Friction (The Frenzy Series Book 4) Read Free Page A

the wrong choice. Porschia couldn’t be helped, but Saul still could – and I was going to help him. Everyone else, including my sister, could just learn to deal with it.
    When I caught up with her at her house, she and Tage were walking over to get Roman from his. “We need you to get the horse from the stable, Mercedes,” Tage said.
    “You want me to get it?” I didn’t mind; I was just surprised they trusted me to do anything.
    “Unfortunately,” he smiled, exposing his long fangs, “I tend to spook them. My bet is that your sister would too, so that’s why we need you to get the horse and come back for Roman as soon as possible.”
    Porschia narrowed her eyes at me in response.
    “Hurry, we’re going to bring him down.”
    I took off running as fast as my legs could carry me. They were infinitely better now that the Infection was gone, but weaker than I’d been before the illness took hold. Sometimes I envied Porschia. Once she fed she was so strong, even stronger than Tage and twice as strong as Roman had been as a night-walker.
    Ford was already waiting at the stable, saddling a beautiful dark brown mare. He smiled as he saw me approaching. “Cedes, you’re just in time. This girl is ready.” He patted her back and stroked her mane.
    “What’s her name?” I looked at her, her eyes as dark as freshly turned soil.
    “Her name’s Lady. Take care of her, and –” He approached to whisper, looking around to make sure no one was listening to our conversation. Satisfied that no one was around, he continued, “Don’t let Porschia get too close to her. Tage, either.”
    “They frighten you, Lady?” I said, stroking her mane. I wasn’t scared of horses. I’d ridden before, although not nearly enough to be considered good at it, and a spooked horse might be more than I could handle.
    “That…but also, Porschia likes meat and I like Lady—alive.”
    I swallowed. She wouldn’t eat the horse. At least, I didn’t think she would. I saw Porschia eat raw meat once, and it was enough to make me never want to see it again. Nodding to Ford, I took her reins and he eased a stool over to help me climb on. “There are apples and oats in the bags behind you. Feed her well and stop for water as often as you can.”
    “We will. I’ll see to it that she returns to you in the same shape she’s in now.”
    He looked away. “Take care of Porschia, too. I know no one thinks she needs help, but I think she needs it now more than she ever has.”
    My brows touched one another. Why would Porschia need anything from me or anyone else? She was the most powerful thing around here. She had nothing to fear because everyone feared her. That included me. Most days I didn’t know if she wanted to hug me or strangle my neck. I wouldn’t have blamed her for either one. Once the dust settled and after the cure was found, things between the pair of us had changed irrevocably.
    I thanked Ford again before Lady trotted out of the stable and I guided her toward Roman’s house. When I approached, Tage was supporting Roman’s weight, Roman’s arm draped around his shoulder, but he was still standing in the sunlight, draped in a thick, woolen coat.
    Porschia flanked his other side, her dress also hidden by dark wool, wearing the coat that used to be mine. Lady whinnied when we got too close to the pair of predators, but I kept her calm as Tage helped Roman onto the saddle behind me. It wasn’t the most comfortable situation.
    “I need to hold on to you,” he said, wincing. He squinted his eyes against the bright sunlight.
    “That’s fine.”
    He groaned and held on tightly to my stomach as Porschia spoke up. “We’ll meet you at the crossing downstream.”
    They sped away, setting Lady at ease once more. The thing about prey? They knew what to be frightened of. Perhaps we should all be wary of the night-walkers. Even Porschia could be dangerous if provoked, and provocation seemed to be my strong suit