Wings of the Walker - CoraLee June Page 0,110

the council,” he began. “Maverick, what was the title you gave her? Oh! Yes—Captain of Walker Relations.”

I felt a hive of anxiety buzz around my stomach, and I hated everyone just a bit for putting me in this position. I didn’t want to hurt anyone with my choice, and I also didn’t want to seem like I was taking sides.

I considered my options for a moment while they all held their breath. I felt unqualified to share an opinion, but ultimately, I went with my gut.

“For,” I choked out in a whimper. “But as a strictly defensive measure only ,” I quickly added while avoiding Maverick’s tense frame. I knew that my vote was disappointing to him, and I could only hope that he wouldn’t push me away.

His hand slipped out of mine. It felt like someone ripping tape off my battered heart. I wanted to run to him and comfort him. I knew his demons were a medley of nightmarish virtues, but I also knew that something would need to happen to defend us against Lackley. Nevertheless, his departure left me feeling hollow and guilty.

“Well, I guess it’s settled then. I take no joy in causing you pain, brother,” Cyler said to Maverick’s retreating form.

Chapter Eighteen

The next morning, Cyler and Patrick made plans to travel to Ethros at nightfall. A small part of me felt nervous about their trade deal. I couldn’t help but feel a nagging sense of unease about it all, regardless of my firm opinion that Dormas was in desperate need of protection. I packed their meals and lingered in both of their rooms while they prepared, soaking up as much time as possible with them.

Cyler was distracted, probably by Maverick’s frustration. Patrick, however, sensed my uncertainty and abandoned packing to sing more nursery rhymes and cuddle me on his bed.

“We’re going to be fine, Ash. We’ve been developing good rapport with Ethros for months now.”

“Then why can’t I come with you?” I asked in a whiny voice that sounded foreign to me. I spent a lifetime in solitude, when did I become so needy?

“Because, someone needs to stay here to keep Huxley from killing anyone, Maverick from sulking in his office, and Jules from cornering Jacob,” Patrick said with a chuckle that didn’t quite feel authentic enough for the severity of our situation.

“Just be sure to hurry home. I don’t think I can handle Huxley’s sour attitude without you to buffer it for much more than a week,” I said dramatically.

Patrick laughed and moved me so that I was laying on his chest. I felt the rise and fall of each of his breaths and wondered when touching him became such a norm for me. “I promise to come back as soon as I can,” he said while nuzzling into my hair. He breathed in my scent, and I felt goosebumps pucker up everywhere his breath touched.

“You guys are the only family I have,” I replied.

That night, I hugged both Cyler and Patrick for far longer than socially acceptable. Everyone but Maverick came to see them off, and I fully planned on chastising him for it later, once he was no longer locked in his office avoiding me, of course.

The train mocked me within the confines of the station, and that familiar feeling of dread made my knees shake. Despite our last successful mission in it, I still felt it was bad luck and severely hated that I wouldn’t be traveling with them. Now it wasn’t just Cyler I had to worry about, it was Patrick, too.

Cyler boldly kissed my cheek so close to my lips that I felt a sliver of a promise between us, as well as a craving for more. Patrick held me tightly against him and kissed the sensitive skin on my neck just below my earlobe, causing quivers to erupt within me. He then sent me a smoldering look that reminded me of our afternoon together. I knew that I would be daydreaming for the days to come about how our bodies were snug and intertwined while we snuggled.

I peered at Patrick and Huxley’s goodbye with interest. I wanted to dig deeper into their relationship and see how they handled this dangerous mission. But in a highly anticlimactic move, they simply bumped fists and did an awkward one-handed hug. This was followed by a “see you later” from Patrick. Ugh, men.

During my walk back to the Black Manor, I considered storming up to the Clinic and demanding that Maverick work