From the Ashes

by Angela White

  Adrian didn’t offer comfort. Instead, he delivered another lesson. “Do you think so?”

  Neil shrugged. “The other slaves we rescued have had nothing good to say. He might be in over his head–enough to not see the consequences.”

  Adrian regarded Neil coolly. “Like me, when it comes to wanting Angela?”

  Neil forgot to breathe.

  Adrian didn’t punish more than he had to. The trooper would be doing that to himself for a long time to come. “What did Kyle say, when you went to him about me?”

  “To trust you,” Neil forced himself to answer, suddenly afraid that he’d lost ground he couldn’t recover.

  Adrian watched Kyle assist the girl into the nearest empty QZ tent and drop the flap against prying eyes. “We’ll honor him the same way. Leave them alone for now.”

  Neil moved away, frowning, but Adrian glanced over his camp in tired contentment. Another of his needed few had come, this one to lead the camp into the next level of progression, the next level of survival. It was another moment of feeling like fate was on their side, and it made Adrian’s determination stronger. When he was finished, this camp of survivors would all be Eagles, even down to the children. The color of their skin, their sex, or even age, meant little other than a new challenge to the camp’s pre-war mindset. It was that individual light inside–the personal value that had allowed each of them to be a survivor–that he appealed to, but it was the same red blood that pulsed through each of their veins that he needed them to recognize. When it did, they would become a country united, able to withstand.

  6

  The sound of the final mission member reaching the warehouse woke Angela with the cheers and crackling radios.

  She immediately found Marc in the dim corner, hand on his gun belt, and knew he’d been standing guard over her. Dusk’s orange glow washed through the shadows, bringing his details to light–that sexy jaw, those full lips.

  “It’s Kyle. Easy.”

  She smiled, stretching gingerly as desire rose. It was another welcome feeling. “You need sleep, too.”

  Marc grunted in response. He’d been thinking about how he had watched her sleep on the trip to Safe Haven, and about how being without the sound of her breathing when they’d been separated had nearly broken him. She was his world.

  Angela didn’t push, reading his dangerous mood. His acceptance was also clear. After this, he wouldn’t hold her back anymore. He would be by her side, helping to give life to Adrian’s dreams.

  “Yes, I will. For you.”

  “Eventually, it will be for them, as well.”

  Marc didn’t grunt this time, quelling a sharp response to keep from upsetting her.

  “So that’s how it’ll be? You’ll close yourself off?”

  Marc snorted, loving her sharp mind and hating it at the same time. “Like I could do that unless you wanted me to.”

  Angela sighed. No, at the rate her gifts were growing, none of them would be able to keep her out. It was isolating.

  “Are you ready?”

  Angela let him help her up. It was time to pay their respects.

  Marc stayed on Angela’s right as they came to the mess, aware of an entire camp observing their exceedingly slow progress through dusk’s glow. He had thought she was hurting at first, but quickly realized that she was showing people she was okay enough to linger. Despite her good act, Marc didn’t think she should even be out of bed, let alone walking around.

  He looked down to find Angela’s gaze on his arm. He’d chosen a black tank top because of the coming work, and she was staring at his arm and shoulder.

  He flexed, unable to resist.

  Angela drew in a quick breath as his muscles tightened into a thick rock. Sexy!

  Marc swept the parking area, hiding a snicker.

  Angela tried to ignore the daze, following his line of sight to find Cynthia standing her first shift with a team. Cynthia would have to work her way up, the same as everyone else. Killing Cesar hadn’t guaranteed her place with the Eagles, only Adrian’s approval to try, and Angela had made that clear.

  Cynthia nodded to her, face expressionless.

  Angela returned the gesture, still marveling over the swift change in loyalty from not only the reporter, but also from herself. Cynthia saved her life. It was still shocking.

  “Do you need to talk to her again?” Marc asked.

  “No.”

  “You sure?” Marc was trying to give all the support he’d denied before, eager to make up for his mistakes.

  “Yes. I will talk to Sam, though, if she’s here.”

  Angela allowed their hands to subtly brush. Even when they were alone together, he stayed covered, and she needed human contact right now more than ever. The black muscle shirt he had on was revealing hard skin and the ability to protect her, ruthlessly, if necessary. He’s still my John Wayne, she thought. That gunfighter’s walk and those matching, ivory-handled Colts only added to the impression.

  Vaguely aware of Angie’s gaze running over him, Marc was doing his own silent check-ins. He was becoming Adrian’s go-to man, and the Eagles wanted him to challenge Kenn for the XO slot.

  Picking out an unguarded corner, Marc motioned to Tucker, who reluctantly went to cover it. Marc wondered vaguely where the rookie’s fresh bruises had come from.

  Finally feeling more comfortable with the authority that Adrian insisted on giving her, Angela keyed her mike. “Man on Point to the parking area.”

  “Copy.”

  Marc understood she wanted Neil to know who had that spot, even if it was temporary. She was still worried. Why else would she personally be concerned with their security? She was only a high Level One, though, if she wasn’t injured, Marc was positive she would pass her tests. As it was, she wouldn’t be taking them with other Eagles this time. John had already ruled it out.

  “It’s part of my job now.” Angela steadied her legs and ignored her shoulder. “I haven’t picked up anything new–just being careful.”

  “Okay.” Marc was still bothered by it. He had hoped there might be some downtime for her, time they could spend together, but it didn’t appear that fate was going to give them much of it.

  The camp was eerily quiet as the couple reached the mess, full of a respectful awe that one of them found embarrassing. The other thought she could become addicted to it.

  The entire camp had been draped with black crepe paper and every camp member was wearing black clothing to show their respect. Even the table covers in the mess were dark colored, and Angela felt her heart swell with renewed love for them all. The Eagles hadn’t done this, and neither had Adrian or his pets among the women. This was the camp telling the Eagles that they were wanted, that when they gave their lives, the herd wouldn’t just keep grazing–their fighters would be remembered.

  Seeing Samantha wasn’t at the mess, Angela continued to the empty center table amid a resounding cheer. As she neared it, subtly grabbing the edge for support, the camp members who were there surrounded her.

  Marc uneasily let himself be edged away. With a quick glance at the two snipers on the area, he hovered along the far wall and waited for her to be finished.

  Watching, Marc understood that if he agreed to fight for Kenn’s place, these people would love him that strongly, too. It was heavy information to carry around and not act on, because he now knew the way to Angela’s continued affections was through these people. If he did big things for them, she would want him more, and he was wise enough to know it wouldn’t be right to use her emotions that way. He also knew that all was fair in love and war, and this was both.

  Angela let the camp run on for a long minute, understanding they needed it, but she didn’t give them much in the way of conversation. The services were about to start.

  On the hilltop behind Safe Haven, the lines of torch-bearing Eagles were providing escorts through the darkness. Three of their men were waiting, about to become a part of this apocalyptic landscape forever.

>   The camp members sensed her sorrow and fell silent, moved back. They hadn’t been there, didn’t know exactly how their men had died, but she did, and it was haunting. She would never view another battle scene the same way.

  She glanced at Marc. I’m ready.

  The silent words brought him to her side, and Angela allowed herself to clasp his bare arm for support as they walked.

  Marc sucked in a tight breath at the contact, need surging for an instant. Even in a moment of sadness, he wanted her.

  Angela slowly led them toward the hill, shoulder already throbbing. With so many moving torches, the steep incline head of them appeared to be on fire with tiny, rolling flames.

  “This is such a hard new life. We’ll have to do this again.”

  Marc knew what she needed and he could give it now. “You’ll save as many of them as you can.”

  He felt her shoulders stiffen in determination and was sure that V was standing out in her chin.

  “Yes, I will.”

  He bent down to place a gentle kiss to the top of her head.

  Angela smiled happily. It was okay for Marc to show how much he loved her. She was ready for that now.

  As they reached the bottom of the hill, Marc noticed the beads of sweat breaking out on her pale skin. He started to ask if she wanted him to push her up in the wheelchair, and caught Cynthia’s motion as she left her post to the next shift of Eagles. The reporter made a gesture that got Marc’s heart thumping.

  He raised a brow. Really?

  Cynthia surprised him by knowing the hand language, using it to answer.

  Yes. She’ll love it.

  Marc drew on his courage. If Angela rejected him in public, he would survive. Right now, she wanted to be at the service, and this was the easiest way.

  Angela tensed when Marc’s hands went around her, under her, but she didn’t protest the gentle move from the ground into his strong arms. He tucked her close and advanced, cushioning her body from the jarring climb.

  The pain of remaining straight subsided, and Angela rested her cheek on his shoulder. “Mmm... Thank you, Brady.”

  Marc was bathed in soothing light. He had Angie, a son that he was bonding with more every day, and a set place in the chain of command. Life, for him, was amazing.

  7

  At the top of the incline, the camp had gathered. The countryside below was mired in darkness and fog, but the hill was alive with light as the torch-bearing Eagles escorted people to the gravesite. Three ornate boxes with intricately carved gravestones were already waiting. All that remained was to put the coffins into the ground.

  The camp was a mix of relieved, angry, and triumphant expressions behind thick lines of deeply mourning Eagles. Losing three of their own made the threat of death more real to the men serving as Safe Haven’s defenders, but it also brought a satisfying sense of awareness. The slavers had gotten further into America than any other foreign army ever had. They’d tormented people through thirteen states–more than two thousand miles of towns and cities conquered–and the Eagles had eliminated them.

  Adrian stood in front of the caskets, his profile a mask of respectful sorrow. He and the other Eagles were standing together in full mission gear and it gave a sense of them being a private society inside Safe Haven. The camp didn’t truly understand, but it was clear that the Eagles were different, stronger.

  Unlike funerals of the past, where words took up most of the service, the ceremony now consisted of only a single sentence.

  Adrian slowly raised his torch as long, brilliantly stitched flags were draped over the coffins. “It was my honor to serve with you.”

  Behind him, the Eagles did the same, torches rising, lips repeating. Some of the camp members did the same, but most were aware that they didn’t really belong to this other hard group. They were only glad that the dark intelligence of Adrian and his Eagles was on their side.

  Zack broke the respectful silence. “Escort duty, one o’clock. Teams Two and Three.”

  His own team and Kevin’s, rushed to surround Angela as Marc carefully put her on her feet.

  Angela didn’t thank her honor guard, too emotional to respond normally. Days ago, she had bonded with the men in those coffins, won them over and trained with them. It was hurtful to think she would never hear Chris’s jokes or Daniel’s laugh, never argue with Frank again.

  Angela stepped to the coffins, not caring about the drama coming through the crowd for this minute. She had too much grief in her heart. “It was my honor.”

  As she stood there, two more darkly-dressed people joined her guard, not giving the senior men time to refuse. Cynthia and Samantha flanked Angela, ignoring the mutters. It was the first plan they’d made together, reluctantly agreed upon with hand gestures and glares.

  Adrian noticed the teamwork. His men wore many expressions in response to the open declaration, but when the two females only stood guard and didn’t speak, the men allowed it. Those who knew of the coming power shift expected these females to eventually be to Angela, what Kenn and Kyle were to Adrian.

  As Angela left, her rookies stayed close. Walking on the right flank, Samantha was aware of how powerful the sensation was. She was also aware of the fear. Not of failing, but of losing this when the camp found out who she’d been. She and Adrian had the same secrets, though, she was sure his would destroy these people. The camp had complete faith in their leader. Adrian had delivered them from every threat that had crossed Safe Haven’s path. To find out that he’d been a part of the danger from the very beginning would be a blow they wouldn’t recover from, and Samantha was trying to find a way to keep it all hidden.

  On the other side of Angela, Cynthia was concentrating, doing her duty. They hadn’t gotten any training yet, only the rookie gear and a slot in the tryouts, but the reporter wasn’t worried about being able to do it. This wasn’t like babysitting someone’s kids. This was keeping the wolves at bay while Adrian and Angela rebuilt their country. It was worth getting dirty for.

  Slowing as the ache sank deeper into her shoulder, Angela pondered the differences in the thoughts of the two females openly demonstrating their loyalty to her and to Adrian’s dream. One selfish but good, the other riding both of those lines, each would be strong examples for the camp. There would be times of chaos, Angela didn’t doubt it, but she was also positive there would be moments of stunning glory, and she couldn’t wait to start teaching them to be Eagles… Mine!

  Marc trailed the three women, observing guards and camp members. It should have felt wrong to be left in the rear, but he was smart enough to know that he was witnessing one of the proudest moments of Angela’s new life. The happiness flowed from her, reaching out to calm those she passed.

  No longer fighting the pull, Marc sent out his own wave of light, as he had with Cynthia when she’d come from Adrian’s arms. Angie wanted the camp settled down so that the mission teams could do the same. He would help.

  Adrian also understood that Marc was now on board, but he couldn’t help a faint twinge of envy as the new couple went by him. They were they future. He was the past.

  8

  Kyle and Jennifer made the short walk from the medical camper with slow steps. She’d just found out that twins, at least, were in store for her. John wasn’t sure exactly how many heartbeats he’d heard.

  Aware of Eagles and camp members watching them, Kyle still couldn’t stop stealing glances at Jennifer. In his robe, she was all soft brown hair and pale white skin that smelled even better than Angela’s vanilla.

  Across the QZ, a group of former slaves was talking with a few of the camp women who were lingering on the other side of the caution tape. The way their cruel glances stayed on him and Jennifer told him what the topic was. It wouldn’t take long for this to get out of hand.

  Jennifer, who was picking up the mistrust of the men and the dislike of the women, sent out a wave of distress.

  Kyle stopped, turning to her. “Yes?”

  He waited, dazed
, for her order.

  Jennifer pulled back, realizing she had hit him too hard. She was getting more food and energy, and her gifts were already stronger.

  Now that she wasn’t pushing that bright light, Kyle could think again, and it only took a few seconds of replaying his thoughts to discover what had upset her.

  “You don’t have to do that, pull me in that way. I won’t abandon you.”

  While she stared at him in concern, Kyle strained to build the mental block that Angela had told him about.

  Jennifer slipped into Kyle’s mind, needing to know if he meant it, and found a small stack of bricks. He was building a wall against her.

  Cute. He didn’t understand, yet, that there was no barrier strong enough to keep her out.

  Jennifer dropped her empty water bottle on the ground, and Kyle frowned.

  Jennifer looked at him questioningly, and Kyle glanced toward the slowly burning garbage can they were closest to.

  Understanding these people took care of their trash; Jennifer retrieved the bottle and tossed it into the can. She automatically glanced to Kyle for approval.

  Plans and terrible ideas began forming in Kyle’s mind–one of which he immediately tested.

  “Good girl.”

  Jennifer smiled at that–not a grin of contentment, but a grimace of familiarity that had Kyle snapping his head toward the tents. She had a weakness. She was conditioned to respond like a slave. He could use that. But I won’t. I’m not like him.

  “All men are like him,” Jennifer corrected gently, snooping. “It’s why the world fell.”

  “I’m not. I serve the greater good.” Kyle ripped his attention from her light. What would Adrian do with this one? Unlike Angela, Jennifer would use her gifts to get what she wanted.

  Unless someone takes charge of me...

  Jennifer’s voice in his mind was young and lost.

  I don’t want to be bad.