Page 77 of Us Defiant Few

“Is this acceptable to you?” The Chief turned to Patreus, and even though his face was still pulled down in a tight grimace, he gave a reluctant sigh.

“They’ll do.”

“Then we’re all set,” the Chief said, her tense frame relaxing ever so slightly. “Ferren will lead the raid with a few others. He’ll go over everything you need to know. Get some food and rest. Once the sun sets, you’ll be leaving our walls.”

“We understand,” Khalani said, gearing her body for the journey.

“Good.” The Chief gave each of them a serious look. “Make sure you return alive.”

20

I think a part of me will always reach for you.

Khalani winced at every shift and thud of their scuffed boots against the golden sand. She used to love staring at the glittering moon, the lone object meant to mesmerize and swallow attention. But tonight, it may as well have been a bright beacon revealing their location to the Sinners.

She stared at the sparse clouds, silently praying for more to appear from the heavens and conceal them.

“You all right?” Ferren asked, sidling closer.

“I’m fine,” she replied automatically, willing the tremors in her hands to stop. “How much longer until we get there?”

They’d left hours ago, and the sun had long disappeared beyond the horizon. Khalani rubbed her hands down the long-sleeve black cardigan they’d loaned her as the night enveloped them in a cold embrace.

“We won’t reach the city until daybreak,” Ferren replied. “Make sure you don’t fall behind.”

When she nodded, he passed her and joined the others up front, whispering to a man with short-cropped brown hair. The man peered off into the distance with a pensive expression, giving a quick shake of his head as Ferren sighed in relief.

Her legs were beginning to cramp as they continued marching in silence. Walking with heavy boots across the sinking sand felt like trudging through mud. But Ferren and the other warriors kept their brisk, punishing pace, like navigating through the Death-Zone was second nature.

Behind her, she felt Brock’s annoyed glare digging into her back. She didn’t know if it was from having to watch her struggle to keep up, or the gall at being coerced to join their little escapade.

Probably both and a few other reasons she wasn’t privy to.

Takeshi walked a couple of arm’s lengths away. He didn’t appear winded at all. His stamina was unmatched, but even though he could easily set a backbreaking pace at the front, he kept her in his line of sight.

Khalani tried not to let the aggravation seep in. Tried not to dwell on the reasons why he came. Reading into Takeshi’s motives was as fruitful as waiting for the desert to turn into the sea.

But her mind kept returning to one thing. He didn’t volunteer to join the raid until she did.

Was that the buried parts of him still fighting to protect her?

Did he know the person who would sacrifice just as much was standing right next to him?

“Look your fill yet, Kanes?”

Khalani startled when Takeshi shifted his foreboding gaze to her.

“I…I wasn’t looking at you.”

“Sure, you weren’t.”

“I was getting a feel for the landscape,” she lied.

“Ah, yes. The ever-changing landscape,” he said dryly. “Do you think the sand on that ridge feels different from the kind beneath your feet?”

“Not sure. How about you walk a mile that way and let me know?”

One of the female warriors up ahead shot Khalani a mean look, warning her that she’d spoken too loudly. She grumbled under her breath, trying not to focus on the grains of sand slipping into her socks.