The Price We Pay (Life After War Book 7)

by Angela White

  “Hey! Get her!”

  Kendle took off up the mountain, hoping she could avoid the chain when it returned to this side of the cliffs.

  The soldiers took off after her, forgetting for a moment that they’d been searching for a place to wait out the destruction, and the castaway found herself running for her life. These men were angry and she’d given them a target.

  “Did she just do that?” Kevin asked, shocked. He’d expected her to flee while the soldiers killed them. They’d been out of ammunition since shortly after leaving her behind. They’d run into a large squad of soldiers and barely escaped. A lucky explosion was all that had saved them.

  “How did she know?” one of his team asked.

  The cave shook again as another explosive went off nearby and the men hoped Kendle had found another place to take cover as the mountain continued to explode.

  Kendle had found a place to hide, though she was already holding her breath to keep her stomach under control as she crawled under the stack of bodies that had been caught by the stream. They’d begun to stack up near a ledge and Kendle huddled under the corpses, trying not to stare at the dead eyes and gory bodies.

  “Where did she go?”

  “This way! I found a print!”

  “That could be from anyone!”

  “It’s the ones we’ve been tracking all morning. I’m following it.”

  The soldiers left together, slowing as the explosions got further away. They continued up the hill toward their goal, sharing stories of near death with each other.

  Kendle waited a few minutes to be sure they were gone and then circled to where she’d left Kevin. She ducked into the cave to find it empty and spun back around to find the Eagles behind her with knives, nets, and serious intent.

  Kendle chuckled, nodding. “Yeah, you guys will do. Come on. We might make it to Her Highness before the chain comes around again.”

  Map in hand, Kevin took the lead from her.

  Kendle brought up the rear, aware of the feeling that was settling over her. She hated it. She didn’t want to bond with these people. She wanted Marc!

  5

  Cameron Storm held up a hand, making sure his braves waited until the right moment. Their arrows would only travel so far through this windy weather.

  Below them, the explosions were getting close enough to feel the rumbles of the angry mountain, to see the dirt and debris flying into the sky. And to hear men screaming, of course. Despite the fact that the noise was from their enemy, Cameron didn’t enjoy it. His own turn would come.

  “Hold!” Linny shouted, on the front lines with her young son at her side.

  A few of the Indian children were also here, along with the warriors and a couple of the women, all set to die to keep the soldiers from reaching Safe Haven. It was an honor that not everyone had been chosen for. Cameron hadn’t liked leaving half of his tribe in the white man’s camp, but the Ghost had insisted it was the safest place for them. Cameron assumed it was meant to make his braves fight harder, but it wasn’t needed. If the new government was willing to wipe out a huge camp of white survivors, a few small groups of Indians would mean nothing to them.

  “Now!”

  Linny’s shout triggered the fight as the fleeing soldiers rushed over the rise, most of them looking at the threat coming from behind.

  Arrows sailed through the air between giant fireballs that slammed into the panicking soldiers and blew them off the cliff. Angela didn’t want a single soldier to reach the plateau she was on and this third and fourth ring of her plan was merciless.

  “Fire!” Linny screamed, blasting three soldiers on the ground. They’d cowered, begging for their lives, and it gave her a sadistic pleasure to deny them, as she and her son’s pleas had gone without notice.

  Arrows sailed a third time at Cameron’s motion, and the leader’s lips were drawn back in a savage frown of anger. He felt the power of his ancestors, the strength of being a man, and yet, he felt powerless standing next to Linny and her magic.

  Linny, sensing the other men with them were starting to feel the same, slid to her knees as if empty. It gave the men a renewed sense of purpose. They began firing sharply, hitting their targets the first time.

  Linny stayed on the ground, seeing that her young son’s magic didn’t have the same effect on the braves. They weren’t threatened by Ty. Is it because I’m female or because I’m older and stronger? She wondered.

  She wasn’t prepared to hear an answer.

  Both, Cameron sent, still acknowledging his new gifts and his weaknesses. It is our breeding, our heritage.

  A soldier lunged at Cameron and Linny quickly spun, slitting the man’s spinal cord through the back of his neck.

  The body fell to the ground and Linny raised a hand. Well?

  Pride, Cameron answered, seeing the remaining soldiers had chosen to flee down into the chain of destruction that was slowly winding upward. It would reach this area shortly, but only with nets, not mines. The Ghost had known some of his own would be on these plains and ridges to keep surviving soldiers from reaching Base. If you’re stronger than we are, you don’t need us.

  We don’t, Linny stated harshly. She rose in a fluid motion, set to throw another fireball to chase away any remaining soldiers. Her boots sank in the mud and she fell forward, smothering the flames and drenching herself from head to toe in goop.

  Cameron and his braves burst out laughing, male egos definitely in the good.

  Linny spit out nasty mud as she pushed herself up, ignoring the snickers to concentrate on the lesson she’d just learned. She might not need a man, but she wanted one. Cameron’s hearty chuckle was sending chills through her soaked body.

  Next to her, Ty glowered at Cameron, little face squished into concentration.

  Cameron let the boy into his thoughts, but was unprepared for what the child wanted to know.

  Tyson pulled the images as if he were flipping through a magazine, stopping on one of Cameron’s most ruthless moments against his enemy. You’ll teach me?

  Cameron was shocked. Why? That man raped my daughter and caused my family disgrace. Who do you hate that much?

  Tyson put an image into his head that reached Cameron’s stoic heart.

  The image was of Linny being hurt. It was ugly and the Indian chief hated the soldiers even more.

  I will kill anyone who hurts my mom, Tyson growled, the warning ringing in Cameron’s head.

  You’ll obey my teachings, my ways? Cameron asked firmly. He wasn’t afraid of the magic. He respected it.

  You’ll never hurt her, even when she’s mean to you?”

  Cameron frowned. Mean to me?

  Ty shrugged. I’ve heard the soldiers say women are mean to men and they have to be controlled.

  Cameron’s anger rose and he knelt down in front of the soaked boy, aware of the others staring in surprise.

  “Women are to be protected, loved, and allowed to grow in any way they chose to. It is what gives a society peace. I will teach you. You will be my second son, but just as loved as the first and any who come after.”

  Tyson held out a hand to shake on it and Cameron followed his instincts of treating the boy the way he wanted. He grabbed the child for a hug. In time, he would blend their traditions and the child would be happy among them.

  Ty responded right away, even lingering and Cameron looked up, still expecting to have to convince the boy’s mother.

  He found Linny waiting submissively at the edge of the flat area.

  “We should go soon,” she said softly.

  Cameron, now grinning from ear to ear, put an arm around the happy boy and led his new family up the cliff.

  6

  “How many?”

  Donner didn’t sound worried and Trey made sure to match the casualness. “Three hundred at best. We can’t get into the air until the storm stops.”

  “Would you like the rain to quit?” Samantha offered from her seat in the corner. Right after the last exp
losion, the one that had rattled the ground and sent fear into Donner’s heart; he’d had her brought here where he could keep an eye on his prize.

  Donner shook his head. “Save your strength, Ms. Moore.”

  Samantha didn’t respond to the slight threat in his tone. According to her guards, he was set to trade her for Adrian, but if Donner were pushed too hard, he would snap early.

  Donner gazed at her with thoughtful orbs glowing brightly. “Are you still hiding something from me, Samantha?”

  Heart picking up a beat, she answered, “I can’t block like my boss can. You’ve seen what’s there.”

  Donner still stared, searching through her doors again to be sure. It was almost over now and he couldn’t afford to be careless.

  Samantha didn’t try to hide or think of something to block him. Donner was an alpha and while she didn’t know much about that mysterious word, she knew she couldn’t stop him.

  Donner finally let go of her, turning to the impatiently waiting man in front of him. “Go on.”

  “We estimate half that made It to the top, but they’ll have no vehicles and very little gear.”

  “Where does your information come from?”

  “We’ve had a few survivors come in. They’ve described it as hell and refused to go back up.”

  Donner rolled his eyes. “All of her traps are gone now. When the dust settles, we’ll have more men.”

  Trey didn’t argue or tell Donner about the mini-riot he’d quelled this morning among the lower ranks to save Donner’s den from his own guards.

  “I’m aware of the discontent,” Donner said. “What else?”

  “We have weak lines, but some calls are still getting through. When our scouts get to the top, they’ll call.”

  “How long?”

  “A few hours,” the man answered nervously.

  “We’ll be contacted before that,” Donner predicted, almost sure now that Samantha was indeed hiding something from him. But what? And how?

  “Will she surrender?”

  Donner shrugged. “I hope so, but I’m prepared, if not. Get the chopper set to take us in. We’ll be collecting three.”

  Trey left to carry out the orders and Donner turned to Samantha. “Let’s have that chat now, Ms. Moore.”

  Samantha’s stomach tightened nauseatingly and she didn’t fight it, needing the distraction.

  Donner flinched back from the pool of vomit, scowling in disgust. “Keep your fluids to yourself!”

  Samantha retched again, thinking the MREs they’d been serving her weren’t mixing well with Safe Haven’s fresh food.

  Donner waved a man to take her to her rooms until they were ready to go, forgetting about that nagging voice saying that the blonde woman and her twins were key to a mystery he needed to solve.

  Samantha was still gagging as she was dragged from the room and Donner stepped outside while his lackeys cleaned up the mess. He would have to take steps to cover this area. He hadn’t yet, hadn’t considered the waste products, and Donner’s mind went back to planning how he would hold Angela captive until her child was born. After that, he would head for a different location that was already being stocked with the proper staff. He would add a waste management professional to that crew. He didn’t mind blood, snot or sweat, but puke screwed up his guts every time.

  7

  “You have brought down part of the mountain!” Red Stone exclaimed as the clouds of thick smoke covered their view of the cliffs.

  Marc didn’t have time to give credit where it was due. Soldiers had come pouring through the cave tunnels behind them as they fled into the final den and they were now locked in hand-to-hand combat while their people huddled, terrified, inside Oglethorpe Base. But they weren’t helpless by any means. Inside the base, were three layers of hell waiting for any soldiers who made it through. When Angela had decreed that every portion of their population participate, she hadn’t been exaggerating. Only the infants and toddlers had been spared a role in this war.

  Red Stone fired his last arrow, hitting the soldier climbing over the fence and turned to Marc in exasperation. “Why did you do that?”

  Marc grunted, throwing his weight into a nasty hit that knocked his opponent out and allowed him to drag his knife across the man’s filthy throat.

  “Ask the boss when we see her.”

  Red Stone stared stupidly. “A woman did that?!”

  Marc’s grin slipped out, showing his pride at her ruthless intelligence.

  Red Stone shook his head and went back to watching his section of the high fence around the base. Marc had the men in a thick line all the way around the main building, using arrows, guns, carefully aimed grenades, and rifle shots. The noise was constant; echoing into the awful headache Marc had found himself with upon waking.

  The next wave of soldiers came over the front fence together, two dozen at the same time and Marc rushed forward to use the barrels he’d found as steps up to knock these desperate men down. It was a strategy that was only going to work for a while longer, and then he would have to fall into the actual compound until Angela’s reinforcements arrive. She’d promised him more help than he would know what to do with and as he knocked another surprised man back over the fence and felt his finger break, he hoped she would send it soon. He was getting tired.

  Marc moved around the wall of his fighters, helping to dislodge stubborn fingers clamped to the fence in a desperate attempt at survival. Angela’s plan had covered the areas around this bases as well, leaving only one safe path to travel. Outside these fences, traps were springing, shrapnel was flying, and souls were leaving their bodies. It was exactly what he’d helped Angela with, these small details, and it was sickening to watch, even as he celebrated the victory. He hadn’t forgotten that it was his former fellows-in-arms who were screaming.

  “Incoming!”

  “Get down! Down!” Marc sent out mentally as he shouted it, dropping to the mud, and the shell exploded against the fence behind him, raining debris. Wood pierced his leg and his arm, but Marc barely noticed, ears ringing too hard to hear anything else.

  He stayed down, scanning the wall where the soldiers were now coming up faster than he would be able to keep up with.

  “Retreat!” Marc was able to send it both ways again, but that command cost him and he crumbled to his knees as the pressure in his head increased.

  Empty! the demon confirmed, both in terror and ecstasy. Let me out!

  Eagles and shadow warriors fled for the single door Marc had left unblocked, grabbing friends and companions as they’d been instructed.

  During this chaos, Quinn had also been roaming the walls, helping to defend and he found Marc lying on his side, panting.

  “Help!”

  Marc waved him back. “Not safe. Leave me here.”

  Quinn had heard the tales from Little Rock, and he’d seen some of the things that Marc could do, but leaving the wolfman wasn’t allowed even if he’d wanted to.

  “I’ll cover you until you’re ready to go inside.”

  Marc had to hope that would be enough because the door to the base clanged shut just as the front fence blew apart and dozens of furious soldiers charged into the courtyard.

  Jennifer didn’t slow at the sound of a huge explosion ahead of them and Kyle didn’t try to interfere. She was merged with the witch, eyes glowing, body cat-like, and Kyle knew better than to get in her way.

  They ran into the clearing in front of the base Jennifer had tracked down and she still didn’t pause as they sighted the enemy lined up and rushing through the destroyed gate of a base.

  “There!” Kyle shouted, discovering a Safe Haven marker in the upper window.

  Jennifer already knew that’s where the camp was and she brought forth her mother’s rage to throw at the soldiers starting to and turn her way.

  The mental blast was harmful to everything it reached, rupturing the eyes and ears of those closest. Soldiers fell screaming in agony as blood poured down their fa
ces.

  Jennifer sent another blast, this one only a bit weaker, and a second line of the now panicking solders were injured, blood gushing.

  A third blast was too risky as Kyle came to her side and they shoved their way through the soon-to-be corpses and broke through into the courtyard.

  “Brady!”

  Marc was in a struggle for his Colt against a mammoth Marine wearing a spiky vest and Jennifer raised a hand, lifting the man into the air.

  Marc quickly stabbed his knife through the man’s stunned eye and started reloading as the body fell. Despite being one of them, the moment shocked Marc a bit and he reloaded slower than usual as he calmed himself.

  Moving away slightly, Jennifer sent out another blast, directly toward the gate this time, and the screams began to fade as the surviving soldiers fled.

  Damn, Marc thought. She was right again. I’d never know what to do with that.

  Marc looked up at Kyle, and took the arm, staggering to his feet. He’d taken a hell of a beating by Goliath.

  Marc spit blood and groaned as a part of his tooth came out with it. “Tats gonna hurt, right?”

  “Where is my baby?!” Jennifer screamed, bringing a halt to the relief the fighters had been feeling.

  “Where is she?!”

  Marc scanned the camp members inside the base and felt his stomach drop through his boots. “She’s not here.”

  Jennifer spun on him and Kyle grabbed her around the waist as she fought to get to a target.

  “Maybe you could clarify!” Kyle suggested, grunting as Jennifer’s arm slammed down on his shoulder.

  Marc saw Peggy coming from the den with Doug, both wanting an update, and ran toward them. “Who has Autumn?”

  Peggy frowned. “She came and got the baby yesterday; said Angela wanted Jennifer to know she was caring for the baby herself.”

  “And you didn’t think that was odd?” Kyle demanded, still holding Jennifer, who had started to cry and shake.

  “Yes, of course, but the den was attacked and I thought she had to stay here,” Peggy explained, looking around. “I didn’t know she’d left!”