Page 103

Sand Bath

T he warriors are waiting for us when we get back to the top of the hill. I clean my hands with someone’s rag and a bottle of water, the clear liquid turning red as it runs into the sand below, darkening it. I chug the rest before donning my goggles and bandana, and swinging back on my bike.

I scan my gaze over the group, and my eyes catch on Bern as he hits Evan in the shoulder, laughing his ass off.

Evan grumbles with a reluctant smile on his face as he holds a blade tightly in his hand, looking awkward.

I blink, watching as he hesitates with it, obviously unsure what to do with the new blade.

I wonder if he has ever swung one or used one before?

By the look on his face, I would say no.

Slipping from my bike, I stop before a random Berserker warrior with two sheaths on each thigh.

“Give me one of those,” I order.

He eyes me for a second before stripping it off and handing it over without complaint. I head over to Bern, Henry, and Evan. “Here.” I hand it over to Evan.

He looks it over in confusion, his eyebrows drawing together. “I ain’t putting it on for you, Doc, you don’t get my motor running. Strap it on and add some blades, you are going to need them.”

He takes it, and we watch as he struggles to strap it on. “Thanks, Worth,” he says softly, after finally figuring out the sheath.

“Can’t have you getting killed,” I grumble. “Dray stabs himself way too often for no doctor to be around. ”

An arm drops around my shoulder and I’m pulled into a side. “Don’t let her fool you, Doc. It turns her on when I bleed.”

Evan groans, looking disgusted while Henry laughs. “It’s true,” I admit, grinning at an uncomfortable looking Evan. “You know how to handle them?” I nod at the blades he has strapped on.

“Yes,” he grunts, glancing away. “Sort of…I’m better with a scalpel.”

“When we stop tonight, I’ll give you some lessons,” I offer and sigh.

He perks up then, but looks suspicious. “Why?”

“Don’t worry, Doc, I just don’t want you getting killed. You look heavy and I don’t want to have to carry you to a grave. Too much effort,” I tease, laughing at Evan. I wrap my arm around Dray’s waist and pull him away, as Henry and Barn’s laughter follows us.

“Do I need to kill him?” Dray asks casually, his arm still slung around my shoulders.

I stumble at his words and gape at him. “Evan? No, why?” I question, confused.

“Just making sure he wasn’t a threat. You have enough men, soulmate,” he quips.

I sputter before narrowing my eyes. Grabbing a blade, I have it pressed to his throat in a second.

Everyone freezes, the whole war party going silent.

Dray’s icy eyes gleam with excitement and heat as he presses into the blade, with that crazy smile curving his lips.

“If you wanted to fuck, soulmate, all you had to do was ask,” he growls.

I lean in close, almost touching his lips.

“You don’t get to tell me whom to fuck. If I wanted to have a massive orgy right here right now, you still wouldn’t get a say in it.

You can be jealous, you can be crazy, but you can not control me,” I warn, my voice low and sensual, deadly serious.

I have been controlled most of my life, and I won’t let that happen again, not even for love.

“I don’t want to control you. I just want to be yours,” he replies almost sweetly, his eyes softening. “Doesn’t mean I won’t kill someone for looking at you wrong.” He grins.

I roll my eyes, but pull the blade away. “I wouldn’t expect anything else.” I look around at all the Berserkers and Seekers gathered. “Are we having a fucking play? No, get the fuck on your rides! We are rolling out!” I scream, before heading to my bike.

“She’s as crazy as he is,” one of them mutters.

“Too right, crazy fucking slut leading others,” someone scoffs.

I turn just in time to see a blade sticking out of the eye of the man who had spoken.

I look to Dray, watching him scowl at the now dead man.

Sands below. A thump sounds, and I turn back to see the dead Berserker tumbling off of his bike and to the ground.

Archel steps over the dead man, grabs his bag, and then pulls the knife from his eye.

He tosses it at Dray who catches it and sheathes it without looking.

“Man, next time, kill someone who has some good stuff to steal,” Archel complains, rifling through the bag before dropping it to the ground with a disgusted huff.

I decide to just ignore it all and climb back on my bike. Maybe I’m learning which battles to fight.

We ride hard again, travelling under a large, broken bridge, down motorways, and swerving around crumbling buildings and rusting cars.

A pack of ferals chases us for a while, but they can’t keep up so they soon stop trying.

The sun is scorching down on me, heating me in my leather to an uncomfortable degree.

I can feel the grit of the sand on my skin, the tiny granules even making it under my bandana.

By the time the sun starts to dip below the horizon, I know we only have around two more hours to travel, so I decide to stop us for the night.

We’ll head towards Paradise bright and early in the morning—if we approach in daylight, they won’t think we’re attacking them.

I scan the horizon before seeing the shadow of a small building.

It won’t fit us all, but it gives us something to have our backs to.

Usually, with a party this big, we just sleep on the ground, so it doesn’t bother me.

I change direction and head that way, slowing my bike and parking on the side of the building when I get there.

I hop off, stretching my sore legs, and whistle while winding my finger in a circle.

The Berserkers know what that means, so they search the building checking for threats before making a circle with the bikes, a first line of protection against anything or anyone.

Not that anyone would be that stupid to attack a party this size, but you never know.

Dray and Archel pull up next to me as I round the building and check it out.

It’s made of red brick, and covered in graffiti and warning signs.

An old bathroom symbol hangs crooked near a horrible, peeling blue door, which has blood and bullet holes in it.

Gripping my new axe, wanting to test it out, I kick the door.

It swings open with a thud and I peek inside.

Stalls, most without doors, stand to the right with sinks to the left, and another closed door stands at the back of the room.

The white tile of the floor is cracked and covered in sand, dirt, blood, and grime that will never be washed away.

The lights hanging from the ceiling have stopped working long ago.

A small, once frosted window hangs in shards at the back of the room, letting in the last rays of the day.

Mirrors above the sink are either broken or covered in so much grime and filth, that they are opaque.

I step inside, my boots clomping on the floor.

The sinks are filthy as well, the taps missing in some cases, and the once white basins lined with black grime, dried red blood, and sand.

I turn my back to the sinks and take a look in each stall, only one has a non-broken toilet, the others are cracked, chipped, or even missing in one case, its porcelain smashed all over the floor.

I head to the door next, twisting the handle, and it swings open, showing me a shower cubicle with no windows.

It’s not as bad in here, it’s still filthy, but there’s no blood.

The floor is like a wet room and I shut the door before turning back.

At least there are no bodies, cannibals, or ferals hiding in here.

I sigh, staring down at my axe and whispering to it that I will get to use it soon, before I sheathe it and turn to see Archel and Dray waiting at the door.

Bern peeks in behind them and I spot Henry lounging near the doorway when I step closer.

“Get fires going to ward off ferals. I want patrols swapping every four hours and one of you always awake. Tomorrow, we’ll head out at first light to Paradise.

Get them prepared,” I instruct the others, before turning my attention to Dray.

“Bring in some water, we need to wash off the blood and cannibal stink.”

“Ya, Ma Queen,” Bern calls.

“I’ll take first watch.” Henry nods, walking out of the bathroom.

“What, I don’t get invited for a shower?” Archel teases.

I saunter over until I’m almost chest to chest with him. “You couldn’t handle me,” I say in a sultry tone, before a mischievous grin tugs at my lips. “Plus, wouldn’t your girl kill you?” I inquire, digging for information.

He laughs then and steps back. “She would try.” He sounds wistful, his eyes far away. “Wouldn’t that be great?”

Dray gives him a wicked smile, nodding in agreement.

“You are both nuts,” I comment with a laugh.

“And we picked crazier women, what does that tell you?” he counters, with a barely there smile before slinking out of the room.

Dray abruptly pushes away from the doorframe he was leaning against and smacks the wall.

I blink but shake my head when I see he just smashed a huge spider that was crawling towards me.

“So, if I’m invited to stay, does that mean I get to wash your back?

” He wiggles his eyebrows, his eyes dropping to my breasts.

“If you’re a good boy,” I purr.

“Soulmate,” he whispers, stalking over to me and gripping my hips in his calloused hands. “Where’s the fun in that?” he finishes, pulling me close .

“Here, Ma Queen, ya water,” Bern calls with a huff, dropping what must be a couple of gallons at our feet before winking and closing the door behind us.

I arch my eyebrow at Dray. “Bring that,” I order, before twisting out of his hold.