Wings of the Walker - CoraLee June Page 0,145

present the torture device to me like he did to Jules. There was no fanfare when he placed the fetter on me, and within seconds, a searing pain traveled up my arm as it latched onto my wrist. But I did not scream. I did not cry. The only reaction I allowed to escape was a tight hiss of breath as I sharply inhaled.

In the little time I spent with these men, I knew that they were cruel and sadistic. Even though my legs felt weak and I was dizzy, I refused to give them what they craved...and it made them angry. Very angry. Blan leaned closer and his hot breath hit my face. "I'm going to enjoy breaking you, little Walker."

As we rode in the small transport, Blan took enjoyment in making me squirm. He pressed his hot thigh against mine while leaning close. Occasionally, he would shove his elbow into my side, and I’d pull away and scowl. It made me cringe to be so close to him, and although I tried not to show how much he scared me, he sensed my discomfort.

"So what’s your plan?" Jules asked in a calm voice. To an outsider, she appeared unaffected, but I had grown to understand her. She was still visibly shaken by the fetter firmly clasped upon her wrist, and every so often, I’d catch her softly petting the skin around it as she spoke.

"Cavil seems to think you're the leverage we need to keep Maverick in Ethros," Webb said in a bored tone while flipping through news clippings on his tablet. “This whole vaccine rejection business has got everyone in a tizzy. Ethros wants to be the first to find a cure.”

Jules sighed. “It’s so predictable, really. I’m getting bored with all these power-hungry men overcompensating for their little dicks. Cavil wants to be like Lackley and monopolize the necessary means for survival? Surprise, surprise.” Jules rolled her eyes.

“Commodore Cavil is a good man. His first priority is saving his people. If it makes him rich in the process, then that’s simply a perk,” Webb replied in a stern tone.

“So, just so I’m understanding this correctly, you want me in Ethros so my brother will be more cooperative about staying?” Jules asked.

“That’s the idea, sweetheart. You sure do ask a lot of questions for a prisoner.”

Jules and I exchanged a brief glance before she settled deeper into her seat. I thought of my relationship with Cyler, Maverick, Jacob, Kemper, Patrick and Huxley. Although we were still on the cusp of our courtship, I realized that if these men knew that we were maybe more, it would add to their leverage.

This, too, seemed to dawn on Jules, because she let out a hearty laugh that filled the transport. Blan stiffened beside me and scowled at her.

"What’s so funny?" he asked in a gruff voice.

"Oh, nothing." Jules wiped a tear that fell down her cheek. She let out a quick choking noise before placing a hand over her mouth and swallowing her amusement.

After taking a good five minutes to calm her manic amusement, she finally responded. "Yes well," she began with bright eyes. "My darling brothers would go to the ends of the earth for their baby sister." Her gaze drifted to mine, and when Webb and Blan were done staring skeptically at her, she winked.

Jules Black winked at me. This must truly be the end of the empire.

Our trip to Ethros was long, and I spent our time alternating between worrying about the men I loved, trying to shift away from Blan, and exchanging wordless stares with Jules. About thirty minutes into our drive, Webb brought out the whiskey, and the two soldiers downed the entire bottle by the time we reached Ethros.

At sundown, we approached a shady beach with large rocks sticking out of the sand. I watched in amazement as the transport drove at top speeds headfirst into the water. We hovered over the rocky waves as we leveled, my stomach lurched and dropped until the movement stopped. I had to force myself not to stick my nose against the window and peer at the ocean below.

I spent a lifetime confined to the Stonewell home in Galla and often dreamed of seeing the ocean, even if just once. One night, Josiah brought a projector to my room and showed me clips of his trip to the beach. I'll never forget how the waves moved along the white walls of my room, making the manor feel less