The Wanted

by Rory Miles

  Shawn gave a sad smile. “It smells great, but I don’t think anything will ever taste as good as Sloan’s cooking.”

  On that we could agree. I couldn’t wait to have one of his home-cooked meals again.

  Dawn’s fried chicken was good, but, as we’d suspected, not quite as scrumptious as Sloan’s. She and Orval made light conversation, flicking uncertain glances to one another. They were building up to something, but they had yet to get around to it. When she glanced at Orval for the hundredth time, I snapped.

  “What?”

  She startled at my tone. Orval narrowed his eyes at me, warning me to be careful. I glared back at him, letting him know he didn’t scare me.

  Liar.

  “Well, Orv was telling me about the Land Council. He thinks they’d help us defeat Daman.”

  I raised my eyebrow at Orval, mouthing Orv to him before returning my attention to Dawn who was speaking to Shawn, the only one taking her seriously.

  “I just thought, if we requested assistance, we would have a better chance of winning.”

  Had the deep magic finally taken root in her mind, whispering nonsense to her? She sounded far too hopeful about this Land Council.

  Kace glanced at Orval. “What makes you think they will help us?”

  “The entire reason they exist is to help.”

  “If they can help, don’t you think the goddess would have shown her divine self and asked them for help just like she did to us?” I canted my head, giving Orv a smirk.

  Shawn and Kace considered my question. Which was valid. If the goddess didn’t bother with them, why should we?

  Dawn gave me an annoyed look from across the table. “Asking for help never hurt anyone.”

  Ouch. Right as she may be, I wasn’t ready to back down.

  “Clearly the goddess just wants us to die, so maybe we should do them all a favor and not involve them.”

  She shot to her feet, placing her hands on the table and leaning toward me. “You may be hurting, but that doesn’t give you the right to be an asshole. I’m only trying to help.”

  “Listen, Dawn.” I rose, leaning over the table as well. “You don’t know anything about what’s about to happen.”

  She stiffened. “Really? I lost my sister to this stupid power. How could you say that?”

  My eyes closed, regret singing through me. Of course she knew what to expect. Everything she said was true. I was an asshole. It wouldn’t hurt to ask, and she just wanted to help. Who was I to stop her?

  “I’m sorry.” I sat back down, crossing my arms over my chest. “You’re right.”

  She nodded, sniffing back the tears glistening in her eyes. This woman had become the closest thing I had to a friend and here I was ruining it. I’d have to catch her later, make sure I repaired the damage I’d just done.

  “I get it,” she said, eyes filling with sympathy. “I really do.”

  “Tomorrow then,” Orval said, taking our truce as approval.

  Shawn and Kace nodded. “Tomorrow.”

  Chapter Forty

  After dinner, Dawn sent the men to get extra blankets, claiming we’d need them for the cave. Sensing her desire to talk, I stayed behind, helping clean the dishes and kitchen. I dunked a plate in soapy water.

  “Listen, Dawn. I’m sorry for my attitude. You didn’t deserve it. Everything’s been a mess lately and I don’t see things improving for a while.” My focus remained on scrubbing the plate clean with the washcloth.

  Dawn started discarding the leftover food in the trash, stacking the dirty plates on the counter next to me.

  “Not to sound harsh, but you need to check your anger. The rage you feel will just make you miserable and push away the people you care about most. Don’t let it marinate, you need to let go of that feeling.”

  I side-eyed her. Who did this chick think she was? Lucky for her, I knew she was right and I kind of liked her.

  She laughed at my look.

  “Don’t give me that face. I have a sister; I can handle whatever you’ve got.” She smirked, and then, as if just remembering what happened with Amree, it fell away from her face.

  “Thanks, Dawn,” I said, placing the cleaned plate on the rack to dry.

  She shrugged. “What are friends for?”

  “To tell you when you’re being a little bitch?” I offered up, smiling when her mouth dropped open.

  “I didn’t say that!”

  “Oh please. You didn’t have to.” I waved my hand. “Don’t worry. I’m more than prepared to check your inner bitch when the time comes.”

  She scrunched her nose at me. “Do you have to say bitch?”

  The plate I’d been scrubbing plopped into the water, floating to the bottom as I turned and gave her a get fucked look.

  “Don’t be a prude. I’ll check that shit right now. Get used to the language, Dawn.”

  “Oh, fuck off,” she volleyed, winking at me when I snorted.

  We burst into laughter, continuing to insult one another until the men returned. Shawn took one look at us and the still-dirty kitchen before shaking his head.

  “Are you drunk?”

  “Goddess, I wish.” The longing in Dawn’s voice resonated deep within me.

  I inclined my head, gesturing to the wine we were supposed to take back to the cave.

  “We could always buy more.”

  Kace didn’t need any further persuasion. He grabbed two bottles, pointing at Shawn with one. “Go get the cups.” He smiled at Dawn and me. “We’re going to play a game.”

  Orval grunted something about being too old to play games, but it didn’t stop him from plopping into a chair at the table. Kace set down the bottles, grabbing one more before sitting in the chair next to me. Dawn sat next to Orval, wiggling her eyebrows at him. He rolled his eyes, but the edges of his mouth tipped up. Shawn sat at the head of the table, lining up five cups.

  With the utmost care, Kace poured out an equal amount of liquid into each one. When he didn’t fill them all the way up, I frowned.

  “The game is called: Things I’ve never done.”

  Dawn clapped and I couldn’t help but smile at her excitement. We all knew the game. One person declares something they’ve never done and the rest either drink if they have, or watch in amusement as the losers drink.

  “I’ll start.” Dawn narrowed her eyes at me, the challenge in them making me regret agreeing to the game. I mean, Dawn was probably going to be sober while the rest of us were slobbering drunk.

  Kace passed out the glasses. “Okay. Go for it.”

  “I have never broken a law.”

  I grunted, drinking the wine in my cup and holding it out for a refill. Kace and Orval drained their glasses. Shawn poured the refills.

  Now it was Shawn’s turn. “I have never lied to my parents.”

  I drank again, fueling the warmth growing in my belly. I may have forgot to mention I was a lightweight when it came to drinking. Dawn drank her wine, shrugging when I gasped with pretend shock. Orval and Kace didn’t drink. Kace had left home at a young age, before lying to his parents became a necessity. I didn’t know much about Orval’s past so I didn’t question him.

  Orval spun his cup on the table. “I have never charmed someone with my good looks.”

  The rest of us shared a look. Orval and charm were antonyms. We all drank. He smirked triumphantly, refilling our cups as he thought of another one since we all lost.

  “I have never been detained by palace authorities.”

  Dawn jerked with surprised when I drank. No one else did.

  “You’re a bounty hunter!”

  I laughed. “My imprisonment is why I’m so good at what I do. I’ve got street cred.”

  Kace scoffed. “Sure you do, snowflake.”

  “What did you call me?” I asked, sliding my cup over to him so he could fill it up.

  He set the empty bottle aside and set to opening the new one.

  “Snowflake,” he said again, this time slower. />
  “I’m not a freaking snowflake.”

  “See, fragile, just like a delicate little flake of snow in the middle of winter,” he said, handing me my cup, eyes dancing with mirth.

  Jerk. I shook my head, turning my attention back to the game.

  “I have never attended a royal wedding.”

  Dawn narrowed her eyes at Kace, tipping her glass up and swallowing the wine in two gulps. She was the only one who lost that round. I fought back a giggle. The wine had already started to work, making me goofy. She raised her eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest and pinning me with a look. Promising that I’d pay for that giggle.

  “I have never wanted to chase criminals for a living,” Shawn said, smiling when Orval and I both drank. We shared a look of understanding. Our job required a certain kind of crazy.

  Dawn’s eyes lit up as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table and her head in her hands. She tilted her head as if in deep thought.

  “Hm. I have never . . . had sex with more than one person at a time.”

  Kace choked on the sip of wine he was in the process of sneaking. Shawn blushed. Orval cursed, avoiding her gaze when he drained his glass. His admission made me feel a bit better. I drank my wine, flipping her off as I drained the cup. Her cheeks turned red. She hadn’t expected Orval to drink to that one. I felt enough sympathy that I didn’t give her a hard time for calling me out.

  We continued to play until the wine was gone. All of us ended up sufficiently buzzed—or drunk in my, Dawn’s and Kace’s situation. Meaning, Shawn and Orval babysat us drunkards. Wine-induced smiles played on their lips and we traded quips their more sober minds didn’t understand.

  Dawn hiccupped. She slapped a hand over her mouth in surprise, her shoulders jerking with the next hiccup.

  “All right, time for bed.” Orval stood, lifting Dawn out of her chair and slinging her over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes.

  Po-tay-toes.

  Patatoes.

  Why was that so funny?

  I couldn’t control the laugh that overcame me. My body shook and nothing but a strange noise came from my mouth and nose. Like I was wheezing but also possibly dying. Kace shook his head and poked me in the stomach.

  “Snowflake.”

  I swatted at him. “You’re a jerk.”

  He pretended to drink from his empty glass, making me laugh even harder.

  “You’re lucky I like you.”

  He beamed at me. “Aww. Snowy, I love you too!”

  I growled at him, the sound more like a small pup than a menacing tiger like I intended.

  Kace handed me a large cup of water, chugging one of his own. I drank the glass, happy that he had the sense of mind to remember, otherwise I would’ve had a nasty hangover in the morning.

  “Come on, princess.” Shawn rose from the table, extending his hand to me.

  I slapped my palm into his and stood, grateful for his help when I wobbled. All three of us climbed into the big bed in my room and fell asleep.

  Orval knew a lot about this Land Council. Where they met—Forest City Palace. When they met—today—and the perfect time to burst into the meeting room after taking down two of the guards who tried to stop him—now.

  Dawn and I followed behind him, stepping over the downed men. Chairs scraped across the floor as the seven people sitting around the circular table stood, magic flickering in a few of their hands.

  Ezme’s green eyes narrowed when they swept over Orval. Her eyebrows pulled up in a way that said she wasn’t impressed by his antics. Since she was here, did that mean she’d taken the throne?

  The man next to her had the same dark skin as her, eyes sea-green and angry.

  “What is the meaning of this?” he asked, voice haughty with that royal tone. You know what I mean . . . The how dare you interrupt me sort of indignation.

  Ezme’s eyes widened when I stepped out from behind Orval, arms raised.

  “We just came to talk.” I gave Orval a pointed look. The plan had been to wait patiently for an audience, but clearly, he’d missed that part.

  Ezme scoffed.

  The sea-green-eyed man spoke again. “This is no way to seek an audience. There are rules.”

  “Gavin. Do you know who that is?” Ezme gave him a look and stage-whispered, “the big scary one.”

  “Orval, explain yourself,” the older man on the other side of Ezme demanded, finally snapping out of his initial surprise. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him.

  “We’ve come to ask for help.”

  Gavin muttered something that I couldn’t understand, shaking his head and whispering to the woman across from him. Her hooked nose and feathered hair made her appear bird-like.

  “We may need a bit more of an explanation.” Ezme smiled at Orval. “Nice to see you again.”

  He grunted and turned to look at me. I guessed that meant I was in charge of explaining everything.

  Great.

  With a sigh that was perhaps a tad bit dramatic, I gestured at the seats they had all shoved back from the table.

  “You might want to sit down. This is kind of a long story.”

  The woman with the bird-like nose sat with a huff, followed by Ezme and Gavin. The three other men, all older judging by their graying hair, and a woman who looked a bit older than Sammie, also sat down. She gave me an encouraging nod, the only one besides Ezme who wanted to hear what we had to say.

  I stepped up to the table, bracing my fingertips against the edge of it, and started the story from when Daman had kidnapped me. Ezme’s face went pale when I spoke about the boy Daman had turned into a monster. When I came to the part about the portal, everyone sat up a little straighter, taking the story a little more seriously now that there was a threat to the entire world.

  Dawn helped me through the parts about Maligna and the deep magic. The other woman at the table—the one who didn’t look like an ostrich—went stiff, something flashing in her eyes before concealing whatever she’d thought behind a weak smile.

  The silence in the room was palpable when I finished the story, coming to the reason we’d barged into an official meeting

  “Daman will return to finish what he started. We’ve already almost lost one person. We can’t do this alone.”

  The older men exchanged glances; their expressions were unreadable to me, but they had a language all their own. Gavin looked at Ezme, who whispered something I couldn’t hear. The other young woman at the table stared at me, the strange smile on her face becoming uncomfortable to look at. She shifted in her seat, leaning forward to rest her forearms on the table.

  “Which one of you killed her?”

  My face remained impassive. I hadn’t mentioned that part because there was no need. What they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them, but this woman definitely knew something.

  Dawn fidgeted, not as good at concealing her guilt as I was.

  “I see.” The woman sat back, cutting her gaze to the others in the room. “Maligna was a dangerous woman. I don’t have to tell you all that, but her death came as a surprise. No one dared go up against the power she wielded.”

  I narrowed my eyes at the lady, trying to discern where she was headed with this discussion.

  “The person responsible for taking her out of her position, however crude her murder may had been, should be thanked. If not for you two, I would never have become queen.”

  Chills rippled over my arms. This was the new Valley Queen. Dawn glanced back at Orval, the nervous swallow she took audible in the quiet room.

  The woman stood, brushing her dress straight and pulling her shoulders back.

  “My name is Uvella. King Ube was my older brother.” Her eyes were dark brown and knowing. Dark hair hung down her back and her olive skin complimented the green gown she wore.

  Dawn curtsied to her queen. Since her family lived in Valley Sector, Queen Uvella would be her ruler. Unless she moved to Forest City. I pushed the notion aside. No matter how
much we got along, I doubted she’d leave the security of family for friendship.

  But, for love . . . maybe she’d make the leap. Red lived in Forest City. Making the logical assumption that Orval would stick around to keep an eye on her, Dawn moving wasn’t an impossibility. I’d never had a real girl friend since I’d been an adult. Sherry had been more motherly than friendly, and my job hadn’t really left much time for socializing.

  “You may rise,” Uvella said, giving Dawn a gentle smile.

  Dawn rose, flicking an uncertain look at her new ruler. The last experience she had with a queen had ended with her becoming a killer. I understood her distress. One didn’t move on from killing someone as though it never happened. The death and blood haunted a person, becoming a phantom of sorts.

  A man with a receding hairline smacked his lips. “We don’t have enough resources to help.”

  “Nonsense.” Uvella shot him a look over her shoulder. “Valley Sector has a few sentinels who would enjoy a good fight. Surely Mountain Sector does as well. Or has Regent Baleigh scared them all off?”

  The man bristled, scoffing at her comment before twitching a somewhat friendly smile onto his face.

  “I’m sure we can find a few who are willing to help.”

  Uvella smiled. “Wonderful.” She turned to me. “We will gather some soldiers and send them as soon as possible.”

  “Thank you, that is all we ask. Any help is appreciated.”

  Though they agreed to send help, I wasn’t sure we’d have enough time to wait for reinforcements. We needed to prepare for a fight without additional support. The goodbyes were awkward since we’d barged in, but Ezme beamed at me.

  I’m not sure why the woman seemed hell bent on being friendly to me, but I wouldn’t question it until after we’d won our battle with Daman. Until the victory, nothing else mattered.

  Chapter Forty-One

  “Hey! Wait up.”

  I raised an eyebrow in surprise when I turned and saw Ezme jogging to catch up with us, her dark hair flowing behind her. She cut her emerald gaze to me, a fire I hadn’t seen before shining within the depths.