Page 28 of The Blind Hordesman

Kiki clears her throat. “He will attempt to take the gate again, but this time, he is better prepared.”

“How?” Dreikx asks.

“I don’t know, but there’re lots of Teleans and Regha males on his crew, and they’ve been busy. Especially lately, since you’ve all been distracted with bonding Omegas.”

“We have been busy indeed, and that’s unfortunate and fortunate for us all. Seer,” Dreikx says. “Head back for the Stronghold as fast as you can, and I will handle the town in the east.”

That fucking crown on his head makes him delusional. It’s like he put it on and became my boss. “Negative.”

“May I remind you this territory is mine.”

I smile. “Be a good neighbor and get the fuck out of my way, or I’ll conquer this land and keep it. You know how much I like to war.”

“Don’t be unreasonable.”

“Dismissed.”

My males stand and leave. Dreikx, of course, doesn’t. I lift my eyes in his direction. “What?”

“You have left me no choice.” His footsteps retreat.

He’s thought up something to stop me. “Don’t stand in the way of a Regha Alpha and his claim,” I shout after him and cough up blood. “Fuck.”

“I don’t intend to, boy, but there is someone who will.”

“Hey!” I start after him and sway on my feet. My fucking head is spinning.

Kiki takes my hand, tugs. “You have to rest, or you’ll collapse.”

“Later. Dreikx,” I shout, then bend and clamp my mouth shut as vomit rises, threatening to spill out. I hold that shit down, rattle off a warning, swallow. It burns my throat. Straightening back up, my head still spinning, I bellow, “Onward!”

Chapter 12

Kiki

In the barn, I use the hose to wash myself and change into clean worn work clothes we leave out here in the closet, an old stained brown sweater, overalls, and rubber boots. I grab a warm jacket and peek outside. Once sure nobody’s coming, I crouch and open a floor plank. Under it, I take a sack, untie it, and take out the necklace Grandma gave me. It has tiny two-inch-long bottles that appear to be pendants. I take ten grand, but not the phone. Father gave me the phone and likely can trace it. If he’s after me now, I don’t want him knowing where I am, though if I stay with the Warlord Alpha, it won’t be hard to find me. One drone surveillance scan, and he’ll see where the Hordesman’s headed.

Judging by the way the Hordesman moves, he’s open to a challenge, probably prays Father intercepts him at some point of his journey. He’s underestimated Father. I don’t know much about the military or what kind of army Father commands but I know Swarm males are hatched already mature, and the rate of making or cloning is much faster than the natural birthing of a Regha male. Even if a natural-born male is stronger, Father compensates with numbers and tech. The Warlord will need the Telean general, and they’re at odds with each other.

Plank back in its place, I get the matches and light the way, then walk out of the barn. Smoke clouds the air, and I keep walking, not wanting to look back. One hound, harnessed like a bull, is pulling Ayo on a stretcher. There’s a cage strapped onto another hound. It’s empty. The Warlord’s army is leaving at a slow pace. Alphas in the back of the convoy keep glancing behind them, their eyes on the Hordesman who rides a hound. Under his arm is my rooster.

The Hordesman stops before me and pats the fur over the hound’s back. “Hop on.” He smiles and extends a hand. I grasp it, and he yanks me up in front of him, then settles me on the animal I couldn’t have climbed onto by myself. We never had horses. I don’t know how to ride, but I’m gonna manage. I worry about the Hordesman’s wounds. They’re not closing. His chest and belly are raw and burned, and as I cover his hand that’s on my thigh, I note it’s clammy.

“Don’t look back,” he says and clicks his tongue. The hound starts out slow, but picks up his pace until he’s leading the convoy away from my home. The rain stops and the wind picks up. This jacket won’t keep me warm. As if he reads my mind, the Hordesman throws a red fur over me, covers me thoroughly, even puts a hat on my head.

“Thank you,” I say.

The Hordesman grunts.

“Seer?”

“Hm?”

“Why is your armor not healing?”

“Drones with acid. Laser cuts, then they spray acid, and the armor takes longer to heal. If it heals.”

“Why don’t you retract your armor?”

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