Following Through (LAW #24)​

Gather Around
 
Gather around.
There’s a new tale to be told.
There’s always something fresh.
Built on something old.
 
Challenges have been made.
Hearts are being broken.
Danger is coming our way.
Awful words have been spoken.
 
Depression leads the day.
Anger comes close behind.
Jealousy can’t be left out.
Chaos rules the mind.
 
Survival is always in question.
Magic may save the day.
Everyone in Safe Haven
Has a vital role to play.
 
Get settled for the ride.
Put away your other toys.
A new book awaits.
Full of madness and amazing joys.
 
Gather round.
There’s a new story to be read.
Into Life After War
We now eagerly tread.

 
 
Chapter One
The Father
Hell
 
1
“It surprises me that you’re back so soon, Marcus.”
Marc entered the lab without responding to Reicher or the dozen hellhounds patrolling the perimeter of the spotless white floor.
Marc recalled seeing bodies of hounds when he’d come down here to collect his heart, his soul, his misery. The mission men had enjoyed removing the dogs, Marc was sure. Even now, he had the urge to do the same.
Several of the waist-high hounds growled at Marc, but none of them strayed from their assigned guard paths around Reicher’s new lab.
Biff glanced up from the notes he was still transcribing into the tablet, but he didn’t speak. Reicher had already made it brutally clear that listening was Biff’s main job as the assistant. Stinging burn marks on his arms were a reinforcement of that order.
Reicher minimized the computer window and leaned away from the desk that was now as pristine as the walls and the garden.
Marc walked by them, hating the environment. Reicher’s desk was mostly empty. There were no filing cabinets and no oxygen tanks in the corner, but everything else was the same. The only real differences between this office and the one in Australia was the lack of glass dividing Reicher from his subjects and the amount of space. This room was massive.
The garden is also different. It was beautiful, but Marc wasn’t fooled by the serenity. The soft green grass and multi-colored roses were a dangerous lie. There’s nothing peaceful about this place.
A loud whistle drew Marc’s attention. He watched through the glass as a red streak barreled through the dark sky. It split into two parts. One of those fell into the lava, screaming. The other became a stunned, terrified soul staggering on the rocky ground.
The ground opened and swallowed the soul, making Marc angrier. It shouldn’t be like this. None of this is right.
“We’re working on a new system to replace this one.” Reicher hadn’t made much progress on that. He hoped Angela didn’t demand an update soon because he didn’t have one yet.
Marc went to the grassy spot where he had found Angela’s body. There was no trace of her blood. There were no shell casings and no gory knives. There was no evidence that anything had happened here. But this is where everything changed. This is the one that broke me. It didn’t require any torture at all.
Reicher huffed. “Emotional blows are just as devastating as physical ones.” Reicher had run on that theory for a very long time. It had always proven true.
“I don’t know what to do now.”
Reicher grunted at Marc’s statement. “You know exactly what to do. You’re just not capable of it.”
Marc let out a deep sigh. That was absolutely correct. He needed to submit to his wife, but he couldn’t.
Reicher slowly turned his plush office chair. He continued to ignore Biff like he’d been doing unless he wanted the broken conjurer to handle something. “She scares you.”
Marc opened his mouth to argue, then closed it. Angela scared everyone. There was no shame in that. But I still feel it.
“Would you like to know where that fear came from?”
Marc didn’t answer his father.
Reicher went on with his revelation anyway. “It came from your mother.”
A shiver went up Marc’s spine that he didn’t bother to hide. That isn’t required here.
“You feel it’s not required because there are only men to witness it.” Reicher knew exactly why his tormented son had come to him again so soon.
Marc wasn’t offended. He didn’t want platitudes. “You weren’t in my life long enough to give me this mentality about women. Was it the environment I grew up in?”
“I’ve already given you that answer.”
Marc tried not to get trapped in that past. “I was never scared of my mother, at least not for myself. I took a lot of beatings and other corrections. I was never once broken. Even you couldn’t break me.”
Reicher was proud that he’d produced a child who was so strong. “But it doesn’t matter. She hurt someone dear to you. From the moment your sister was murdered, fear took her place. Over the years, it transferred to other women, because you’re afraid that all of them are just as ruthless as Mary Brady was.”
Marc met his father’s eyes. “They are.”
Reicher immediately agreed. “Men and women both commit awful atrocities, but the stages of their anger are different. It’s harder to get women to the point of true violence. Once you do, it’s nearly impossible to pull them back from it until the ground is soaked in blood. Your wife is proof of that. If not for their physical weaknesses, women would have been in control of the world from the very beginning.”
“You’re not helping me!”
Reicher huffed again. “That’s not what you came down here for.”
Reicher’s royal red robe and silver crown were a stark reminder of what Angela had become. She put a monster in charge…because she is one.
Reicher’s gray eyes flashed with annoyance. “Who else should be in charge of Hell?”
Marc didn’t answer.
“Silence is often your preferred method of communication. Did you know?”
When Marc refused to reply, Reicher chuckled. “He knows.”
Marc regarded Biff. He had pulled the replays from Angela’s team during her surgery. He didn’t care that Biff had endangered everyone or that he was covered still in injuries that weren’t healing and clothes that had Eagle knife and bullet holes in them. He only cared about the pain in his heart and the gloom in his mind. “Opinion?”
Biff paused in adding notes to Reicher’s tablet. “Harry had the right idea. That would be my recommendation.”
Marc looked back at Reicher. “Is he right?”
Reicher’s gray brows furrowed. “I will always have a place for you, Marcus, I meant that, but I don’t really want you down here yet. Be careful.”
Marc shuddered as the words came out. “I want things back to the way they were before.”
“You mean when she was scared and you were able to dig your claws into her heart through those emotions?”
Marc didn’t deny it.
Reicher leaned back in his chair, studying his son.
Marc felt those scans deeply. He didn’t know what Reicher was searching for, but he was suddenly sure the man wasn’t going to find it.
“If you take Biff’s suggestion, you’ll destroy Safe Haven.”
“I don’t care about them!”
Reicher gestured. “And that is the real reason the Mitchel knew not to give leadership to you.”
“Tell me how to do it.” Marc knew he had already crossed a dangerous line by coming here, but that didn’t stop him from going further. “How can I put things back to the way they were?”
“You have to kill her.”
Reicher’s blunt words rang through the chilly lab, bringing a sense of foreboding to all of the men. The hounds paused, sniffing for the danger.
“I’ll never hurt another woman in my life.”
Reicher shrugged. “Why does it have to be your hand that does the deed?”
“Give me another option!”
Reicher frowned. “Nothing else is going to work. Her Eagles will remove you as soon as they find out about this conversation. You doomed yourself by coming here.”
“I am not going to kill my wife!”
Reicher smiled thinly. “Good. I’m fond of her now, but not so much that I’m ready to have her down here full-time controlling everything I do.”
Marc understood completely. “There has to be another option.”
Reicher turned his chair back to the desk, where he was working on setting up a new file system for the Sorter to use. “When you figure it out, I’d be happy to listen.”
Marc marched out of the pristine lab, angry and unsatisfied.
Biff began typing in a note about Marc’s visit. Everything that happened here was supposed to be noted in the official record.
Reicher glanced at Biff. “Erase that; forget about it.”
Biff stared, pleased but surprised. “You’re not going to tell Angela that he visited. Why?”
Reicher lifted his chin. “Because I’m evil. Didn’t you know?”
 
 
2
Marc woke in his lonely bed in the cabin he shared with Angela on the cruise ship. He slowly rose and went to the bathroom, stretching and yawning. The ship rocked gently under his feet as he listened to the people on the deck around him. He was still disconnected from both of the hives. He wasn’t getting thoughts unless he concentrated on them, but loud voices were coming through the walls as the camp began to start their daily routines.
Marc used the john and then stripped, not looking at himself in the mirror. He pulled on the gear he’d put in here before passing out, then brushed his teeth. The calming motions of his morning routine settled his nerves, but not his mind. That continued to fly.
Marc donned his boots and his belts, automatically checking his sidearms. He brushed his longer hair, remembering how Angela had loved it when they were kids. He gave it the old sweep on each side to create the feathered layers she’d loved to play with while they had hid in the cornfield and talked about the future they wanted. This isn’t it.
Marc strode to the cabin door and opened it right as his visitors arrived.
Amanda’s attention went straight to Marc’s feathered black hair. She instantly wanted to touch it.
Jennifer scanned Marc’s hands to see if he was holding a weapon. Her blue jean jumper stretched tightly over her gut.
Kyle slid in front of his very pregnant wife. The waves of menace Marc was sending out were intimidating.
It brought silence to the entire hall. People had been cleaning, taking showers, preparing for their daily chores and shifts. All of them paused now to focus on Marc.
Amy and Missy came down the hall, both frowning. The girls were on guard duty over this deck and determined to keep the peace, no matter who was involved.
Morgan regarded Marc with a cool stare and a tired hand on his holster. He was aching all over. “I’d like to speak with you.”
Marc was very aware of their reactions. He went to the chair on the other side of his cabin and sat, but he didn’t speak.
Morgan entered the neat stateroom while Jennifer, Amanda, and Kyle stood in the hall, listening to everything that was said and everything that wasn’t.
“The boss wants you to stick to your planned schedule. We need all of the bunkers and other locations checked for supplies. She’s sending you a team to work with.” Morgan couldn’t help a slight sneer. “They’re all normal men.”
Marc recognized that temptation.
“After you’re finished with that, come and collect the baby so the boss can have a break.”
It eased Marc a little to find out Angela wasn’t planning to keep him away from his daughter. “I’ll be there.”
Everyone knew Marc and the baby had spent good time together. They were all happy with how he was handling fatherhood. It was everything else they were pissed about.
Morgan’s contempt struck a nerve with Marc. He eyed the tall, dark, angry man in confusion. “You and I weren’t exactly fine before your run, but when you came back, I was enemy number one.” Marc had clearly missed something. “What changed between us?”
Morgan was offended that Marc didn’t already know. “You overstepped while I was gone, not the least of which was putting Daryl in charge of my team.”
Marc frowned. “Daryl is your XO. I assumed he would get that slot. I didn’t want your team to be on downtime when we have so much going on.”
Morgan’s hard tone softened a bit. “I understand that, but you don’t have the authority to rearrange Eagle teams. Daryl probably will get lead while Kyle is on his…break, but his team gets to vote on it.”
“Then why are you the top Eagle now? No one voted on that.”
Morgan knew Marc was genuinely confused, but he was still insulted. “Because I’m second in everything here. Second in shooting, second in lessons, second in respect. If you had followed through with your Eagle lessons, you wouldn’t have to ask.”
Marc made a connection. “That’s another way I angered her, right?”
Morgan didn’t sugarcoat the truth. “If you had ever taken it seriously, you would already be a high-level, well-respected Eagle who might have had the authority to do some of the things you’ve tried. The boss wanted that for you.”
Marc snorted. “I’m sorry for interfering with the Eagle hierarchy. I didn’t realize it was such an elite membership that normal command structure doesn’t apply.”
Marc’s hostile sarcasm brought frowns to the faces of everyone who heard it.
Morgan fired right back. “Well, it is. And that brings us to the next point. If the team decides to hold tryouts instead of giving Daryl that slot, you are not eligible. Your fucking attitude sucks and no amount of training in the world can replace a leader who knows how to work with people. On top of that, you’re not a high enough level to lead our team!”
Marc hadn’t considered taking that job himself, but he was still embarrassed. He had more experience than anyone here. “I was running missions while you were still plowing your family farm!”
“And yet you still rush in blindly and make things worse.” Morgan gestured angrily. “If Adrian hadn’t called you on it, you would have tackled Madison. That would have gotten Bernice killed and maybe the boss too. Some of us wonder if that might have been your plan all along.”
Marc’s conversation with Reicher flew through his mind. He quickly replaced it with anger. “State the rest of your business and then get out!”
Morgan’s cold tone dipped into ice. “You are forbidden from all Eagle activities; you are suspended until after the leadership vote. Once that happens, the Eagles will determine your future here, not the boss. Even when you two kiss and make up, the Eagles will decide how much authority you’re allowed to have, if any at all. You’re not willing to be subservient to her, but you will be subservient to the choices the Eagles make. If you don’t like it, you can get off this island.”
Morgan turned toward the hallway, ignoring his sore legs and the urge to yawn. “The Eagles didn’t push this before because we didn’t want Angela to leave, but you’ve done enough damage to your relationship now that we’re not worried about that anymore. You will never be in charge of Safe Haven, Marc. Accept that and plan accordingly.”
“The vote might go my way.”
Before either of the females waiting outside could speak, Morgan shut that down brutally. “Other than a few rogue members, all of the Eagles are voting with the women. You wouldn’t win the vote even if you swallowed a load from every man in this camp. We’ll put Adrian back in that slot before we allow it to fall into the hands of someone who doesn’t care about our future!”
“Morgan!”
Morgan spun at Marc’s shout, bracing for an ugly fight.
“How is she?”
The pain in Marc’s voice allowed Morgan to answer. “She’s hurting. She needs her soulmate to fully recover.”
Marc’s fury rose another level. “Then send your precious Adrian to her!”
Morgan smirked. “Way ahead of you, as usual. He’s on the way there now.”
None of them felt waves of jealousy as they left, but they all knew Marc was experiencing it.
Jennifer motioned at Amanda. “The boss wants you on quiet guard duty over him today.” Jennifer sneered. “Maybe he’ll let you play with his hair.”
Amanda chuckled. “Calling me out for something you thought about doing months ago. My, we are in a shitty mood today.”
Jennifer flushed. She stomped down the hall.
Kyle and Morgan quickly followed her.
Amanda’s long black cloak brushed the floor as she took a post outside Marc’s door. “She’s a truly good soul.”
“But you aren’t, are you?”
Amanda stiffened at Marc’s accusing tone. She brought up her invisible shield. “No. I’m a Mitchel. Being truly good was never an option.”
Missy and Amy walked by Marc’s door with a curious glance.
Marc didn’t respond even though he liked both girls. The weapons on their belts were wrong. The kits on their backs were wrong. Even their hair in buns that wouldn’t get in the way during a fight was wrong. He understood they had energy and anger that had to be burned off, but there were other things they could be assigned to, like cleaning. The cooks needed more hands in the mess. There was a mound of laundry waiting. Any of those were better than putting their girls in danger.
Marc heard the main door to this deck open. He could tell by how everyone stayed quiet that his group of normals had arrived.
Missy pointed them toward Marc’s cabin. “He’s in there.”
The nervous normals moved through the descendant deck, trying not to seem nosy while memorizing details. Normals were rarely on this deck, but not because they weren’t allowed to be. Fear kept them away.
The 11 men entered the small cabin and were dismayed to find out the bad vibes they had felt upon reaching the top of the stairs were coming from Marc. They clustered around the exit while waiting for him to hand out orders.
The normals were wearing jeans, long-sleeved shirts, and belts with weapons they probably didn’t know how to use. They were also wearing kits, like the kids, but theirs were badly packed with heavier items all to one side, throwing them off balance.
They need to be trained. Marc knew he could do it, but it would get them killed. He had no doubt about that. Angela wasn’t bluffing.
Marc knew how badly they needed to find more supplies, but he wasn’t in the mood to answer the questions the normals were going to bombard him with as soon as they left the ship.
He got it over with now, in front of witnesses. “Safe Haven is running out of food. You guys are going to help me go through every location that didn’t burn and document the supplies we find. As we do this, do not talk to me about the coming leadership vote. The last thing I need is for the descendants around us to think I’m stirring up the normals. Angela said it will get you guys killed and I’m not going to do that no matter how much I believe I should be running this damn camp!”
Marc pushed by the surprised men and went to the stairs.
Ugly glares followed him as descendants realized he had stated his position in front of them. The normals wouldn’t need to ask questions now. They would get to vote on his leadership after working with him all day.
Charlie came out of his cabin as Marc left. Charlie rubbed little Mathew’s back. The baby was in the sling on his chest, sucking hard on the binky. It was almost feeding time; they were going there now, but Charlie had lingered to listen. I’ve been so wrapped up in my own needs that I haven’t been spending time with him. I might have been able to stop him from getting to this point.
People around him shook their heads.
“This has been coming for a while, Charlie. You haven’t done anything wrong.” Samantha gave the teenager a smile and picked the exit Marc hadn’t taken. “I’m in the garden all day with Debra and Molly if anyone needs me.”
She kissed Amy on the head as she went by, then repeated that affection on Missy, who also needed some attention.
Neil stared after her. Samantha was in her slacks and sweater, with her pearls on and her hair curled into tight ringlets streaming from a short ponytail. Anyone might have believed she was happy, well-adjusted, and sheltered.
None of those are true. Letting everyone know where she was going to be all day was a clue to her mental state. Neil loathed Reicher, but he was going to take the dead man’s advice on how to help Samantha through the rest of her recovery. She’s starting to ebb. I need to get her into a therapy session.
Neil added a note to his book. As he stored it in his jacket, he caught sight of himself in the window. “I need a trim.”
Wade tugged on one of Neil’s curls, not mentioning the slight hint of gray coming in around the edges. “Sam and I like it long.”
“Long is good.” Neil grinned, but the amusement didn’t reach his eyes as he left.
Neil didn’t follow Samantha down the stairs even though he was going in the same general direction and it would make her feel better. He agreed that she needed to face more of her fears. That was how Angela had been treating her and it was having a positive effect. Neil planned to continue that. I trust the boss. I’ll never trust Marc.
Wade followed Neil toward the other steps. He was on his way to the medical bay to start his shift. “You guys are great friends, or at least you were before this run.”
“I still consider us friends.”
Wade couldn’t think of anything Marc had done to anger Neil. “But you don’t trust him anymore.”
“I want to. I just can’t.”
“Why not?”
Neil let out a ragged breath. “I met his father.”
 
 
3
“It’s unfair to judge him on his family line.” Jennifer was listening to everyone around them even if they didn’t know it.
“I agree, Jenny, but it’s still going to happen.” All of them had caught Neil’s comment. Marc probably had too. Morgan didn’t care. He was tired of babying Marc.
Jennifer didn’t let herself get distracted from watching for trouble. Fate wasn’t allowed to hunt Kyle while he was on the ships or the island, but Jennifer didn’t trust that entity to play fair. She scanned the halls and rooms as she slowly led the way to the medical bay. They needed to check on Angela and get their orders for the day, but Jennifer didn’t want to go there yet.
Kyle felt out of place without his Eagle jacket and confident stride, but he hated being sandwiched between his pregnant wife and the new top Eagle in camp, though he didn’t argue with the positioning. He still had a target on his back. I can hear that damn clock ticking.
“So can we.” Morgan stayed ready to bring up a shield around Kyle or to shove the man out of the way. “I need to stop at the office and check some paperwork.”
Jennifer happily detoured in that direction, not asking why. She was on guard duty over Morgan right now. They’d both insisted that Kyle come along so they could keep an eye on him.
“What paperwork?” Kyle wanted a distraction from the surprised disapproval coming from those they were passing. The story of him resigning was still spreading.
“Reicher gave me an idea to narrow down where the name curse came from.” Morgan didn’t elaborate. He didn’t want new rumors to spread about that. Neil and Wade had gone through the entire names list now. There were more than 20 souls aboard this ship who were doomed to die. They didn’t need to know about it until someone found a way to change their fate.
“It’s better to tell them the truth.” Kyle meant that. As a camp member, he was finally allowed to say it.
“Yep.” Jennifer swept the stairs and descended slowly, spine pulling and feeling heavy. She was careful where she placed her feet.
Coming up those steps, Ed slid to the side to give her plenty of space. Her stomach was huge.
Morgan swept the man. Ed was pale, bruised, bandaged, tired, and twitchy, like any rookie after their first big run. It surprised Morgan a bit. He’d thought Ed was hardened like the rest of the Eagles, but he’d clearly been acting.
Ed stared back, mind replaying what they’d gone through and then the outcome that might let him survive his mistakes. “I told Tonya where I’d be.”
Morgan nodded. “I’ll be telling Kyle and Jenny.”
Jennifer reached the bottom of the steps. She held onto the rail as she glared. “No, you won’t. Neither of you are doing that ridiculous punishment.”
Morgan sighed. “It came straight from the boss.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
Morgan’s voice almost broke. “Ed and I need to be punished!”
“You were. You went to hell. Let it go.”
Morgan flashed to that final battle. He was still hurting from it. “I was punished…”
“Yes. Make it clear to everyone else. If you’ve survived Reicher’s lab, here or in Hell, your slate is clear.”
Ed froze at Jennifer’s words. Is that enough for me?
He had mental scars as well as physical ones. He was adjusting to being a descendant; being connected to the hive sucked. He hated having other people in his thoughts all the time. It’s not enough.
Jennifer met his eyes. “You’ll suffer more now that you’re one of us.”
Ed slowly agreed. As long as he was still being punished, he could survive his errors. “Okay.”
Jennifer waved at him. “Get to your shift. You’re about to be late.”
Ed hurried off.
Kyle took Jennifer’s arm, feeling how tired she was. “It’s good that Ed is staying here to be our enforcer instead of going on Tonya’s run. He’ll pick up the slack while you’re on maternity leave.”
“I hope Amanda comes back.” Morgan meant that. “I don’t care that she’s a Mitchel. We need as many enforcers as we can get.”
Even Jennifer nodded. The rage episodes were scaring everyone. Only the fear of being zapped was keeping it from being worse, but even that wasn’t going to work for much longer. They had a lot of people reaching stage two.
Jennifer leaned on Kyle while Morgan went into Angela’s office.
The office was dusty, showing no tracks on the thin carpeting. No one had been in here. Morgan flipped on the lamp and settled into one of the gritty chairs at the large desk. “I’ll be here for a while. Get to the boss. She’s ringing your bell in my brain.”
Jennifer grimaced. “Not funny.”
Morgan sighed. “I know. Take the elevator. You have to use it now or she’ll put you on leave today.”
Jennifer grumbled.
Kyle breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
Jennifer waddled to the elevator. She wasn’t looking forward to what came next.
“You’re stressing over nothing.” Kyle knew what she was worried about. “Angela probably already knew your family line, and even if she didn’t, nothing’s going to change. She’s not going to take anything away from you.”
Jennifer let out a deep sigh. “Marc will if he wins the vote.”
Kyle was surprised by her doubt. “Did you see something?”
“No, just letting my mind run wild.”
Kyle knew it was more than that. Jennifer’s mind was a dangerous, brilliant place that he avoided most of the time to give her the privacy to let it run wild. “Tell me.”
Jennifer pushed the button for the elevator. “We all say we’d put Adrian in that slot if the boss leaves…or dies, but what if Adrian was killed too?”
Kyle saw her point. “Marc would likely be voted in out of respect for their relationship.”
Jennifer stepped into the elevator. “If he takes over this camp, everything will change.”
“He won’t win the vote.”
Jennifer rested against Kyle’s hard, comforting body and tried not to dwell on it, but the concern stayed. Angela was worried about Marc removing her and if Angela thought it might happen, they would be foolish to ignore the possibility.
Kyle hadn’t known the women were worrying about something so awful. “Do you believe he’s capable of that?”
“I don’t want to…”
“But?”
Jennifer grunted. “But Neil’s right. We know his dad.”
Kyle tried to be reasonable. “How much of that comes from worry about your own family line?”
Jennifer shrugged. “A little. It seems like all the fathers in the founding families are evil and it passes to their offspring.”
“You are not evil, Jenny. Neither is Marc. He’s just…confused.”
Jennifer held onto the railing as the elevator stopped with a soft jerk. “I hope you’re right, but the old saying keeps running through my mind and it won’t stop.”
“Which old saying?”
“Like father, like son.”

 
Chapter Two
The Mother
The Medical Bay
 
1
“It’s a boy. Greg was right.” Tonya gently turned the monitor so Lisa could view it.
Stretched out on the exam table with her shirt tucked under her bra, Lisa stared at the blurry image. “Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.” Tonya pointed at the monitor with her free hand. She was holding the transducer device against Lisa’s lower abdomen with the other hand. “See that little dot there? That’s a boy. I must have done 50 of these scans on myself while I was pregnant.”
“That explains how you’ve gotten so good at some of this stuff.” Conner stayed in the doorway with his back to the women. He was Tonya’s guard for this shift, though it was almost over now. Madison sneaking into the medical bay and taking Bernice hostage had convinced everyone that they needed more protection assigned here.
Tonya waited, letting Lisa study the monitor. “I had a lot of free time once I got so far along. I used it to improve my skills.”
Tonya was proud of herself for that. She had never put effort into anything in her life until joining Safe Haven. Knowing that she was capable of growing and changing was an important part of what kept her walking on the light side of things instead of going to the dark side like so many of their members had.
Tonya’s signed white coat drew Lisa’s eye; it was hanging on the wall behind the monitor. She knew the redhead was proud of it. Tonya had helped them through the radiation sickness even while her life was in danger. She was valuable to the camp. I want that too.
Tonya didn’t mention Lisa’s wrinkled, coffee-stained white shirt, tangled brown hair, or the purple bags coming down her cheeks. Pregnancy was hard enough without being nagged for your appearance or the fact that you weren’t sleeping well.
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”
“That’s a heartbeat!” Lisa’s hand went to her stomach, smearing the ultrasound jelly on her hand. “That’s so amazing.”
Lisa’s heart swelled with love. I’m having a baby!
A calm breeze came through from open windows out in the hall. Conner’s musky scent floated by. It was nice in the small space. Both women inhaled deeply, trying to hold onto it in place of the bleach that had been used to scrub away flecks of Madison’s blood.
Lisa scanned Adrian’s son curiously. Wearing jeans and a black tank top, Conner fit right in with the camp members, but his glowing blue eyes and wavy blond hair marked him as a Mitchel. The fact that he was in civilian clothes and still doing guard duty said Conner wasn’t like the rest of them.
“You’re not happy about having a boy.” Conner felt Lisa’s worry. “Is it because of everything going on in camp or did you just really want a girl?”
“It’s a little of both.” Lisa didn’t try to lie. She was in a small room with magic users. Lying wasn’t a good idea. “More about the future, though. From the stories we’re hearing, things are going to get rough for the boys and their mothers.”
“It will.” Conner considered Angela to be his adopted mom. He didn’t know how she was going to handle that when she had so many males to worry about.
Lisa resumed studying the screen. “Is he okay?” She didn’t have the rage illness, but she’d been exposed to a lot of toxins since the war.
Tonya eyed the monitor more closely. “Good so far. I’m not seeing shadows that would be there if he had a deformity, but you’re only a few months along, so things like that can still show up. It’s also a bit early to know if there’s more than one.”
Lisa tensed. “I could have twins.”
Tonya turned the monitor around and wiped off the transducer. “Yes, but I don’t think so.”
She wiped ultrasound lubricant off of Lisa’s stomach. “What you may have is a New Year’s baby.”
Lisa gave a small smile as she lowered her shirt. “We’ll be on land this time.”
Tonya understood. “It wasn’t the same celebrating it from the deck of a ship.”
“Not really.” Lisa stood and adjusted her clothes. She’d worn sweatpants for this visit to make things easier.
“Is Dace adjusting?”
Lisa knew Tonya meant to her pregnancy. She sighed. “No, but it’s not about Greg or the baby. He’ll never have one of his own. That’s hard to swallow.”
Conner bit down on a comment. He understood that part, but it wasn’t the same because Dace was paralyzed.
“Try to keep his mind off of it when you can.”
“We are. His brother’s been great. Jack keeps Dace busy with training, games, and jokes.”
“Good.” Tonya didn’t ask any questions about that odd relationship. This visit was to help Lisa, not her depressed boyfriend or his love-sick brother.
“Are there any restrictions for me yet?”
“Just the basics. Don’t overdo it, don’t strain your stomach, and no Eagle training sessions that might get you hit in the gut.”
Lisa made a face. “I’m on cabin arrest, so I can’t do those things anyway.”
Her guard, a low-level Eagle who liked to gossip, was waiting for her in the reception area of the medical bay.
“The council might make a fast choice about the vaccine.” Tonya’s voice hardened. “Be patient and stop listening to Erin. She’s a bad influence and your reputation can’t take it.”
Lisa already regretted that. “It was a bad choice to do a sit-in. I’m sorry if it made your job harder.”
“Thank you.” Tonya opened Lisa’s file. “At this point, doctors would hand you over to the nurses and move on to the next patient. I’m not doing things that way. Have a seat and we’ll talk about some of the changes that are coming so you can prepare for them.”
Lisa brightened. “Really?”
“Yes. I’ll probably be the one delivering your son when the time comes. We’ll get to know each other now to make that go smoother.”
Lisa perched on the chair to pull on her boots, relieved. She’d expected Tonya to be brisk and abrupt.
“I’ve been where you are. My doctors in the past weren’t professional. I was looked down on, preached to, and then ignored until the next visit. I never want my patients treated that way.” Tonya shared a secret. “Better patient/doctor relationships are going to be a cornerstone of the medical school we’re starting.”
Conner glanced over, impressed. “When did that happen?”
Tonya stifled a shiver. “Right after the radiation sickness. Angela wants us to be able to save more lives next time.”
“Maybe there won’t be a next…” Conner stopped. He was too realistic to finish that hope. “It’s a good idea.”
Lisa assumed they meant a naturally occurring outbreak, but she wasn’t sure.
Conner’s mind went from the kids who had died of the radiation sickness to the kids who had been killed in Little Rock. That’s my fault.
Tonya didn’t like his pain. “You do know your stepfather was never going to let those kids live, right? Even if you hadn’t made that deal, they still would have died.”
Conner knew. “Thank you.”
Tonya shrugged. She didn’t have anything against Adrian’s son. “We’ve all made big mistakes. At some point, we have to forgive ourselves and move on or we might as well have died too.”
Conner nodded. “I’ll try harder.”
“Good, because we need you here. You’re good for Candy and the boss adores you.”
Lisa wasn’t used to being around Tonya when she was being nice. She scanned Tonya’s tired face. “How’s Kenn?”
Tonya refused to replay finding his body or seeing Reicher’s lab covered in corpses that she had recognized. She didn’t want to hear Gabe’s words again. Let them stay in my nightmares where they belong. “He was gouged, scratched, and burned by Fate. He was beaten in Joel’s attempts to reach the boss, his arm was broken, he was drained of energy, and then he was hit with part of a double death spell. In spite of all that, he’s down the hall using his recovery time to learn how to do more with his gifts.” Tonya smiled softly. “He’s fine.”
Like nearly everyone who hadn’t been along for the last run, Conner had also read team memories to find out what had happened. “He was frustrated by not knowing how to do much.”
“I don’t care for that feeling either.” That’s another way Kenn and I are alike. Tonya made a note in Lisa’s file. “Thank you for helping him.”
Conner wasn’t surprised she knew. “It’s just some guidance when he reaches a part he can’t figure out. The alpha will give him better training when she recovers.”
Tonya thought about Marc. He should have been the one here keeping tabs on everyone. He went straight to the bar after Angela kicked him out, and then to bed. It’s been almost a full day and he hasn’t been by to check on her.
“To be fair, he was humiliated.” Lisa froze.
Tonya chuckled. “It’s Greg’s kid for sure and he’s just as nosey as his dad.” Tonya hadn’t wanted any of the men from Angela’s run to be on duty yet, but all of them had insisted, including Greg. He said he wanted to listen to the mood of camp about the vaccine and then limped out of the medical bay without asking for permission.
Lisa’s mind raced. “I heard you, through the baby.”
“Strong little sucker.” Tonya met Lisa’s eyes. “Will that become a problem for you?”
Lisa quickly denied it. “I wanted the baby to be one of you guys so it would force me to accept magic and not be scared of it.”
“How’s that going?”
Lisa gestured. “I’m in a small space with two of you and I haven’t been afraid once. I think it’s going well.”
“So do I. Just stay away from Erin.” Tonya motioned. “Shut the door, Conner. We need a few minutes to talk about female hygiene.”
Conner hurried out, making a face.
Lisa laughed.
Tonya got started on that list. “There’s going to be more vaginal discharge now. If you don’t keep things clean, it’s going to itch and stink.”
Conner quickly shut the door and then moved away from it. “In moments like this, I’m very glad I’m not a girl.”
 
 
2
The elevator outside the medical bay dinged, making everyone look up or pause in what they were doing.
Jennifer’s stomach came out of the elevator. She followed it.
Conner quickly glanced away. Speaking of being glad I’m not a girl.
Terry was working at the front desk in the reception area. He chuckled. “She isn’t going to go another month. Make a note on tomorrow’s to-do list to prep a delivery room.”
Anna was the assistant in the medical bay today. She went over to the whiteboard and quickly added Terry’s order in small, neat script. It was one of the things the medics liked about her. Anna’s handwriting was easy to read, unlike almost everyone else who worked in here.
Terry and Anna were wide awake and running on coffee energy. Wearing white shirts and pants with white shoes, they looked like medical professionals, but Conner found it odd. Why are we using the old world ways when they didn’t work?
No one answered him, but their calm mental states frayed a little.
Anna studied Jennifer’s huge stomach as she came by. “Shouldn’t you be on maternity leave now?”
Jennifer glared. “Mind your business!”
Anna chuckled, not offended. Jennifer snapped at anyone who suggested she should take a break.
Now standing outside Angela’s recovery room, Wade motioned. “She’s ready for you.”
Jennifer reluctantly went that way. This is it.
Kyle started to sit down in the reception area to wait for her.
“Get in here, Reece.”
Jennifer’s lips thinned at Angela’s rough call.
Kyle hurried, hating how weak Angela sounded. It was obvious that she wasn’t out of the woods yet.
Jennifer and Kyle entered Angela’s room and moved over to the emptied area where some of the other beds had been. The area was full of activity as workers got things ready for Angela to be moved to the descendant deck. None of the medics were happy about that, but Angela had insisted.
Dog was laying on Angela’s feet. Duke was on the floor under Angela’s bed. They both studied Kyle and Jennifer.
“Make sure you pick a cabin that has a balcony. I’m tired of this shitty view.” Angela didn’t care if she sounded grumpy. She was miserable again. She pushed further onto the mound of pillows behind her, searching for a place that didn’t make her guts feel like they were going through a sausage grinder.
“I’ll handle it, Boss.” Wade hesitated and then pushed on. “Should I let Marc know he can move his things into your new cabin?”
Angela’s pale face iced over. “Absolutely not.”
A tense silence filled the air. Workers hurried out with their loads, eager to spread the story.
Kyle scanned her, frowning. “You look like shit.”
Angela grunted. “That’s why I like you, Reece. You always know how to charm a girl with your mouth.”
Kyle chuckled, but he meant it. She needed a long shower and a week’s worth of sleep.
“I need my soulmate.” Angela didn’t elaborate.
“Who do you want on guard duty today?” Wade expected to be given that slot even though he had a large list of other things that had to be covered to get them ready for Tilly’s arrival.
“My guard just arrived.” Angela regarded Kyle.
Wade wrote it down, assuming she’d picked Kyle so he wouldn’t feel left out now that he wasn’t an Eagle anymore.
“Kyle is always an Eagle.”
Kyle beamed.
Angela smiled weakly.
Jennifer didn’t. “Do you really think it’s a good idea to have him on duty right now?”
“He’s safer with me than he is with you.” Angela eyed Jennifer’s large stomach. “You really should be on your maternity break.”
Jennifer’s anger was forgotten. “I can’t sit in my cabin and wait for the delivery. You have to keep me busy!”
Angela studied her thoughtfully, trying to make the choice.
Little Karleen was lying next to Angela’s leg. Her hand was tangled in Dog’s thick fur.
Sarah was tolerating it because the baby seemed to enjoy the feeling. Just don’t goo on her.
Dog whimpered lowly.
Sarah felt bad for him. Is the dog okay?
Dog groaned. I’m not a dog. We’ve been over this.
Sarah nodded. You like being called a dog. I remember.
Dog lifted his head. I’ll be back in a bit. I’m going to check on the cats.
Sarah smiled. Yes, your friends. Be sure to shit on them.
Dog chuffed in distracted amusement. He jumped off of Angela’s bed, jarring it.
Angela let out a small moan at the wave of pain from the motion.
“Please.” Jennifer hated to beg anyone for anything. She only did it when there was no other choice.
Angela relented. “Fine. Keep the peace, walk a lot, and stop stressing about your family line. I never once considered replacing you because of who you’re related to.”
Jennifer caught the wording. “But you have considered replacing me.”
Angela didn’t lie. “You made some dangerous deals. If things had turned out differently, I would have.”
Not sure if she should be offended, Jennifer went toward the reception area.
Angela’s voice followed her. “Escort Lisa to her cabin and then spend a few minutes with Erin. Find out if I need to move her to the brig until after the council makes a decision about the vaccine.”
Jennifer went that way, leaving Kyle to frown.
“You were a little rough on her.”
Angela didn’t tell him that was required. Jennifer’s hormones were all stirred up anyway with the pregnancy, but the fear of the delivery was causing her to be moody and a little unreliable. The reminder that she could have been replaced might keep the girl from doing anything reckless until after her son was born.
“She’s not sure the baby’s going to live.” Kyle had picked that up from Jennifer months ago.
“I am sure the baby’s going to live.” Angela had already told Jennifer that, but losing her first son had traumatized the girl. She wasn’t going to believe it until it happened.
“Someone bring the monster out of there so she’ll stop using Angela’s energy.”
Tonya’s call was met with reluctance. Almost everyone was leery of Angela’s new daughter.
Wade rolled his eyes. He went to Angela and gently picked up the swaddled newborn who was drowsing contentedly after being fed and burped. “Come on, little bit. Uncle Wade has rounds. You can keep me safe.”
Sarah took him seriously. No one will harm you while we’re along.
Wade shrugged at the surprised witnesses. “What? I’m good with females. It’s not like that’s a secret.”
He walked out of the medical bay with Angela’s daughter in one arm and Duke following behind them.
“Feed me something!”
Sadie’s shout made everyone jump.
“It won’t be much longer!” Tonya’s call echoed, settling Sadie down. The handcuff stopped clinking against the railing of her bed. Sadie was still in the exam room where Tonya could reach her quickly if she had a rage episode.
“I’m hungry too.”
Angela smiled at the young boy waiting impatiently to find out what she wanted him doing today. “Soon.”
Cody was back to his neat, clean self, but his restless mind was flying over everything that had happened. He was crushed by Marc’s fight with Angela. He needed to find a way to fix it.
“You’re my body man.”
Cody’s pleasure lit up the room. He marched to the door and stood there, scanning for problems.
“You’re also Tonya’s body man.”
Cody was thrilled. “Yes!” Having two protectees would keep him busy and give him another layer of training. He strolled to the entrance of the medical bay, checking each room with a deep scan as he went by.
Angela lifted a brow at Kyle.
Kyle also grinned. “Happy to, Boss.” He followed Cody, eager to give the boy advice and guide him through this shift.
“Me too, mommy?”
Angela laughed at Cate’s attempt to butter her up. “No. The medics gave you another day of rest and observation. You’ll stay in that bed until they move me to my new cabin.”
Cate was in the bed next to Angela. She had a stack of books and games that she wasn’t playing with or reading. Joey’s death was haunting her. That was why the medics wanted her to be watched for another day.
Angela smiled at the disappointed girl. “Then you’ll take over Cody’s shift for a few hours.”
Cate blew out a relieved breath. “Thank you. I can’t keep staring at these shitty walls!”
Angela felt the disapproval of the adults through the hive. She reluctantly delivered a new order. “Clean up the language, starting right now. No cursing from the kids or in front of the kids. Try hard not to think it either. We’re supposed to be setting good examples. It’s time we followed through.”
Protests came through the hive.
Cate’s face fell. “They’ll blame me for that.”
Angela shrugged, wincing at the pain. Her entire body hurt. “It’s not just you. All of our kids are starting to sound like drunken sailors. It needs to happen.”
Cate tossed herself onto the bed, trying to figure out how to stay busy until her shift. This is bull…
Angela glanced over.
Cate shut her eyes. Think good thoughts. Think good thoughts!
Angela made a face. “I’m trying, but this is bull…dookey.”
Cate giggled.
Angela didn’t laugh and cause herself more pain. She glanced through the open doorway at Conner. “Your shift is over. You’re with your dad for the day.”
“Cool.” Conner began contemplating games he could take to the brig.
“Good morning, Safe Haven. Five minutes until shift change and breakfast.” Grant’s radio announcement was calm and warm. It didn’t give a clue to the misery of the man making it. “Work crew assignments have been posted in the mess. Eat, do your shift, shower, and then enjoy the entertainment deck. Boss’s orders.”
Kyle stepped closer to Cody as steps echoed outside the bay. “This is the most dangerous time during any shift. With so many people moving around, coming and going, it’s easier for an enemy to slip in. You have to do constant sweeps of all entrances, all exits, and all residents. The order is armed first, magic users second, everyone else last.”
Cody immediately followed that order. His powerful, intense scans went over those outside the medical bay, skipping those who were already in here.
Kyle saved that correction for later. Cody didn’t understand yet that sometimes a threat came in and waited for a good moment to strike. Kyle scanned those who were already here.
Jack entered the medical bay, nodding to Cody in respect. “I felt you checking for trouble before I hit the steps. Good job.”
Kyle saw Jack was fully geared. He’d taken great care with his appearance. He’s going to the relief deck later.
Cody glanced over.
Kyle shook his head. “Pay attention to the job at hand.”
Jack didn’t glance into the medical room where Lisa was talking to Tonya and Jennifer, but he gave a small wave as he went by. Making eye-contact wasn’t a good idea. She might see too much. I need better sleep without bad dreams.
Jack went to Angela’s room. “I’ve got it, Bret. You can take off a few minutes early.”
Bret lowered his invisible shield. He was in the corner, out of the way of the workers.
Jack lifted his shield and blended into the environment.
Bret was the opposite of Jack. His clothes were wrinkled and stained. His blond hair was a mess. He looked like he hadn’t slept for a week. Angela knew why. He’s worried about Marc winning the vote.
Bret couldn’t help it. “Will he?”
“No.”
Bret smiled. “Good. You’re the alpha.”
Their witnesses assumed Bret no longer liked Marc because he’d refused to let Cate date a Mitchel when she was older.
Angela knew better. Bret saw Marc in a different light. He reminds Bret of Reicher. Bret doesn’t want to be back in a lab.
Bret went to Angela and held out his hand.
Angela took it gratefully.
Bret sent a powerful blast of energy, hoping it helped. He’d watched and listened all night. She was still in danger.
Angela groaned at the pain of mismatched energy. “Thank you.”
Bret sent in more. “Use it all so I can sleep.”
Angela inhaled another steady stream, heart hurting. It should be Marc doing this for her. She broke the connection. “You’ll be on duty over your dad today. Spend some of that time on personal bonds.”
Bret tensed. “Is this a trick or a trap?”
“Neither, this time. Adrian did a good job while I was gone. It’s a reward for him to have both of his sons at his side today.” Angela didn’t give Conner time to question her wording. She glanced toward the entrance of the medical bay, wishing it was someone else coming in with love for her burning brightly in their thoughts.
 
 
3
Adrian went straight to Terry at the front desk, very aware of silence falling and all of the scans he was receiving. “I was told to report here for a blood donation.”
Terry jerked his thumb. “See the boss.”
Adrian was the picture of health as he approached Angela’s room. He pushed out good vibes, taking advantage of being told to spend time around her for any reason.
Medical personnel and patients acknowledged him without rancor or hostility.
Adrian moved faster as he picked up their thoughts. They want me to heal her. Is she that bad off?
Adrian froze in the doorway, stunned at Angela’s condition. The only time she’d been worse was during the radiation sickness. She’s like an old hag. “The surgery was supposed to help you!”
Angela hated how it felt to be viewed by Adrian that way. She didn’t stare at his glowing eyes, his healthy body, or his scars. She kept her focus on the floor or the walls, trying not to make this harder on either of them. “Surgery fixed the physical issues. It wasn’t able to do anything for the death spells.”
Because she hadn’t instantly died, Adrian had dismissed those memories as people being confused about what spell had hit her during the chaos. “Did you say spells, as in plural?”
Angela lifted her chin. “I’m not easy to kill. Neither are your Eagles.”
A hard edge came into Adrian’s voice. “Oh, so now they’re my Eagles when you need me for something.”
“Yes.”
Adrian chuckled. “At least you’re honest about the hypocrisy.”
People listening to the start of their verbal sparring immediately began to rethink calling him here.
Adrian fought against his emotions. She did look awful. It was obvious that she needed help and he was able to give it. “Your husband should be doing this, not me.”
“Yes.”
When Angela didn’t say anything else, Adrian groaned in frustration. “Even if I help you, the camp will believe I’m trying to come between you guys while you’re having a rough patch. There’s nothing good in this for me!”
“I know.”
Adrian scowled deeply. “Is this another punishment?”
Angela let out a sound of misery as the boat rocked her against the bed. “It’s a necessary moment due to the stubbornness of my husband. If not for Marc’s shit…terrible attitude, you wouldn’t be here and I wouldn’t be an old hag who can’t run this camp!”
Adrian winced. “I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to change him.”
Angela swallowed a bitter snort. “Better than you have tried.”
Adrian entered the room. “That is the truth.”
He went to the chair next to her bed and sat, gathering energy. “I want it on the official record with the camp and the Eagles that I tried to get out of doing this.”
“Your objections are going through the hive as we speak.”
Adrian noticed how they were both being careful not to mention willingness. If he said he wasn’t willing, the magic wouldn’t be able to help her. It would also be a lie. I’m always willing to create another bond with a woman I love.
He gently took her hand. “Who am I?”
Angela fought the sense of betrayal as she spoke the words to start the spell. “You’re my joy.”
Dead silence spread through the medical bay.
There were only a few witnesses, but Angela was positive the story would spread rapidly. She was furious with Marc, but she still didn’t want to disrespect him this way. She also didn’t want another bond with Adrian. But I want to live and I care more about that than either of the men who keep disappointing me.
Adrian stared into her pain-filled, cloudy blue eyes. “Why am I here?”
“You’re here because I need you.”
Magic lit up their hands, filling the room with a soft golden glow.
“How are we bonded?”
Angela’s shame increased. “We’re bonded through love and pain, through desire and sorrow. We’re twin sides of a dangerous coin that spins between good and evil. We’re soulmates.”
None of the witnesses were surprised by that revelation. The surprise was that Marc was letting this happen instead of doing it himself.
Adrian leaned in and kissed her cheek, the only concession he could make.
Angela turned her head and let their lips touch. If I have to do this, I’ll at least get something out of it!
Adrian groaned. You want it, you got it.
He kissed her fully, sending magic and love that bathed her battered body in healing. Her hair filled out; thick gray curls replaced the limp white strands. The wrinkles in her skin tightened to show her scars. Her gums rose back over her loose teeth, holding them in place.
Adrian loved the feeling of being connected to her, but it was deceptive and dangerous for him. “When will this bond be broken?”
Angela let a tear roll down her cheek. “Never.”
The pain in her stomach eased. Angela shivered as her heart beat faster, fighting the shadow of death. “Say it!”
“I love you.”
Magic exploded over her body, almost blinding to the witnesses. Then it faded and Adrian let go of her hand. He couldn’t resist watching the rest of the healing process, however. Magic was amazing.
Laying in the bed next to Angela, Cate watched the process in concern. She hadn’t known how close Adrian and Angela really were. She hadn’t been in Safe Haven for their past drama. Daddy should be here.
Angela hated Adrian and herself even as his love dented the power of the death spells and returned some of her health. “Thank you.”
“It’s my honor.” Adrian allowed his hand to go to her soft gray hair and rub it. Then he left, heart hurting. He would get grief from people over this, including Piper and Marc, and he would have to do it again, but the worst part was knowing that she and Marc would reconcile and then he would be forgotten about again. I was right. It is a punishment.
Angela shuddered. Yes.
Tonya went into Kenn’s room and sat on the edge of his bed. She had been intently observing the entire process. “Who am I?”
Medics and guards realized she was repeating the spell on Kenn. They began writing it all down so they could use it to help the others who’d been hit. It might also save lives in the future.
None of them glared at Adrian as he left. They thanked him for saving Angela. No one would be able to handle Sarah if the mother died.

 
Chapter Three
The Rage
 
1
Conner stayed next to Adrian as they left the medical bay.
Bret walked behind and to the right, with his shield around all three of them, but it wasn’t invisible. He wanted everyone to know he was on guard duty over his dad.
Approval and relief came from the descendants they passed. It surprised Adrian. “I didn’t realize everyone was still afraid of Sarah.”
Conner wasn’t surprised by it at all. “Most of our kids are dangerous. She fits right in.”
Adrian put an arm around Conner’s shoulders. “Congratulations. I heard there’s going to be a surprise engagement party for you at some point.”
Conner laughed. “Now it’s not a surprise!”
Adrian maintained the physical contact. He needed it as much as Conner did. Humanity required more than sex to feel connected. “Just want you to feel as good as I do right now.” Adrian didn’t have to hide anything at this moment.
Conner didn’t scold his father; the new bond with Angela hadn’t been his idea. And I want them together anyway. “As a Mitchel, you are allowed to enjoy it when a non-planned event gives you something you want.”
That was one of the rules Mitchels grew up with. Conner glanced over his shoulder at Bret. “That goes for you too.”
Bret was proud of his father for helping the alpha when her own husband had refused to. He hoped that would sway the council’s decision on Adrian’s punishment. He was happy to be on open guard duty for the lift to his own reputation and he planned to enjoy the time they were about to spend together, but Bret didn’t completely share in their revelry. “I haven’t had that happen yet.”
Conner grinned. “He doesn’t know.”
Adrian led the way to the brig, letting go of Conner. “Should we tell him and ruin the surprise?”
Conner already liked his new little brother. “You did it for me. Boost his mood too.”
“What are you talking about?” Bret scanned the next hallway thoroughly, determined to do a solid job so he would be given this duty again in the future. He just needed to be sure Adrian wasn’t mad at him for following the alpha’s orders. Arresting Adrian was still making him feel guilty. Must be my Mitchel side coming out.
Adrian kept his voice down out of habit. All of the magic users could hear them. “Cate is about to find out you asked Marc for permission to date her when she’s older.”
Bret had known the girl would find out. “How is that giving me something I want?”
“Angela is going to give you guys time together because it will make Cate feel better about Joey’s death. You’ll be able to work on your bond with her during that time, no matter what Marc wants.” Adrian delivered the cherry to the top of that sundae. “And you don’t have to feel guilty about it because you had nothing to do with it. You just get to enjoy it.”
Bret’s good mood swarmed the passage. The ship lights brightened above them as they walked.
Adrian grinned. “That’s my boy.”
Conner took the opportunity to ask something that was bothering him. “Angela didn’t think I would die if I left. Why didn’t she tell Marc the truth about that?”
Adrian sighed. “She doesn’t want him to copy your gift, Conner.”
Conner frowned. “Can he? She couldn’t.”
“Don’t you believe that.”
“She has limits.”
Adrian’s brows went up. “Not that I’ve seen.”
“Then why hasn’t she copied Jennifer’s regeneration gift?”
Adrian let a secret slip, starting the bonds that Angela had told them to create. “Who says she hasn’t?”
Conner fingered the ring Candy had given him. “She didn’t heal herself.”
“None of us can do that unless we hunt power…”
Conner caught the hint. “Copying gifts makes us greedy for more. She’s afraid copying gifts will make Marc into a power hunter.”
Adrian thought about being connected to Angela while healing her. He’d seen a lot more in her mind than she’d wanted him to. “She doesn’t trust him. I’d bet she never really has, but your gift is unique. Most likely, she didn’t tell him because she doesn’t want him to be able to do what you can. It’s dangerous.”
Conner remembered how he’d fried the electrical system on the pirate ship, disabling the green gas dispenser. As far as they knew, he was the only magic user who could connect to technology. The others could use it, but they couldn’t control it with their gifts. “Charlie knocked me out that day.”
Adrian asked something he’d been curious about. “Is that why you two haven’t resumed your friendship?”
Conner tensed. “We’re still friends, just not as close.”
Adrian shrugged. “My question stands.”
Conner’s good mood dipped. “It’s not him; it’s me. I called Tracy a gold digger and a whore, to his face. I need to apologize for that before we can move on.”
Adrian went down the steps at a casual pace so his sons could stay close. He liked how it felt to be with them. He’d gone without family for a long time even before the war and then he’d avoided them afterward so they weren’t destroyed by his choices. “You weren’t wrong.”
“No, but I still shouldn’t have said it. He already knew. He didn’t need to hear it from a friend.” Conner regretted that.
Adrian shook his head. “Sometimes it’s best coming from a friend. You know they’re saying it because you need it, not because they want something.”
“Still. I hurt him with that.”
“Was it revenge for knocking you out?” Bret hadn’t heard all the stories of Mitchel adventures in Safe Haven’s short history yet.
Conner nodded. “A little, yeah. That’s why I should apologize.”
“Why did he knock you out?” Bret found Charlie to be calm and a bit disappointing, considering who his parents were.
“That’s a long story and a false impression.” Adrian was nearing the full brig now. “We’ll fill you in later.”
Vario was on guard duty outside the brig. He scanned them as he patrolled the corridor. He appeared to be giving them privacy, but they knew he was listening.
Most people hadn’t decided if they liked Vario and his team yet and that was part of the reason why. They were still spying.
“Cool.” Bret wasn’t in a hurry. He’d been told to spend the entire day with his family. “But you’re wrong about why she didn’t tell Marc the truth.”
Adrian stopped, turning. Bret spent more time with Angela now than he and Conner combined. “What’s the truth?”
Bret glared at Vario. “Conner is a secret weapon. If people copy his gift, word will spread that we can do that. It’s for the final battle.”
Vario took the hint to keep his mouth and mind shut. He immediately began contemplating the next training session with his team instead.
Adrian considered Bret’s words. “The final battle will be against Nature and her minions. It has nothing to do with technology.”
Bret shrugged. “We don’t have many details about that fight, do we?”
Adrian snapped that into place. Marc had figured out Conner had a gift they needed and Angela had convinced him that wasn’t the case. The only details she’d mentioned about that battle concerned Nature. “She isn’t telling us everything.”
“And the only reason for that is if she’s afraid it will hurt us in the end.” Bret sighed contentedly. “Everything she does is to protect her herd. I love her so much.”
Adrian turned toward the brig. “Yeah.”
His heart was soothed even with so much going on, because he’d gotten to be with her for a few minutes. “Make sure you pay attention when you’re on guard duty over her, son. If she dies, we’re all fucked.”
That’s your first warning, Mr. Mitchel!
Adrian grimaced at Jennifer’s cold voice through the hive. “Not cursing is going to be hard.”
Conner chuckled. “Word salad is the answer.”
Adrian spotted Neil standing outside the brig. “Speaking of word salad.”
Neil grinned tiredly. “I’ll keep it simple, just for you.”
Adrian eyed Neil’s gray hairline and the new wrinkles in sympathy, but he still didn’t believe they’d all been hit with a death spell; they were still alive.
Neil’s eyes narrowed. “Angela’s Eagles are capable of taking more than your Eagles ever were.”
Adrian shrugged. “I didn’t mean it as an insult.”
Neil decided to let it go. He had other things to handle right now.
Adrian entered the brig and went toward his open cell. “Go on and hit me with it. I was feeling good for more than a minute. Tonya’s curse had to kick in.”
Neil had been listening to their conversation while he waited. It was a surprise that Bret knew Angela’s reason but Adrian didn’t. “Marc told you how to access the time stream without facing the guardian, but you haven’t been doing it or you’d know as much as the boss does.”
“No one knows as much as the boss does.”
Neil grunted at Adrian’s quick quip. “Still, why haven’t you been scroll diving?”
Adrian sat on the cot in his cell. “It would have tempted me to make Mitchel plans. I’ve tried very hard to go good, Neil.”
“Yes, we all see that.” Neil smiled at Conner as he followed them into the brig. “Congrats on the official engagement. The Eagles are very happy for you.”
“So much that you’re throwing me an engagement party?” Conner wanted to confirm that he had Eagle support now.
“Yes, actually.” Neil chuckled. “Should have known we wouldn’t be able to make it a surprise.”
Conner’s good mood lifted some of the depression of the prisoners. Even Ralph felt a little better.
Raheem didn’t notice. He was trying to rest while ugly thoughts danced through his swollen, aching brain. “Food soon.”
Neil nodded. “It’s coming shortly.”
The other prisoners perked up at the good vibes coming from Neil. All three of them had been arrested for using memory charms to keep the Eagles from finding out they’d been fighting.
Neil scanned those people now. “You’ll all be handled in the next couple of days. I hear the punishment will be a zap and some manual labor.”
Groans echoed. No one wanted to be zapped by their enforcers.
Neil shrugged. “You won’t make this mistake again, will you?”
All of them shook heads and mentally apologized, hoping to avoid that punishment.
Neil doubted the council would decide on a zap for a first offense, but he wasn’t sure. He’d used the possibility to keep things calm here. “As for you, Mr. Mitchel…”
Adrian tensed, bracing.
“You’re with Marc for the next few hours. Take both of your boys along. After that, you’ll help the boss again, get fed, and do some private training with Bret and Conner. Angela doesn’t want them to fall behind.”
Adrian felt the unhappiness rising in the brig as the other prisoners realized he was being let out for the day. He tried to soothe them. “The cooks will send food trays soon. That’s good, right?”
Annoyance crossed over many of their faces. Some of them became angry, but it was overlooked because that had been happening all along.
“Did you hear me?” Neil didn’t like being ignored.
“Yes.” Adrian’s voice was emotionless. “Thank the boss for me?”
Neil frowned. “This came from Jennifer. The Eagles decided to agree since you may be the only one who can get through Marc’s thick skull.”
Adrian sighed. All of them want to use me and when it’s done, I’m forgotten about. “What do you want me to do this time?”
“Stop Marc from leaving.”
Adrian’s heart thumped. “Marc’s thinking about leaving?”
Neil knew Adrian would use that to his advantage, but there was no point in denying it. “If he loses the vote, he won’t stay here unless someone convinces him that he’s needed.”
Adrian snorted. “And you think I can do that?”
“Not really. I think it’s a lost cause.” Neil pointed. “Get a shower and hit the mess, then spend some time with Marc. He doesn’t have many friends in this camp anymore. He needs you.”
Adrian was suddenly sure he could get through to Marc. I’ll just replay that kiss a few times and his natural arrogance and jealousy will kick in.
Neil was relieved that Adrian was being reasonable. “How is she?”
Adrian tried to be hopeful. “A little better. As soon as the cooks send trays, they’ll get everyone fed and then move the boss to her new cabin.”
Neil didn’t say the move had been his idea. “She’ll do better once she’s out of the medical bay. Tonya is supervising that now.”
Bret and Conner moved over by the exit to make more space. It was crowded with all of the cells full. Neither boy wanted to spend time around Marc, but they were thrilled that Adrian didn’t have to stay in jail.
Adrian knelt to get the kit from under his cot.
Raheem lunged from his bed and grabbed Adrian through the bars.
“Hey!” Adrian was jerked backward. He slammed into the metal bars.
“Let him go!”
“Don’t use magic in here!” Neil wasn’t sure what type of spell Bret might throw.
Raheem’s eyes flashed red as he jerked again, trying to pull Adrian closer. His teeth snapped together hungrily.
Adrian tried to pull free. He tripped over the kit he’d dropped and hit the ground next to Raheem’s cell.
Raheem growled, claws digging into Adrian’s shirt.
“Get off of him!” Neil shoved Bret and Conner away from the cell as they tried to run inside. He entered the cell himself and grabbed Adrian’s arm, pulling.
Adrian jerked free of Raheem, ripping his shirt and tripping again. “Damn it!”
In the cell on the other side of Raheem, Ralph cringed into the far corner. “Help! We need help in here!”
The three magic users who had been arrested for using memory charms came to the doors of their cells and observed in concern. All of them were infected. This was their future.
Adrian pushed up off the floor, twisting his arms out of Raheem’s reach.
Raheem yanked Adrian’s leg through the bars.
“Sleep spell!”
Conner didn’t have time to throw one.
Raheem bit into Adrian’s leg, easily going through jeans that had been washed in saltwater too many times. Blood squirted across the floor.
“Ahhh!” Adrian’s high-pitched shriek echoed.
Raheem wrapped both arms around the food. He bit into Adrian’s calf again, moaning.
Neil drew his gun and flipped it around. He hammered Raheem brutally through the bars.
Raheem’s mouth opened. He snarled violently.
Adrian scrambled across the floor and out of the cell, leaving a bloody trail.
Raheem slammed his face against the bars and then did it again, breaking his own nose. More blood flowed down the bars and puddled on the floor.
Bret and Conner pulled Adrian farther from the cell while Neil slung his own kit to the ground next to the injured man and ripped it open to reach his medical kit. “Where the fuck is that guard?!”
Finally making it inside the brig, Vario spotted the chaos and grabbed his radio. “Medic! Medic in the brig!”
 
 
2
“Medic in the brig!”
Terry grabbed his bag and took off running toward the elevator at the radio call.
“It’s Raheem.” Tonya went to Angela’s room to relay what was happening. Angela was too weak to view it on her own.
Kyle motioned. “We’ll do another walk-through to be sure things are okay in here.”
Cody brought up a shield around himself like Angela had told him to do anytime there was trouble.
Kyle approved. “Take the left. I’ll take the right.”
Kyle walked the center of the medical bay, stopping at each room on the right. Cody did the same with each room on the left. He stopped by Sadie’s open door, spotting the empty bed. “Where is she?”
“Where is who?”
“Sadie’s missing.”
Kyle turned around to check the room himself.
Anna saw the shadow. “Look out!”
Sadie lunged from the closet next to Kyle, hands wrapping around his arms. Her teeth locked onto his shoulder, driving through his shirt to find flesh.
“Kyle!”
“Sadie, stop!”
“Knock her out!”
Cody fired a spell through his shield.
“Get off me!”
Tonya and Anna ran toward Kyle.
“You stay in that bed, Boss!” Kenn staggered from his own bed.
Jack quickly moved into the doorway so Angela couldn’t get out of her room. He was relieved that Lisa and Jennifer had already left. He was also sorry that Dog and Duke weren’t here now.
Kenn wanted to help, but he’d never felt this weak. He staggered against the bed, trying not to fall. Tonya’s healing spell was working, but not fast enough.
Tonya had hoped giving Sadie the vaccine would stop this from happening. She now believed they had waited too long.
Angela motioned. “Protect your brother.”
Cate hopped off of her bed, gathering energy.
Jack and Tonya moved aside to let the little girl go through because Angela had ordered it.
“But you’re not getting out of this room, Boss.”
“You can’t take any more hits right now.”
It frustrated Angela to know that was true. She reluctantly obeyed as Cody fired another sleep spell and Tonya ran out to help Kyle.
Sadie and Kyle both slowed as the spell landed, but her teeth stayed in his shoulder.
Kyle wrestled free of her grip. He shoved her head backward, dislodging her teeth.
Blood hit the same wall the cleanup crew had now scrubbed twice.
Her eyes flashed bright pink and then went red.
“Shit!” Kyle didn’t want to hurt her. He liked Sadie.
The sleep spell finally took effect. Sadie yawned, dripping blood over her shirt and the floor. Her lids closed.
Cody hit her again, furious.
Sadie swayed backward and thumped into the wall, smearing the blood there into ugly streaks as she slid to the floor.
Kyle fell to his knees, eyes shutting. Cody’s magic was strong.
Tonya slapped a hand over his bleeding wound while Anna grabbed a medical kit from the counter.
“I’ve got it.”
“No, don’t!” Tonya’s call came too late.
Cody sent in healing magic that shut the wound in seconds.
Kyle slid to the floor, giving in to the magic. “Brig!”
Cody went over to Sadie, taking the cuffs from his belt.
“Don’t get too close!” Cate was ready to bring up a shield over her brother.
Jack stayed in Angela’s doorway, but it bothered him to let Cody handle this.
Cody cuffed Sadie’s limp wrists and retreated. He scanned the medical bay, angry with himself for not stopping her before Kyle was hurt.
Tonya keyed her radio with a bloody hand. “He’s fine. Slow down or you’ll trigger your labor!” Tonya could feel Jennifer rushing toward them.
Anna handed the medical bag to Tonya in case she still wanted it.
Tonya examined Kyle’s shoulder and didn’t even find a red mark, but the frown didn’t leave her face.
“What’s wrong?” Jack knew something was. He could feel it.
“She broke the skin.”
Jack didn’t understand Anna’s point. “He didn’t lose much blood.”
Tonya gave the answer. “Her saliva came into contact with his blood, and it’s healed now, so there’s no chance of cutting out any of the wound to stop it from spreading.”
Cody punched the wall. Tears rolled over his cheeks. “I’m sorry!”
Anna hugged the boy. “It might not happen and even if it does, we have the vaccine. It’ll be okay.”
Cody pulled away from her, little face covered in rage. A pink glint ran through his blue eyes.
Tonya stared. “Damn.”
Cody fought the anger, fists clenching.
Anna stopped Cate from running to him. “Let him get control first.”
Cody thought about his dad. “I’m a Brady. I’m stronger than this!”
The anger began to fade. The pounding in his brain eased.
Anna let go of Cate.
Cate hurried to her twin, holding him as he cried. “We’ll fix you, Bubby. We’ll fix you!”
Tonya heard the elevator ding and steps coming down the hall as the guards finally figured out there was a problem in here. “Marc was right. We need to get everyone dosed before someone dies.”
Anna stiffened. “Too late.”
Tonya grabbed her arm, smearing blood over Anna’s white coat. “Who?” She had loved ones all over this ship now.
Anna shivered. “It was Raheem. Neil and Terry just gave him mercy.”
 
 
3
“Am I able to talk to her while she’s doing this or should I wait?” Adrian was lying face down on the operating table while Tonya and Shawn handled his injuries.
Shawn was making sutures. “Probably, yeah, but give her a few minutes to get started.”
Shawn’s mood was good despite everything that was happening. Being abruptly awakened to come and do surgery made him feel at home. That had happened regularly in Reicher’s lab.
Tonya and Adrian both hated that reaction, but they didn’t talk to Shawn about it. It was obvious that conversations weren’t going to snap him out of that mentality.
“Thanks for letting us practice on you.” Shawn had decided to use this as a training moment.
Adrian didn’t mind. They had already numbed both of the bites he had gotten in the attack and he trusted Tonya to be professional. “Safe Haven needs skilled surgeons. This is how they’ll gain those skills.”
Tonya examined the first bite again. “I’m taking half an inch all the way around and half an inch into the first wound. I’d like to go a little deeper on the second one.” Tonya’s clothes and arms were still smeared with Kyle’s blood. She hadn’t had time to shower yet.
“We have enough healers who can handle it after we’re finished. I’ll supervise the entire time. If I think you’re going too deep, I’ll probably say something.” Shawn grinned at Adrian.
Adrian understood they needed jokes to calm their nerves. Having two attacks happened in such a short timespan had rattled them.
“We’ve already disinfected both wounds. Go on and get started.” Shawn adjusted the light over the table so she would be able to see better. Then he picked up two of the towels to catch some of the blood. They only had a little bit of gauze left and they were saving it for Tonya’s run or emergencies where they didn’t have another option.
“I’ve been practicing this on rotten fruit from the orchards that we can’t use and on foam sewing balls for months now. You can talk to me.”
Adrian wasn’t surprised by Tonya’s revelation. She was practicing a lot of things for her run.
Shawn was surprised. “You knew this was going to happen.”
Tonya gently sliced through the inflamed tissue around the first bite. “We have the research notes from the doctor who lived on this island. Stage two always ends in the subject biting and trying to infect others.” Tonya paused the scalpel while Shawn wiped away the blood. “I’m listening.”
Adrian didn’t watch them work in the glass mirror on the light. He also didn’t meet Piper’s eyes through the glass in the main door. Bret and Conner were patrolling the hallway outside the operating room, keeping people away from her and the entrance. This was one of the smaller rooms, so there wasn’t a large window for everyone to watch the operation.
The lack of windows also prevented the surgeons from seeing people going by. Adrian couldn’t see them either, but he felt their unhappiness as they hurried toward the medical bay. “What do you think the odds are on two attacks happening at the same time?”
“It’s not a coincidence.” Tonya sliced away a small area of flesh and dropped it into the waste pail. “They were infected at the same time, so they’re reaching stage two at the same time?”
Adrian held still while she worked. “For Sadie and Raheem, I can believe that. What about Cody?”
Tonya sliced off the last bit of flesh from the first bite. “You think it triggers the others?”
“I’m not sure, but Cody wasn’t the only one having issues while this was happening. I’m getting bad vibes from all over the ship.”
“But those other people weren’t around Sadie or Raheem while the attacks were happening.” Shawn stuffed one of the rags into the first bite hole as Tonya finished with it, slowing the bleeding. “That would mean they’re connected in a way that we haven’t figured out yet.”
“It might be through the hive. I’m trying to determine who all had issues. If they’re magic users, then that would be our link.” Adrian ignored the soft tugging on his leg as Tonya got started on the second bite. “If some of them are normals, then I don’t understand how they knew something was happening in order to be triggered by it.”
“I’ll check into it.” Tonya dug a little deeper on the second bite. She didn’t like how inflamed it already was. “Give me a theory if they are normal.”
Adrian sighed. “You’re not gonna like it.”
Tonya sliced a little deeper. “I don’t expect to like anything about this.”
“If they’re normals, it might be a certain time of the day or a certain stimulus, like being hungry.” Adrian gave them his opinion. “My money would be on time.”
Shawn scowled. “So, at 7 am, all of the people who are infected will have an episode.”
“If my theory is correct, yes.”
Tonya was relieved to have a possible explanation. “That’s good. We can watch for it.”
Shawn nodded. “We can plan around it and make sure those people are locked up during those times.”
“I need to do bloodwork on Sadie. If she’s alert enough, I’ll find out if she remembers any part of the day being harder to control her rage.” Tonya paused for Shawn to wipe away blood so she could view the wound. “It’s likely that she won’t remember any of it. The further they get into the illness, the less they remember about normal daily life.”
Shawn got a clean rag from the stack. “She was vaccinated a couple of days ago, right?”
Tonya finished with the second bite and retreated so Shawn could stuff it with a clean rag. “Yes. I’m hoping it won’t infect Kyle because of that.”
Adrian drew in a calming breath; he already knew the answer by the surgery they were doing. “What about me?”
Tonya slowly shook her head. Her voice was horrified. “Raheem was at the end of stage two. There’s absolutely no way you weren’t infected. You now have the rage illness.”
“Please excuse this.” Adrian gently reached over and flipped on the radio on Tonya’s belt. He quickly pulled his hand back.
Tonya didn’t care about that. She listened to the scramble reports coming through the radio as Eagles called for medics and gave updates on situations that were happening.
 
“I have two people who need to come to the medical bay for a few stitches. Let me know when it’s a good time.”
“I’m sending one to the brig. Details will be in my report.”
“We could use a leadership walk-through on the normal deck. A couple of these arguments have gotten out of hand.”
 
Adrian concentrated, using his newest mental gift to lower the volume on the radio so he didn’t have to move again. Shawn was starting to apply the sutures now. “He said the normals deck. It’s not just magic users.”
“Sadie had four episodes while she was in the medical bay. Not all of them were at this time of day.” Tonya had been keeping complete records on Sadie’s progression. It had taken her a few minutes to pull up those details.
Shawn had read Tonya’s notes, as had all of the medics. He made a connection now. “They were all close to meal times.”
Tonya nodded. “I’ll verify it when we’re done here.”
Adrian’s heart dropped. “They get mad when they’re hungry and Safe Haven is running out of food. Things are about to get worse.”
Tonya made the next connection. “That’s why the boss has been stuffing us full of high calorie food… That means we’re going to go through what we have faster than what we counted on!”
Adrian held still as Tonya also started putting in sutures and the pain medication started to wear off. “Yes, we’re going to have to feed the rage people more often to keep this from happening again.”
Tonya frowned. “It’s going to happen again, but I agree more food might slow it down.”
“I think we have another problem to worry about that’s been overlooked.” Shawn tied off the suture and cut the end of the thread. “Marc didn’t come to check on Angela or Cody and that can only mean one thing. He’s going to follow through.”
No one spoke after that. They didn’t know what to say.

 
Chapter Four
The Kids
 
1
“You’re being very quiet.” Wade pushed the button to shut the elevator as Duke sat down near his boots. Wade had so much to accomplish that he was using the quicker method of travel instead of taking the stairs. “Is everything okay?”
Sarah yawned. I’m observing.
Wade was able to feel her weariness. “Good job feeding your energy to the baby so she didn’t take as much from Angela.”
The witch perked up. I didn’t think anyone noticed.
“Most of them didn’t. I wouldn’t have either if not for caring for Samantha’s twins.” Wade smiled at the memories. “They didn’t think as clearly as you do when they were born, but Neil and I were still able to communicate with them. It’s been fascinating.”
Sarah stretched out on the cot in her mental cell. Can I talk to you about something private?
“Anytime you want, doll.” Wade hit stop on the elevator, pausing it from taking them to the descendant living deck. “What’s up?”
He expected questions about why Marc and Angela were fighting or even a plea to help get them back together.
The council has not made choices on the issues. The enemy has not yet proven themselves to be such. The mother has been too weak to view ahead, but she has you working on those without anyone else knowing about it.
Wade was impressed. “You really have been observing. Very nice.”
Do not misdirect me with shameless flattery. I am not one of the town harlots!
Wade burst out laughing.
Sarah’s anger rose. Like the mother, she hated to be laughed at.
Wade adjusted the dozing baby in his arms. “I was laughing at the wording. I wasn’t expecting that from you. Laughter isn’t always an insult. Sometimes, it’s just funny.”
Accepted. Sarah had no reason yet to believe that Wade would be mean to her.
“As for misdirection, I’m an Eagle. It’s what we do when someone gets too close to something they’re not supposed to know about.”
You think I will give you away.
“I think it would be an accident, but yes.”
Sarah didn’t want to interfere with the mother’s plans. When you can, will you tell me?
“Absolutely.” Wade hit the button to restart the elevator. “Until then, keep observing and maybe there will be enough clues for you to figure it out yourself. I already know you’re smart enough to do that.”
Sarah huffed, but she appreciated the flattery this time. Wade was a kind, complicated, dangerous man. Sarah enjoyed spending time with him. You are like the mother, just without her anger.
Wade frowned. “Angela’s angry?”
Very. It is not an illness. It is in her heart.
“Why is she so mad?”
Because she couldn’t stop their deaths.
“Whose death?”
The kids.
Wade refused to recall those ugly weeks on this ship. “She’s going to make Nature pay for that, along with everyone else who was involved.”
Like your mate?
Wade tensed as the elevator opened. “Yes. Neil’s not in the clear for his crimes. We all know that.”
And yet, you chose to stay. The mother trusts you more than the others here. Are those connected?
Wade tried to find a way to explain it as he went to the far hallway on the descendant deck that was never used. “You’ve lived in awful time periods that were unfair to the inhabitants. It was miserable, harsh, and there was no hope for a better future.”
Sarah shivered. Those words are too small.
Wade went on, ignoring the two bored Eagles at the guard post who eyed him curiously. They were low-level. They assumed he was talking to Duke or himself. The Golden Retriever was keeping pace with his steady steps. “Imagine there had been hope for a different future. Would you have supported a ruler who might be able to accomplish that?”
Maybe, if they could be trusted.
“Okay, now imagine the mother had done terrible things, but you still love her and you want that better future for her and for everyone in your family. You know that new ruler might punish the mother harshly, maybe even kill her at some point, but the rest of your family will get to live in the new future, along with the rest of the world.”
Sarah struggled with those emotions. I would never let the mother be killed…but I want that different future. Things have to change! We cannot keep repeating the old ways.
“Exactly. Samantha and I know Neil’s in danger. Neil knows he’s in danger, but we trust Angela to be fair when that punishment is finally handed out, because she loves Neil too.”
Sarah noticed Wade had skipped why he was more trusted than the others in this camp. She studied his mind, hunting for clues.
Wade gave her a brief glance of how miserable he’d been watching Neil and Jeremy as they claimed Samantha’s heart. “I never made a single move or said a single word. I kept my gifts locked so they didn’t find out how I felt. I refused to cross that line no matter how ugly it was for me.”
Sarah got it all at once. You’re a pure soul.
Wade shrugged gently, not jarring the infant. “There’s no such thing, Sarah. We’re all flawed. But I am a good person and I try hard to spread that to anyone I’m around. The boss trusts me more than the other men because I’ve earned it.”
Sarah knew there was more to it, but she was content enough with that explanation for now.
“Stay.”
Duke sat next to the door to wait. He didn’t mind guard duty, but he also wasn’t as dedicated to it as Dog was.
Wade entered the corridor that had appeared empty from the outside. “Good morning, ladies.”
The 10 women waiting in the long, dusty hall turned warily as they realized a magic user had joined them.
None of the women were armed as far as Wade could tell, though he wasn’t sure if that might be a can of pepper spray in the pocket of the ponytailed blonde with bright green eyes. She had a nasty scar along one cheek that was decades old. Wade was curious how she’d gotten it.
One glance at Wade carrying an infant eased their fears. The women hurried over to him.
“Is that the new baby?”
“She’s so cute!”
“Will she get mad if we touch her?”
They’d clearly heard the stories of Sarah’s gifts, but they still couldn’t resist a baby.
Wade neatly slid the baby into the arms of the first woman to reach them. “This is Karleen. She’s scared of normals. She believes you all want her dead.”
The women crowded around the baby, promising her that wasn’t true, while the witch held still and tried to prove Wade wrong.
Wade eyed the unused deck with a leader’s keen gaze. He wasn’t worried about them and the baby at all. He’d picked these females for this job so he could work on their fear of magic, but having Sarah along was going to do it for him.
The love flowing from the normals was confusing to Sarah. It was also nice. She relaxed, staying in her cell as they bathed the baby in praise, endearments, and promises of protection.
Wade opened the door to each small cabin as he went through the passage. There were 16 and all of them needed attention. This deck didn’t have any of the upgrades Angela had implemented in the other areas, like guard posts. On the plus side, none of these cabins had been ransacked. A lot of the smaller supplies, like razors and toothpaste would still be in the cabinets and on the shelves. “Everything has to be moved out, dusted, put back, and then all of it will have to be stocked. Sheets will get changed on all of the beds and the curtains will be sent to the laundry.”
Most of the women continued to fawn over the baby. One of them recognized an opportunity.
Suzanne reluctantly surrendered the infant to the next woman in line. She pulled a small notebook and pencil out of her pocket as she joined Wade.
Wade resumed his evaluation. “The walls here are clean except for a layer of dust. By the time we’re finished, the floors will have to be mopped. All of the windows need to be cleaned, and then left open as long as it isn’t storming so there’s a breeze going through. It will help clear out the smells of the chemicals we’re using.”
Wade went to the small lounge at the end of the deck. It was an identical set up to the living quarters the descendants were using. “Everything in the lounge has to be pulled out unless it’s welded to the floor. It gets dusted and swept. We have a carpet cleaner on the ship somewhere. We’ll need it.”
Suzanne was busy copying it all into her book.
Wade waited a minute to let her catch up and then resumed the evaluation. “I want two of the buffet tables from the ballroom put over here in this empty corner. Then you have to find spare appliances. Don’t use the more expensive items from the penthouse cabins. Use everything from the cheap inside cabins and the employee dorms that are not occupied. Put it on the tables with everything plugged in and then we’ll stock it all so our company has a welcome area to enjoy each morning when they get up.”
Suzanne scribbled quicker, falling behind. “Give me 10 seconds.”
Wade waited patiently while eyeing the group of women at the other end of the hallway. They were discussing how much the baby resembled her mother. A couple of them were keeping track of him and Suzanne. It didn’t seem like the witch had made contact with them yet.
I am observing.
Wade was impressed that she was able to communicate from 50 feet away. Samantha’s sons didn’t have that range yet even now and they were older. Continue.
Sarah did, almost enjoying the moment. The women were pointing out things that her host needed or would need in the future. They were showing signs of motherhood, not hostility. But I know that can change in the blink of an eye. That’s why I’m not making contact while our guard is too far away to help.
Wade wasn’t too far away to save her if things got ugly. As an Eagle, he could make a shot at twice this distance and be accurate even when there were numerous targets and a hostage involved. He was well-trained. He didn’t tell her that, however. Sarah needed to learn to love the normals and that had to start with her conquering her fear of them. “I doubt our company will bring much with them beyond a couple of bags or maybe a suitcase. I need this quarantine area stocked with all of the things a guest would use on a cruise. There are still tons of bathing suits in the stores, along with sunscreen and flip-flops. I want them to feel like they’re on a vacation.”
“I’ll make sure it gives off that vibe by the time we’re done.” Suzanne followed Wade farther into the lounge area so he could get a better view, hand still flying across the notebook. “You can go ahead. I’m taking shorthand. I’ll fill it out later if I need to.”
Wade scanned the attractive woman. He found chewed-on fingernails that implied something was troubling her. He decided it was her indecision about joining the Eagles. A lot of people wanted to, but they weren’t sure if they were strong enough to handle it. Wade was betting this one was. She had the look of someone who had been through a lot and reached the point in life where she wanted to help others avoid her mistakes. There was plenty of work like that waiting in Safe Haven. “What was your career before the war?”
Suzanne found her courage even though she was talking to a magic user. “I’d rather not discuss the past specifically.”
“Noted.”
“I was in tech. I worked my way up through the secretarial department, with a few layovers in programming. Some of my ideas took off and I was added to management.”
Wade almost had her pegged. He just needed one more bit of information. “How long were you the boss before the war?”
Suzanne dotted her I and crossed her T before she glanced up. “Three years. My brother wasn’t doing a good job running the company. Shareholders voted me in and him out.”
Wade smiled. “And you made every one of them rich.”
Suzanne got ready for things to get ugly. “Along with myself. Before your kind blew it all up, I was on top of the world.” The satisfaction drained from her voice. “I didn’t realize that world was crushing everyone else at the time.”
Wade put a gentle hand on her shoulder, testing her limits while also offering comfort. “Safe Haven is a place of second chances. We’ve all made mistakes, but we have something in common that matters more than jealousy or bitterness. Tell me what that is.”
Suzanne shivered, but not from his light touch. She wasn’t afraid of him. “We’re all survivors.”
Wade gave her shoulder a squeeze and then let go. “You’re going to be given a chance at that sort of life here as well. Don’t be afraid to take it because people may hate you at first for what you remind them of. You only get one life. It’s time you started living it.”
Suzanne wiped away the tears that were forming. “I’ll do everything I can to uphold the honor of any position I’m given.”
“That’s all we ask, Suzie. Welcome to the Eagles.”
 
 
2
“Senior Eagles are on every deck. Things have calmed, but there’s a lot of unrest about us finding the other vaccine vials but not using them yet.” Gus hid his discomfort as he carried a folded cot out of Angela’s medical room, following the line of workers.
Angela limped along behind them, getting updates while trying not to appear as bad off as she felt. Adrian’s magic was working, but it wasn’t fast.
“You’re alive after multiple death spells. Be glad it worked at all.”
Angela smiled toward Jack’s annoyed voice. “I am.”
Jack fought her good vibes and failed. He smiled back even though no one could see him because of his invisible shield.
Cate was walking behind Angela with a shield around the entire group. The little girl had a lot of energy to burn off and the adults were glad for the extra protection while they were getting Angela switched into a bigger cabin. The rage attacks were making everyone twitchy.
Kyle stayed close to the women because it made them feel better. He wanted to be leading this procession instead of Tonya. He was already missing his place as the top Eagle in camp.
Tonya had changed after Adrian’s surgery, but she still hadn’t had time for a shower. There were blood drops on her shoes. Kyle was the only one who noticed.
As they moved through the ship, the feeling of turmoil began to calm. Angela was back among the herd. It was okay to relax again. People came to the doors to wave at her.
Tonya didn’t let her stop to talk to anyone like Angela wanted to. “They can beg for favors later.” Tonya wanted to get the boss settled in before the small bit of recharge Adrian had been able to give her wore off.
“It already did.” Angela was in a lot of pain again.
“I could try to help you.” Cody’s guilt was covering him in a thick cloak.
“I’ll lean on you.” Angela put a hand on Cody’s shoulder, using him like a cane while feeding him some of those good vibes.
“Dad’s calling.”
Angela’s good mood vanished. An icy wind took its place.
“Dad says he’ll come back to the ship and help if you want him to. He’s still on the line.” Marc had checked in as soon as the chaos started, but Cody hadn’t been able to answer through his rage.
Angela wanted to soothe Marc, but that wasn’t going to get them anywhere. “No.”
Cody relayed the short response with sympathy. He didn’t like it when Marc and Angela were unhappy and both of them clearly were.
Angela didn’t want to have this talk now, but the kids were stressing and that would keep the rage illness stirred up. “We both love you. Very little will change in your relationships with me.” Angela forced out the words. “As his biological children, you will be allowed to decide if you want to go with him should he choose to leave.”
Cate and Cody considered what that would be like.
Angela didn’t try to sway them. Marc’s choices would do that for her. “If you go, I’ll still love you and you will always be welcome in Safe Haven.”
Angela stopped them from making promises they weren’t sure about. “I don’t want to talk to you guys about this for the next week. It’s not fair to your dad. Let him have his say first, if he makes that choice. I respect him enough to do this the right way and I want you guys to give him that respect too.”
The workers walking through the corridors with them respected Angela for handling it this way.
Angela reached out mentally. Update me.
Wade’s cheery voice came back right in her mind. All good here. She’s been changed twice, loved on, and held by everyone. Currently sleeping in my arm while I run the sweeper.
Angela chuckled. They’ll sleep through anything when they’re happy.
Angela knew by Wade’s positive tone that it was going well with the normals he’d picked out for that chore. Tilly’s group had to be in quarantine when they arrived and it made no sense to prepare two areas. It also looked good to have them on the same deck as Safe Haven’s leadership. The Eagles would protest, but with limited manpower, it would make it easier to keep an eye on their uninvited guests.
“How’s Sadie?” Angela knew Gus had just been to the brig to make sure it was cleaned and still had a guard on duty.
“Sleeping. Panaji’s there. We told him not to get in her reach.”
“And you released the others?” Angela didn’t mention the awful scent as they went down the corridor. Bodies were being burned. No one wanted to talk about it, but they were all aware of it.
“Ralph and the three prisoners who were arrested for magic violations have been escorted to their cabins. They’re allowed to come out for meals and bathroom breaks, with a guard. The low-level Eagles are covering it.”
“Good. After the vote, no matter who wins, make sure that brig always has a guard. I don’t want anyone else put in there unless they’re infected.”
“You got it, Boss.” Gus didn’t waste time telling her the vote wasn’t going to go in Marc’s favor. He was too tired for drama. He only had time for his chores and sleep. Even knowing Bernice would go on dates with him now wasn’t enough to overpower the need for rest.
“When you finish this shift, you’re on a two-day break, Gus. Tell Bernice I said she’s in charge of you for those two days and I want you well cared for.”
Gus stumbled as his mind went to naughty places.
Angela chuckled. “Not what I meant, but I’m willing if she is.”
Gus laughed, blushing. It was cut off by a huge yawn.
Angela’s eyes narrowed. “I mean it.”
Gus knew. “I’ll do it, but I want you settled first, so stop procrastinating and get in the chair.”
Angela stopped, letting Kyle roll the wheelchair up to her legs. “Hate this son of a…blowfish.”
Kyle chuckled. “Try harder, Boss.”
Angela eased into the wheelchair, grumping. “You wouldn’t complain about what I say if you heard what I keep to myself.”
Kyle pushed the chair. “We do, Boss. It’s great to be connected to you when Marc does something stupid. Wonderfully inventive mind you have.”
Angela sighed. “I’ll try harder, for the kids.”
“Good. In the meantime, check out what they did for you.” Kyle pointed.
Angela spotted the pictures, banners, and streamers lining the walls outside the descendant living quarters. Well wishes and congratulation notes were all over the banners and decorations.
“Everyone in camp, minus a few ass…tronomers, signed it.” Kyle grinned. “It is hard.”
Angela chuckled even though it hurt. “I love those brats, each and every one of them.”
“Your new cabin has more of the same. We’ll take it down when you’re ready.”
“Leave it up until it rots and falls off on its own. Then collect the pieces for me with the notes and signatures. I’ll make a scrapbook.”
“You got it.” Kyle let Terry take over pushing the chair, almost out of breath. He swallowed a yawn and followed the group while hoping nothing exciting happened. I’m not awake enough to handle it right now.
“Later, when Jennifer approaches you about using a new spell, let her.”
Kyle understood. “The death spells.”
Angela tensed at a fresh wave of pain in her stomach. “All of you need the help of your soulmates to fully recover.”
“I wasn’t on that run.”
“She needs the practice.”
Kyle accepted that. “What about the people who don’t have one, like Ed and Greg?”
“Everyone who went with me has someone who loves them enough for the spell to work.” Angela didn’t say she’d made sure of that when she picked her team for that run. It had been one of many details she’d compared before ringing their bells.
“I’ll pass the word on it.” Kyle didn’t like how much older the entire team seemed, including Angela. “You’ll need another session?”
“Yes.” She sighed. “It would go faster if it was Marc, but I won’t force him to do it, so don’t beg him or make him feel bad for it. Spells like these only work if they come from the heart.”
“He still loves you, Boss. We’re all sure of that.”
“Marc’s love has never been in question.” Angela tried to have faith. “This will all be settled by the time Tilly is gone.”
Everyone was glad to hear that, but they didn’t ask what the outcome would be. They were all afraid of the answer. Everything about Marc’s demeanor said he was going to follow through.
“Adrian loves you.” Terry ignored her wave of coldness and the frowns from those around them. “You could do worse.”
“That’s your opinion.”
Terry chuckled at her snotty reply. “Just sayin’.”
Angela sighed deeply, tiredly. “Even if Marc leaves, we’ll still love each other.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Terry pushed her chair to the center of the lounge area. “Hang out here while we get your cabin finished. You’re also on a break.”
Angela wanted that, but she already knew it wasn’t going to happen. “In about one minute, Ray is going to come hurrying in here and deliver some bad news. After that, time will start moving faster again. If I take a break, I’ll miss my one window of opportunity and I refuse to do that.”
Terry scowled. “Your health matters.”
“Not more than this camp.” Angela grunted. “Send the traitor to me later today and again in the morning. I don’t want him, but if Marc can’t be there for me, Adrian will. There isn’t anything I can ask him for that he’d deny.”
“Except support your choices about magic and the normals.”
A small smile brushed Angela’s lips at Terry’s reminder. “He’s fighting for the good side on that one. I respect it.”
Terry was tired of playing word games with her. There was no way he could win. “We should be done in about half an hour. I’ve arranged for someone to keep you company.” Terry motioned.
A stream of kids came out of Neil and Samantha’s cabin.
“Surprise!”
The kids were carrying little treats and bags of goodies from the gift shop, like perfumes and hairbows. They surrounded the alpha with tender care and thick protection.
Angela’s heart beat faster, still trying to fight the deadly magic.
But it wasn’t enough and all of them felt it. They adored her, but even the love from the kids wasn’t enough to heal her.
Some of the kids also hugged Cate or Cody. Everything they’d gone through during the attack had transmitted through the hive.
“The alpha will take care of you.” Amy hugged Cody.
Cody hugged her and hoped that happened soon. He didn’t think he could take many more rage episodes without becoming like Sadie.
“What’s happening over there?” Kyle motioned toward the unused side of the deck where Duke was pacing. He couldn’t tell who was in there, but the light was on and there were shadows moving behind the door.
“It’s being prepped as a quarantine area.”
Tension flew through the workers at Angela’s answer.
“Tilly’s group will stay close to us during their visit.” Angela studied the suddenly quiet children. “Hospitality pictures need to go up all through the ship.”
Missy frowned. “We used all the brown. They won’t be as strong.”
“It just so happens that I know the location of a big box that’s full of crayons.” Angela smiled. “Most of them are shades of brown.”
The kids cheered.
“I’ll have it delivered later. For now, do your chores and shifts and let the workers get finished. Once they’re done, I want you guys to cover this ship in pictures, starting with the new QZ.” Angela glanced around. “Before you hang each charm, have it signed by one of the enforcers.”
People assumed that would make the magic stronger.
Kyle sighed. “Here he comes.”
Angela waved the kids on. “Put these awesome gifts in a stack on the couch for me?”
The kids hurried to handle it as the main door opened.
Ray hurried in. “Got some news, Boss.”
Ray had been on the submarine since dawn, watching for their guests.
Tonya scanned the man and didn’t like what she found. Ray appeared just as bad off as the men who had gone to Hell with Angela. It was obvious that he wasn’t adjusting well to being single again.
Angela concentrated on the coming threat. “How close is she?”
“She’ll be here in two days instead of four.” Ray had timed it twice to be sure that estimate was accurate. “There are two blips on the radar.”
“Two boats?”
Ray nodded. “They could be bringing hundreds of fighters with them. Those ships are not small.”
Angela looked over at Gus. “The crayon box is under the stairwell closest to the cargo bay, labeled as maxi pads. We need it now.”
Gus immediately went that way even though he felt terrible.
“Notify the council members. We’re moving the leadership vote to tonight. Get it all set up in the big ballroom.”
“Openly?” Kyle was surprised at Angela’s order.
“Yes. We’re not hiding the council anymore.” Angela clenched her hand around the edge of the blanket as the pain in her gut became sharper. “We’ll gain support from those who want one of those slots.”
Terry did a fast count while he set up her equipment. “Do we have council seats open?”
“Yes, and they’ll go to whoever can bring in the most support for my plans.”
People guessed she meant the slavery plan, but Angela denied that. “We have to learn to get along before we go home for the final battle. I want those seats to go to residents who have ideas on how to make peace happen.”
“I don’t understand.” Terry wasn’t the only one.
“Peace matters more than magic. If we can bring peace to America, they’ll give us control without a fight.” Angela shivered, causing Ray to tug her blanket around her arms.
“Did you see that happening? Before, I mean?” Ray was very curious about how much she’d foreseen before being blacklisted from the time stream.
Angela shook her head. “I saw us unleashing our secret weapons and conquering them all.”
Ray frowned along with everyone else. “What secret weapons?”
Angela stared toward the busy lounge. “The kids.”

Book #24
​600+ pages
Following Through

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