“Your brother is about to get his ass beat down,” she said, her tone low, “and then I’m going to give him over to the Walkers for their chance.”
I reached over to take her hand and give it a tight squeeze. She was right; Samuel was in for the smackdown of his life.
“I’ll hold his arms for you.” Brace nodded once.
“Don’t underestimate her. She might be small, but she makes up for that in pure evil and imagination,” I said, knowing Lucy didn’t need anyone’s help.
She could hold her own against Samuel. One thing the compound had taught us was to battle opponents larger than ourselves.
I watched the rest of the Walkers interact across the field. This mostly included blowing up things and roughhousing. Moonstale shone as almost everyone had their jewelry open and glowing, although it was hard to tell in the bright sunlight. At least I didn’t have to keep explaining my permanent marks. All were on display at the moment, and I fit right in. While I was used to my own marks, I still had a moment every time I saw the sexy black tribal design on Brace’s skin.
With effort I pulled my eyes from my mate as a new doorway opened. Unless this was an uninvited guest, the Abernaths were on their way. Brace tensed beside me, and he wasn’t the only one; the field fell silent as we waited.
“And so it begins.” I heard the words from a group of Walkers near us.
It was more ominous than I expected. Almost as if they’d said, ‘the beginning of the end’. I linked my right hand with Brace’s and the left with Lucy’s. I had to physically restrain myself from tracing away with my loved ones right now. Talina was close by as well, sitting alone, pulling out long strands of grass.
“They’re being overly dramatic because this is the first time Walkers have had to face their own mortality.” Brace kissed my cheek. I sensed his need to calm my racing heart. “Since those two dead Walkers were discovered, the clans have been a little crazy, but no one is going to die today.”
“I’m with you, Abbs. I’ve got a bad feeling about all this.” Lucy’s words had my heart racing again.
The hard facial planes and jet-black hair that Que sported was the first thing I noticed as they stepped through the doorway. He was followed by an army of Walkers. While we had maybe fifty between our two clans, he looked to have equalled that.
“I still don’t understand. If this is a battle with rules, why bring such a force of Walkers?”
Brace laughed without any humor. “Sometimes Walkers decide that they don’t like a decision. Sometimes they decide they know better. On those occasions it helps to have a little clout behind you as backup.”
“I’m guessing you say that from experience,” I replied.
“Yes. Que has on more than one occasion won these battles by simply showing up with the biggest army. It starts as an intimidation tactic, and ends as a cheat-to-win tactic. Que is the only Princep who keeps very close ties with all of his clan. Therefore, he always has them under his control and ready for battle. The rest of the clans are ... free. No one really controls them, and it’s a rare occasion that we gather in large groups.”
Great. This was going to end in disaster.
“Bracelional, I need you to join the member of your clan.”
Que and his crew were about fifty yards from the rest of us. They stood in strict formation. There was no relaxing of their robot expressions, or, as Lucy would put it, removal of the sticks up their butts.
“I am with the members of my clan, Que,” Brace said, not moving an inch.
His father smiled. “We will see, son.”
And on that ominous note, it began.
Josian stepped away from Lallielle. “Let’s not waste any time. I’m ready to call my team for battle.”
It was in that moment I sensed a feeling of satisfaction. I shook my head. I was pretty sure that wasn’t my emotion. But the feeling persisted. I ran my eyes over the crowd of Walkers and noticed that Que had a smug, self-satisfied expression. I focused on him for a moment, studying his features.
A flash of light slammed my eyes closed. I clutched at my head as I tried to figure out what had just happened. Despite my scrunched-up eyes, the flashes continued. It took me a few moments to realize they weren’t just light but flickers of thoughts and images crossing my mind. Again, not my own.
“Are you okay, Red?”
I opened my eyes to Brace’s concerned features. I managed to smile enough to semi-reassure him. With one last look, he turned back to watch the proceedings.
Que had just waved a hand for Josian to get on with it. Suddenly I knew. I knew what my mind had been trying to tell me. I dashed for Josian.
“Stay with Lucy,” I yelled to Brace as I ran.
He ignored me, of course, but I noticed he gave me a few seconds’ headstart.
“I call Grantham of –”
I grabbed Josian’s arm, interrupting his speech. “Dad.”
He paused.
“Baby girl? This isn’t the best timing.” His eyes were bright, golden in the sunlight.