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We do it in the pit. I sit on a table and pretty much hold court.

Priest comes, as does Nan, though after the first ten people, she gets bored and wanders off to ‘get drunk and laid.’ Jon is there, but he is mostly watching and taking notes.

He’s nervous and unsure of his opinion, but that will change over time.

Priest is surprisingly helpful, and with his angels around the space, I have no worries about being attacked.

“Next!” I call. A Seeker troops in, and I frown. Usually, they would go to Dray, but he simply nods at me and presses something into my hands.

“I was told to say this,” he mutters and sighs. “Soulmate, I miss you and your body already. I haven’t killed anyone yet, I will save that for us to do together later.” He blushes, and I grin.

“Thanks.”

He rushes away like the hounds of hell are on his heels, and I open the wrapped package and laugh.

It’s a patch for a leather jacket, hastily made, that says, ‘Worth’s bitch.

’ I’m not sure who it’s for, but imagining one of my guys wearing it makes me laugh harder. It’s just what I needed right now.

Thorn leans next to me, offering his voice when I need his opinion, and he has a very good mind for strategy. I always knew he was smart, but he is able to look at the concerns from all angles and come up with a solution that suits us all in such a way that it doesn’t feel like a compromise.

Another man comes in, a scav. His chest is bare and filled with scars, his face is flat, and his nose is almost cut off.

One side of his hair is missing. He looks wild, and when he speaks, he has a loud booming voice that matches his massive frame.

The more he talks, though, the more I realise how much of a teddy bear he is, and I relax.

“Ma queen,” he begins. “I’m Lochlan. I was part of a bandit crew.

I was drafted to help win the war against that Cities scum, and I would like ta stay, if you will have me?

I appreciate a good leader, and that you are.

Strong enough to hold the crown, with good morals, unlike that mad king scum.

” He spits on the ground then, making me smirk.

“You think you can follow a woman?” I inquire, knowing some men can’t. It’s better to know now.

“Women, man, both? I don’t fucking care.

No offense, but a leader is a leader. I don’t care what is between ya legs so long as I believe in what ya preaching, and, queen, I do.

You got good ideas. I’m tired of killing, I want to start a life.

I want to have a home here, and I know a lot feel the same.

If ima kill, I want to kill to secure that.

” He pulls his axe out. “Ma blade is yours, queen, if you will have me.”

I look him over as he waits. “Of course, everyone is welcome here.”

He drops to his knees, his head bowed. “For The Nations, for the Berserker Queen.”

“Those bandits…you know where they are? Are they still killing people?” I ask.

He looks up. “Aye, they were when I left. I joined them because I couldn’t find anyone else and it was hard living alone, never liked the way they did shit though. They steal and kill, working out of an old plant to the north. It’s surrounded by the fuckers, they have firebombs and warriors.”

I smirk. I could send Piper, but she isn’t ready to do that kind of thing. “Anything else? ”

“They kill anyone who passes. They don’t care who they are. I don’t like that, they need to be stopped. I wish I was strong enough to do it alone,” he answers with self-disgust.

“Never be sorry for wanting a helping hand, and everything is not black or white. It isn’t good or bad.

You’ve done bad things, right? We all have, but you can choose to be better, and you are.

I will take care of them. If you would like to come with me, that would be a big help, since you know the layout. ”

He grins and jumps to his feet. “Would love to. Just let me know when!”

“Good, get some food and rest.”

He nods and leaves.

“Worth—” Thorn starts.

“I know, but Piper would be killed. How can I speak of change when I know of people killing my people just outside The Ring? No, we go, and we kill them all. Our last mission. I will plan it in a few days, and we will go at night, kill them, and be back before light.”

“Good plan.” Priest nods. “I will send some angels with you.”

“Thank you,” I tell him. I raise my voice. “Next!”

And so it goes. I listen to them all and help when I can, and they leave feeling better. I’m beginning to think this might actually work, but hours later, I am tired, my head is killing me, and I am hungry, so I call it a day and bid Priest goodbye to go in search of food.

We head to the cafeteria, grab a table, and eat, but it’s quiet without my other men. Thorn keeps me laughing and distracted, which means he’s in on whatever they are up to. I’ve just finished eating when Piper turns up at my table.

“So you wanted to see me?” Piper asks as she sits opposite me. Her cheeks are flushed, and I smirk, knowing exactly what she has been doing.

“I need you and your men to do a medical run for Evan. He will tell you what he needs, and he knows of a facility. Consider it your first job as my enforcer, if you accept.”

She almost squeals as she leaps up. “Yo, mountain man! Grab your explosives! We are going on an adventure!” she screams across the room. Jago sighs as he sits down next to her and Archel laughs.

She sits between them, almost bouncing, but Jago puts his hand on her head to force her to stay seated. “Brawler, let her finish.”

“Right, sorry, go ahead, just excited, sorry, keep going,” Piper blurts, looking at me with a crazy smile. No wonder she has so many men, she needs them to keep up with her.

“Like I said, get the supplies and get back. Evan and I have a deal. He can go with you on enforcement and track runs once the injured are sorted. This will be your base, of course, but you’ll be on your own out there, Piper.

So load up with weapons and never be too careful.

” I narrow my eyes. “I mean it, I want you back in one piece, understood?”

“Yes, sir—I mean ma’am, I mean queen. Fuck,” she mutters. “When do we leave?”

“End of the week. Evan is compiling a list, so until then, I suggest you check on your bikes and get them up to scratch and prepare. I’m not sure how far east it is, but you are bound to encounter ferals and cannibals.”

She rubs her hands together. “Yes, sounds fun. Team Piper for the win!”

We all blink at her as Evan comes and sits down. “I thought we agreed we were still searching for a name?”

She rolls her eyes and looks at me. “It’s a work in progress. Okay, so end of the week.”

“Yep, get your other people back home. We will discuss trade routes tomorrow and make sure we all stay in communication as much as we can across The Wastes,” I inform her as I sip my water and then stand. “Get ready for the ride of your life, girl.” I wink and walk away, with Thorn holding my hand.

Time to find my men and see what they have been up to.