Wings of the Walker - CoraLee June Page 0,74

mind over and over every inflection of his golden tone. But instead, I felt a new feeling at his departure—relief.

Cyler was itching to say something, and the moment I lifted my eyes to his, it was like a dam breaking.

“I can see here that you’re dealing with some major internal turmoil, but I’d like to pause briefly on this heartbreak to scold you for not telling us that your birthday is TODAY!” Cyler yelled, and the room reverberated with his anger. Maverick and Kemper wore equal looks of disapproval.

“I forgot!” I exclaimed with a shaky voice, still distraught from my conversation with Josiah, and the lack of emotions I felt when seeing his face. My words snapped Maverick into action as he used his tablet to call everyone and let them know that a celebration was in order. He worked with the efficiency of a true leader as he dialed numbers and barked orders.

“Who do we call to bake a cake when it’s the baker’s birthday?” Kemper mused. His usual kind smile was playful as he looked me over. He didn’t seem nearly as worried and stressed as the others.

“Jacob’s got guard duty tonight, but I can make arrangements for someone else to keep an eye out on our prisoners for the night,” Cyler said .

Josiah’s Galla guards were held in a warehouse turned jail on the outskirts of town. Each of the guys, and a few trusted Dormas citizens, took turns patrolling the grounds to make sure they didn’t escape. Even though the disease Maverick infected them with caused them to pass out whenever their heart rate increased, they were still a formidable threat.

“Jacob doesn’t need to give up his shift. We don’t have to celebrate!” I urged.

“Oh gosh, I thought we passed the martyr stage, Cy. Guess we need to remind our girl how special she is.” Maverick smirked while grazing over the term ‘our girl.’

I quietly stood there while they frantically ran around making plans for an impromptu birthday party.

How did I go from forgetting today was my birthday one moment, to a full-blown celebration the next?

Chapter Six

I somehow managed to convince Cyler that the entire town didn’t need to be invited over to celebrate. He originally wanted a party comparable to the summer solstice, but I immediately vetoed that. Still, everyone moved with frantic energy while preparing dinner and dessert for me. I ignored the rushed and whispered calls to some of the local shops as they tried to coordinate, and giggled when Lois scolded them for not planning ahead, until of course, she started scolding me for not telling her about my birthday.

As if attracted to the commotion, Jules positioned herself at the kitchen table and threw out undiluted scorn to anyone within earshot. Her beautiful face twisted into a look of disapproval, and her indignant huffs increased the temperature with each of her scornful remarks.

“I don’t understand why everyone is making such a big deal about this. Even the Walker didn’t remember her own birthday.” Jules snorted, apparently finding herself hilarious. “On my birthday, Jacob was the only one that called.”

“That’s because on your birthday, while you were safe and sound at school, we were dealing with an attack from the Eastern Scavengers,” Maverick said.

“I could have been home helping you all, but then you’d just complain that I was in the way,” Jules countered.

“That’s because you would have been in the way,” Maverick replied. She crossed her thin arms over her chest in annoyance.

“Oh, Jules!” Cyler said with a half-smile while whirling around to face her. His large, calloused fingers were struggling to tie small scraps of string together to make decorative multi-colored streamers. “I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve been meaning to talk to you. I didn’t get the opportunity to chat this morning because, as you’re well aware, I was indisposed.” My cheeks blushed at the reminder of this morning and Cyler's large, perfect hands on me.

Maverick stopped chopping fruit and exchanged a small but pleased smile with Cyler before crossing his arms and angling his body towards Jules, demonstrating a united front between the two of them. I briefly wondered if their family dynamic was usually like this, the two brothers ganging up on their younger sister.

“Since the engagement with Josiah is permanently broken off, I think we need to revisit the terms of your punishment. We gave you a few weeks to settle back into Dormas, but now we must move forward with your disciplinary terms.” The smirk on