Page 174

Twenty

Word is Law

I wait nervously, pacing in front of the building. My men watch me, all but Dray, who is still inside with the other leaders, as is Piper.

“Angel,” Jax calls, and it’s the fact that it’s him that makes me still and turn to face him.

“You did everything you could, it’s their choice now.

This isn’t your fight alone, and we will stand by you, no matter what happens.

Trust in them, trust in your ability to show people what they already know but are too scared to acknowledge.

You are an amazing leader, Angel. Major would be proud.

” I know how hard it must be for him to speak all that in public, so I step closer and slide into his waiting arms.

How did I ever do this alone? When life gets hard, you need someone at your side with encouraging words or to even hold your hand. Doing it alone is harder. I did it for many years, and I am tired of that, so I lean into them now.

This queen doesn’t need a king, she needs the five men behind her who will have her back when it gets hard.

I never wanted to need someone. To me, that felt like a weakness.

I wanted to stand on my own two feet and never be overshadowed by a man again, but now I’m realising that made me very lonely.

Not every man wants to overshadow you, and needing someone can be a good thing.

To everyone else, I’m Worth, the Champion, the Berserker Queen, but to them, I’m just theirs.

And they are mine. I never have to prove myself or be on guard, I can just be me, and for a woman whose life was a constant battle, that peace is worth all the pain I had to suffer to get here .

I let them comfort and assure me. Their love fills me as I wait for the decision regarding the souls of our people.

If they say no, I won’t stop fighting to leave a safer world behind than the one I was raised in, so a young girl can be free and happy, so no other women or men have to go through what I did.

So they won’t carry the scars I do.

I've earned every scar and brand on my body, and I refuse to be ashamed of them.

They are marks of survival, of my strength.

My journey to the throne and to this moment, it was hard, and at times, I didn't think I would make it out alive. But now I’m here, and I have a duty to make the world a better, safer place.

I have a duty to that little girl stolen from her father, forced to watch her brother die.

Whose innocence was stolen, whose body was made not her own, who never got to love.

Or laugh.

Or be free.

I owe it to every single person still to come, and I will not fail them the way so many failed me.

I will never stop fighting, no matter how many times I am knocked back down. No matter how much it hurts.

To live is to feel, and that includes pain…but also love. Happiness and hope…and hope is a powerful thing.

“It’s time,” Drax murmurs. I pull away and, steeling myself, head back with them behind me. When I open the door, the room is as quiet as a tomb. I sit and look out at them.

My heart races, my palms are sweaty, and a fear unlike any other fills me. Fear they will be too scared to take a chance. Fear can be a powerful emotion, it can bring even the strongest to their knees. I’m just hoping that today they overcome that, and we can become something better than we are.

“Are we ready to vote?” I inquire. There is a slight tremor in my voice, but not enough for them to notice, only me and my men.

They nod, and I begin with Dray, meeting those icy eyes as he smiles. “Don’t even ask, the answer is yes. My people and I will follow you anywhere and support your new vision, soulmate.”

I offer him a smile and move to Nan. “Nan, how do you vote?”

“I say let’s give the new North a fookin’ chance!” she exclaims.

“Priest, how do you vote?” I ask nervously, knowing he could go either way.

“I—” He looks around before tilting his head back. “I will follow our great Lord’s word. You were chosen, we follow you. To a new North.”

“Jon,” I prompt, and he frowns, looking at the table. He controls nearly all the scavs and roadies now, almost every stretch of land between here and The Rim, so we need him on our side. “Jon,” I repeat. “I need your vote.”

“I want to vote the way Reeves would. He trusted you, followed you. I say…if you think it’s possible, let’s do it.”

“Piper?” I question with a smile, a feeling of victory flowing through me, but I have to ensure it’s what they all want.

“Fuck yeah! Shit, I mean yes.” She winces, making everyone laugh, including Priest.

“Then it’s done. We are starting fresh,” I murmur, shocked.

“So, where do we begin?” Priest asks.

Where do we begin?

What would Major do?

“First, we need to agree on rules and punishments, then we will announce it and see how much opposition we face,” I suggest, and look around. “Rules and laws… I have a few I was considering.”

“Well, let’s fookin’ hear them, lass,” Nan snaps.

“Some are obvious.” I smirk. “No eating people.” A murmur of consent goes up at that. No one likes people eaters. “No raping. You can still keep what you kill, but no slavery. We kill if we have to, not for fun.” I look around at them.

“They obey the rules set forth and those of your leader, anyone who breaks them answers to me, my general, and her road team.” I wink at Piper. “My hunters. Anyone who has a problem with it tonight can raise their concerns…and go through me.”

“Through you?” Dray queries, and I grin at him.

“If they can win or kill me, the rules won’t last, but we all know that won’t happen. However, this isn’t a dictatorship, so we will put it together, and anyone who doesn’t want to be a part of that and doesn’t want to kill me for it can head south.”

“Welp, that should be fun.” Piper laughs.

“Any others, you think?” I ask, wanting their input.

“I would ask that we are still allowed to make our own rules for our clan and dispense justice accordingly. My angels need punishment as reminders,” Priest proposes.

“Of course, as long as it does not break the slavery or raping laws,” I point out.

They are ones I won’t budge on.

“Torture,” Piper offers. “No being should be tortured unless sanctioned by a leader or the queen.”

“That’s a good one.” I nod. “Any others?”

“I think ya got some good base laws, girlie. You can add as we grow and change. Ya will realise what needs to be said then.”

Nan is right. “Good, any other questions?”

“When does this commence? ”

“Tonight.” I grin. “No time like the present. You will all be needed there as a show of support to assure your people you are on board with this. We are all in agreement, correct? The North is to be one nation, governed by us.”

“The North Nations. I like it,” Jon remarks.

“No,” Nan interjects, “not The North Nations… The Nations!”

“Yes! The Nations. That is perfect,” Priest agrees.

“Too fucking right.” Dray grins.

“Then it is done. We will announce it tonight,” I declare, and they all stand, knowing the meeting is over.

Everyone leaves, apart from Nan, and she stares at me, her shoulders bare of her cardigan, showing off her new scar.

“I’m sorry Reeves isn’t here to see this,” I tell her.

She nods. “I’m sorry too, but it happens, girlie. Least he died for something, and in a world full of senseless death, that means everything. Don’t sully it, death comes for everyone eventually.”

“Even you?” I snort.

She laughs hard. “Girlie, please, death is scared of me.”

“Too fucking right.” I toast her and wink at the scar. “It’s badass.”

“Ain’t it? All the boys will love it.” She turns serious as she stands. “I hope ya prepared for the fight ya have on your hands, girlie,” Nan offers.

“I’m always ready for a fight. I’m the fucking Champion, after all.”