do anything but hold Theo in place.

Both men struggled against each other, Theo planted on top, and Luron grappling for a way to twist out of Theo’s hold.

By now, Theo could hear the raspy gasps of breath through Luron’s metal mask. If nothing else, that proved that something living and most likely human existed behind the golden metal.

“Why are you doing this?” Theo panted.

Luron stopped struggling. At first Theo couldn’t hear it, but a second later, odd laughter drifted through the two holes. “Why do you think?”

“I have no idea. All I know is you were driven into the Mist during a Purge, but didn’t Turn, and were burned badly when you tried to go back. I would think you’d hate those who tried to Purge you in the first place. So why are you working for the House of Lords?”

Luron laughed again, raspy and eerie. “Hate is not a problem. I hate your Families. I hate your cities. I hate everything. I am hate.”

Theo was taken aback by the venom, and the words. Luron had to be insane. “And that’s why are you trying to stop us from finding a cure for the Mist?”

“Because I am also part of the Mist.”

“What?” Theo stared down into the metal face at the two eye slits.

“None of you can exist in the Mist. But I can. Why would I want the Mist gone? It is my world. The Staggses may think I’m working for them, but I’m only here for myself. Soon the Mist will cover the world, and only those chosen by it will survive. I am part of the chosen.”

This man was insane. “So you’re trying to stop me on your own? I’m afraid that’s not going to happen.”

Something flickered behind that lifeless metal plate. “We shall see.” With a sudden surge of strength, Luron jerked around, throwing Theo off balance and rolling to the ground. But instead of going for him, Luron struggled to his feet, then took off in the direction Cass went.

Luron knew Cass had the box.

Theo jumped up and ran after him. The forest was a maze of dead branches and hidden holes and logs waiting to grab him. Theo crashed through them, his eyes set on Luron ahead. His heart raced inside his chest as he drew in deep breaths through the mask. He couldn’t let Luron catch her for all sorts of reasons. There was something between him and Cass, a connection he would not lose. And he wasn’t about to let Luron get her or that box in her hands. Not for all the world.

Theo drew closer. He was faster, despite his hunger and weakness. Fortunately, Luron was having a harder time avoiding some of the branches. He still couldn’t spot Cass ahead which was good. He could reach Luron before the metal maniac got to her.

Five feet.

Three feet.

Theo launched himself forward and caught Luron around the waist. The two men tumbled into prickly foliage. One of the branches caught on Luron’s faceplate and tore it away as Theo shoved him onto his back.

Both men’s breath came heavy, Theo through his mask, Luron without his mask. Theo paused, repulsed by the face before him.

Luron stared up at him with hazel eyes set back in a face so scarred he almost didn’t look human. His skin was red and pink, and most of his nose was missing. Ridges of skin zigzagged across his face, and his mouth was just one thin line. There were patches of hair along his scalp like weeds breaking through barren ground. Blood trickled down from a cut along his temple.

His thin lips cracked open to show a mouth of yellowing teeth, and he laughed. “Look! Look! This is what your House of Lords did to me! And yet I live!” He grabbed Theo by the collar and pulled his head closer. “I will live. And you will not.” He grabbed the side of Theo’s mask with his other hand and began to pull.

Instinct took over. The overpowering will to live. With fists trained to punch, Theo pummeled Luron while the man tugged at his mask. If he went, he would take Luron with him. Cass had the box. He just had to keep Luron away from her.

After a minute, Luron’s grip lessened. Blood oozed from broken skin around his face, and one eye was starting to swell, causing his face to look even more grotesque.

Theo pulled away. His own mask was almost off. Luron slumped against the ground and fell sideways. It appeared he had blacked out. A part of Theo was horrified at what he had done. He’d always been a man of science, not violence. But in a span of a couple of weeks, he’d twice beaten a man within an inch of his life.

He could feel Luron’s blood coating his knuckles, a sickly, wet, cold feeling. Theo stumbled up to his feet and readjusted his mask. Pity mixed with anger at the scarred man at his feet. Luron had been through literal hell, but he’d also tried to kill him. If Theo’s mask had moved just a bit more . . .

Theo shook his head and stumbled away. No time to think about that now. He was alive, and he needed to catch up with Cass. For a second he felt a twinge of concern about Luron but quickly dismissed it. He had no time for a madman who wanted the world to burn.

Theo started running in the direction Cass had gone. They’d been heading for the foothills, which were just beyond this forest. As long as he hadn’t been turned around during his fight—

A distant scream echoed between the trees, followed by two shots. Theo steered toward the left and ran as fast as he could as another scream followed. He jumped over fallen logs and pushed his way through the dense trees. Another shot. Then another. There could only be one reason for gunshots and Cass screaming.

The Turned.