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“That was a fucking bullseye,” Bishop announced, laughing and shaking Lesion’s shoulder.
The odd urge to hug people came over him as he watched Tully jump up and down with that blinding smile. Then came the burning acid in his gut with the need to touch her. How fucking unbearable.
“Thank God that’s over,” Seer muttered, sounding like he needed a nerve agent. Lesion was sure they all did, especially his mongrel brothers tallying their winnings in the next room, yelling as if they were mountains away from one another.
“Your final scores will be given at the end of the Gauntlet Trials,” Bullets announced. “Now, I’m sure you all are wondering what that deeeelicious smell is and that would be the best meal you eva gone eat, cooked special for you ladies by Bacon.” He waved them toward the kitchen. “Come on and get yall some gumbo before you gotta go.”
“Well, that’s my cue,” Spar announced. “I better get to the next testing grounds.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Bishop decided he wanted to watch the physical test up close and invited the husbands to tag along. “We’ll be conducting the skills test which comes after the strength test. We’ll dress to stay out of sight,” he said to Lesion’s question.
After seeing their reaction to the first test, he knew there was no way they could handle not being at a rescuable distance for the physical tests which were to take place over the bayou. There was just too much that could happen. Spar and Juliette could never be phenomenal enough at what they did when it came to this. With the husbands there, the women would each have a hawk protecting them nearby.
“Any ideas on what the test is?” Lesion asked as they climbed on an airboat. He wanted to get to location way ahead of them and set up.
“I just know it’s over the bayou. He’ll probably use the rope trials to test stamina and endurance. We know those are his favorite.”
Lesion nodded as he strapped in and Bishop patted his back, eyeing the sheer relief and eagerness on his face. It didn’t takeseeingpowers to know just how glad they all were to be going. It was amazing. Such tiny little things had a stranglehold on the might and self-control of The Twelve. But he thanked God for his treacherous, beautiful little woman as I’m sure they all did.
****
Cherie eyed the giant shirtless man towering before them. “Welcome to round two of The Gauntlet Trials, ladies. I’m Spar. Leader of the fighting hatch. I’ll be testing various areas of physical strength. Namely stamina and endurance. Your stamina trial will test a set of muscles near full capacity and your endurance trial will test a set of muscles for a length of time.”
He turned and eyed the giant rope stretching across the bayou. “That is your test. For endurance, you will be taken by boat to the center of that rope. You will grab onto it with your hands and hold on until you can’t. When you let go, you will fall into the water. I’ll be nearby with the boat to fetch you. You’re being scored on that test by how long you last. Right after this, you’ll do your stamina test with the same rope. You will be required to traverse the rope from this end of the bayou to the other. You’ll be graded on speed and tactic. Once you reach the other side, those who will be conducting the skills test will escort you to the next facility for that.”
He turned and pointed to a set of tables under the tree. “Those are the Gauntlet tables where you will roll the Gauntlet Dice and pick your mated tools according to your roll. Any questions?”
Cherie glanced at the women finding them in the same predicament as the last time they were asked that. They all shook their heads as a hundred questions hid from her thoughts. Not that she’d ask them. But thankfully she did understand the tasks. They were all straight forward. The last ones were too, just a tad complex. She was still rattled over it. They all had been. But, Lord, thatgumbo.She felt like a mother after giving birth and that food made her forget all about the labor of childbirth. For thirty minutes they laughed and cut up like a bunch of teenagers. Cherie hoped there were no cameras about. How embarrassing that would be if they were all being watched by The Twelve.
She followed them to the Gauntlet tables, the fall sun still hot enough to make her sweat. But thank God it wasn’t full blown summer.
They all stood before the Gauntlet Dice table.Lord, please let us all get a favorable roll.
****
Maggie resisted the urge to look around again. They were being watched, she was sure. He did say people waited for them on the other side to take them to the next test. Who was it? She wanted to bet Spook was among them. His gaze had a real presence when he locked it on her.
Great. She was shit when being watched.
She remembered the blindfold training with Spook and her world suddenly refocused. She’d just have to find that mental place again. She couldn’t fail. Spook had all but told her to fail if she could. Did he know something about her that she didn’t? Her intentions to oblige him were being shot down every time that GO button was hit. Her mind took over and it knew nothing of losing or giving up. It knew fighting, surviving, conquering. And she couldn’t find the off switch for that.
Beth was the first to roll the dice and hell if she didn’t get a two. Dammit. Having her to worry about was like its own weight. Maggie rolled and swore under her breath. A fricken one? Wow.
Cherie came forward and rolled then. A five. That was middle, thank heavens.
Maggie watched the Tully girl go up, her guts tensing. That poor girl had ten kinds of scary shadows clinging to her and yet she was sweet as could be. She reminded her of Beth in many ways. Immune to evil by the power of sheer oblivion to it. There was no denying the need to try and protect her from the shadows at her heels even while not having a clue how. Her years at the hospital taught her a lot and yet kept her ignorant on many social fronts. But she’d never resent a second of it. Without them, she would’ve never met her Spook. Her perfect, sexy husband. Who was so good atfucking.
“Yes, you got an eight!” Cherie rejoiced, sending a wave of relief through Maggie. Judging by Beth’s reaction, Maggie wasn’t the only one who felt responsible for the girl.
She embraced her sister tightly. “I’m so proud of you. OurBelleEveque,” she added with a giddy joy, laughing at the hard blush that got her.
“Alright, time to pick your items,” Spar said, turning to the three small tables filled with odd things. “Belle Eveque and Miss Spook will pick from this table and Miss Seer and Miss Lesion from this table.”
Maggie eyed the selection. Two sets of those sandbag ankle weights, one bigger than the other. Then a blindfold and a pair of rubber boots. Beth regarded Maggie and she wished they could discuss which might be best for her. She chose the smallest ankle weights. Maggie eyed her then went to the table and picked the single thing that might actually help her.
“The blindfold,” Spar muttered next to her, sounding intrigued. “Brave pick.”
