Frequency (The Frenzy Series Book 3) by Casey L. Bond Page B

something had gone wrong. Miranda Grant lost her mind, a side effect of the Infection, and Porschia became the object of her disdain. She blamed her unborn child for what Roman and Pierce did, what the Elders had sanctioned. And they waited, setting a new plan into motion. Both brothers wanted her, but for very different reasons. Roman was in awe because of her strength, and Pierce was in awe because she somehow beat the Infection. But what if it was just a fluke? What if no blood had been pushed into Miranda Grant’s swollen stomach? What if Porschia was just normal, and Miranda was pushed over some sort of invisible edge that she couldn’t cross again?
    She was different! Pierce yelled at the both of us. She was the key. I told you not to turn her. I told you she was ours – not mine or yours, but OURS! I told you not to let her get Infected, not to let her into the woods at all. I told you to keep her safe and not let her turn into a fucking night-walker! But you couldn’t stay away! You couldn’t leave her alone for a minute. And fucking Mercedes. She was hungry. That was her excuse. Though in the end, it may prove to be helpful. I think Porschia’s blood...
    A low humming filled my ears before a loud thump silenced Miranda’s sobs. Roman’s voice came into my mind loud and clear. He was blocking his words, so I was careful too. I tucked his words behind my wall.
    My brother has lost his mind. You see that, don’t you? He wanted to test on her. He would have killed her to dissect her. He thought she had the solution he’s been searching for so long. For years I watched her grow from a distance. I watched how Miranda treated her, compared to Mercedes and Ford. I watched as the Elders kept an eye on her. And I saw how hungry and desperate she was when she entered the rotation just after Mercedes fell. I knew she would be, of course. I knew she’d be at rock bottom. I wanted to be the one to pick her up.
    You fell for her , I accused.
    I did. But there were two things I didn’t count on.
    What?
    You....and Tage. You both love her.
    We did. I knew how Tage felt about her. You don’t love her, Roman. You wouldn’t have done what you did to Mercedes if you did.
    That’s not true. I love her, just not the way that you do. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt human, let alone processed things as I did when I was one. I saw her as someone I could love, or someone to have companionship with.
    You saw her as a possession.
    Don’t you? You wanted to be the girl’s savior! She was starving and you offered to feed her. She needed to get married, so you offered to marry her. And you didn’t even know her. You saw her pretty face, but didn’t know Porschia Grant because you’d never taken the time to do so until that morning. In fact, if Noah hadn’t gotten in the way, you would have been interested in Mercedes’ hand. Isn’t that right?
    I swallowed. It was true that I had noticed Mercedes in the Colony before, but I knew of both sisters. Mercedes was happy with Noah. They were going to be married. Meg was taken, and Porschia was right in front of me, needing something that I could provide. She was strong and beautiful. And I did fall for her.
    But now she was a night-walker and I was in this forsaken city helping some asshole test people for a cure that didn’t exist and never would. I’d had enough. This shit was going to end. Tonight.

 
     

     

     
    Mercedes was sleeping and Father and Ford had gone home for the night when the acrid scent of smoke filled the basement. “Tage?” I called out as I stepped toward the front door.
    “Yeah?”
    “Do you smell that?”
    I heard him sniffing the air and then he was in front of me in an instant. “Smoke. But from where?”
    “I’m not sure, but-” I began, but as he eased the door open, the sight stunned me into silence. “What is going on?”
    Elders Yankee, Brown, and Beckett stood at the bottom of the steps leading to the doorstep that we stepped