Page 135

We are brought to his table and before we can be introduced, I pull out the chair and sit opposite him.

His guard grunts, going to grab me as Vert’s eyebrow rises as he takes me in, and he waves off his guard.

“Well, hello there.” He grins, showing perfectly straight white teeth.

He’s traditionally handsome with bright blue eyes that have a piercing quality.

Stubble covers his chin and cheeks, and he has short brown hair.

Overall, he’s well put together for the Wastes and it all screams power, but I can see the imperfections.

His skin is burned from the sun and his clothes are worse for wear.

He craves power and riches, but he can’t quite reach them yet.

He has goals and I’m betting the Cities are keeping them down.

“What can I do for you?” he asks, crossing his legs and regarding me .

If there is one thing I know, it’s people and what they want. I can see it in him and in this place. He wants power and followers. I’m betting on that because I am going to have to trust him with information that could get my men killed.

“It’s more what we can do for each other.” I grin and his eyes light up. Bingo.

“Call me intrigued…” He trails off, looking me over. “I’m Vert, but my friends call me Strand, and you are?”

“Your new best friend.” I grin. “Worth.”

He tilts his head slightly. “Worth, that name sounds familiar.” He is obviously digging for information. He doesn’t like not being in the know.

“You might know me as the Champion, I’m not from around here though,” I hint and he grins.

“I can see that, so, Worth, what is the deal that will blow me away?” he questions, holding his hand up, and two drinks are brought over and placed in front of me.

“First of all, do the people of the outers listen to you?” I inquire, needing to know. I’ve heard my own rumours, but I want to see how honest he is with me.

“Yes, or they are scared of me. I help these people. I might not look like it, but I protect them as much as I can.” I can tell it grates on him how little he can protect them.

“And you don’t like the current leadership,” I surmise.

His eyes narrow. “Perceptive, not smart to point out though,” he adds.

“It is for what I have planned. I don’t give a fuck about their rules or wrath, they have never met someone like me before.” I take a sip of my drink as he considers me.

“I can see that. The government plays political games, but you don’t, do you?” he asks, seeming pleased with that.

“I prefer a more…physical approach.” I nod.

“And will that approach be soon?” he probes, both of us talking in riddles.

“Yes, let’s cut the shit, Strand. I’m here for two reasons—I can’t do this without you, and you can’t do this without me.

You have been waiting to make your move and now is the time.

I will be heading into the inners and forcing them to confront me while I retrieve something, then I will be leading them outside the city limits where I will kill them. ”

His eyes go wide and I continue, “To ensure this happens, you need to cause distractions here. I’m betting there are a lot of angry workers, rile them up, do what you need to.

Use the fact the inners are ‘cleansing’ them to get them involved.

I brought some toys for you to play with, and when I kill them, the Cities will be yours to take.

We attack them on two fronts, confuse them, and spread their masses.

” I wait for his response as he seems to think it through.

“How do I know you will kill them? If you fail and lots of others have, I will be executed with anyone who helped me,” he points out, and I let my face go cold.

“I don’t fail, I’m not just anyone,” I reply coldly, deadly. “Plus, I have three armies waiting in the North for them,” I inform him and he whistles, impressed.

“Shit, what did they do to you?” he asks.

“Took what is mine,” I answer and he laughs.

“Remind me not to piss you off. Okay, let’s plan. We had a plan in motion anyway, but this is better if we can agree on terms of course. I will order us a bottle.” He grins and I smirk, knowing I have him.

The bottle is almost empty when we shake hands. I hand over the bag of goodies and he smiles when he spots what is inside. “Oh, this will work.” He hands the bag over to his guard. “I will make preparations tonight. Do you need a place to spend the night?” he asks.

“No, we are heading back out before they catch us. Be ready tomorrow night,” I instruct him as I stand.

He stands as well and grins at me. “Can’t say I expected this when you walked in.” He laughs and I smirk as I pull my hood back up.

“No one ever expects me until it’s too late. The next time we see each other, you will be in charge.” I nod and turn to leave as he starts issuing commands. Dray follows after me as we weave through the casino and back outside into the Cities.

I spot some guards patrolling, but they give the place a wide berth and we turn, pretending to talk as we wait for them to pass, and then we quickly head back to the tunnel.

Once there, I give the outers another look, noting the hard faced men and women here.

Hopefully I can free them. This has become more than just freeing my men, and is now about freeing a city.

What is it with me and toppling empires?

Maybe I should be called King-killer not queen, I muse as I slip into the dark tunnel and shut the door behind me.

Dray lights up the torch and we share a look, wordlessly communicating before we head back through the dirty water to get ready to knock on the front gates tomorrow morning. We are more confident on the way back, sure in our steps, and soon we reach the metal grate.

I wait for a moment, listening in case anyone is passing by, but it’s silent so I slip the grate away and head into the dark with Dray following.

I watch his back as he moves the gate into place like we were never here.

We head back over the sand to where we left our bikes and set up camp beyond a dune, with no fire or tent tonight, and one of us awake at all times to be safe.

Dray takes first watch and I curl up with my jacket under my head, my eyes closing and seeing my other men waiting there for me.

One day , I tell myself, that’s all there is until I see them again, but I fear what state I will find them in. Fear will get me nowhere, so I force it away and go to sleep. Who knows when I will sleep again, and with a war coming, I need to be as rested as possible, because we will win.

When Dray wakes me for his turn to sleep, I quickly find myself bored.

His snores are quiet and the only noise around, and I wish something would happen, even though it’s a good sign nothing has, but all this silence, this empty time, only lets me linger on my men and how much I miss them.

Thoughts plague me of what could be happening to them right now as I sit outside these walls.

Grabbing my swords, I decide to clean all of my weapons to occupy my mind.

The rhythmic and familiar feel helps, and I find myself going into a trance between keeping watch and cleaning, wishing the time away until I can see them again.

I want Maxen’s arms, Thorn’s smile, and Drax’s teasing. I want my Jax’s dark eyes telling me he trusts me. I want them all.

When the sun starts to rise, I have cleaned and sheathed all my weapons, and I am already on my feet ready to move. I wake Dray and he stretches, awake instantly, and nods at me. “Come here, soulmate.” He opens his arms and I slip into his waiting grasp.

“Stay strong, remember who you are,” he whispers, and then tilts my chin up and kisses me hard, having me gasping into his mouth in no time, but I reluctantly step back, my focus split between him and getting the Cities.

“Let’s go. The sooner this is done, the sooner I can slaughter them all for you,” he offers, and I laugh like he knew I would.

We decided Dray would head back today and help the outers.

We doubted they would let us both through the front gate and I need to show them I don’t fear them.

He didn’t like the plan, but agreed to it eventually.

We climb on our bikes and I head straight to the Cities’ gates, not hiding now that we want them to know we are coming.

Dray breaks off to go back through the tunnel and my heart slams at seeing him go, but this is my plan after all.

If it gets us all killed, only I am to blame, but it’s too late to turn back now.

I just hope I’m right and that we all make it through this.

The sand batters me from both sides as I ride up. There is no protection from buildings out here, the walls towering into the sky like a mecca for those lost and damned in the Wastes. For me, it represents a challenge, and I always did love a challenge.

As expected, there are guards waiting for me there when I stop and climb off, and they don’t look happy.

Like the ones we met before, they have guns strapped across their chests and they don’t hesitate to aim them at me now.

More are aimed my way from the top of the walls.

All in all, there are about twenty rifles pointed my way.

What a welcoming party.

Holding my hands up in surrender, I smirk at them. “Hello, boys. You have something of mine and I want it back.”