Page 101

A War Party

T he next hour or so goes quickly as I help everyone pack and get ready to go.

I check over the selection of Berserkers to be left behind, before grabbing my weapons and supplies, and heading down to the bay where Bern has found me a ride.

Near the wall of the castle, there’s a type of roughly constructed garage where they store bikes to keep the sand from getting in and ruining them.

Bern leads me down to the end where a tarp covers something.

“Found this, thought it might suit ya, Ma Queen.” He grins, wiggling his massive eyebrows at me as he tugs on the tarp to reveal the bike underneath.

My mouth drops open. Now I know what people mean when they say love at first sight.

She is a beauty—smooth, sleek, a crotch rocket for sure.

It has low, silver handlebars with spikes facing outwards, looking sharp enough to skewer someone if they got too close.

The detail on the bodywork is what has me drooling though.

A skull with a crown on it is painted on the bottom side, surrounded by flames that trail off around the body. She’s lean, mean, fast, and lethal.

“What’s that?” I tilt my head, pointing at the black straps across the handle.

“For ya to strap in ya sword or gun or even a bow, makes it easier to draw or kill some bastards while ye ride,” Bern rumbles, and then laughs when my face lights up.

“Sands below, I’m so turned on right now. Who’s a pretty one,” I coo, and I hear a laugh boom out of him again before he slaps me on the shoulder.

“Aye, long live our fucking queen!” he calls, making me grin and shake my head as I step closer to check out my new ride.

“I’m not riding bitch.” Dray grins, leaning against the post of the covering.

“A found ya Seeker man one too, not as fancy, but it’ll do,” Bern offers, jerking his head at a silver bike next to mine.

Where mine is a speed rocket, this one is clearly not.

It’s bulkier, with flames painted down the sides.

Scratches, blood, and even a bullet hole also decorate it.

It’s perfect for the crazy bastard of mine.

“Aww, we should get matching bikes,” Dray coos, and I shake my head as I climb on my bike.

“You checked it out?” Dray asks, nodding at the bike.

Bern nods. “Aye, it’s safe.”

“It better be. If she dies on it, I will hunt you across the Wastes and wear you for a coat—” Dray’s threat cuts off, his eyes lighting up as he checks out his new ride. “Ooh, look, a bullet hole!” he exclaims, squatting down to run his hand over the body of the bike.

I roll my eyes, but I can’t fight the smile that turns up the corner of my lips. Glancing back at Bern, I reluctantly climb off my bike and say, “Let’s sound the horn, it’s time we ride out.”

“Aye, let me gather the war party for ya, Ma Queen.” He salutes me by fisting his hand over his chest and smacking three times before hurrying away.

“Are you ready for this?” Dray inquires, leaning back on his new bike.

I once found an old porn magazine that had a half-naked girl sprawled on a bike, it was hot, but not as hot as my crazy Seeker King on his, looking like sex and sin incarnate.

I find myself licking my lips to try and quench the fire burning inside of me.

He leans farther back, his legs thrown over the bike as he tilts his head and smiles at me, like he knows exactly what I’m thinking.

His blades flash in the sunlight, his chest tanned, and his new scar brand standing out proudly between his holster straps.

“Keep that thought for later, soulmate,” he purrs.

Grinning, I stride over and grab his hair, yanking his head back harshly and angling his face until I can kiss him. He groans into my mouth as we eat at each other before pulling away, both of us breathless. “I intend to, but yes, I’m ready.”

And I am. I can feel it coming, like a storm waiting on the horizon.

My whole life has been leading up to this fight and it’s finally here.

My every cell calls for blood. We share a dark look, both of us speaking without words about love, madness, and our need to make our enemies pay.

“Let’s head out, the king and queen ride front and center,” I whisper hoarsely.

I let go then and step back before I do something stupid like have sex with him right then and there on the bike.

I swing onto my ride, sliding one of my swords into the handy leather strap, and secure my bag to the back.

Then I slip into my leather jacket to protect my skin from the sand and unbearable sun.

We’re going to be riding fast without many stops, so I need to make sure I don’t burn on the way.

A Berserker walks past, heading to another bike, and I almost pout when I spot the black goggles on his head. Fuck, I could have used those. Sand in the face is a bitch and you can barely see without shades or goggles, not to mention how the sand dries out your eyes.

Sighing, I glance away, but then do a double take when Dray hops up, grabs the goggles off the stunned Berserker, and saunters over to me. He offers them to me. “A present, for you.” He grins.

“Aww, did you steal them just for me? Such a romantic,” I tease.

I grab them and put them on, grinning at the now pissed off Berserker.

When he continues to glare at me, I narrow my gaze and he jumps, hurrying away, obviously realising it’s not worth the fight.

Dray hops back on his bike and revs the engine.

I get mine going as well and we pull away from the shielding with my new goggles in place, letting me see easily.

Once we reach the edge of the camp where the others are slowly gathering, I’m glad I have them.

The wind is picking up, blowing sand everywhere, and I can already feel it coating my hands and exposed face.

Turning in my seat as we wait for the others, I grab my bandana from my bag and tie it around my neck before covering my nose and mouth. There, that’s better.

I look over at Dray to see he has done the same, and he winks at me before covering his eyes with silver shades, looking hot as hell. Think post-apocalyptic GQ, he would definitely make the cover.

We only have to wait a couple more minutes before our war party is ready.

Dray nods at me and I pull out, gunning it when I reach flat terrain.

He rides next to me, with Bern and Henry behind us, and the rest spread around.

I spot Archel speeding around my people only to fall back and then do it again, obviously getting a kick out of annoying people.

I lean closer to the bike and go faster, testing my new ride. Each mile we cover gets me closer to getting my men back.

Sands below, please let them be okay .

For hours and hours we ride, and ride hard, not stopping once.

I know the vague location of Paradise from when we left, but I keep double-checking the sun and locations we pass on the way.

It seems as though we are coming from an opposite direction than I’d travelled before.

I know the people of Paradise might not be happy when I ride up with a war party, but I only need to run in and get the maps from my father and then we’ll leave.

My people can wait outside for all I care, I need those maps.

I watch as our messengers break off from the party, speeding across the Wastes to carry out my orders. I suck in a breath through the clingy black material covering the lower half of my face. It’s happening, we are getting them back.

Archel pulls up alongside me and signals for us to pull over.

I resist, but his eyes narrow and he points again, so with a growl I slow down and follow him, veering from the sand covered, cracked motorway to the side of the road.

We move around the broken and burnt out cars until there’s a big enough space for all of us to stop.

I hear the others following as I kick out the stand on my bike and pull down my bandana with an annoyed glare.

“What?” I snap, now that we are on the road, I don’t want to stop. I want my men and each minute away from them is too long.

“We need to break. It won’t do any good if they’re half dead when we get there,” he points out gently. His soft tone makes me take a breath and look over the gathered warriors. He’s right, they need to at least drink and have something to eat.

I nod and he calls out, “Break time! Ten minutes, then we’re back on the road!”

I slide from my bike and stride off to stretch my legs, needing to keep moving with all this tension racing through me.

I hear Dray following quietly behind me, but not even he can calm me at the moment.

I will only be calm when I see them for myself, so until then, I will just keep moving.

I spot a dip in the sand in the distance and head that way, crouching at the top of the hill when I reach it.

It leads down to railway tracks and a turned over train.

Dried blood covers some of the old yellow vehicle and glass litters the ground.

I spot what looks like a campfire, so I slide down the hill and walk over.

Bending down to touch the charred wood, I frown when I realise it’s still warm. Who would be camping here?

Something glints in the sunlight, causing me to tilt my head and palm my sword as I stand up and walk over, then pick up the object.

I brush off the dust to reveal a broken knife.

The handle is intact and well worn on the small knife, but the actual blade has broken halfway down, and is jagged and coated in blood.

I swipe my fingertip along the blade and raise it .

The blood is fresh.