The Lost

by K. A Knight

  “If anyone has any issues with the newcomers, come to Trev or me, we will deal with it. To everyone from Paradise, this isn’t the bunker anymore. Up here, it’s hard, but this place…this place is truly paradise if you let it be. It’s time to embrace the world and stop hiding,” I shout, and a cheer goes up from my tribe and even some members of Paradise. I spot Worth’s dad hanging around looking out of place. “Okay, the men who moved the bombs before, help us now, then you can all rest! Let’s go!” I order, and they all break away to do as they need to.

  “Papa Worth,” I call, and he looks at me before coming over. “Trev, this is the leader of Paradise. I think we can find a place for him, won’t we?”

  “I would think so. If you represent your people, it would be good to have your council and help to get them settled,” Trev declares, clapping him on the shoulder, and starts to lead him away.

  “Get settled, Piper, and then come find me,” Trev calls over his shoulder.

  “Sure thing!” I agree, before turning to my men. “Well then…this is going to be a tight squeeze in my house.”

  “No kidding,” Archel mutters.

  “I’m dibbing big spoon!” Jago adds, making me laugh as I grab our bags.

  “I’ll take these to the house, you guys going to help move the bombs?” I tell them.

  “Men strong,” Archel mocks. “Move bombs.”

  “Dude, you are so weird,” Evan mutters.

  “Come on, Doc, let’s go show Princess how manly we are!” he jokes, and they all head over to help move the trucks and bombs as I grab their bags like a pack horse and trek through the camp to my hut on the hill.

  I see the newbies looking around, someone is giving them a tour, while others are offering food. Despite their differences, they are welcoming the very people they left…it gives me hope.

  Panting with the effort of being a packhorse—I swear their bags are even heavier than mine—I dump them inside the door of my hut. Everything is where I left it at least, not that I expected it to have been moved. At this rate, I’m going to need an extension.

  Curious why the bags are so heavy, I peek in one which I’m guessing is Archel’s…the guy hasn’t even packed clothes or underwear…it’s just filled with weapons! I guess I’m not surprised, but Christ, I don’t even know what half of this stuff is!

  “I think we are going to need to put another bed in here,” Archel jokes from behind me. I spin, glaring at him for sneaking up on me.

  “Dude, I will put a bell on you!” I tease and he laughs.

  “To think, I thought you always saw your shadow,” he purrs, stepping closer, prowling towards me like he always does.

  “I only see you when you want me to, assassin,” I retort, and he grins, letting me know I’m right.

  “So, Princess, going to share your castle with your men?” He corners me against the bed, his hands darting out and gripping my hips to pull me closer. “Won’t they get jealous when they see you sleeping in my shirt?”

  “Who says I will be sleeping in clothes?” I counter, and he groans just as another voice comes from the door.

  “New house rule, all dudes must wear clothes. I don’t want to see swinging cocks in the morning,” Evan mutters, stepping in and looking around.

  “We all wear clothes,” Jago agrees, but then looks at me with fire in his eyes. “Apart from you, Brawler, feel free to walk around naked.”

  “These two are a bad influence on you!” I accuse, and he grunts in agreement.

  “He’s right, we are going to need another bed,” the big guy adds, and with all of them in here, I have to admit it’s a tight squeeze—not that I mind being squeezed between them.

  “I’ll get us one,” Archel says casually, before dropping a kiss on my nose and rushing into the night.

  “Don’t steal it! Or kill anyone!” I yell after him, and I hear his chuckle float to me. He is going to steal one.

  “Okay, which side of the bed am I on?” Evan inquires, looking around.

  “I’m closest to the door,” Jago snaps. “And Piper.”

  “Fine, I’ll take the other side of her and the wall,” Evan mutters, rolling his eyes at Jago. “What kind of crazy person wants to be closest to a door where they could get attacked or killed anyway,” he grumbles to himself, as he drops down on the bed.

  There are bags under his eyes, which are bloodshot, he’s tired, we all are. “Sorry, you guys get some sleep, I need to go and talk to Trev,” I tell them through a yawn.

  “No, we will go with you, Brawler,” Jago states with a hard voice, giving Evan a glare, who grumbles again but gets up.

  “Like we would leave you. Lead the way, Pip!” he declares.

  I guide them down from the hill and through the camp to the tent where I find Worth’s dad and Trev talking. When I walk in, Trev turns to me with a smile. “Okay then, Piper, I have learned some of what has happened, but why don’t you fill me in on the rest and I can help you work through it?”

  I sit down, and Trev passes us some tea while I explain everything that happened involving the war and the promise I made to Worth. When I’m done, he is stroking his chin. “I see, okay.” He nods and looks at me. “What’s your opinion on this war?”

  I sit up taller, knowing he is coming to me for advice and will really listen. “That it’s coming one way or the other, and we can either choose to be part of it or be left broken in its wake. They won’t stop with Worth, they will take all of the North, and when we don’t fall in line, they will kill us, the bombs show you that. I think it’s time to fight, that for once we can’t hide. This time there is no running. We have to take a stand, all of us, or we all fall.”

  My words land hard in the silence, and I fight the urge to fidget as he examines me. “That is a very mature perspective.” He nods with a small smile. “As you can understand, I am hesitant about leading our people into a battle if we don’t have to.”

  “Of course, they are my people too, but this battle? It’s coming no matter what. Wouldn’t you rather it be on our terms?” I point out and he laughs.

  “Very true, ah, assassin, what are your thoughts on this war?” Trev calls, and I turn to see Archel sitting in a chair next to Worth’s dad, who turns to see him there in shock, the sneaky man.

  “I agree with Piper, and not because I enjoy a good fight.” He becomes serious then. “I’ve seen the devastation it can cause, but whether we want it or not, it’s coming, and all we can do is decide where we stand. I know I want to be on that front line, helping to protect the people I love. Live or die, we do it together.”

  Licking my lips, I stare at the blank expression on his face before he turns and winks at me.

  “And think of all that fighting and blood, won’t it be glorious, Princess?”

  “Then I will need to step up our training,” Trev comments with a sigh. “They have been practicing and we have some good talent, but not nearly enough warriors.”

  “We will do what we can. For now, we all need to rest, we haven’t slept in days and we will think clearer on a less tired mind. We have time to decide how to approach this war, but one way or another, we will be on that front line,” I state with conviction.

  “Very well, get some sleep, I will see you in the morning,” he replies, but his smile is strained, his face lined, the news taking a toll on him.

  “Goodnight,” I call, before heading back to my hut, my men on my heels.

  When we get inside, I can feel them hesitating nervously, even with the extra bed which Archel has pushed up to the other. There is only a small walkway between the door and the beds now. But I’m too tired to care, so instead, I take off my boots, jeans, and shirt, knowing I’m going to be surrounded by boys and skin and bound to get hot. Crawling into bed, I am wearing only my bra and panties. When I’m under the quilt, I turn to see them all standing at the entryway, staring at me with hungry but tired expressions.

  “Come on, it’s time to sleep. You can all try to kill each oth
er in the morning, but for tonight, let’s just get along.” I sigh, my eyes closing with the softness and warmth surrounding me.

  I hear them whisper something to each other before the bed dips, then I grunt as someone crawls over me. My eyes open to see Evan pressing his back to the wall and cuddling under the duvet beside me, his legs tangling with mine. I slip into his arms, resting my head on his chest as another body presses to mine from behind. I glance over to see Archel with Jago on the outside.

  “Night,” I murmur around a yawn, and as soon as I close my eyes, I fall deeply asleep.

  “Piper!” comes a scream that jerks me awake. Archel is on his knees in an instant, his sword out, and Jago is crouched in front of me protectively, but it didn’t come from outside, it came from inside. A whimper comes then, and I turn to see Evan reaching for me in his sleep, his face split with panic.

  He calls out my name again, the heartbreak and fear in it making me almost cry for him. What happened to Evvie to make him have nightmares? Was it just losing me, or was it something else?

  Like he did so many times before, I scoot closer and wrap my arms around him, kissing his head softly. “I’m here, Evvie, I’m here,” I repeat, until he settles down with a sigh and a grumble, cuddling into my embrace and falling back to sleep.

  Jago and Archel climb back into bed without a word, the assassin draping his arm and leg around me and Evvie, holding him too. “Our fears have a way of manifesting in our sleep, that dream he is having? I’ve had it too,” he whispers in my ear.

  We are family now, and Archel is showing me that. Despite the jealousy and anger, he is holding Evvie, helping him through the nightmares. My heart slams into my ribs, so filled with happiness that tears erupt. I bury my face in Evvie’s hair and settle between them again.

  “I’ll keep watch over him, get some sleep,” Jago grumbles.

  “Thank you, big guy, love you,” I whisper, as I start to fall back to sleep again.

  “Love you, Brawler,” comes the hushed reply.

  “Love you, Princess,” comes another.

  Sixteen

  Old Friend

  “Brawler, come on, wake up, you need to eat,” comes the order.

  Groaning, I flip over and bury my face in something warm and shaking with laughter. Cracking open my eye, I see a bare chest and follow it up to find a grinning Evan.

  “Come on, Pip, you get mardy when you don’t eat,” he begs softly.

  “Traitors,” I mutter, and flip over to see Jago already dressed and waiting at the edge of the bed. “Where’s my shadow?” I ask, scrubbing at my face.

  “Who knows, probably scaring children.” Jago snorts. “We left you both to sleep as long as we could while we checked on everyone, but breakfast is ready.”

  “Alright, alright,” I mutter. I slide from the bed and stumble into Jago who catches me.

  “Sit down before you fall.” He grins down at me, eyes on fire.

  “Coffee, need coffee,” I groan.

  “Sorry, Brawler, none here,” he tells me, before grabbing my shirt and pulling it over my head, and then starting on my jeans. I get to my feet as he buttons them and pushes me back down, grabbing my ankle to place it on his leg. Pulling on my sock and boot, he sets my foot to the floor before doing the same to the other. He is just lacing up my boot when Archel pokes his head around the door and wiggles his eyebrows at me.

  “Thought I would find a threesome, gotta say I’m disappointed,” he teases, making me laugh. “But ah, well, I brought you a present, Princess.”

  He comes into the room and produces a steel mug from behind his back. I see the warmth wafting from it and a delicious, familiar scent hits my nose… “Is that coffee?” I almost scream and tackle him. “God, tell me it’s coffee.”

  “It’s coffee,” he agrees, and thrusts the mug at me before I hit him. I cradle it in my hands, staring down at the brown liquid in the mug, tears filling my eyes. “Fuck, don’t cry,” he implores. “I remembered how obsessed you were, so Jago and I stole all the coffee from Paradise while you were screwing Doc’s brains out.”

  I ignore that and take a sip, groaning in bliss as my eyes close. Dear God, it’s like the best form of liquid in my mouth. I must say that out loud because someone groans.

  “Shush, leave me alone,” I snap, and pull it closer. “How I have missed you, old friend,” I tell it as they watch.

  “Want us to leave you alone with it?” Evan laughs behind me.

  “You laugh, but I would. I would make love to coffee, and I would have its bean babies,” I murmur, as I chug the goodness and wipe my mouth before passing the mug to Archel. “More please.”

  “As you wish, Princess.” He bows and rushes away.

  “Come on, you need to eat as well, coffee isn’t a food group,” Jago warns.

  “It totally is, big guy.” I pat his chest, and feeling more alive, I saunter out of the hut, leaving Evan swearing behind me as he rushes to get dressed to follow us.

  I weave through the tables near the fire and pick the closest one, dropping down as Jago and Evan sit on the other side. Maria heads over and passes me a plate.

  “God, it smells so good, thank you,” I tell her, and she smiles at me.

  “No problem, you are getting too skinny again, sweetie, eat up. Your shadow is brewing you more coffee, and don’t worry, he has told everyone that they can’t touch it, or him or Jago will beat them with their own intestines.” She laughs.

  “How romantic!” I grin and dig into the food before me.

  Archel places the mug in front of me then and slides in beside me. “I know I am, you are so lucky, Princess,” he coos.

  “Hey, I kill people for her,” Jago growls, narrowing his eyes on him.

  “I patch her up after she beats them up,” Evan interjects.

  “Wow, you really have it all covered,” Maria teases and walks away.

  “We do,” I agree, my mouth filled, making them roll their eyes.

  When I’ve finished eating, I sit back as others start to join us. Some are tribe members just asking questions or updating me on their training, while some of the Paradise dwellers thank me or let me know their worries and complaints, and before I know it, hours have passed. This being a leader business isn’t easy.

  “Killing people is easy,” Archel laments in his seat, slumping against the table.

  “Why don’t you go? Jago and you could help restart the training, see where they are,” I suggest, and he perks up and looks at the big guy in question, who stares at me with a pained frown.

  “Brawler, I’ll end up killing him.” He groans wearily.

  Laughing, I lean over and drop a kiss on both their lips. “Be good boys and you will both get a reward.”

  “As you wish, Princess.” Archel grins, jumping to his feet.

  Jago blows out an exasperated breath, but stands, and throws me one, last pained look. “Be good, come and get me if there’s trouble, Brawler.”

  I nod and sit back in my seat with Evan just as Simon comes over and drops into Jago’s vacated spot. “Enjoying being back?” He grins, and I throw my fork at him just as an explosion rocks the area.

  I shoot to my feet, gripping the table as Jago and Archel race back over to me from the treeline, but my eyes go to the rumbling mountain where it came from. I can see a small plume of smoke there now. Once the rumbling and earth shifting is finished, everyone around us turns their eyes from the mountain back to what they were doing.

  Me? I narrow mine on Simon as Archel and Jago reach me, and start to fuss to check that I’m okay. “Those are no protective land mines. This occurs way too often, and everyone around here is used to it, suggesting it happens a lot, so tell me, Simon…what are you hiding in those mountains?” I demand, slamming my hands down on the table. I am tired of being lied to and deceived.

  He shakes his head, gazing around at everyone else. “Piper, I don’t know—”

  “Don’t you dare fucking lie to me. I have people depending
on me now, do not treat me like a child. What are you hiding in those mountains?” I yell.

  He nods, looking defeated before leaning closer. “Not what…who.”

  After he dropped those words, he hustled me into the main tent where Trev is still speaking to Worth’s dad. He takes one look at us and his smile fades. “If you’ll excuse us?” he offers to Papa Worth, who stands with a nod at us and leaves.

  Only then does Simon speak. “We need to tell her about them.” He jerks his head to the right, where the mountains are, and Trev winces but waves his hands at the empty seat.

  “Sit, won’t you?” he asks, and I narrow my eyes, annoyance flaring over me at something all these people know that I don’t.

  “I’ll stand. Now tell me who the hell is hiding in the mountains and why do they keep setting of explosives?” I snap, and then turn to look at Archel. “Do you know anything about it? I swear to God, assassin, shadow or not, I will cut off your cock and give it to Jago to torture.”

  He simply grins. “I know nothing for once, Princess.” Then it fades. “I’m in the dark as much as you.” And doesn’t that just annoy him, I can see it in his eyes.

  So whoever they are hiding, protecting, they managed to keep it even from Archel. Trev sighs again as Simon sits. “It was not to lie to you, I can promise you that, Piper. It is both to protect us and them. They have been a tribe secret since we first came here. This was their land, their home. They let us move in, they helped us set up and build these structures you see around us, but they preferred the mountain, so they went back home and we promised to keep their existence a secret. To protect them like they did us. All they wanted was to be left in peace, Piper, surely you can understand that?” he pleads.

  “Who are they?”

  “People, just people like you and me.” Simon snorts and Trev grins. “Well…a bit eccentric and obsessed with building weapons like the bombs you heard. It’s their way of life, they are warriors, healers, and fighters...they are The Lost.”