Chapter 18 #2
Leaving them was bittersweet, although since seeing the Garuda, I had a different sense of the future.
I didn’t know what that meant as we still didn’t have all the answers, but what my father had said to Rage as well as what Wrath had thrown in had provided some light in an abysmal tunnel of terrifying darkness.
I jerked to a stop. “Hold Jake for a second.”
His eyebrows lifted, clear amusement on his face. “Yes, ma’am.”
With a hard swing that caused him to wince, I pulled the sword into the air before slowly easing the blade into the sheath.
“You’re a true savage with that sword.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” I gathered the pup, kissing him on the top of the head.
“As soon as he realized something happened to you, he went nuts.” Vicious didn’t usually say very much, but he’d kept a watchful eye on me.
“He’s always nuts. He’s full of rage. No pun intended.”
“Wow. I didn’t know you learned all the old euphonisms of language.” He inched slightly in front of me, leading the way. I resisted looking behind me, furious with myself as much as with Rage’s reaction.
“We had some characters who lived in the community. They were quite brash, but I learned a lot from them.”
He chuckled. “Well, it’s good to have an education no matter the source. Just know that Rage has reasons to be as angry as he is. Everyone he cared about was taken from him.”
“Isn’t that the case for everyone?”
He peered at me with hooded eyes. “He hasn’t told you very much about himself. Has he?”
“I didn’t ask.”
“Maybe you should.”
“Let me guess. You know why this crazy mission is happening too. I’m the only one in the dark.”
“Hardly. I’m just the soldier. What I do know is that he will lay down his life for you if necessary. However, I don’t think that’s what is supposed to happen. Maybe something for you to keep in mind. Maybe you two should actually talk and not just fuck.”
I stopped short, shocked that he’d be so bold. Not that I was a prude, but hearing our passion put that way was reprehensible.
“Don’t act so surprised. Everyone knows you two can’t keep your hands off each other. If I didn’t mind getting my dick cut off, I’d be jealous. He’s one possessive motherfucker.”
We were already at the vehicles and I stared at him, unable to find any words that would fit.
In the two days of preparations, all I’d been able to think about was the great effort my family had gone to for protection and planning.
I’d been a little girl uncertain of anything, certainly lacking knowledge of the reasons behind the war.
It had been years before I’d heard the stories and been given a basic timeline of events.
You bet I’d sparred with Rage about almost everything. What we were taking. Where we were going. You name it. However, we’d managed some sense of control. My gosh. How ridiculous to think about how much I continued to desire the infuriating man after we’d just been attacked by beasts.
“You don’t have the right to judge,” I said in retort.
“Who said I’m judging?” Vicious grinned. “Like I said. Maybe I’m jealous.”
The gas tanks had been modified to accept the more efficient substance replacing gas, which allowed for more miles per gallon and less destruction on the vehicle’s components.
I found it interesting to ride in one. I’d read about the different ways people got around, but the love of cars and trucks had followed humans even when global warming had become toxic to several areas of the country.
As soon as I opened the door, Wren’s little face peered at me with relief, her lower lip trembling.
“I told you I’d be right back.” The pup crawled to her without hesitation, thankfully none the worse for the wear.
Before I climbed in, I noticed Rage standing off to the side, glaring at me with all the hatred from day one.
Well, let him be that way. I just didn’t care.
This time, I kept the sword by my feet as I climbed in, refusing to pay any attention to Rage when he finally joined us. His entire body was electrified from fury. Well, so was mine.
The others climbed in and soon, we were on our way once again. Vicious returned to the seat behind, Wrath driving, and Rage in the passenger seat. They appeared completely comfortable while both Wren and I couldn’t seem to stop shaking for the next hour of the trip.
The second Humvee was behind carrying Rock, Blade, Ghost, and the others, more cramped than in our vehicle.
But they didn’t seem to mind. We had plans on stopping the first night.
In taking the back roads, additional time had been allotted.
Plus, we had no desire to travel at night and with the days getting shorter, our travel time was limited.
I’d seen several places during my life, cities in complete disaster and small villages that almost had the appearance that nothing had occurred. Yet they’d been abandoned, anything of use stripped from every crevice and corner.
Then there were other towns where marauders lived, the places more like fortresses, walls created for protection from whatever materials could be found. I’d even seen a prison that had gone mostly unscathed, razor wire rusted but still covering tops of fences.
Now, as we drove, the back roads little more than rubble and stone, I gathered even more of a sense of the devastation. And I was even more despondent.
At least with the heat seekers, we could identify potential pockets of people and avoid them at all costs. We certainly didn’t need a mob coming after us. While the men took turns driving, I thought about everything I’d learned over the years.
Not enough, yet so much that I couldn’t think clearly. Yet I knew what we were doing was right. That’s because I trusted what my mother and father had told me once again before we’d left.
This was my destiny. Whatever that meant. Requiring these soldiers by my side had been by design.
Another hour passed, no one daring to say anything. At least Wren had calmed down, even slumbering given the quiet rumble of the engine.
I leaned my head against the headrest, studying Rage’s silhouette even as he continued to ooze with anger. While talking had been limited, maybe because we didn’t know what we’d face, he was carrying on a conversation with Wrath, which allowed me an unfettered few minutes to enjoy looking at him.
He hadn’t shaved since his arrival and maybe because of his upgraded DNA the scruff covering his jaw was definitely sexier than his clean-shaven face. Or maybe the dark wave of coarse hair was because he was all male. There was no sense in lying to myself that I wasn’t attracted to him.
Since our savage passion shared in my quarters, the last two days had been all about preparation. That didn’t mean there hadn’t been some angst between us. I had a feeling that would remain as long as I knew him.
With the hum of the engine, my core was far too overheated already. I purposely looked away but was drawn to him again within seconds. I’d been surprised he and the others had fit into the big shell of a vehicle given their size, but he was without question the largest of the group.
Maybe six-seven? I wasn’t certain. All I knew was that he dwarfed me when I stood next to him.
Or in front. Or when he laid on top of me, although there was no issue with how his cock managed to fit perfectly.
He stretched out my pussy muscles to the point that even after a couple of days, I continued to ache.
My hand fluttered to my neck, the bruises from the attacker already turning yellow. I hadn’t placed my hand there because of the injury, but because every other inch of me ached. I crawled my fingers down the side of my neck while noticing how his Adam’s apple bobbed while he talked.
His jaw was a carved creation of beauty, perfectly angular and accenting his other chiseled features. Wow. I was getting warm just thinking about how much I’d enjoyed his rough touch.
I looked down at Wren, realizing her head was tilted, her eyes searching mine.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded, pulling the puppy even closer.
I was still amazed there were no outward signs that she’d suffered because of her healing abilities, but I’d heard what my father had said.
Her special gift couldn’t be used for just anyone.
One day I’d find the right way of explaining to her just how grateful I was for what she’d done for my mother.
“Are you hungry?”
Her head shook vehemently and the other thing I wished for was for her to feel comfortable talking to us. Or even just to me. She was a special child and didn’t deserve to suffer. In truth, none of us did.
Yet here we were, evoking bad karma by heading on a long journey. From what had been told to the soldiers, we’d face eleven hundred plus miles of nothing but barren land and rubble.
“Just let me know if you need something to eat.”
She slumped against me and I hoped she felt safe. As safe as a child could feel around strangers.
Rage stopped talking at that moment, twisting so he could steal a glance into the back seat.
But I caught him, our eyes locking as they’d done so many times over the last few days.
Nothing seemed real any longer, everything becoming stranger than fiction.
Maybe I’d lived in my own little world of fantasy for far too long.
“We’re going to stop for the night. Everyone needs a break,” he said, his tone softer than normal yet holding the strong warrior vibe I’d come to expect. He’d changed since meeting him, the sharp edge to his personality softening.
“Where are we?”
“Pennsylvania,” Wrath answered. I noticed his eyes in the mirror hanging in the front window. Or windshield. That’s what it was called. The tanklike vehicle provided an even greater feeling of claustrophobia than the steel bunker.
“We’re coming up on a town that supposedly still exists, at least in infrastructure,” Rage added.
“How do you know these things?”