“I’ll head to the valley to help your men,” he interjects while running up.
“Araya should take Angelica and Grayson with her since she will be going as well. It’s time they started earning their field points,” Clay asserts while walking up.
“My daughter? You can’t take my daughter out there,” Nicholas panics.
“Captain Hawkins, we agreed to let Araya train your daughter here out of respect for your position and special circumstances. This is a good learning experience for her, and if you meddle, then I’m going to assume you can’t be objective.”
Nicholas’s jaw tenses, and Hale takes a deep breath while exchanging a glance with Brazen.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I don’t want either of them out there today. We haven’t assessed the danger,” Hale murmurs to Clay.
Clay’s eyes twist up in confusion before he shakes his head.
“I’m not telling you to let them get right in the thick of the fight, but there will be an army there. Don’t treat them differently than you would any other recruits.”
“Then Araya stays here,” Hale pops off.
I glare at him with fury. He’s constantly belittling me as though I’m some fragile piece of glass.
“Araya will go as well. I’m not sure what has gotten into you, but don’t forget this is my call. Araya is their trainer, not you,” Clay growls, and I flash Hale a ha-ha-in-your-face grin.
For once Clay is on my side. Clay’s jaw tenses slightly, and then he turns back to face me.
“Get the kids and follow the men out. Keep them at a safe distance by letting them take care of the boundary lines as opposed to the actual fight. The valley is the perfect training spot because you’ll have the chance to give them the high ground. I’ll take lead,” he murmurs, and then he walks away as Hale races to catch up with him.
Angelica and Grayson come running toward us, but her eyes steer away from Nicholas’s and mine.
“What’s going on?” Grayson’s panicked voice asks.
“You’re about to get your first field lesson,” I chirp, and then they start running along behind me.
“What?” Angelica gasps. “I haven’t done any of my tests yet.”
“The tests are just a placement procedure. I’ll run you through those later. Field training is mandatory for every cadet.”
They load up even though neither of them want to, and Brazen jumps into the passenger seat beside me.
“Really? You tell me you don’t want me going, and now you’re riding with me?” I scoff.
“Just drive, baby,” he mumbles, and I roll my eyes before slinging up the dirt under the tires.
I shift gears with vicious jolts as I weave between the other cars charging toward the fight. I finally reach the valley, and my jaw almost drops open.
Fuck. I should have left them behind.
It’s a bloodbath down there. Everyone is stained red from the horrific fight, and several are convulsing. I grab a mask, and then I toss two to the kids in the back.
“What are these for?” Grayson asks while putting one on.
“There’s so much blood. You have to keep it from getting in your mouth. I swear that’s not something you want to endure,” I mutter, and Angelica quickly covers her virgin lips.
Brazen pulls his on as well, and I look over to see Hale and Clay walking toward us with their masks on.
The leather wraps around the steel to allow in only air as it suctions to our face to keep the possibility of an accidental ingesting from being a concern. Hale’s hand forces the door to the back shut.
“Get them out of here. This is far worse than we expected,” he yells.
“He’s right,” Clay asserts, and then I hear the whistling of a missile driving toward us.
