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Twenty-Seven

Battle Time

I spent the afternoon meeting Clarissa’s women.

They seemed hesitant at first, like I was some savage beast, but when they got to know me, they welcomed me.

They offered suggestions, showed me their seeds and their children, and I left them near nightfall with a smile on my face, but as I walk away, it fades to a determined snarl.

Tonight, we attack the plant to the north.

I have been sending messages out all day and getting my men ready.

We must attack and be back before Piper leaves.

I know they have a surprise for me, but it can wait until tomorrow.

Tonight, I’m just a warrior, a warrior who will stop those bastards to the north.

Lochlan, the name of the warrior who gave me the information, is coming as well.

As are Priest’s angels, Seekers, my men, and Jon and his scavs.

We are taking thirty people in total—not too many to draw too much attention, so we can still sneak into their plant before they know it, but not too little that we are struggling to win.

Excitement courses through me as I go to get ready, the adrenaline pumping through my veins.

I have missed the thrill of the hunt, and I know this will be my last one.

It’s a sad day, but I am ready to move on to my future…

That doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy tonight, however, and the blood spilled in the sands.

It’s what I am good at, after all—protecting people and killing.

And they will die tonight at the ends of my blades.

Most women have one last hurrah before marriage, at least that is what Piper said, and this sort of feels like that. One last adventure before I settle down into queen life .

My men are waiting when I reach the room, their faces stark and hungry…

for battle. Stern, tall, and fucking dangerous, they have my panties wet in a second, and I remember how we left off last night.

I wish I could finish it now, but the bloodlust will have to do.

They help me dress in my leathers to help me blend in, and then they start strapping on weapons.

My whip is coiled at my side, and both swords are sheathed on my back.

Blades are attached to nearly every inch of my body.

My hair is plaited and made into a crown on my head by Thorn.

Once dressed, I grab the paint and quickly place it on my face before turning to my men.

We are sneaking through the dark to massacre men, we are warriors, champions, and we wear our paint with pride.

They all stand still as I cover their faces in black and red streaks and symbols before stepping back and looking them over.

I have to bite my lip on a groan. They look incredible, good enough to eat, and like the true fucking warriors they are.

Their bodies are hard, muscular, and on display, their weapons ready to kill, and their eyes are dark with excitement. And they are all fucking mine.

Sands below, I’m a lucky bitch.

“Are you ready, soulmate?” Dray asks, his leather pants so tight, I can see each indent of his muscles. His chest, sides, arms, and back are strapped to the teeth with weapons, and his crazy smile is in place as those blue eyes flare with excitement. For blood, for death, and what will come after…

“Always.” I smirk, my eyes flickering to my silent demon, Jax, next to him.

His blond hair has been slicked back and stained so he blends in better with the dark.

His grey eyes watch me, as always. His body is covered from head to toe in black clothing and weapons.

His brother, Drax, is next to him. His chest is bare and painted like our faces, and he wears his crossbow on his back and blades at his sides. He smirks at me as I look him over.

“Want me to bend over, babe, so you can check out my ass too?” he teases.

Rolling my eyes, I look to Thorn next. He has an axe at his hip and a sword on his back.

His huge muscles are on display, and his onyx skin is gleaming in the light.

His face is calm and collected, his normal smile on his lips as he watches me.

He might be the most serene and soft, but when it comes to fighting, he’s a fucking Berserker.

The memory of watching him has my legs clenching together, and he winks at me as if he knows my thoughts.

Maxen clears his throat, drawing my eyes.

“Are you ready, Mi Alma ?” he queries, but I forget his words as I stare at him.

His bottom half is encased in trousers similar to what he wore when I first met him.

This time they are black, tied at his thick waist, and they balloon out to his feet from there.

His chest is bare and streaked with paint, his huge arms and chest calling to me.

His hair is tied back similarly to mine, accentuating high cheekbones and full lips.

He only has a few knives and a sword—he is the weapon, after all.

He chuckles and steps forward, tipping my chin up with a finger before kissing me solidly. “Soon, Mi Alma , but first, let’s go destroy those bastards…then later,” he promises.

“Yup, later we destroy you,” Drax calls. I peer around Maxen to see him fake thrusting into his hands and spanking the air, making me grin, even as I roll my eyes.

“Ready,” I tell Maxen, and lean up and kiss his lips. “But later, you’re all mine.”

“Promise?” he murmurs.

Chuckling, I pull away, zip up my jacket, and head to the door, looking back at them as I wink. “Come on then, husbands, let’s go kill some scum.”

“Fuck, that’s hot, soulmate. Tell me how you are going to kill them, in detail—”

Laughing, I lead them outside, ready to go into battle.

The men are waiting at the gates, already on their bikes. I nod at Jon and say goodbye to Priest and Nan, leaving them in charge while I go. Piper is there too, pouting because I won’t let her come and ‘kick some ass.’

“You’ve got years to kick ass. Tonight, I’m trusting you,” I tell her, “to protect those women and my people, and if anything is to happen to us, to lead my people.”

She straightens then, her face hardening, serious for once. “I won’t let you down,” she vows.

Grinning, I lean in and press my head to hers in a warrior’s goodbye.

“I know you won’t,” I murmur, before striding to my bike, swinging my leg over it, and revving the engine.

We will use lights until we get close, and then we will cut them and go on foot, surrounding them before sneaking in.

Lochlan informed me of some high windows we could scale, which Jon will, and a back door which they don’t guard, since ferals sometimes wander through the parking structure that leads to it—that’s my entrance.

Priest’s angels will distract them at the front door.

It’s a good plan, and I am ready to leave when Clarissa suddenly appears at the gate. Her expression is hard and determined as she stops next to my bike. “Be careful. I would hate for you to die when we just found you,” she offers. I nod, and she inclines her head before turning and hesitating.

With a muttered curse, she heads over to Bern who is near me, grabs his head, jerks it down, and kisses him. All the warriors whistle and catcall, and I smirk, watching as she pulls away, spins on her heel, and storms off. He gapes after her, his mouth open and eyes wide in shock.

Laughing, I lean into my bike and grin at him. “Stop drooling, lover boy, it’s not a good look.”

“Ma queen…” He groans before shaking his head and looking at me. “Women are confusing.”

“That we are,” I agree. “That we are.”

Circling my fingers in the air, I spin my bike around and ride next to him, smacking his chest. “But that means she likes you. Keep on doing whatever you are doing, and maybe you won’t get a knife to the gut.” I wink before gunning it, leaving him to mutter behind me.

We head out into The Wastes. The sand blows back into my face, so I quickly cover it with my bandana and gun it harder.

We don’t have a lot of time to kill, but I want this done by sunrise.

As the world stretches on in front of me, the moonlight lights our way.

My bike rumbles between my thighs and I relax.

I no longer feel pressure or worries about ruling.

Right now, it’s just me, my bike, and the battle to come.

I will miss this. Maybe I will have to get out and do this every so often.

It’s strange how it relaxes me. The sand will always be my home.

I spent years hunting and wandering through them, and I guess that’s hard to shake.

The lights of The Ring soon fade, plunging us into darkness.

The purr of the bikes behind me makes me grin, our lights barely penetrating the dark sand surrounding us.

Somewhere in the distance, I hear the ferals screaming and roaring, then I hear gunfire and grin wider.

Fuck, I love The Wastes. Even with the new laws to protect people, this place is still wild and untameable.

I can’t imagine a world before this now, before the sun and the sand and the desolation.

This is all we have, and we have to love it and do better than we have done before. The world is a living, breathing thing, and it must be respected.

Lochlan circles my men to ride at my side and help direct me with hand signals since he’s unable to be heard over the roar of our engines.

The closer we get, the quicker my heart beats.

My grin grows, and my body prepares for the battle to come.

I don’t know what to expect inside the plant, as he calls it, but I sure as shit know what will happen.

We will win .

The miles are eaten quickly until, in the distance, lights pierce the dark.

Huge lights—the plant.