by Tera Shanley
Her team.
They didn’t coddle her or try to control her. They respected her and trusted her to help them out of dangerous situations.
Adrianna clung to her leg, and she stroked the little girl’s dark locks. Eloise tugged at the T-shirt bandage on her arm, and Mitchell found the first-aid bag without her even asking. And when she looked at Finn, he was smiling at her like he couldn’t be prouder of one of his recruits.
She couldn’t help the slow tug of her lips. They’d done it. Against all odds, they’d made it into the heart of the Denver colony, and they’d done it together.
Years from now, when she told Adrianna’s children about how the Denver colony came to be, she’d draw on this moment of elation. She’d tell them the importance of the team and of their sacrifices and fearlessness. Of their courage in the face of adversity. She’d tell them she died for a moment, but that a power greater than her wasn’t done with her yet. She was meant to be here with these people—to help them, to protect them.
To love them.
Sean leaned against a table with his hands clenched against the edges. Such a look of adoration emanated from his face, he seemed to glow with it. His eyes danced with the smile that played on his lips.
There it was. That beautiful soul he’d shared with only her.
He hadn’t been meant for Laney, or Mel, or any other. He’d gone through all of the years of heartache and painful spurts of growth so he could be the man he was supposed to be for her. And she’d been fashioned the same.
Dirt was streaked across his face, and there was a cut in his hairline that wasn’t quite closed. His eye was bruised from where he’d fought to protect the people he cared about at Dead Run River. His shirtless body was taut from continuous use and sported the triumphant scars of survival.
He was beautiful.
Pushing off the table, he murmured, “Hey, you,” as he approached.
“Hey yourself,” she said as he laced his fingers with hers.
Looking up into his eyes, she could see that this was exactly the place she’d waited her whole life to be—she just hadn’t realized it until right now, in this moment. Here, she was safe, coveted, adored. Beauty still existed in the ravaged world because Sean lived in it. His existence made everything brighter and more important somehow.
On tiptoes, she whispered into his ear, “I like you.”
He eased back slowly with the crooked smile he saved only for her. Resting his forehead against hers, he kissed her tenderly, and with the sweet taste of the promise of forever on his lips, he said, “I love you, too.”
Epilogue
IT HAD TAKEN WEEKS and every grenade and bullet they had in their possession, but the Deads had finally been cleared from the Denver colony. Arden and his band of crazies hadn’t made it far, and when they reanimated, Sean showed them a kindness they’d failed to give their victims and put them down. The fallen wall had taken almost three months to repair, but they’d worked hard, and the colony was safe in the confines of the towering fences again.
The colony had changed so much in the past few years since they arrived, just like the people who called it home. Cabins were rebuilt, and the gardens grew strong and tall in the warm months, thanks to Vanessa’s capable leadership. She still served as a guard, but no one had the experience with growing things like she did. The colony had enough to eat through the snowy winters, and she was proud to be a part of that.
Roofs had been repaired and leaks patched. The Deads had been disposed of outside of the confines of the gates, and the colony cleaned from wall to wall. Evergreen trees had been planted and allowed to grow so that someday, it would resemble Dead Run River as a mountain paradise. No longer were the doorsteps littered with the bones of the unfortunate. Now, children and families sat on rockers through warm evenings and watched the sun disappear behind the hills they called home.
News of the re-colonization of Denver under the great leader, Sean Daniels, had spread like wildfire, and people traveled far and wide to make a home there. Anyone who didn’t accept Soren’s presence was sent down the road to Dead Run River.
The little girl had grown and thrived. As a rambunctious three-year-old, she’d grown into a strange, but ethereal-looking child with a sweet disposition and a wisdom beyond her years. Being different did that to people.
Vanessa smiled as Adrianna, now a protective seven-year-old, picked Soren up in that way small children did, and hoisted her onto the bottom rung of a play set Sean had built for the kids the first year they were back.
“The world is hard enough,” he’d said. “It’s not fair they miss out on all of their childhood.”
Eloise had given birth to a son, Seamus, the week after they’d taken Denver, and between him, Soren, and Adrianna, the place seemed to be filled with laughter and hope and purpose. Their lives were more important than they’d ever comprehend.
Vanessa waved as Laney approached the bench she sat on. Her friend was dressed in a tight black T-shirt and gun vest, one that looked similar to her own daily garb.
“Hey, I think Nelson’s going to graduate from guard training by the end of next week,” she said, sinking down next to her.
Vanessa snorted. “Took him long enough.”
Laney laughed and bumped Vanessa’s shoulder with her own. “I just got an interesting call over the radio.”
“Sean?”
A slow smile spread across Laney’s face as she watched their children playing and laughing. “He asked me to send you his way.”
“Where is he?”
“He said he’s on the wall and that you would know what that meant.” She graced her with a dancing glance. “I’ll watch the kiddos.”
“Ade,” Vanessa said. “You listen to Laney. I’m going to go see Dad.”
“Okay,” the little girl said with a wave before she hoisted little Seamus onto the play ladder. “I will.”
“Good girl,” she said with the glowing pride she always felt when she was struck with what a decent little person Adrianna was growing into. Despite everything she’d witnessed in her short life, Adrianna was thriving under Vanessa and Sean’s care.
The Denver colony weighed heavily and directly upon Sean’s shoulders, but he bore the weight like it was air. He cared for his people, listened to their needs, and led them fairly. Determined not to invite betrayal like he had done with Erhard, he stayed home from supply runs more often to be present for the people who depended on him to keep them safe. Having Finn as his second-in-command also helped.
She lengthened her stride, impatient to see him again. He’d been working since early that morning, and her heart always hurt a little if she didn’t see him often enough. That was the burden of love—of being devoted to another and their happiness, but she’d gladly bear it until the day she died because she’d experienced more happiness in the last three years than she had in her entire life. Impressive claims during an apocalypse.
He watched her approach with an unfathomable expression, and she squinted against the light of the tired evening sun behind him. She climbed the ladder and took a seat beside him atop the wall. It was the fence he’d built with his own blood, sweat, and sacrifice. He’d lost family and friends for this barrier. He’d lost part of himself in the early years of giving everything for a chance that others would survive the impossible odds the outbreak had thrown at them.
He scooted closer with an easy smile and looped his pinky around hers. They didn’t say anything there in the fading light, but they didn’t need to. It was their place, overlooking the tiny kingdom Sean had given to her and Adrianna and their loved ones.
They could see everything from that place. Deads trolled the woods behind them, waiting for the chance that they’d slip up someday—a chance Sean wouldn’t give them. But inside those gates it was a different world. Finn and Steven ran new recruits, including her brother, down a hiking trail. Mitchell and Guist stood guard at the front gates, and their laughter over something carried on the wind un
til it reached her ears. People, oblivious to the ever-present danger just outside the walls, talked in small groups and walked home from various jobs around the colony. Stalks of corn swayed in the wind in the gardens, and cattle bawled from a pen against the wall. Chickens ran free, clucking and pecking around their coops, and the children ran around the playground with heart-happy laughter.
Sean watched her intently and wrapped an arm around her shoulders before drawing her close into the warmth and safety of his body.
He’d provided a sanctuary, an escape, for mankind.
Because of his devotion to others, life went on.
Because of his devotion to her, love transcended the end of days.
Acknowledgments
A slew of zombie lovin’ people deserve credit for this book reaching its readers. Elizabeth Harper for her amazing vision for Omnific Publishing and for taking a chance on this series. Lisa O’Hara for always answering my silly questions and for working so hard to get this book to air. A huge thank you to my content editor, Robin Lonscak, for working her magic on this book, as well as Sean Riley and Kimberly Blythe. The editing team Omnific put together for both of these books has been phenomenal. Also, if I searched a hundred years, I wouldn’t find a better publicist than Traci Olsen. That’s a fact. I adore working with her.
And the biggest thanks goes to you, awesome zombie romance readers. If the zompoc ever finds me, may I find allies as fearless as you.
About the Author
Tera Shanley writes in sub-genres that stretch from Paranormal Romance, to Historic Western Romance, to Apocalyptic (zombie) Romance. The common theme? She loves love. A self-proclaimed bookworm, she was raised in small town Texas and could often be found decorating a table at the local library. She currently lives in Dallas with her husband and two young children, and when she isn’t busy running around after her family, she’s writing a new story or devouring a good book. Any spare time is dedicated to chocolate licking, rifle slinging, zombie slaying, friend hugging, and the great outdoors. For more information about Tera and her work, visit:
www.terashanley.com
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