Page 64 of Echoes of War

A fire burned at my core at the challenge. His touch ignited something in me, though the thoughts inside my mind remained sad. I turned to face him, my fingers grazing the top of his lips before I offered him a gentle kiss.

“How long do I have before the ‘until they don’t’ takes place?” I said, grabbing at the front of his pants. His body greeted me, a slight bulge forming at my touch.

A sinister chuckle escaped his perfect mouth. “Not long at all. Let me know when you’re ready to … how did you say it all those months ago?Share with the crowdwhat was inside that letter.”

He left me standing there in the night, cursing the wind for his resistance and praying to all that answered for the safety of those I loved now lost to the darkness.

Reina

The sooner we reached Great Falls, the better. I was ready to get back to Monterey. My fingers were about to freeze off from holding the reins, and I was growing so stinkin’ tired of the cold. In my mind, if we made it back home, I could pretend for at least a week that everything was okay. It would be too easy to convince myself that my brother was off with Amaia securing our borders, doing routine work, having her back and what not. But then, my sister would make it back home without him, my new brother in tow, and I would be reminded of the truth.

Going back to Montana was haunting. Like I was chasing ghosts or something. The way down to Casper would be worse. We’d just miss passing our ranch right outside Billings. Two weeks on the road would not be preparation enough for the gravity of emotions attacking my psyche. Big Horn County had been homefor a long time, a home I’d wanted nothing more than to escape. And I had, against all odds and crumby circumstances, I’d survived. Now I was stuck with that feeling all over again.

Part of me wanted to check on the ranch, see if my home had succumbed to the flames Seth had ordered me to ignite. I wondered if some kind stranger had laid Momma and Hunter’s bones to rest. Visiting James’ grave would probably do me some good too, a nice healing exercise. At this point, I was convinced inner peace was a bunch of mumbo jumbo until this whole, stupid war was over. What would be the point if I was just going to break all over again?

Passing through Minnesota was not nearly as stimulating as it was on the way to Duluth. With Abel’s guidance and connections, we remained unscathed. Between him and Moe, we were able to avoid pretty much every herd of Pansies in our path. Every urban area was the same as Duluth. Brown, dull, and boring as heck. I silently begged for some semblance of action. I understood Amaia now, why she thrived in chaos. Having all this anger inside my body and no outlet for it left me physically itching for a good fight.

Moe, to my great displeasure, had picked up on far too much from my brother when it came to riding. Every time I rallied Bimbo, my lovely lady horse, to ride on ahead, she caught up, sensing what I was up to. Abel trailed behind more times than not. He didn’t appear to be mad about it, and I appreciated that about him. Instead, he watched me in understanding. Heck, maybe that was why he’d come up to Duluth on his own in the first place. Something told me his desire to thrive in solitude was not a decision he had taken lightly. Everyone ran from something in their past, eventually.

By the time we hit North Dakota a couple of days later, the flat grasslands made us relatively vulnerable. Something I welcomed. Let them come for us, let them answer to my call of magic. No fight came, however, North Dakota had sided with us. EvenBismarck didn’t give two craps once we crossed into their territory. They’d been outnumbered, Fargo and Grand Forks ensuring they stayed in check.

Before I knew it, I was home sweet home. As we approached their natural barriers of rivers and hillsides, my nerves took over at the sight of the makeshift wall. It was a mixture of various woods, metal, and a touch of concrete where it mattered most. A good portion of their community remained outside the walls, the ranching lifestyle not lost on its population. Aside from the animals though, most of those structures had been abandoned in preparation for what was to come.

I bit down on my lip, cursing myself for not asking Amaia more about the inner workings of Great Falls. The knowledge I held of their military or their government was a blank slate. Being unprepared was as good as being dead. Amaia’s words, not mine. Shaking off my thoughts, I inhaled deep.

If Amaia hadn’t bothered to brief me, it meant she had full confidence my abilities would be more than enough. My sister didn’t often make oversights in her judgment during times of war. This had been her plan all along. I just needed to decide which persona I’d have to put on today.

The closer we got to what I presumed to be the front entrance, soldiers lined the outer wall, the thickest bunch gathered directly at the gate. Three hundred feet out, they cleared out in the center and a lone woman took their stead.

“Let me do the talking,” I said.

Abel and Moe pulled back on their reins, their horses falling in line behind me. With no objections from the two who had likely seen every outcome of how this could play out, I tossed my ruffled hair and licked at my lips. The arrogant smile I’d seen Amaia put on one too many times took over my features. It was showtime.

“Hi, darling.” I gave a flirtatious wave, my smile pretty. “I’d introduce us, but by the weapons now raised in our face, I’d say y’all know exactly who we are.”

A woman around my age kept a stern face, unimpressed by my gesture. Her long blonde hair cascaded down her back, tucked under a brown cowboy hat that reminded me of my brothers. Her green eyes bore into mine and it took everything in me not to wince.

She gave a small nod of the head, fingers tucked into the pocket of her blue jeans. I glanced down at her wrist, resting on her holstered pistol. “If we wanted you to pay us a visit, we woulda made that known,darling.”

“Is the boss around, or should I leave a message at the gate?” To be completely honest, I wasn’t sure what I should say.

In the past, our relationships had already been fairly established on my emissary visits. That made it a hundred times easier to do my job, knowing I’d have to knock someone on the wrong side of the head to mess things up. Now, I was walking in unknown territory, literally.

My comment earned me no favors, she remained unimpressed. “You’re talkin’ to her.”

Well crud.

I shrugged nonchalantly. “Didn’t realize it. Don’t hear much from out your way.”

“Interestin’ perspective given you’re here at our gates,” she said.

I kept a blank stare; she still hadn’t called me by name, which meant there was a good chance she only knew where we were from and not us individually. My magic spread itself among as many soldiers that were within its grasp.Fear. I sensed nothing but fear. They were scared, even though they didn’t know who we were.

Pushing deeper, I tried to pick up on anything else that would be helpful. Their fear was powerful, too strong for an armed group of people to be of three young people strolling up on some horses. I was wrong—they weren’t scared of us per se, they were scared of what lay ahead in the near future.

“Sure we are!” I exclaimed, a mischievous smile pulled at my lips, knowing I was about to ruin their day. “But the real question is, are we here to warn you or make you bend the knee?”

“Warn us?” The woman gestured to the wall and the group of people surrounding her. “We appear unprepared to you?”

---