Page 68 of Battle Fluke
Bubbles rippled through the water. A quiet fizz of energy tickled up and down Hudson’s arms as though the bubbles on her skin waited to pop. They were finally going to do it. She was going to do it. Fighting for the freedom of her people had been all she ever wanted, since the moment she realized life didn’t have to be the way they all accepted without a fight, without a thought.
Defeating the Talons had been her primary focus. Her only true focus for so many years now.
The energy from her men buoyed her on, pushing her forward toward their victory. Because it wasn’t just her victory. It would be a victory for all of her people.
Memories of the last battle against the kraken filled her thoughts.
The Talons didn’t have the benefit of Kyree, the magnificence of the soul stone, or the combined power of the sea creatures defending their home. If the Talons fought in a battle against the humans would any of them even survive for Hudson to pick off later?
This was ridiculous.
She shook her head and focused again on the expanse they followed. Kyree’s presence beside her filled her with a strength she hardly recognized.
Her entire life had been all about fighting for her freedom, for her ability to choose and live how she wanted. Above all of that, she fought even harder for her existence to be considered of worth, of true value to her people.
But she did have value. It grew within her from a seed long ago forgotten and nourished into growth. But not from the battles. Not even from the war.
The knowledge swelled within her chest, wrapping like seaweed around every part of her. It caressed her, and as she allowed herself to relax into the touch, she knew she had already found the freedom she’d always craved.
A freedom unlike anything else she’d ever imagined.
Her mind filled and raced with too many thoughts. She traced the paths along to their conclusions.
She had never entirely doubted her own value, but she wanted others to acknowledge it, to give her the value she deserved.
And Kyree and Honour already had.
“It doesn’t matter.” The words bubbled out of her mouth before she could think about pulling the words back.
“What?” Kyree’s head turned toward her own, and she met those eyes. The feeling of home, the feeling of freedom and being seen alive within them.
“It doesn’t matter about the Talons,” the muttering began behind her.
Her chest tightened as the old fear tried to take hold. She pushed it back and shook her head.
After a quick smile at Kyree, Hudson twisted around, slowing her speed and watching as her men slowed automatically, following her lead. They’d always followed her lead, and she’dfelt the power of such control build up inside her, be enough for her. The warmth remained, but she needed something else now, something so much more powerful.
“The Talons are our birth people. They’re our oppressors.” Hudson spoke the words with strength and power, even as part of her brain screamed, surprised and horrified at where her words were leading. “But they won’t be worth fighting if the humans win. If the humans win, we all lose. Talon and us alike. But we were never going to lose. And I won’t let us lose now.”
She saw confusion furrow the brows of her men. She was messing this up, as though it were her first time rallying them to the cause. But she couldn’t backflip and lose her momentum or her decision. It’d been made, and she would do what she needed to.
“This is where we part ways.” Hudson put her hands out next to her. She wasn’t going to drag them into this mess of her own making. And she had to be clear. Cryloc was trained well enough to take over leadership while she was tangled up with Kyree and Honour.
The chorus of disbelief and anger washed over her. She felt Kyree’s eyes boring into the side of her face, but she couldn’t meet them. Not yet.
“You’re the best of the best. The best Talon has ever had, the best they ever lost, and you’re the best of this whole damn world.” Hudson had to placate them through the breakup. This was almost as bad as leaving Honour and Kyree the last time. These men were her family—the only family she’d ever really had.
They cheered, relief filling the cheers that roared from them. Several sets of eyes still held confusion and uncertainty, but they would find their own way through this fight, through this war.
She believed in them.
The realization was almost as shocking as what she had been planning in her head.
“The Talons will be fighting alongside the rest of our people, all of our people. All the tribes and companions. Show them all what Talons are truly capable of. Fight and survive and make sure you get your piece of the enemy.”
The confusion from the eyes staring at her disappeared, replaced by the hunger for battle. The hunger for victory that had made her choose these men every single time. And every single one of them.
“Cryloc will lead you into the city of Reine.”