Feral Empires: Fanning Flames

by Stephen L. Hadley

  Threading his way through the slumbering figures, Liam carefully stretched out alongside her.

  “You waited up?” he whispered.

  Instead of replying, Jenn kissed him and reclined. The remains of her vines had been stripped away and replaced with soft, clean garments that Liam suspected might have been the Colonel’s. Regardless of their origin, the clothes looked strange on Jenn after seeing her in homemade armor for so long.

  “How are the others?” Liam asked.

  “Sleeping, mostly,” Jenn said. Squirming close, she wrapped an arm around Liam’s side and rested her face against his chest. “Kathryn said she would wait up for you but she dozed off a little bit ago. Nora’s sleeping too.”

  “And Julie?”

  Jenn rolled slightly, squinting across the barracks. Liam followed her gaze. The barracks were dark but he could just make out a seated figure reclining against the opposite wall. Without speaking, Julie raised a hand and gave a small, casual wave.

  Liam returned it, then wrapped his arm around Jenn’s shoulders and pulled her close.

  “What’ve you been doing?” he asked.

  “This and that,” Jenn mumbled. Her face was squashed against his chest but she seemed only too happy with the arrangement. “We put out some fires and reinforced the wall where the Occs damaged it. It won’t hold long, but it should help when they decide to counterattack.”

  Liam inhaled, a bit more sharply than he intended to. “You think they will?”

  “What, counterattack? Of course. I was talking to Card—he’s one of the corporals—and he thought we have two, maybe three days at most. The militia’s talking about retreating to Cincy.”

  Liam tried, and failed, to think of something to say in response. His hesitation must have been obvious, however, since Jenn’s arm tightened around him and she glanced up at his face.

  “Still worried about Scott?” she asked, softer.

  “Of course,” he admitted.

  “There’s no need,” Jenn whispered, a bit delicately. “Scott knows what he’s doing. With everything that happened, the Occs are going to be disorganized. I’m sure he’s found a way across the river by now. Who knows? He might even be waiting for us in Cincy.”

  “Yeah,” Liam said. He did not speak further until morning.

  ***

  By the time Liam awoke, the barracks was empty and the warmth of the air told him he had slept well several hours past sunrise. He rose sluggishly, stretching and shaking the sleep from his bones. His body ached, but only from the normal stiffness of long sleep. There was nothing, no scars or unnatural weariness, to hint at the frightful battle the day prior.

  Stepping out into the bright midday sun, he squinted, lifted a hand to shield his eyes, and looked around. In every direction, men and women were hard at work. Dozens hauled armfuls of rubble and other construction materials toward the broken down walls and gate, apparently intent on shoring up the defenses before the Occs returned. Far, far more were engaged in a different sort of work, however. These had gathered in the broadest section of street outside the garrison’s chest-high wall and both distributed and received the most diverse assortment of goods Liam had ever seen. Sacks of dried vegetables, skins of water, and even the occasional rifle exchanged hands with dizzying speed.

  “Liam!” called a familiar voice. “Good, you’re awake.”

  He turned to find Colonel Ryan trotting his way. Nodding, he returned his attention to the improvised market.

  “What’s all this?” he asked.

  “Distribution,” the Colonel said, following his gaze. “All the Occ forces nearby have withdrawn to the Tennessee, probably to regroup. We’re leaving tomorrow and pulling back to Cincy. I had my men spread the word. We’re offering supplies to anyone who comes with us—food, water, that sort of thing.”

  Liam glanced at her. “Where did it all come from?” he asked slowly.

  The Colonel chuckled and grinned knowingly at him. “We didn’t steal it, if that’s what you’re suggesting. We raided one of the Mayor’s storehouses this morning. The man might’ve been an ass, but he kept one hell of a pantry.”

  “And that’s all it took? A bit of food and the people will follow you all the way to Cincy?”

  “Oh, there are a few holdouts, of course. But not many. It’s funny how dropping an airship on a city makes people want to move.”

  “You’re in a good mood,” Liam noted.

  Again, the Colonel grinned at him. “We’re alive, aren’t we? How could I not be?”

  Liam nodded slowly. The Colonel was right. He was alive—all of them were. Wuyong was no longer a threat, the Occs had pulled back, and the road before him seemed as clear as it had ever been.

  So why couldn’t he seem to share her good mood?

  “Have you seen Jenn?” he asked.

  The Colonel looked at him and quirked a brow. Paired with her grin, it lent her a rather conspiratorial aspect. Then she shrugged.

  “She was by the gate, earlier. Or, what’s left of it, at least. I’d check there.”

  Smiling just enough to convey his thanks, Liam set off in that direction. After the events of the night before, he was briefly nervous about venturing outside the garrison, but the hustle and bustle of the crowd provided anonymity enough. Those few who recognized him offered only deferential nods and murmured thanks. No one crowded him.

  He’d scarcely gone more than a block past the garrison’s wall when a shrill, keen cry made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He whirled, only to stumble when Kathryn struck him in the chest with a gravity-propelled embrace. She wrapped all four limbs around his torso, giggling as she buried her face in his neck.

  “Liam!” she crooned excitedly. “Awake!”

  “I am now,” he grumbled. It took several long seconds for him to pry each of Kathryn’s arms and legs free of him to deposit her back on the ground. “What was that about?”

  “Missed you.”

  There was something in her voice that felt off. Liam stared at her suspiciously, but the answer he was looking for was not written on her face. Fortunately, it was not hard to spot, either.

  “That’s a new dress, isn’t it?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

  Kathryn beamed at him and patted down the simple, floral patterned skirt. “Is new!” she confirmed.

  “It looks good,” Liam said. Distracted, he glanced once more in the direction of the gate. “Have you seen Jenn?”

  Even from the corner of his eye, Liam could see Kathryn’s expression sour. Her hands fell from her dress as she nodded. Skipping ahead, she bolted for the gate, so quickly he was forced to jog to keep up.

  As promised, he found Jenn working alongside dozens of men, atop the crumbled remains of the wall. She had somehow managed to replace several of her vines since discarding the old ones, and used the new to hold several large, wooden crossbeams in place as men scrambled to secure the construction with nails and supports.

  Liam watched from a distance. He could have approached, of course. But there was something refreshing about observing Jenn unaware. He’d watched her doze after moments of intimacy, but seeing her unfiltered interactions with strangers was oddly charming. And when one of the workmen said something that drew laughs, the playfully rude gesture Jenn sent his way only reinforced Liam’s opinion.

  He felt as though he could have watched her for hours. But no sooner had the men succeeded in securing their newest bit of construction than Jenn turned and spotted him. Her surprise was palpable, but lasted only an instant. She said something to the man nearest her, then quickly hopped down from her spot atop the rubble and approached.

  “How did you sleep?” she asked.

  “Good,” he said. “Too good, apparently.”

  “I tried to wake you,” Jenn said. Her eyes moved to Kathryn, briefly. “We both did. You didn’t even stir.”

  Something about the way she said it struck Liam as odd, muc
h like Kathryn’s comment had earlier. He stared at Jenn.

  “Should I have?” he asked, slowly.

  A familiar gleam crept into Jenn’s eyes as she leaned in to kiss him.

  “Yes,” she whispered. “You should have.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  It was, all things considered, remarkably easy to escape New Lewville. The guards posted at the city’s northern gate had been supplemented with militiamen and Liam did not even need to explain his business before the men saluted and opened the gate for him. They eyed Jenn and Kathryn with slightly more suspicion, but did not object when the pair accompanied him through.

  It felt good to be outside again. The city might have been safer, given the uncertainty surrounding precisely when the regrouping Occs planned to retaliate, but it was highly unlikely that they would have already circled around the city to do so. Besides, the Colonel had assured Liam upon asking that she had sent out a few militiamen to scout the road to Cincy. And so, Liam was able to relax—truly relax—for the first time in days.

  His ease only grew as they reached the edge of the plundered farmland and slipped once more among the trees. There was a cleanliness and a simplicity to the air here that he hadn’t even realized was missing from the city until he returned to the woods. He breathed deeply, savoring the lack of weight upon his shoulders.

  Even at a glance, he could tell that Jenn and Kathryn felt similarly. Jenn roamed from tree to tree, wearing a truer smile than Liam had seen in ages. Every so often, she paused and pressed a hand to a trunk. Each time, vines coiled down from the heights and wrapped themselves snuggly around her body like so many serpents.

  Kathryn, on the other hand, was more occupied with climbing. She scrambled from one tree to another, running along low branches and flinging herself to the next with laughs and joyous whoops. And if she made no attempt to prevent the occasional flaring of her skirts, well, Liam was not about to begrudge her that.

  Instead, he roamed aimlessly. The earth felt soft and spongy beneath his boots after so long spent walking on wood and stone and packed dirt. A few days ago, he would have thought nothing of it. But now, just the simple act of walking brought a smile to his face.

  Or it did, until a vine curled unexpectedly around his wrist and swung him bodily against a large tree. Liam gasped in surprise, but did not have time to yelp fully before Jenn was pressed up against him. She chuckled softly as she cupped a hand over his mouth, the other bracing herself against the tree.

  “Don’t make a sound,” she whispered.

  Liam did not, though his heart began to race. He eased himself flat against the trunk, craning his neck to catch some glimpse of the enemy. But there was none to be seen. And, as Jenn took his chin in her fingers and turned his face back toward her, he suddenly understood why. And smiled.

  Jenn kissed him tenderly, then rolled her shoulders. At her command, the hardened cords of her newly woven armor slithered away, leaving only thin fabric and delicate skin pressed against his chest. Liam wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tight against him as their kiss deepened.

  He had nearly forgotten how badly he craved her touch. His body had not, however, and as Jenn’s mouth abandoned his and began to trail kisses down the side of his neck, Liam felt himself swell with anticipation.

  Evidently, he wasn’t the only one to feel it. Jenn chuckled as his erection stiffened against her hip. Tucking an ankle around the crook of his knee, she began to grind herself against him.

  “Someone’s eager,” she purred, then nipped his neck, just above the spot where it met his shoulder.

  Liam shuddered and bit back a groan. Tightening his embrace, he pushed his hips against Jenn’s.

  “Can you blame me?” he muttered.

  Jenn grinned against his neck and chuckled throatily, practically in his ear.

  “Not at all,” she said. “But first—”

  Liam flinched as Jenn launched herself up and away from him. Her vines snapped out in every direction—upward to catch on the lower branches, downward to propel her aloft, and directly above him, through a thick cluster of leaves and twigs.

  Kathryn yelped as Jenn took hold of her, tangling her limbs and hauling her bodily from her hiding spot. The young woman thrashed, clawing at the vines that seized her and yowling when her efforts were not enough to free her. Then, as her struggling ceased, she glared venomously at Jenn and hissed.

  “—first, I want to deal with this one.”

  Liam sighed and stared up at Kathryn. The girl was thoroughly trussed, and growing more ensnared by the second. Despite this, indignation was written unrepentantly across her face.

  “Kat,” he said. “What are you doing?”

  She glanced at him, and for just a second, her eyes shone with a hint of embarrassment. It vanished the next instant when her gaze returned to Jenn.

  “Was protect Liam,” she growled.

  Jenn glared back at her and slowly relaxed her vines to deposit herself back on the ground at Liam’s side. “No, you were—”

  “I don’t need protecting,” Liam cut in, stepping forward to forcibly meet Kathryn’s eyes. “Not right now. Not from Jenn.”

  Kathryn grumbled something under her breath and although Liam could not make out the words, her tone made it clear that she disagreed. Unfortunately, she was allowed no further means to make her disapproval known. She dangled there, squirming in her bonds, until silence hung nearly as heavy as she did.

  Eventually, it was Liam who broke it with a sigh.

  “Kat, I know you want to protect me,” he said, adopting a conciliatory tone. “But I need some time with Jenn now. If she lets you down, do you promise to behave?”

  Again, Kathryn grumbled something. But this time, after a moment, she offered a reluctant nod.

  “All right, then. Jenn?” Liam said, turning.

  He expected Jenn’s expression to be blank, or perhaps a small, victorious grin. He did not expect her smirk.

  Jenn’s eyes were full of wicked pleasure as she inched closer to him. And, unless he was sorely mistaken, Liam thought he could feel a hint of excited trembling to her lips as she whispered into his ear.

  “Liam, can… can I try something?”

  He eyed her.

  “It won’t hurt her. Or anyone. But, trust me? Please. I want to try it.” Jenn was practically babbling, her hands shaking with what could only have been adrenaline. Liam wanted to refuse her—he wasn’t in the habit of leaping into unknown situations—but the earnestness he saw in Jenn’s expression was intriguing enough to make him pause.

  “What did you have in mind?” he asked.

  Rather than answer him, Jenn merely turned. It took her a moment to maneuver Kathryn and her vines out from the tree’s many branches, but she soon held the girl without any such obstacles. Rather than release her, however, she instead stepped closer to the tree. Carefully waving her arms to direct the dozens of thin, wooden tentacles, Jenn began to wind the vines around the base of the trunk. Kathryn, for her part, could only stare up in confusion as she was fastened securely to it, arms pinned at her sides.

  “Jenn,” Liam said slowly. “What are you doing?”

  Jenn turned as the last of her vines fell away, leaving only a thin strand wrapped around one hand. She stripped sensuously, tossing her shirt aside and stepping out of her trousers. And then, with the slow, purposeful manner of a woman who knows precisely what she wants, she bent slightly at the waist and braced herself against the tree.

  “You know what I’m doing, Liam,” she said. “Don’t keep me waiting.”

  As erotic as the sight was, Liam was not about to leap at her invitation. Kathryn’s face was hidden behind Jenn’s hips and the vines tying her prevented her from shifting enough to make herself seen. In fact, the only direction she could have moved at all would have brought her face directly into contact with Jenn’s hips—a prospect that the girl’s squirming feet suggested she was not at all comfo
rtable with.

  “Jenn,” he repeated. “I’m not sure if this—”

  “Liam!” Kathryn called suddenly. She was breathless, her voice unexpectedly lusty. “Wait. Do.”

  He glanced below Jenn’s hips, which now wagged invitingly, and was surprised to find Kathryn’s squirming had increased. Only now, he could see that what he had once mistaken for acute discomfort was anything but. Kathryn’s hands remained bound at her sides, but her fingers had managed to reach her inner thighs and pressed down in an unmistakable act of restrained desire.

  “Are you sure?” Liam asked. “I can make Jenn—”

  “No! Do!”

  Chuckling, Jenn glanced over her shoulder at him. She spread her legs wider, lowering her hips to an even more inviting level and eyeing him expectantly.

  “Yeah, Liam,” she teased. “Do.”

  It was all the convincing he required. Grinning wolfishly, Liam disrobed as fast as his shaking fingers would permit. Jenn watched him until his trousers fell, then turned back to face the tree. Apparently, her desire to be watched did not work both ways.

  The sight of Jenn’s splayed legs tempted him more than he’d thought possible and it took no small effort to keep from taking her right then and there. And yet, some part of him resisted the idea of giving his lover exactly what she’d requested. He ran his fingers over her exposed lower half, savoring her shudder and goosebumps as his nails brushed her spine and traveled down across the curve of her ass. Then, without any warning, he spanked her hard.

  Jenn mostly managed to stifle her cry, but not the way her knees buckled. Quivering, she arched her back into an even more exposed position. Her fingers dug into the bark of the tree as she did, fresh leaves and inch-long branches sprouting around her nails in a manner that seemed entirely unintentional.

  Liam waited for several long seconds, stroking the divot just below her tailbone in the meantime, and then delivered an identical smack to Jenn’s opposite cheek. Again, her legs shuddered and a breathy moan spilled from her lips. Then, before she had a chance to recover, he dropped into a squat and buried his face against her snatch.