Wings of the Walker - CoraLee June Page 0,157

pursed as she looked out onto a growing group of aggressive onlookers.

"The accused, Beth Hannigan, is sentenced to death. For treason, falsehoods, and inciting riots." Cavil paused and with dark eyes nodded towards a hooded man on the platform, who then forced the Walker woman to bend over so that her head was on a metal block. She didn't pause or even acknowledge the slurs and rotten food thrown at her. She didn't tremble. Didn't cry. There was no warning. Within seconds, another hooded man produced an electric sword that cut through her neck, severing her head from her body. I gasped in shock as it rolled off the platform and into the crowd. There was no blood or gore. The heat of the knife cauterized her wounds. I almost preferred a more brutal death; the onlookers were desensitized by how clean it was.

"Let this be known! We will not tolerate insubordination from the Walker community. We feed you. Clothe you. Vaccinate you! Once a Walker, always a Walker, and if you disobey, you will meet the same fate."

The screen went black as fat tears rolled down my cheeks. The three of us stood there for a moment. Too haunted by what we saw to make sense of it.

"That Walker woman tried to marry a soldier. That was her only offense. And when they told her no, she tried running away, and they caught her. They killed her fiancé on the spot. For now, Ashleigh will stay under the radar and you're going to find a cure so we can get out of here.” Jacob then turned to me and let out a harsh exhale while throwing me an intense, irrevocable stare.

"And just so we're clear, I wanted to pick you up and drag you out of that dining room. And when Cavil insinuated that this beautiful thing between us was nothing more than a cheap transaction? I wanted to murder him. I wanted to walk you to the lab on my arm like a fucking gentleman. I want to court you. I want to show you off. But you know what I want more than all of that? I want you to live. So if that means we have to wait and hide this, or let others believe that what we have is a stupid arrangement, then fuck it. I'll let you make me the bad guy."

I gasped and watched Jacob bite his cheek. Maverick stared at the screen, as if trying to erase the image of the Walker woman that was executed from his mind. He didn't seem concerned with Jacob's admission.

"I love you. I love all of you," I whispered. Both Maverick and Jacob froze and leaned closer. Everything seemed so fragile. I wanted—no—needed to tell them how I felt. We could all be dead tomorrow. "I thought I loved Josiah. I spent years pining for him. But this? There's no comparison. It hurts. I want you...all. I want this. I'm so sick of everything getting in the way."

Jacob stormed up to me, his dark eyes fiery and unwavering. He wrapped one hand around my back and pulled me close before kissing me softly. In the back of my mind, I knew that Maverick was there, but it just made the kiss more thrilling.

"I love you, Ash," Jacob said while pulling away and looking at me. His gaze lingered adoringly before diving back in. His skilled tongue swept over my lips as his hands gripped me tighter. I let out a little moan as he deepened the kiss, and somewhere in the lab, a loud clang resonated, as if something was dropped. He pulled my hair, forcing me to look up at the lab’s tiled ceiling while kissing the exposed skin on my neck.

"I wanted to court you first. Romance you," Jacob whispered between kisses. "I would've made you get all dressed up. Taken you on a date." His tongue flicked out, tasting me, and I trembled as a second pair of hands wrapped around my waist. I stalled, realizing that Maverick was behind me. Mav's fingers explored my stomach and I felt the heat of his breath on my neck. I didn't have time to analyze what was happening, nor did I want to. I was determined to soak up every last drop of what was given to me. Jacob's hand reached up and grabbed my breast, making me gasp. "But I guess when the world ends, you can either watch it burn or light the