Wicked Souls: A Limited Edition Reverse Harem Romance Collection

by Rebecca Royce

  After a romp like this, I usually take an extra-long hot shower to relax and replenish my muscles, but time is a luxury right now, and even though I have Clare on board with helping us, I’m still unsure if they’ll be able to get the baby’s DNA before the self-destruct goes off. Precious time was wasted with my dad’s refusal to help, and I don’t know if Nate can find the right equipment and do the procedure before we arrive.

  I do a quick but thorough wash-up, and when I come back to the main compartment, the ghosts have returned. Zeke still has that grin on his face, and Greta’s giggling behind her hands.

  Walking over to the stasis pod, I turn it to the underside and check the timer.

  Twenty-seven hours and fifteen minutes. Plenty of time to take a nap—maybe even get a real night’s sleep for once in my Goddamn life.

  Seven

  I wake from a deep slumber when the tank shudders and sputters to a complete stop. I check the UniWeb and see that the boys let me sleep in; I was out for over twenty hours.

  I battle with my tangled waves until my hair’s under some semblance of control in a loose braid. Through the PermaLinks, I sense a rising panic from Hal and Vinnie, and I rush back to the front compartment.

  “What’s going on?” They’re both so freaked out I can’t lock on to a coherent thought to figure out what happened.

  Sam, having resigned himself to our potential fate yesterday, answers for them. “The engine just died. Hal can’t see anything wrong to cause the short in the electrical system, but something’s fried in there.”

  I jump into Hal’s mind and set to work easing his fear and calming his thoughts. …[Easy, sweetie. Don’t panic. We’ve still got time, right?]…

  Hal shakes his head, tears brimming in his eyes. “I don’t think so, Kylie.”

  “We’ve got, what, seven hours to fix it and get there?”

  He points to a readout on the control panel. “The nav system is completely gone. I can’t navigate, can’t steer, can’t get the thing to budge. I’ve checked for a repair kit, but I can’t find one anywhere. This tank is now a giant fucking rock in the middle of nowhere.”

  “So…we’ve got seven hours to walk it there?”

  Vinnie speaks up. “More like run.”

  I turn to him. “You mean we’re still that far away?”

  He nods. “Yep. Look, Ky, I know you don’t want to split us up, but this’ll go a lot quicker if Sam or I run it. We’ve got the stamina and the strength to get there. It’ll still be close, but it’s better than certain death if we all go together. You and Hal would just slow us down.”

  I cross my arms over my chest and straighten to my full height—tall, but not tall enough to have the physical authority I’d like to have right now. As it is, I’m still craning my neck a little to look Vin in the eye. “Neither one of you is taking this risk on all by yourself, and don’t say you’ll both take it because that’s not an option, either. We are a family, damnit, and I’m not letting us get split up like that, especially not if one or more of us might die in the process.”

  “If you don’t let one or both of us take that risk, we’re all four going to die.”

  “There’s still the chance that Clare will get my dad to change his mind.”

  Vinnie’s bark of laughter is bitter and dry. “Like anyone could ever get Malcolm Martin to change his fucking mind.”

  I clench my hands into fists and turn on my heel, stalking to the rear compartment. Sam follows, but Hal and Vinnie stay up front.

  …[What are you planning to do?]…

  …[It’s easy, Sam,]… I say as I stuff random items into my bag. …[If we have to run, we run. Hal and I might not be Athletes, but we’re both pretty fit for normal Abnormals, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to give in to Dad’s wishes and leave the package here.]…

  Sam looks back through the door to where Hal and Vinnie are in deep discussion over something. Hal’s pointing at a different console, and Vin’s running his hands over his head.

  …[There’s something else, Boss. We’ve got another Squad on our tail. They’ve probably been tracking this tank. They’re still a few hours away, but they’ll overrun us long before we make it to the Dead City.]…

  …[Well, that settles it; I’m more convinced than ever that whatever’s inside is going to be useful to us if we can just get the damn thing open. Alyssa’s not going to send all these Squads out for something that’s not important to her.]…

  A knock at the door catches my attention, and I look to see Greta standing there. She must’ve used the same trick to knock on the door that she used to wield the plasma blade. …[Miss Kylie? I remembered something.]…

  I try to school my expression, because she’s trembling a little. I have no idea why a ghost would be afraid; she’s already dead, so what’s the worst that can happen to her? I squat down to her level and smile. …[What’s that, Greta?]…

  …[I remembered what’s in the box.]…

  …[And…?]…

  She looks back to Zeke and Carol. …[Mr. Zeke says there’s rules. He says I can’t say exactly what it is.]…

  …[So what can you say?]…

  …[It’s bad luck.]…

  I’m getting confused—and a little annoyed. …[What’s bad luck? Breaking the rules?]…

  She shakes her head. …[Nuh uh. The thing in the box. It’s bad luck.]…

  A ghost-summoning bad luck charm? If I was the superstitious type, I might think there’s something to this All Hallows’ Eve crap. The self-destruct will go off at the stroke of three on October thirty-first. The Witching Hour, my mom used to say. My birthday, down to the minute. The Squads even took that birthdate and used it to name me the Red Witch.

  Three is supposed to be some magical number, right? If there’s any magic in this fucked-up world, I could use some of it right about now.

  But wait—I’m the “Red Witch.” I’m all the magic I need. Fuck the bad luck charm. Fuck All Hallows’ Eve. Fuck it all. I’m going to get this stasis pod to the Dead City, I’m going to get it open, and I’m going to find out what all this fuss is about.

  I toss Sam’s pack to him and pick up Hal and Vinnie’s bags. “Here. We’re leaving.”

  “You’re seriously going to try to run it?”

  “Yep.” I stroll out to the main compartment, head held high, and snatch the stasis pod off the table it sits on.

  “Kylie! What are you doing?”

  I yank the latch off the door and slam it open as I toss Hal and Vin their bags. “I’m getting this fucker to the Dead City, and you boys are coming with me.”

  “Ky, you can’t run fast enough. We’re all going to die out there if we go at your pace.”

  “Then we fucking die!” I’m shaking from head to toe. Vin’s not usually this argumentative, especially when it comes to decisions that affect all of us. “Look, you want out of this? You want to leave and save your own neck? Fine. I’m not about to let this get back in Alyssa’s hands, and I’m also not about to let this opportunity to see what she’s up to go to waste. Tomorrow’s Halloween, I’m the fucking Red Witch, and I’m making my own damn magic here.”

  Vin’s not convinced. “And what about the Squad on our tail? Sam told you about that, right?”

  I look Vinnie dead in the eye and jam my com node. Eli picks up after a few beeps.

  “Ky, what the hell did you say to Clare?”

  “Hello to you, too, Eli.” My patience is just about gone, so I get right to it. “By the way, the Squad tank we stole is dead in the water, so to speak, and we’ve got yet another Squad on our tail. We’ll try to slow them down, but in the meantime, we’re having to run this thing to you guys. If my dad is absolutely dead set against helping us, you’d better find a transport to meet us on the road. With the baby’s DNA. I know Clare was going to have Nate get right on that.”

  Eli’s voice over the com is a growl. Good. Let him be pissed. “Ky, you’re giving me a pretty tall order here. What makes you think I’ll be
able to get to you in time?”

  I glance at Greta. “Luck. I’m about to make some luck happen here. Just set your trajectory to match ours—Hal will send you the coordinates. In the meantime, I’ve got to talk to some ghosts about some sabotage.”

  “You’re going to what?”

  “See you soon, Eli. Don’t be late.”

  I open the GPS app on the UniWeb and start off at a jog. Greta, Carol, and Zeke jog alongside me, and through the PermaLink I feel Hal, Vinnie, and Sam trotting behind us.

  …[Zeke, does this pod constantly draw you spirits to it? Is it something that goes on and off? How much can you tell me about how it works?]…

  …[It’s a constant pull, especially now that the veil is thin.]…

  …[More All Hallows’ Eve stuff?]…

  He nods. …[But it’s more than just that. The thing inside the pod is made to draw out spirits. It’s like a magnet or beacon.]…

  …[How many more spirits are in the area right now?]…

  …[Dozens. Maybe hundreds, now that the Witching Hour is close. Why do you ask?]…

  …[I’m going to need another favor from you and this spirit army.]…

  He salutes me as he runs. …[Your wish is my command.]…

  …[Good. Now, listen up…]… I tell Zeke my plan for the ghosts that our package is attracting, and he grins.

  Zeke must’ve been one hell of a soldier in his day. I can see the twinkle in his ghostly eyes at the thought of more field action. I bet he was disappointed when WWIII ended and he had to retire.

  As the only other person who can see Zeke and the other ghosts, Hal radiates concern through the PermaLink when Zeke veers off-course to complete his mission. …[Kylie, why is Zeke leaving? Is he not going to help anymore?]…

  …[I’ve got a plan, and Zeke’s helping.]… I don’t waste time saying anything else. Instead, I pump my legs harder, going from jog to full-on run. Hal huffs and puffs behind me, and I know Sam and Vin are helping him keep up. I feel bad that he has to struggle like this, but I can’t leave him behind, not when there’s a Squad after us.

  Hopefully, with Zeke’s help, that Squad won’t be an issue for much longer.

  Eight

  I always considered myself to be in pretty good shape for a Telepath. Even Hal would train with me, Vinnie, and Sam between missions, to be able to keep up.

  I admit now that I am in terrible, terrible shape.

  I’ll give myself credit for running full-on for the first three hours. I mean, you don’t have three full-time lovers, two of them Athletes, without building up some stamina. It’s not enough, however, for what we need to do, and I’m slowing down more and more with each passing mile. I won’t stop though. I won’t give up.

  Did I mention that I’m a stubborn bitch?

  At least we don’t have the Squad to worry about anymore. Zeke took a contingent of ghosts and trashed their transport. We heard the explosion echoing behind us as we ran.

  I don’t know what became of the Squad that was on the transport. Zeke returned with a score of ghosts, all grinning from ear to transparent ear, and he didn’t say what transpired. My guess? Some of those ghosts had been Abnormal in life, and they had grudges to settle with Gifted Squads.

  Hal stumbles, and Vinnie scoops him up. I’m not worried about Vin carrying Hal’s added weight—hell, he might be able to carry the both of us and still keep up with Sam—but I am worried about our timing. four hours is a long time for anyone to continue to run, Athlete or no. I try to reach Eli on the coms, to find out how far away from us he is, but my com won’t activate. I ask Hal to look at it with his ocular.

  “It’s fine, but it’s not getting a signal out here.” He’s wheezing still, despite having a break from running while in Vinnie’s arms.

  “How the fuck is there no signal?”

  I see him shake his head out of the corner of my eye. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because we’re out in the middle of nowhere right now. It’s shitty luck, that’s for sure.”

  I remember that we crossed from the Midwest Wasteland into the Southwest desert zone before the transport died. Hal’s luck comment irritates me, but I’m still determined.

  “What about your coms? Or Sam’s, or Vin’s?”

  Everybody tries; no one gets a signal.

  “Great. Does that mean they’re not getting our coordinates?”

  “Probably not.”

  I try to run some numbers in my head, but I’m too exhausted. I have to keep my legs moving; I can’t stop to think. “Hal, if they had the DNA ready and left the Dead City right after we talked to them, and if we’re still on an intercept course, how long until we reach them?”

  “If they headed straight for us and haven’t stopped? They might make it to us in an hour, maybe two.”

  “So there’s still a chance?”

  “If they left straight after you called him. That’s assuming they already had the DNA sample we need.”

  Sam speeds up to run next to me. …[Boss, we’ve gotta stop sometime. Even Vin and I can’t keep up this pace without stopping for water, maybe stretch a little. We’re going to dehydrate and cramp up at this rate.]…

  I know he’s right, but I can’t give up. Something deep in my gut is telling me that whatever’s inside this stasis pod is important—vital, even.

  Bad luck or no, I have to keep it safe and stop the self-destruct.

  I’m so focused on the timing of everything that I don’t see the hole in the ground right in my path.

  As I step in the hole and my foot gets caught, I feel a horrific ripping in my ankle, accompanied by a loud crack!

  I grip the stasis pod tight as I try to tuck into a roll to take some of the momentum out of my fall, but I misjudge my landing and end up falling square on my injured shoulder. A spasm of intense pain tunnels my vision and takes my breath away. I’m gasping and wheezing, desperate for air, but I can’t seem to fill my lungs. I think I broke or bruised some ribs when I landed. Hot, wet, sticky fluid drips down my face, and I’m pretty sure I banged my head, too.

  Sam’s at my side in a heartbeat, with Vin and Hal a half second behind. Sam disentangles my ankle from the hole, and I find enough air in me to scream as something else rips.

  “Sorry!”

  I want to tell him it’s okay, that I’m not mad, but I used up what little air supply I had screaming.

  Carol kneels next to my head and places a hand on me. Well, I think she’s placing a hand on me. I can’t feel anything but the pain right now, so I have no idea if she’s solidified. Waves of telepathic anesthesia flow through me, but it’s not enough. When I hit, I hit hard, and it’s going to take real medicine to even make me coherent. Carol’s telepathy is enough to get me breathing again, though, so I take that as a win.

  I feel rough, calloused hands on mine, trying to take the stasis pod from me, and I curl further into my ball of pain. “No!”

  Vinnie’s in tears as he tries again. “Please, Ky. Let me take it. Sam and Hal can fix you up, and I’ll take this to Eli. I’ll get it there, I promise; I won’t dump it somewhere in the desert. I’ll get it to Eli or die trying.”

  “No! I don’t want you to die, Vin.” It’s my turn to cry, but I’m not sure which pain is worse: the physical pain from my injuries, or the emotional pain at the thought of Vinnie sacrificing himself for me.

  There’s rustling and rattling going on while Vin and I argue, and I don’t realize it’s the sounds of Hal rifling through the medkit until he injects me with something.

  …[What was that?]… I ask. …[What did you give me?]…

  “It’s anesthetic,” he says aloud. “Carol’s trying, but she’s not alive; her telepathy is as ethereal as the rest of her.”

  My muscles release some of the tension they’ve been holding; I struggle to maintain my grip on the stasis pod. Vinnie takes my wrist and tugs, but he’s too distraught to break my hold. We end up tangled together on the ground, broken and sobbing, and I wish I could tell him it’s
going to be okay.

  It’s not going to be okay, though. I’ve failed. We’ll never make it to Eli in time now. There’s only one thing left for me to do.

  I open my eyes and look up at the desert night sky above me. Even with the light of the full moon, the stars are visible. No clouds or smog out here to obstruct my view. I take slow, deep breaths until I think I’m stable enough to move.

  “Vin,” I say, “get out of here. Take Sam and Hal and go.”

  “I’m trying. You won’t let go of the pod.”

  I try to keep my voice firm but soft. “I didn’t say ‘take the pod and go.’ I said to take the others and go.”

  He wails, and Hal reaches around to pull him close, cradling his head and rocking him back and forth. The grief seeping through the PermaLink is palpable, a crushing weight on my chest, worse than the damaged ribs.

  He knows what I plan to do. Hal and Sam know, too, but they’ve resigned themselves to the possibility. Vin can’t reconcile the reality of my impending death when, to him, there’s a viable option.

  I don’t see Vin’s death in my stead as a viable option.

  Using what little strength I have left, I force myself into a sitting position. I take Vinnie’s chin in my hand and lift his face until we’re looking eye to eye.

  …[Vinnie, I need you to listen to me. I can’t let you sacrifice yourself. I need you to take care of Hal and Sam for me. Keep them safe. I know I can trust you to keep them safe, Vin. That’s why I can’t let you die in my place.]…

  …[No, Ky—there’s got to be another way.]…

  I shake my head. …[I’m sorry, my love, but there’s not. We’ll never get to Eli in time now, and I refuse to let you take this hit for me.]…

  Sam crouches next to Vinnie and places a hand on his shoulder. “Listen, brother, this isn’t like a Squad, where we can fight the threat. This is Kylie’s choice. We have to respect it.”

  “But—”

  …[No buts, Vin. You three get out of here. Get to safety. I’ll be okay. Hey, we know for a fact now that there’s life after death—maybe I can come back and visit you.]…