Angel Power: Avoidables, #4

By Rachel Medhurst

The temperature is rising in Lower Side. With enemies closer to becoming allies, nothing will prepare the city for what William, the leader of the Perfect government, has in store. Will it finally be the end of the evil that pulses through the world?

An explosion sets off the final countdown. One where people's lives are at risk. One where we fight to find evidence of those trying to bring us down. Yet, luck is on our side. A seer with intricate abilities will be our salvation. She will be the one to help us take down the government. It's time for the city to breath again. It's time for the Avoidables and Perfects to unite.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rachel Medhurst
• Release date: Jul 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781540162052

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Angel Power

Avoidables Book 4

By

Rachel Medhurst

Copyright © Rachel Medhurst 2017

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Contents

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Avoidables Angels

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Copyright

Author

Part One

Chapter One

MANNY

THE ORANGE-HAIRED GIRL would be the death of me. I didn’t want to be mated to her any more than she wanted me. In fact, I was totally against her way of ruling. Or attempt to rule, anyway.

Manny, what did you say to her? Yasi said, glaring at me through the bars of her cell.

The woman thought that she had authority over me, just because Amya’s father, the king, had ordered her to challenge the princess. She had no idea that I had just had my gut kicked by my own insides.

Nothing, I snapped in reply, moving away from the front of the cell to lay on the bed.

For a place where they kept prisoners, the Perfects had made sure the jail was comfortable. My body melted into the mattress as my eyes roamed over the small cubicle at the back of the cell. Were they so obsessed with hygiene that they supplied us with personal showers?

Yasi’s sidekick growled in his throat. If you told her who sent us, we’ll all be executed.

Holding my middle finger up, I laughed to myself. You don’t think she’s going to kill us anyway? Are you stupid?

Curse words echoed from his mouth, but I ignored him as I closed my eyes. An image of the princess came into my mind, causing my stomach to flip. Oh man, why did I have to be mated to her? My mother had warned me about the process, but she had never told me that Amya, the princess of our tribe, could be the one I was supposed to spend the rest of my life with.

Manny? a guard called.

I had been so wrapped up in my thoughts, I didn’t even hear him come in. Glancing over my shoulder, I didn’t bother to get to my feet for him. He was a Perfect. A man who detested our kind. So, why would I be compliant?

The princess has asked that you all visit her so she can decide what to do with you.

The others were being pulled out of their cells, their hands cuffed behind their backs. I waited as the bars to my cell opened, ready to face the woman again. Maybe she would just kill me, instead of bothering to try and work out our little conundrum.

Getting to my feet, I turned to allow the guard to handcuff me. There was no point in fighting too hard. They would just shoot me with their guns, like they had Yasi. Her leg had been tended to overnight, although she still limped as she walked ahead of me.

Don’t try anything, one of the guards said to her. Or we’ll shoot your other leg so you can’t walk at all.

Her scowl showed plainly when she sneered up at him, revealing the side of her face to me. If she wasn’t careful, she would be dead before the day was over. The woman was one of the worst choices the king could have picked to lead a revolution. But, then, I had wondered if he meant to do that. A part of me believed that our king was testing our princess, as opposed to trying to overthrow her.

Filtering out into the corridor, I cracked a smile when one of my associates leered at a passing Perfect female, his tongue almost hanging out. It wasn’t him that amused me, but the hasty retreat of the woman as she gasped in disgust and ran away.

You need to work on your flirting skills, I told him.

He looked at me, his eyebrows raised. Or, they need to open their minds to the pleasure that I could provide them.

Scoffing, I tagged along before being pushed into a room not far from the cells. It was a school room, full of tables and chairs. Nudging us to sit, the guards took a seat next to each of their prisoners. No one else was in the room. Trust our princess to want to make an entrance.

Where is she? Yasi demanded, thumping the desk in front of her as soon as her handcuffs were taken off.

The guard taking care of her wrenched her arm behind her back. Don’t show any sign of aggression or I’ll shoot you. Your hands are only free because the princess wanted it that way.

I grinned as my guard huffed, taking my cuffs off at the insistence of one of the others. He had tried to keep me tied up, but failed.

Why would the princess allow us this freedom? To try and win us over?

The door opened, revealing Amya and her buddy, William. Her alliance with the Perfect leader had not gone unnoticed by our kind. Amya had failed to hide her dealings with the race who had killed some of us, riling her tribe.

Right, I’m here for one thing only, Amya said, marching to the front of the room. I want to know who sent you. I’ll speak to each one of you individually. If you tell me who it was, you’ll be allowed to keep your life. If you refuse, you’ll die.

Snapping her finger, she gestured for William to join her. He moved, his hands tucked behind his back as he went past us.

Your precious Perfect will do the killing, will he? Yasi said, her cringe evident when the guard prodded her in the arm with the barrel of his gun.

Amya’s face flushed as she faked a smile. The orange of her hair clashed with the colour of her cheeks as she avoided looking at me. I was calm, even though my insides were flipping all over the place. Could she feel the pull across the room?

Can I go first so I can get out of here? I said, drawing her attention away from Yasi.

The others either gasped or growled in my direction. Yeah, I would give up the king to save my life. So, what? I hadn’t realised that being in the same room as Amya would be agonising. Maybe it would be better for me to give up my life, but the king would never kill me for betraying him when he found out that I was his daughter’s mate. So, why bother to hold back when I could live either way? It was a cruel world, and sometimes, as Avoidables, we needed to play our best hand.

Okay, Amya said through gritted teeth. Please come up.

She still hadn’t looked me in the eye. Her gaze was trained above my head as I got out of my chair and went to the front of the room. Gesturing to the guards, William indicated that the others be taken out. It would do none of us any good if we heard what each other said.

I found out something very interesting today. Amya shocked me with her chatty demeanour as the others went out of the room.

Settling in a chair at the front, I waited for her to tell me what she had found out. Crossing my arms over my chest, I leant back in my chair. My composure was forced as she sat down on another chair. William moved to the side, his energy on full alert. Did he really believe I would harm the princess? When she was my ‘get out of jail free card’? Some men were stupid. Especially those that had no idea what it was like trying to survive in the real world. Survival was the only thing I was good at. Everything else was foreign to me.

Apparently, there’s been a lot of secrets kept from us. About our history, our creation, if you like. Amya looked at William, the glare she threw before she covered it was obvious to me.

Clenching my fists, I stuffed down the force that rattled me from the inside. It was as if my organs were shaking as I resisted the urge to jump to my feet.

Are you going to tell me what those secrets are? I put my hand on my knee as it hopped up and down.

Are we a bit nervous? William asked, his gaze genuinely interested in my answer.

Shaking my head, I turned back to listen to Amya. The moment her eyes slipped and our gaze met, we both heaved in a deep breath.

Biting my lip, I leant forward as my stomach burned. It felt like acid wanted to explode up my throat.

Amya groaned as she clenched her hands into fists and pushed them against her thighs. She was hurting as much as I was.

What’s happening? she said, her face screwed up in pain.

We’re fighting it, I muttered, running a hand over my head. I was told not to fight it when I found my mate.

Leaning back, I held my hands in the air, admitting my surrender. I had to accept the inevitable so we could move forward, however the princess planned. I would be a pawn in her leadership after all. Something I had come to accept as soon as I realised what was happening.

William leant his arms against his thighs. I think he’s right.

Slumping in her chair, Amya blinked several times. When tears popped into her eyes, I felt them as if they were my own. My eyes started to water, emotion hitting me square in the chest.

Okay, she breathed when she looked at me again. I give in. You are my mate.

Relaxing as much as she could, considering how uncomfortable she obviously was, she also held her hands up in surrender.

The uncomfortable raging lessened slightly, but not enough to help us function. We had stopped fighting and admitted what we were to each other. Why hadn’t it gone away?

Well...My friend told me that when she found her mate... Amya couldn’t talk as her voice caught in her throat.

Looking at William, she pleaded with her eyes. He nodded once as he rose from his seat. You need to seal the deal with a kiss. I’ll give you some privacy.

The look of despair that crossed Amya’s face as William left us made me pause. She already had someone in her life. Was she thinking of him?

Do you love the boy you’re attached to?

Her gaze shot to mine as the door closed behind the Perfect government leader. The lines on her forehead increased as the heat burned inside us. She may think she loved him, but I would not let their relationship continue, no matter who she was. I had my pride.

Leaning her head in her hands, Amya heaved out her breath. I’m...so confused. We need to go back to our camp. I need to get things in order. I don’t have time to worry about a mate. I...Dax...

Is that his name? He’s a normal Avoidable, I’ve heard. Once we do this, Amya, I won’t have you involved with someone else. I don’t know you, you don’t know me. But, one thing is for sure...I will not share the princess with anyone.

That’s all it’s about for you, isn’t it? You hit the jackpot in your mind. A failsafe to a secure life. Well, I have no idea who you are, so you’ll tell me who sent you to overthrow me. Then, you’ll return to the camp by my side. Not as my mate, I’ll not allow that to happen yet, but as my bodyguard.

Biting the inside of my cheek, I held back the retort that wanted to snap out of my mouth. Leaning forward, I looked her straight in the eye. You really think I want to be tied to you? How naive you are to believe that my life will be privileged if I’m your mate. I’ll be a man overshadowed by his other half. A woman, no less.

Laughter bubbled out of her chest, forcing me to frown. What was so funny?

For all this time, I thought that the Perfects were much more judgemental than we were. Yet, right in front of me, a cat rebel is sexist towards his own mate. Her tone was laced with disgust as she screwed her nose up at me.

Dropping my head, I had to agree with her. Ever since I had realised that we were mates, my attitude had been disgraceful. Maybe because I hated the idea of being involved with someone who had so much power, yet, still had no idea how to lead her tribe.

I’m sorry. My apology was sincere as I heaved a sigh.

She nodded. Now, tell me who sent you.

Holding my stomach as it churned, I kept my gaze on her. The more time I spent with her, the easier it was to deal with the strange effect she had on me. I was happy to wait to finalise our union. If she wanted to get to know who I was, I also wanted to see who I was going to spend the rest of my life with.

It was your father, I said quietly, hoping my tone would sooth the blow.

And who else in the camp is plotting against me?

Shaking my head, I frowned. No one. Yasi approached us after she spoke to your father. They met in the desert.

Her smile was slow as she got to her feet. Thank you for telling me the truth.

Cocking my head to the side when she didn’t react how I thought she would, I looked up at her. She seemed far too cool for someone who had just learnt that their own father tried to overthrow them.

Now I know I can trust you.

You do? I asked, getting to my feet and facing her.

We both cringed as I reached out. Snatching my hand back, I grinned, unable to help the humour that our ridiculous situation invoked.

Yes, I already knew it was my father behind your...transgression. Now you’ve told me the truth, you’ll live another day.

And the others? They still waited outside. Will you do as you threatened?

Amya swallowed, her throat moving as she stared at me. Always. What type of leader would I be if I backed down? If they won’t tell me about my father, they will die.

Chapter Two

Amya! Where have you been?

The tall blond man that approached us had to be Dax.

After talking to the other conspirators, Amya ordered me to accompany her to Lower Side.

The theatre was old and grim, although, it was pretty amazing to be inside a building that had managed to survive. In all the other cities I had visited, most of the Lower Sides had been razed to the ground in an attempt to scare the Avoidables into compliance.

It seemed this city was a little better at containing the Avoidables from the Perfects. Although, if whispers were true, more and more Perfects were romantically involved with the Avoidables from Lower Side. I wasn’t sure if the rumours were correct, but being around Artie and his gang might help me to see.

Dax, I’ve been sorting out a political issue. Amya glanced at me when Dax took her hand.

My eyes narrowed on the contact. Spinning away from them, I approached the enforcer of Lower Side. I didn’t have a claim on Amya, not yet. There was no point in allowing my primal instincts to take over. Not one part of me was emotionally connected to the princess, it was all chemical.

It’s nice to meet you, Manny, Artie said.

Looking around the stage, I shook his offered hand. Apparently, these Avoidables had some manners, which was unusual.

A woman came out from the back of the stage, a baby cradled in her arm. The sleeve of her t-shirt flapped around her shoulder stump as she bounced the kid. I had heard about the Avoidable with one arm. Her name was Hope. She’d had a baby with a Perfect. Which was very strange.

What brings you here with Amya? Is she taking you back to the camp? Artie watched the princess as she took hold of Dax’s arm to stop him from moving away.

He glared at me, his mismatched eyes sending hate my way. I wanted to apologise, yet, at the same time, I didn’t. Why would he ever believe that it would be okay for a cat rebel to be with someone outside her race? Our body chemistry worked differently from theirs, it was that simple.

Bringing my attention back to Artie, I smiled. Yes, we’re going back to the camp.

The whole tribe would have something to say to Amya. They believed that she had betrayed them already. When they found out that Amya had left three of our kind in the Perfect compound to be executed at a later date, they wouldn’t be best pleased.

So, Dax said, suddenly raising his voice. Apparently, you’re the man who’s supposed to be with Amya.

Coming over, he scowled down at me. Okay, so I was short compared to him, but I wouldn’t be afraid of the boy. That’s what he was, a young boy. I had lived at least four years more than him. Not a vast amount of time, but I’d spent it in a lot more precarious situations than he’d probably ever had to face.

Amya, what’s going on? Hope asked.

The princess cowered under the pressure of three gazes. Although I didn’t know her, or the others, it was quite clear that they were a close-knit type of group. Would her news about our union make me the enemy?

This is Manny...he’s my...mate. Her voice rose on the last word.

Dax’s hands clenched into fists. If he wanted to challenge me, he could try. I had fought men much tougher than him. Men that had ripped heads off of the weakest Avoidables. Squaring up to him, I kept my gaze locked on his, ready to accept any type of attack.

Please, Dax, leave it alone. Amya put a hand on his arm.

Her touch didn’t affect him the way it did me. Slowly turning to her, he dismissed me with a wave of the hand before storming off the stage and out the front of the theatre. Amya hesitated, torn about following him.

Go and deal with him so we can get back to camp, I said, my tone harsher than I meant it.

Hope looked at me, her eyebrows raised. I’m not sure I like you speaking to my friend like that.

Friend? Why had Amya made such an effort to know these Avoidables when her own tribe hardly knew her?

I was about to reply when Artie put a hand on my shoulder and guided me towards the back of the stage. Hope said something to Amya that made her go after Dax. The princess had a problem if she was going to let the feelings of a sixteen year old get in the way of being our ruler. It looked like she had a choice to make. Either she wanted a normal life, or she had to become a woman, connect with her mate, and rule her tribe.

I thought Jacks was tough, but he’s nothing compared to you. Artie indicated for me to follow him.

A corridor led to a kitchen. Artie stopped before he reached it, pointing to a ladder that led into a gap in the ceiling. Nodding, he gestured for me to go up first.

Taking hold of the cool metal, I climbed into the loft room. A huge window allowed sunlight to shine straight into the dingy space. Once Artie was beside me, he went over and opened the window, letting in the air.

Your camp, Artie said, pointing to the distant desert just out of Lower Side.

Moving to stand next to him, I stared at the rough looking patch of tents and huts. They were pretty small from here, but stood out all the same. The construction of wooden homes was underway, the sound of building echoing across to me.

That was our home. After travelling my whole life, a part of me had actually been excited when Amya had announced that we would finally be able to settle somewhere.

A pang in my chest made me inhale a deep breath.

If you’re truly her mate, you need to help her build that place into the best it can be. I’ve heard that you were one of the traitors.

Technically. But, her father put us up to it. I tried the defence, even though it wasn’t viable.

I had often wondered who my mate would be, not really that interested in the reality of it. I never would have believed that I would be stuck with a princess.

In my years, I’ve seen some terrible things. Things that would make you cringe. Yet, I still fight on, because it’s the only thing I know how to do.

Glancing at Artie, I smirked as my gaze traced his scar. I’d also heard about him and his start in life. A Perfect who was attacked and had to move to Lower Side.

I’ve been an Avoidable, an outcast, my whole life. I doubt you’ve seen what I have.

Leaning against the window ledge, Artie nodded slowly. I can tell you’re a survivor. Everything in your demeanour pulses with...fear.

Fear? Facing him, I looked him straight in the eye.

We were a similar height, the enforcer and I. I didn’t have to look up or down to get his attention.

Holding my steady gaze, Artie spoke. You’re petrified of losing your home now you’ve finally found it. And, even more so, now you have a mate to protect.

She doesn’t need my protection, I blurted before I thought about it.

Artie raised his eyebrows as I looked back over Lower Side. The red mountain in the distance was a reminder of those that were outcast more than us. The rebels of this city had their own camp out there. Maybe it would be better to have our own boundaries. A desert to cross before anyone could reach us. Being on the outskirts of the city left us vulnerable to attack.

Jacks and Dax haven’t exactly helped my cause with the way they’ve conducted themselves recently. I see exactly why you don’t want to get involved in Amya’s business, but the last I heard it, when you’re mated, or destined to be mated, the worst thing you can do is resist. Artie put a hand on my shoulder.

Did he want me to take Amya away from his men? Jacks was one of his warriors as far as I could make out. Maybe Amya had been too much of a distraction to his brother.

It is...a nuisance, I said.

Artie was about to open his mouth when Hope shouted from downstairs.

Artie! A group of cat rebels are marching through the city.

We both moved towards the exit at the same time, bumping into each other. Laughing, I allowed him to go first. The enforcer might become an ally if he wanted what I thought he did. A calm cat rebel camp would be a lot easier