We were almost to the wall when a squeaking noise drew my attention to the field where I’d spent many days training with Kobal. On the horizon, a pickup crested the hill. It idled for a minute before descending toward us.
CHAPTER 45
River
“Shax and Magnus,” Kobal said and halted beside me.
A few dozen humans followed the truck. They walked with their shoulders back and their weapons at the ready. A flutter of wings drew my attention to Raphael as he landed beside Caim and shook some of the dust from his wings.
“How did it go?” Caim inquired of him.
Raphael hesitated long enough that I didn’t think he would answer Caim. “Well enough. They are strong for humans,” Raphael finally said. “They are ready for war. I’ve seen them use their weapons, and they are very skilled with them. The woman, Wren, says she can bring more humans to the fight, if she believes they’ll be treated fairly here.”
“Hmm,” Kobal grunted and turned his attention to the pickup as it came to a stop before us.
A pretty woman with pale blonde hair slid out from behind the wheel. I recognized her as the woman I’d glimpsed at the gateway. “Is that Wren?” I asked.
“Yes,” Kobal said.
Now that I knew she’d been the one to shoot Kobal, I contemplated setting her ass on fire as I eyed her up and down.
Two men also exited the truck as Shax and Magnus broke away from the other people and strolled forward to join us. “I know what Shax thinks of them, but what do you think?” Kobal inquired of Magnus.
“I think they’ll kill any one of us just as easily as they’ll spit at us. And unfortunately, I’ve discovered they’re a bunch of spitters,” Magnus snickered. “However, they are definitely survivors and could prove valuable.”
“They also know the wilds better than any of us,” Shax said.
“True,” Kobal agreed.
“Perhaps you should be asking us whatwethink ofyou,” Wren said as she strolled forward with her rifle against her shoulder.
“I know what you think of us,” Kobal replied. “And if you think that gun will help you, you’re wrong. I didn’t want to kill you before, I won’t hesitate now.”
Wren slid the rifle down to rest the butt end on the ground. “I’ve no doubt,” she replied.
“I told you if I ever saw you again, I’d kill you,” Kobal said to her. “Why would you go to the gateway after that?”
“You said to me that I had no idea what monsters truly are and that, if you failed, we would know. You made me curious about what you meant by that and what it was you were trying to succeed at doing. And when I learned what it was, I decided to help. We’ve been fighting to survive for years. It’s what we do, but we would like for the fighting to end one day.”
“That day may never come,” Kobal stated.
“Maybe not,” she replied. “But we can come together against a common enemy instead of fighting each other. There is also the possibility for a better life for us,” she said with a wave of her hand at those gathered around her. “We’re not stupid or stubborn enough to think we can survive in the wilds without help anymore, not with everything we saw come out of that gateway.”
She turned her attention to me. “Speaking of which, I saw what you did at the gateway. What are you?”
I bristled when her curious gaze raked over me, and Kobal released a rumble of warning. “Do you honestly think I would tell you that?” I retorted.
“No, but I figured it was worth a shot,” Wren replied with a shrug of one of her shoulders. “What you did at the gateway was impressive.” A few people nodded behind her while the others all eyed me as if they were trying to solve a puzzle. “You died to close it though, so you’re mortal, but the angel saved you and the demon looks like he’s about to tear my head off for speaking to you. I bet it’s a fascinating tale, and one day I hope you’ll trust me enough to share it.”
I blinked at her, unsure of how to respond to her blunt words, but she was already focused on Kobal again.
“Okay, Beastly, here’s what I think of you. You’re a demon, you’re a prick, and from what I’ve been told you’re the king of Hell, but you’re on our side, so the rest of it doesn’t matter if it keeps this world from going to complete shit. We’ll fight for you if we believe it’s the right thing to do, but we’ll follow her,” she said and pointed her finger at me.
My eyebrows shot into my hairline. I was fairly certain her time in the wilds had rattled Wren’s brain, but I kind of liked her brazen insanity.
“Fair enough,” Kobal replied. “But she is my queen and will be treated as such. If any of you try to harm her, I won’t kill you. Instead, I will have you pleading for death every day for the lengthy lifespan I will allow you to have.”
Behind her, the others all blanched. Wren remained unfazed as she studied me. “Afascinatingtale,” she murmured to me. “Understood,” she said briskly to Kobal. “If all goes well here for us, I can and will bring you more fighters. We’ll also help you map out the wilds that we know. Some of us have been to areas others haven’t, and there are some areasnoneof us have ever been to.”
