“I’m grateful to have your help,” Margo nodded, acknowledging his personal sacrifice.
Creed bolted from the front door wild-eyed. “Where is she?” he demanded, still strapping on his weapons belt. Alik, Evan, Farrow and Cole spilled from the house on his heels.
“I think she’s gone to the enemy camp.” Even saying the words made her cringe.
“Why would she do that?” Alik looked enraged. His frame began expanding with every breath. Those in 17th Company stared at his transformation with gaping jaws.
“Because she’s Meg.” Margo threw her hands up in exasperation and jumped into the front passenger seat of the truck.
“Move!” she barked at everyone.
Creed, Alik, Evan, Farrow and Cole jumped into the back of the truck with the other soldiers.
Hays navigated his way through the explosives carefully before turning due east. He drove as fast as the off-roading would allow. The slow, bumpy pace was driving Margo insane.
“Did she really decide to take on the whole battle herself?” Rhett Hays ventured to ask.
Margo’s jaw was locked in equal parts fear and fury. “Yes.”
“Is she that powerful?”
Margo took a deep breath, trying to calm down before she answered. “She’s powerful, but can she defeat an army of seventy by herself? No.”
“Then why would she do this?”
“Every choice that girl has ever made is based on her love for her family. She thinks she can end this battle before anyone else gets hurt or killed.”
“That’s crazy!”
“That’s Meg. She leads with her heart. She always has.”
Rhett just shook his head, scowling. “She may have wanted a more peaceful ending, but this is going to be a bloodbath.” He slammed his palm against the steering wheel.
“You have such little faith, Rhett,” Margo spoke just above the roar of the truck plunging up and down the uneven terrain. “She may make rash decisions, but she is a fighter—a brilliantly skilled fighter—with more courage in a lock of hair than anyone who’ll meet her on the field of battle.”
Rhett glanced at the legendary Dr. Margo Winter and shook his head. “Courage is going to get her killed.”
71 Battle Ensues
“Just one last thing,” Meg cocked her head at the watching soldiers. “Tell them.”
“Tell them what?” Arkdone used the back of his hand to catch the droplets of blood slowly trickling from his mouth.
“So everyone here knows the terms of our agreement—tell them. Both of you.” Meg looked between Williams and Arkdone.
“Fine,” he huffed. Then to the crowd he made an announcement. “Let it be known. If Meg wins this match, she will be released to her family unharmed. All of you will leave Texas and never return—leaving the Winter Clan to live in peace.”
Murmurs growled throughout the crowd. Arkdone raised his hand to silence them.
Williams spoke up, “If Arkdone wins, we still leave her family untouched.” The voices of the bloodthirsty crowd rose. Williams raised his raw hand to quiet them. “However, Meg gives her word that she will act as her family’s sacrificial lamb. She will submit to us voluntarily. Her body and blood are ours—no resistance—until her death.”
A roar of approval erupted underscored by the rhythmic pounding of rifle butts into the nearest hard services.
Meg looked around at the savage display. Her eyes caught those of a soldier with flaming red hair. Immediately, Meg sensed him project a very personal hatred toward her. Secondly, she felt the distinct sensation of him trying to push his thoughts toward her. They buzzed like cicadas around her until she pushed him out. The final thought was one of concern. His mind pressed like Arkdone’s. He had some psychic ability and he knew how to wield it.
Meg forced her mind back on the real life-or-death battle circling her.
“Happy?” Arkdone sneered.
“Let’s get this over with,” she moved catlike to the side keeping a calculated distance from his reach.
The rhythmic pounding of weapons into the ground shook the earth beneath Meg’s boots. Her fists were raised protectively by her face, her legs moving methodically against the pounding vibrations.
Wild creatures who called this patch of land home turned their backs on the combatants offering only silence—as though Mother Nature herself sucked in a deep breath through clenched teeth.
Meg’s long, dark tresses were pulled back in a tight braid at the back of her head. She wore a long sleeved, black T-shirt and black cargo pants that had slipped down to hang from her hips without the support of her weapons belt. The effect caused a line of her olive-skinned midriff to peek out. Soldiers around her leered at her striking beauty. Meg ignored everyone except her opponent.