WALL MEN: A Vow Broken (The Wall Men 2)

Is it wrong, or just plain kinky? I don’t know. But those young men look about twenty years old. Tops.

I watch a blond War Man, with hulking muscles and a missing ear, poke the coals of his fire and give the bootie vibes back to Senorita Giggles.

Ohmygod. They’re flirting. It’s actually pretty cute. Maybe despite our differences in size, our two species aren’t so different after all. They want love. They care about their families and people. They believe in doing the right thing.

“Here is your water.” Tiago interrupts my thoughts and passes a strange-looking bean pod to me. “It’s a waste to drink it, if you ask me. Has no nutritional value. But I have several botas full, if you wish for more.”

“A bota?”

“Yes, a sneep bladder inserted into a skin.” He produces a suede pouch, like the pioneers used for carrying wine or water. Pre-metal canteen era.

“You mean a sheep?”

“No, a sneep. It is a large animal that grazes on the toes of a—”

“Never mind. I don’t want to know.” He’s going to say something horrible like it eats pregnant snail women toes or something. “Just tell me if the water is going to taste like actual water. I can’t take any more surprises.”

“It tastes better.”

I take the peapod and tilt the opening at the top toward my mouth. Water. Just plain water. “Thank y—”

Master barks.

That’s right. The act of thanking is considered an insult here. “I meant to say, I’m glad you finally learned how to be useful.”

Tiago nods. “Now eat your jerky. I must get my sleep.”

“Then sleep. I’m not stopping you.”

“You will sleep with me tonight.”

I still. Is there some strange brother-in-law rule I’m ignorant of? “I don’t think so.”

“I meant it in the literal sense. I cannot risk anything dragging you off in the night. I will sleep behind you. Master will take the front.”

“I’m not a piece of cheese.”

He frowns in confusion.

I add, “I’m not about to be sandwiched between you two.”

“You will if you do not want the Shell People to climb on you while you rest. Once they latch on, there is nothing you can do to detach their mouths. Even in death, they hang on, giving their victims no choice but to cut away their own flesh to free themselves.”

“I would be honored if you’d spoon me tonight,” I say.

“As I thought.”

After a meal of a decimated protein bar, half a bag of jerky, and several peapods of water, I’m beyond exhausted. Tiago says our party walked eight or nine hours today. With their long legs, that means we probably traveled over a hundred miles, and we’re already in the next kingdom.

I’m beginning to think that maybe Monsterland is nowhere near as big as my world. Does it matter? No. But it might start to explain how one stream from River Wall Manor can provide water for all their kingdoms. It also makes sense that they’d be so obsessed with hunting rights or invading my world for more land and food.

If every kingdom is only a hundred square miles, and water only flows from one source, it’s a recipe for tension. He who controls the spice!

I chuckle at my stupid thought.

“What is so amusing?” asks Tiago, who’s attempting to sleep on his side behind me. I’m a few feet from his abs, and so far, he’s been careful not to touch me. I appreciate that. I only hope he carries that over when he sleeps. If he rolls onto his stomach, I’m toast.

“Nothing. I was just thinking.”

“About?” he asks.

“How bizarre your world is and still incredibly similar to mine.”

“How so?”

I roll over to face him, though I can’t really see his face. It’s dark, and the campfire is dying out. A few men are posted around our campsite, circling every few minutes. I seriously hope they’re good soldiers because I do not want to see these Shell People. From what I gather, they’re the size of an elephant and look like snails with the head of a goldfish and a mouth like an octopus—more of a beak with multiple grabby arms. Now there’s a special pet.

“Well,” I reply, “for starters, everyone is out to save their own skins—but they wrestle with the fact they can’t survive without one another.”

“True.”

“You love your families. It’s the best part of you, and you’d do anything to protect them. And still, there’s an honor system you, Alwar, and Gabrio go by. It sets you apart.” Bard was the same way. “Your people come first. Above you or your families.”

Tiago moves his arm and places his hand behind me, stroking my long hair.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Petting you.”

“Tiago, I’m not your pet.”

“Would you like to be?”

What? I sit up to see his face. Is he joking? I sure hope so.

He looks down at me. “What is the matter now, Sour One?”