Read Battle: BWWM Dystopian Interracial Sci-Fi Romance (Betwixt Chocolate Book 2) for Free Online

the wall. Five young men with me did the same. As I climbed the rope, my feet scaling the wall, I hoped we didn’t meet too much resistance on the other side. When I finally reached the top, I switched the grappling hook to the other side and slid down the rope as fast as I could.
    No guards were in sight until I hit the ground. Cricket rounded a corner and sprinted across a courtyard toward us. What the hell was he doing so far in? I wondered briefly then jumped into action. With a mighty yell, I took off toward the three men chasing him. The others with me followed. When we reached the men from House Ballmore, I struck the first one with my stun-stick set on high. He cried out and dropped to the ground.
    Morale was high as we made quick work of the three men.
    “What happened?” I asked Cricket.
    “No time,” he answered. “Gate needs open.”
    He dashed toward the gate. I followed after him. We threw off the board keeping it shut and opened it. Ree and the others rushed in just as a half dozen other men from House Ballmore emerged from the barracks across the courtyard. I got out my sling and loaded it up, the others doing the same. A moment later, a shower of stones hit the men, causing them to stop in their tracks.
    “We got this!” Ree yelled, running forward.
    I sighed, wishing she would listen to me more sometimes, but I loved her and wanted to protect her. The others followed suit as I ran after Ree and toward the men. Just then, another group of armored men emerged from a different building. I changed my course, hoping Ree would be okay on her own for a moment or two. She was strong as hell. Chaos erupted in the courtyard as we fought them to the last man.
    After giving them a beating, the last two surrendered. They dropped their weapons and raised their arms. While a few of the others watched them, I looked around the courtyard for Ree. She was no where to be seen, but I heard a scream coming from a nearby warehouse. I took off toward the sound without stopping to think twice. The first door I came across was locked, so I traveled down some to look in a window.
    Inside, I saw Ree and her brother Adam circling each other. Bars on the window prevented me from breaking the glass and getting inside. Part of me wanted to run around the building to find another way in, but I also wanted to make sure she was okay. Maybe I can distract him? I wondered to myself as I stared at the two standing on the concrete floor.
    Adam pulled a sword out and held it high. Ree got into a defensive position with a stun-stick, but it didn’t look good at all. Bleak! I screamed in my mind then took off around the building to find another way in. With every step, all I could think about was her getting hurt. I stopped at another window and looked in. To my surprise, Ree had taken the sword from him. As I watched, she ran the point into his chest.
    I ran to the back of the warehouse and ran up a ramp to an open door. In the distance, I could see Ree standing over Adam. She had a look of horror on her face as I stopped in front of her. The sword, still bloody, hung at her left side as she stared at her brother’s body. I reached out and took the handle out of her hand. After dropping the sword to the floor with a clang, I took her hands in mine.
    “Are you okay? I saw what happened. You had to do it.”
    She nodded, slowly, still in shock. I led her away, one hand still in mine. Cricket and the others rushed in, but I waved them away.
    “Secure the walls,” I said.
    They obeyed. Once they left, I took her to a desk and chair in an office at the front of the building. No tears or any other emotion were displayed on her poker face, which concerned me. If I had just killed someone in my family, no matter how evil, it would have a dramatic effect on me. All I could think about was what she was going through. In that moment, I realized I loved her with all my heart and soul.
    “Just take a minute,” I said softly as she sat limp in a