Page 118

Clash of the Queens

I fasten my holsters as he speaks. “How many, how far out, anything we can recognize them by?”

“Friend or foe?” Dray snarls from behind me.

“Couldn’t see anything to distinguish them, two people at max, one bike, about ten minutes out, but they are heading right here,” the man rushes out.

I frown. “Which means they know where here is. Maybe a dweller, a patrol?” I growl.

“Get me Evan and my father, they might know who, and when they pull up, we will be ready. Two people against us is nothing. Let’s see what they want, don’t attack on sight, let them through,” I order, and people scramble to do as they are told.

I march through the camp. Bern and Henry fall in on either side, while Dray walks behind me, and I spot Archel already beyond the row of bikes, almost blending into the shadows of the building.

Unless I was looking, I wouldn’t have seen him.

I weave through the bikes and wait, my hands loose at my sides, ready to grab a blade if I need to.

The rest of my people spread out behind me, waiting for them to arrive.

It doesn’t take ten minutes, so I guess they are speeding to get here.

“Are there any patrols out there?” I ask my father when he rushes up to me, looking over my shoulder.

“No, no, they were due to go out when it all happened.” He frowns.

“Well, someone knows where you are and they are coming right here. No one attacks unless I do,” I call louder, and I hear the agreement just as the rumble of an engine reaches my ears.

The bike slows, and I spot them in the distance zigzagging through the buildings and gates.

They know exactly where to go. The riders head straight for the bunker doors so I whistle.

They stop then, leaving the engine running and scan the horizon.

I raise a hand, letting them decide. I can’t make out much apart from the person at the front is a guy and there is a passenger behind him.

They seem to be debating their options, but slowly pull around the building towards us.

I spot the Berserker guards from the bunker door closing in behind them as they come to a halt.

They don’t shut off the engine, obviously sensing trouble.

I take in the guy in the front. He is huge, a beast of a man, and he looks like he belongs out here, not down there. That’s what throws me off.

Then I blink incredulously as a brown-haired woman jumps off the back and steps next to him, facing me.

I scan her, noting the bow on her back and swords at her sides.

She’s wearing a leather jacket, a crop top, and black jeans and boots.

Her hair is wavy and tied partially back in small plaits.

She is beautiful. She looks sweet and innocent and ever so young compared to me with all my scars, but it’s the fire, the resolve, and anger in her eyes that has me almost smiling.

She might look nice, but this woman is a fighter through and through.

“Piper,” comes a strangled whisper.

“Pip?” a voice yells, and I turn to see Evan gaping.

He lunges forward, but I nod and Dray holds him back.

I look to Archel to see he has stepped from the shadows and is staring at Piper, his face not expressionless for once.

He is staring at her in wonder and horror, but I can’t help but note the happiness in her eyes when she sees him.

“Brawler?” the big man asks, but she ignores him, her eyes swinging from Evan to Archel then to me.

“Okay, someone better tell me what the fuck is going on before I start kicking ass and taking names…or Jago does and I cheer from the side.” She props her hands on her hips and looks at Archel first. “Should have figured you would be here if there was trouble,” she scoffs and then breaks into a smile.

“Missed you, Shadow. Wait until you see what I can do with a dagger now.” Then she seems to collect herself and looks at Evan.

He is sagging in Dray’s arms, looking like he has seen a ghost. I feel for him. I felt the love he had for her, and now he’s found her and he has to see her so clearly enamoured with two other men. “Hi Evvie, long time no see, loving the whole hobo chic look you are going for.”

He gasps, sounding like he’s in pain. “Pip, fucking hell. Pip, they told me you were dead!” he screams, tears gathering in his eyes and she winces.

I look around, noting the audience, and sigh, drawing everyone’s gaze.

“Let’s take this inside, we have a lot to discuss.

” I whistle, waving my fingers in a circle at the Berserkers guarding the rolling door, and they go back to it.

Then I look at Dray. “Let him go. Bern, get the patrol back on it. Henry, work with the dwellers. I want to know what the fuck is going on down there. Everyone else, I want no fucking bodies, fight, fuck, I don’t care, but no deaths!

” Then I turn to Jago and Piper. “Follow me.”

I start to walk back to my tent while people break into movement, but Piper’s whisper floats to me on the air, making me smile.

“Who is she? She is badass as hell, total girl crush material. Think she would let me touch her swords? What? Don’t look at me like that, I meant an actual sword, not cocks, jeez. ”

“Brawler…” The guy with her groans, sounding pained and amused all at the same time.

“What? Not saying I would swing that way—ha—but damn that is one scary fine woman, like I bet she even fucks scary hot, you know?”

My tent is crowded with everyone, but we make it work.

I stand rather than sit. Just because they know these people doesn’t mean I should automatically trust them, and by the way the big guy, Jago, watches everything, I know he is a fighter, so I keep my eyes out and my body ready just in case.

Dray has no such qualms. He sprawls back on the sleeping bag, watching the newcomers with half shut eyes like a big cat.

Bern and Henry are in the back near the door.

Evan still is staring at Piper, standing near me.

Archel is close to Piper and I almost smirk at him.

“Feeling needy, assassin? Why don’t I let your girl know how you lost to me last night?” I tease.

Piper looks between us, even as Archel laughs. “I’m calling a rematch once you know the whole war thing is out of the way.” He waves his hand, dismissing the ‘war thing,’ as he calls it.

“Okay, seriously, what the hell is going on?” Piper asks, looking at me. Smart girl.

“I’m Worth,” I reply.

“Berserker Queen,” Bern adds.

“The Champion of the Wastes,” Henry inserts.

“Soulmate!” Dray interjects with a smirk, and I roll my eyes.

“Or just Worth, ignore them.”

“More like pain in the ass,” Evan mumbles, and when Piper looks at him he swallows and can’t seem to look away. She appears to have the same difficulty, but manages it when I start talking.

“Why don’t you tell us why you are here?” I query.

“Why don’t you?” Jago fires back, almost seeming to prowl next to Piper, towering over her petite form, yet he doesn’t leave her side.

“I’m not your enemy. My father used to run Paradise, I met him this last year, but I didn’t even know he was alive.

I was headed back here after…a pit stop, shall we say, to get some information.

While we were here, however, they were attacked.

” Rubbing my head, I cross my arms and put them next to my blades.

“We helped protect it. Now, the guards and captain are locked down there, sweeping the place for explosives and survivors. Why are you here?” I demand.

Piper looks to Archel and he nods at her. “A messenger came, told me Paradise was attacked, it was gone, so we came straight away. I wanted to make sure…you were okay,” she finishes, looking at Evan.

“Came to where?” I question.

She doesn’t answer and I sigh. “We are going to have to trust each other. Like it or not, there are bigger threats out here than me right now. I trust Archel and even Evan and they are vouching for you, so you should extend the same courtesy. We are not enemies. In fact, I think we might just be allies right now.”

“What clan?” Jago inquires, and I look at him and let my face go cold.

“Was a slave for a while to Berserkers, then a fighter at The Ring, then a bounty hunter. I recently killed Ivar the Mad and took his throne, I now rule the Berserkers and have peace ties with all clans. Which clan?” I counter.

“None, not yet,” he answers.

“This is getting us nowhere. I have information, you have information, we need to work together.” I shrug. “Otherwise, feel free to leave, we have shit to deal with and a war to win.”

“I’ve heard that twice now. What war?” Piper asks, and the excitement in her eyes has me smiling and looking at Archel.

“Huh, picked a fighter, did you? Can she kick your ass or do I need to teach her?”

He groans. “Fuck no, don’t teach her your dirty tricks.”

“What donkey dick war?” Piper questions louder, and Jago groans.

“Really, Brawler, donkey dick?”

“The Cities came north, took some of our people, and they want Paradise. I plan to stop them, want to join?” I inquire, figuring I might as well be direct.

“Shit yeah,” Piper calls, and Jago actually drops his head and pinches his nose as if in pain while Archel laughs.

“Why don’t we discuss exactly what is happening?” I say. Deciding to make the first move, I go and lean back against Dray who’s still sitting on the bed. The tension seems to dim and Piper plops herself on the floor crossed-legged, staring at me.

“I was from Paradise,” she starts, and then seems to shudder, her eyes closing in pain, one I know too well.