When he threw my reality into orbit, I clung to him, knowing he was solid and real. My rock. And when I fell, he was there to catch me, to pull me close again.
Our breathing was ragged, our bodies still twined together when he said, “I can’t promise to never let fear control me. Just like I can’t promise to always be reasonable in my need to protect you. But I will always think of your wants, needs, and desires. I will always fight to better myself for you. And at the end of each day, we’ll face our fears head on. Together. We’ll face them together.”
Just like he was facing his fear of water right now. For me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed my cheek to his shoulder. He kissed my hair, gathering me close before murmuring, “Thank you. For not giving up on me. For thinking that I’m worth it.”
I breathed in his unique scent of pine, leather, and sunshine. The scents of nature, warmth, and hard labor. The scents that made me feel at home. They were home. My home.
“I will never give up on you, Brendan Bearon,” I promised.
No matter what.
I rubbed my throat again.
Restraining chips were no joke. Now that I knew everything about the Tatum City mission, it was necessary for me to be chipped. All I had to do was voice details of Blue Ridge Sector’s plans and my windpipe sealed shut, like the inner code could read my thought patterns. Creepy. Jaxon said the device was modeled after Darth Vader’s abilities, whatever that meant.
And no wonder Dr. Stacey had panicked when I’d tried to remove hers. It was smaller than a grain of rice, and she probably would have bled out before I could find the thing. Dr. Moore was especially proud of this particular invention, saying it was some of his best work.
But his usual excitement had been absent this morning as he’d radioed his final orders. News of Dominic’s and Dr. Stacey’s deaths had hit him hard. His words had been firm and filled with warning as the seriousness of this mission took root.
There were still so many unknowns, but we were going in. All three of us. Bren, Ryker, and I.
And now with the chip in, the danger ahead felt all too real.
Jaxon glanced back at me from the driver’s seat of his “baby.” He didn’t miss the way I massaged my vocal chords. An impish grin spread over his face. “I dare you to stick your head out the window.”
The vehicle struck a pothole. Next to him, Yukiko whacked his arm. “Get serious and watch the road.”
He winked at me before turning around. “That’s your job, baby cakes!”
Beside me, Bren nudged my shoulder. He too wore a mischievous smile, as if racing to our doom was somehow exhilarating. I held back an eye roll. “Go ahead,” he said over the engine’s roar. “I’ll spot you.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll hold your legs down. Keep you from being sucked out.”
My eyes widened a bit, a thrill going through me. We were all crazy. “We’re not going that fast.”
“We are now,” Jaxon crowed, punching the accelerator. The force pressed me into my seat. “It’s now or never, Lu Bear! Final stretch before the checkpoint.”
All eyes were on me now. Expectant. Waiting. Like it was an initiation or something. My competitive nature set in, the desire to prove myself worthy. I wouldn’t disappoint them.
I peeked behind me at Ryker who, after being stabbed only a week ago, insisted he was well enough for the mission. And for having been beaten to a pulp, he didn’t look too bad either. His brows slowly ticked upward as if to say, “Well?”
I rolled my eyes this time, glancing at the vehicle’s final occupant. The bruise on her cheek had lightened to an ugly yellow-green, the same color as mine, but that didn’t stop her from beaming at me. “Do it, Lune,” Bells encouraged, bouncing in her seat. Or maybe that was another pothole. “Then tell me how it feels since I’m too chicken to do it.”
She bit her lip and cast a sidelong look at Ryker, as if worried he’d think her pathetic. But I could have sworn there was a faint smile on his mouth. I still wasn’t used to it—his smiles or seeing them together. There was a change in him. He was still rude and grumpy most of the time, but around Bells, there was a stillness. A contented aura I’d never felt before.
Like her presence soothed the beast inside of him.
I faced forward and announced my readiness. My old habit—the leg-jiggling one—chose that moment to return. Bren barked a laugh. I froze, desperately trying to catch and bottle that sound. I doubted I’d hear it again anytime soon, not with what awaited us.
He tapped my knee, leaning close to whisper in my ear, “Go fly, little bird. I’ll catch you if you fall.”
My heart fluttered with excitement. At the whine of a window sliding open, I tucked my feet beneath me. A blast of air stirred my hair, blurring my vision. I stood on the seat anyway, shooting up, up, up until my head went through the roof.
I planted both hands on the vehicle’s warm black hide, ignoring the deadly machine gun inches from my fingers. When it hit me how fast we were going, I sucked in a gasp. The whistling air snatched the sound away, just like it tore at my clothes and hair. I could barely breathe past the intense rush.
So it was true after all.
Cars really were faster than chargers.
Shock rendered me mute. Then I was laughing, whooping to the sky.
Below came answering whoops.
“Warrior Princess!” Jaxon shouted.
I threw my arms wide and let my head fall back as I roared, “I’m a beast-taming, kick-butt warrior princess!”
Saying goodbye sucked.
Now that I thought about it, I’d never had to say goodbye to anyone before. I had been torn from the people I loved time and again, but I’d never had the chance to hug them farewell, share a few tears, or utter parting words. No wonder Bren chose to quietly slip off for his missions. I almost wished for that option right now.
But I wouldn’t, no matter how painful it was. Because not saying goodbye hurt just as much. I still hadn’t seen my mum. With so many changes and the precariousness of the new alliance, Evie couldn’t chance word spreading of the Tatum City coup. For this to work, Renold needed to believe all was well with the Recruiter Clan—and his brother. There had already been mutterings amongst the clansmen, some questioning their new leadership—especially those recently returned from outside jobs. With Ryker gone, it was sure to get worse.
The task ahead for the queen wouldn’t be easy. Not only with the clansmen, but freeing the women and children of their cages. Most didn’t have homes to return to—or wouldn’t remember where to find them.
If I made it back—when I made it back—I hoped to find my mum settled at a community far from here. Or maybe Blue Ridge Sector would take her and my siblings in. Then there was Iris. Sweet Iris. More pain clenched my heart. When all of this was over, I would reunite my family. I could almost picture us all together. Me, Mum, Iris, and a little boy and girl I had yet to meet. We were hugging and laughing.
Happy and at peace.
Tears streaked across the image.
A hand rested on my shoulder. I blinked the tears away before facing Bells. Her eyes were watery too, having come from saying farewell to her brother. I didn’t see him nearby. He must be collecting himself, something I sorely needed to do as well. But I accepted her embrace, relieved when the urge to cry didn’t overwhelm me.
“We’re sisters now,” she said with a trembling voice. “I always wanted a sister. Bren’s great and all, but he can be overprotective. And we have nothing in common. You’d think since he reads poetry, he’d be into my romance novels.” Her laugh ended in a sniff. “I’m trying to be brave about this, Lune, I really am.”
I held her tightly. “You are brave. Emotions don’t make you weak. They make you human. Your brother taught me that.”
A throat cleared. I already knew who it was as I gave Bells one last squeeze and stepped back. “Oh, wait,” I said, reaching into my backpack. My fingers closed around a slim rectangular objec
t. I hesitated for a moment, loathe to let it go, but I’d be foolish to smuggle such an item into the city with so much at stake. “Keep this safe for me until I return?”
The unspoken promise settled between us. She nodded, eyes welling again as she accepted Bren’s book of poetry and hugged it to her. Ryker looked more or less unaffected by all the tears, but I’d seen the way he’d embraced his mother after she asked him not to go. I hadn’t heard his reply, but she hadn’t stopped him from leaving.
And now, three years later, he was finally getting to say goodbye to Bells.
As they walked a short distance away for privacy, I lingered like a creep, curious what they’d do.
“My bet is on Captain Grumpy Pants,” Jaxon said, slinging an arm over my shoulder.
Yukiko snorted, moseying up to my other side. “You didn’t hear her going on about him for three years. My bet is on Bells.”
“Settle the tie for us, Lu Bear. Who’s gonna make the first move?”
I wrinkled my nose. “Uh . . .” I openly studied the pair, feeling less like a creep now that I had creeper company. Ryker’s dark head was bent and Bells was staring up at him with rapt attention. Were they even talking? Their lips didn’t appear to be moving, but their eyes sure said a lot.
And then, out of nowhere, Bells shot up onto her tiptoes and planted a swift kiss to Ryker’s mouth. When she pulled back, he didn’t react.
“Ahh, poor Bells,” Yukiko murmured.
Even from here, I could see the flustered look on Bells’ face. She whirled, seeking escape. Two steps later, he grabbed her arm and swung her around.
“It’s like watching a soap opera,” Jaxon breathed.
As Bells’ lips parted in surprise, Ryker cupped her face and returned the kiss. She practically melted against him, grasping his shirtfront to keep from falling. He looped an arm around her and crushed her to him. Their movements became more urgent. Ryker dug his fingers into Bells’ hair as he deepened the kiss. When his tongue touched hers, she all but tore his shirt from gripping so hard.
Holy hotness. A blush scorched my cheeks.
“I’m disgusted but can’t look away,” Jaxon whispered. “His tongue has skills. I think he is eating her.”
Yukiko snort-laughed. “Take notes.”
“What, you’re not satisfied with our makeout sessions, sweet pea?”
“I’m just saying. It never hurts to try something new.”
He chuckled darkly. “Noted.”
Oh gross. I so needed out of here.
I ducked beneath Jaxon’s arm. Shaking my head when he barely noticed, I went in search of Bren. If that was their attempt at lightening the mood, it worked. But the fear that I might never see them again still lingered. This time tomorrow, Ryker, Bren, and I could be dead. Iris, Asher, and thousands of others could be trapped inside Tatum City.
Forever.
The three of us were their only chance at freedom. Once inside, the mission involved letting our allies in to take over the city. My telepathic ability would come in handy for that, and thankfully, the restraining chip didn’t hinder me from communicating mind-to-mind. No matter how long the mission took, I was to remain in contact with the outside.
If Renold saw through our ploy, though, it was game over. He was paranoid and only trusted what he could control. Which was why our fake stories were so important and why I couldn’t stop worrying over Bren’s. There were too many holes in his. If he said the wrong thing, the words would trigger his restraining chip and raise suspicion. Ryker’s story was the closest to the truth, but even he was injected with a chip—after much protesting, of course.
We couldn’t pull this off without outside help, but Dr. Moore wouldn’t risk the safety of Blue Ridge Sector. Concern over Renold’s supposed army and his retaliation had The Ridge leader on high alert. The less we were able to say, the better. But if Dr. Stacey had contacted Renold in the days preceding her death to warn him of the new alliance, we were so screwed.
“Hey.” Bren’s voice pulled me from my troubled thoughts. “You all right?”
The old habit of masking my feelings surfaced. But I’d just told Bells not to be ashamed of hers. It was time I started taking my own advice. “No,” I said honestly, looking up at him. “I’m scared.”
His sympathetic expression plucked at my tender emotions. Before I could blubber like a baby, he wrapped me up in his arms so completely, I’d never felt more safe. “I’m scared too. More than you know,” he whispered against my hair. “But I know it won’t do any good asking you to stay here. If I’m willing to risk my life to save others, then I can’t ask you to do any less. So I’m finally going to suck it up and deal.”
His words wrung a grin from me, despite everything.
“Trust me when I say I won’t be taking any unnecessary risks when we’re in there,” I said, my voice muffled against his shirt. “I have too much to live for.”
He stroked my hair, kissing me softly before saying, “Me too, little bird. Me too.”
The sun was directly overhead by the time we departed with nothing but the backpacks and weapons we’d received from Tatum City—and what was left of the serum.
Winter was long gone, spring in full bloom. Pink and white flowers covered many of the trees, emitting a sweet fragrance. I wanted to stop and enjoy their smell, to tilt my head back and soak in the sun’s rays.
I was about to do just that when Ryker grumbled, “Keep up.”
Déjà vu hit me. I remembered him uttering those very same words when we’d left Tatum City three months ago. My eyes narrowed on his back and I stuck out my tongue, for old time’s sake. Bren snickered beside me.
“You have no idea what I had to put up with while we were tracking you,” I muttered.
He cocked his head and frowned in thought. “You know, I don’t think I wanna know.”
Yeah. Probably not. Especially the naked cabin incident. I might not be able to stop him from rearranging Ryker’s face for that one.
Bren twirled something in front of my nose and I jerked back. He chuckled, taking my hand to place a delicate white flower with pink edges on my palm. “An apple blossom,” he murmured. “Their scent reminds me of you. When I first met you in Tatum City, it’s what you smelled like.”
I brought the bloom to my nose and inhaled deeply, a smile playing on my lips. He tucked a strand of hair behind my left ear and I directed the smile his way. But the adoring look on his face quickly turned to dismay. He swore softly. Ryker heard, immediately backtracking.
“What’s wrong?” he said, scanning the woods on either side of the road.
“Lune’s tattoo,” Bren replied. “We have to cover it up somehow.”
Ryker shook his head. “Let the Supreme Elite see it. We’ll add to the story and say Lune was forced to swear fealty to the Recruiter Clan before the boss would let us leave. Renold would expect such a power play from his brother. I’ll assure him that Lune’s loyalty remains with Tatum City. As long as he doesn’t catch wind of Rollie’s death, he should believe that I’m still loyal as well.”
“And are you?”
Ryker’s eyes narrowed. “Am I what?”
“Still loyal to Renold? He has that enhancement serum you so desperately wanted, after all.” Bren fisted his hands in challenge.
Ah crap. Now? When we were only a mile from Tatum City’s gates?
“I don’t need it anymore,” Ryker threw back, widening his stance. “Or did you forget that the head alpha is dead?”
“Yeah, but how long do you expect the men to follow a female? No offense to your mom, but how will she keep order when the men get unruly? They only know one form of punishment and I doubt she’s up to the task.”
Ryker suddenly lunged at Bren. I shouted a warning, but Bren was already prepared. They exchanged a few blows, each hit harder than the last.
This wasn’t happening. This wasn’t happening!
“Stop it, you two. Stop!” I screamed, pulling at their arms. Bren immedia
tely stopped and checked me for injuries, probably remembering the last time I’d tried to break up their fight.
Ryker swooped in, aiming for Bren’s neck. My eyes widened in horror at the flash of silver.
“No!” I grabbed for the needle but was too late. Ryker jerked back, leaving a stunned Bren behind with the syringe’s contents already in his system. “Bren, are you—? Bren!”
He dropped like a stone. I flung myself beside him, frantically searching for a pulse. My heart drummed wildly, but I found what I was looking for and quickly rose to my feet.
“Why would you do this, you son of a—” I shoved Ryker with all of my pent up fear and frustration.
He knocked my hands aside as I attempted another shove. “He’s fine, Lune. Just a mild sedative.”
“Why? Why?” I lashed out and kicked his leg. He growled a warning to which I jeered, “Was he getting in your way? Was he right about the enhancement serum? Bells will never forgive you for this!”
“Stop,” he barked, catching my wrist when I made to slap him. “You know more than anyone that this had to be done. The Supreme Elite won’t believe Bren’s story. He’s a dead man the second he steps foot inside Tatum City. I did you a favor and took care of the problem. The fight was just a distraction so I could sedate him. You’re welcome.”
“You’re . . . you’re welcome?” I roared, twisting my arm free. “You used me to betray him. Again. I want to tear your stupid head off and feed it to your clan!”
He sighed as if weary of the conversation. The nerve. I was going to let the vorax eat his fingers and toes! “I’m sorry I had to use you. You might not like my methods, but they’re effective. This way, Bren is still alive and can help my mother with the Recruiter Clan while I’m gone. In time, you’ll understand that I made the right move. Now contact your Ridge friends to come get him before he wakes up. We need to reach the gates before he can stop us.”
I could only stare in dumb shock as he removed Bren’s pack, then dragged his unconscious body off the road and into the woods.
Immersive Page 18
