The Survivors

1

Kenn was enduring all the remarks by pretending Seth had won the shooting contest.

The ball of festering anger was mostly gone now that he had a plan of action. He didn’t expect Angela to give in quickly, not with all the support here, but he had things left to try. Kenn wasn’t sure if he could start over. However, it was significant that he was even considering it; his heart thumped in denial when both of his rivals came from the trees into the training area. The two men were laughing and talking as if they’d been friends for years instead of a day.

Probably about me. It was yet another slap in the face for Neil to bring him here. Kenn cautioned himself to be careful. Adrian was also here. He couldn’t lose control. He could put up a fight though, and he would. “He’s not allowed to be here.”

Every head swiveled as Neil and Marc stopped by the flickering bonfire.

Neil’s tone was full of open contempt. Here in the fort area, he didn’t have to hide his emotions. “Says who?”

Guards murmured in surprise at the direct challenge; three dozen men chose that moment to get a better view.

Kenn tossed his smoke into the fire. “The rules. He’s not one of us.”

Neil shrugged. “Yet.”

Kenn looked at Adrian.

Everyone except the trooper was surprised when Adrian shrugged.

“You don’t need me for this.”

His bored tone made Kenn flush.

Neil gestured. “The rule is no unauthorized personnel. Marc’s authorized.”

“By who? You?!” Kenn was furious.

“By Adrian. The rules he made before you came still exist. The contest winner gets the title, no toilet crew while he’s the champ, and he’s offered a place with the new rookies.” Neil’s voice sharpened. “Marc is going to be one of us, whether you want it or not.”

“I’ve never heard that rule.” Kenn’s voice was as cold as the wind, but inside, he was burning.

“We have the crews mostly covered now. Back then, we needed warm bodies on posts any way we could get them. Once they were shown the fort and evaluated, they were put to use. All of them are still Eagles. We don’t use some of the old rules very often, but we do still need good men. That hasn’t changed.” With no note of accusation in his tone, Neil’s expression still overflowed with it.

Kenn hated him, knowing he had lost again. “He hasn’t been evaluated.”

Neil blew out a frustrated breath at having to drive in his point. He enjoyed drilling people. He didn’t like being cruel. “He’s as good as Kyle and his team. You just don’t want anyone to know. Give him a test. He’ll pass.”

“Not right now.” Adrian admired Neil’s ambush. “We’re busy. Marc stays. Let’s get going.”

Kenn snapped his mouth shut on another complaint.

Every man waiting to be tested suddenly hoped they didn’t draw his name for the cage.

“Who has inside?”

Doug motioned at Adrian’s question, swollen nose starting to fade into deep shades of purple and yellow. “Me. Kyle insisted we trade.”

“Good. Pick your first sacrifices.”

The big man pointed at waiting rookies.

Marc stayed by Neil, taking a minute to do as the trooper had asked–gather information.

The tent behind them was gigantic, shut on three sides. The outside area was lit by lanterns and the bonfire, as was the smaller tent to their left. Marc saw efficient organization and no boredom or signs these men were being forced. There was only a strong determination to succeed that he recognized from green recruits on the base, and from himself. These men wanted to be here.

“There’s a reason we’re here.” Adrian’s words got immediate attention. “There’s a reason we’ve made it this far when so many have not. There’s a reason we were spared.” Aware that he would have Marc’s ear for the next thirty seconds, Adrian used the time as well as he could. “It wasn’t luck or coincidence, or even skill that brought you here. It was fate. We were chosen to save our country.” He met Marc’s eye before glancing at his men. “More of us are coming. We’re not complete, not even by half yet. Together we’ll be strong enough to start over, to keep America alive.”

Adrian paused, voice hardening. “Now, if that’s too much for you, or you don’t want to think about the future, or you just don’t care, then you shouldn’t be here. Doubts are normal, but they don’t belong in my army. When you’re done and you want out, it’s okay, with no fights or bad reputation. These are things I tell rookies during their first tests. You’ll hear it repeatedly as you pass through the levels because I need you to believe in it as much as I do or this won’t succeed.” Adrian gave Doug a gesture. “They’re all yours. Be gentle. It’s their first time.”

The other men laughed as ten nervous guards followed Doug into the privacy of the tent.

“I’m out here for a while; then we’ll go in.”

Marc nodded at Neil to show he’d heard, watching a large black hat get passed around the remaining males. Each man drew a slip of paper from it, followed by groans or grins.

Marc hung back as Neil joined Kyle and Kenn by the smaller tent that sported a number of banners, an American flag, and a simple name: The Cage.

“Trainers.” Adrian held out another black hat to Kenn, who drew a paper and passed the hat to Kyle. Neil also drew a slip.

“I have…number one.” Kenn growled for drama.

“I’ve got Kenn. Shit.”

Kenn snickered at Kevin. The rookie had just gone green.

“I’ve got Neil.” Seth was full of arrogance and unintentional disrespect. “You’ll take it easy on me ’cause we’re buddies, right? You scratch mine and I’ll do yours?”

“Maybe, if you blow me.” Neil leered. “I only give special treatment to my bitch!”

Loud, mocking laughter echoed from the listening men. Neil never spoke that way in front of the camp.

Seth’s amusement faded, hearing the tone. Neil wasn’t kidding. “I thought we were friends.”

Neil took off his gun belt. “We are–the best–but here and now, that means shit. I’m what stands between you and level three status. I won’t just give it to you or anyone else.” Neil finished his warning as Kevin and Kenn entered the cage. “What we’re doing here matters.”

“I know that.” Seth tried to apologize. “I was just running off at the mouth.”

Neil’s frown didn’t change. “Yes, you were.” He left Seth off balance, unsure what to expect.

Marc saw Adrian’s glance of approval and understood that here in Fort Haven, it was all about the lessons.

Adrian held up the stopwatch. “This is simple. My dog tags are in a corner of the tent. Return them to me, and you pass. The limit is ten minutes.”

Kevin’s fight was almost an exact copy of Seth’s first test. Marc also felt that moment when the man realized he wanted this bad enough to keep going despite the pain and the odds.

When Kevin’s bloody hand held up the metal tag, Adrian was there to take it.

Marc joined in the cheer, connected to them in spite of himself.

“Time?”

Kyle had the clipboard and stopwatch. He glanced at Adrian. “I forgot to hit the button. Have him do it again.”

Kenn spun back toward the cage.

Kevin’s face fell, making people laugh.

Kyle gave the real call. “Four minutes, fifteen seconds. No record.”

Adrian hadn’t expected one from Kevin. “Pass. Go to Doug. Next match.”

Neil and Seth entered the cage.

True to his word, Neil had no mercy on his friend.

Marc was impressed with Neil’s command of his body as he smoothly blocked, tripped, and kicked.

When Seth finally started to get mad, Adrian gave Neil a subtle signal.

Neil circled Seth. “Where’s our friendship now?”

Seth shrugged, dripping sweat as he kept moving to avoid the traps. “Rules are rules. I’ll follow ’em.”

Neil crooked his middle finger. “Come on, then!”

Seth came in low, sidestepping at the last minute to avoid the trooper’s leg sweep. He landed two hard fists to Neil’s gut that forced the man to retreat.

Neil recovered fast and delivered a roundhouse kick that knocked Seth to his knees. “Do it again! Do it right!”

When Seth tried to, Neil got him in the shoulder with a knee.

Seth lunged.

Neil used Seth’s momentum to slam him to the ground. “Get up! Be an Eagle!”

Seth was on his feet a second later; his angry swing made Neil grunt.

Seth hesitated to hit his friend again.

Neil’s uppercut was brutal. It sent Seth back to the ground. “Never hesitate! Don’t you want this?!”

The cops were both bloody and drenched in sweat, but Neil didn’t even sound winded. Third in command and definitely on that dangerous list, Marc confirmed for his mental file. Neil was also a lot more than he appeared.

It took Seth almost the full ten minutes, though Marc was sure Neil could have held him longer. Everyone except Kenn was glad to see the two men sharing grins when it was over instead of harsh words.

“Pass. Go to Doug.” Adrian waved. “Kyle’s next. If you drew his number, hold it up and he’ll pick one of you. If you just came from inside, get a number out of the hat and get ready.”

Kyle indicated the larger of the two men who had his number, giving the stocky rookie a menacing stare.

Neil returned, bottle of water in hand. “This should be interesting. Kyle and Adrian suspect he’s gay. They want to expose it to the Eagles.”

Marc tensed. “By beating it out of him?”

Neil took a long drink as Seth ducked into the tent. “It’s not funny how some of the worst shit always seems to have a place, but here, it does. If you can’t fight, this is the wrong career choice. Better that he finds that out now.”

“It does sound like the same old shit.” Marc’s voice was low, telling Neil he hadn’t forgotten where they were, but his tone was offended.

“Try it from another angle; it might help you to understand. What happens in the future when we settle down? Do the problems go away or start up again?”

“It turns right back into what it was, but it’ll take time for that to happen.” Marc grunted. “There’s no need to handle it now.”

“Adrian’s vision of our new world does not include the problems of the past.” Neil pointed out the enormous difference. “He’s tackling all of them at the start, trying to eliminate the future threats to our survival. This is one of them.”

Marc could feel himself getting angry. “How did the gays cause the end of the world?” The things these people tell themselves!

“The same way the wars we were fighting did, the same way unchecked immigration and economic threats did. Smoke to blind us, it succeeded. No one knew what the government was doing for those years before it all fell down. We were too busy being part of the problem and killing each other over the scraps from their table. It was the same around the world. We let the war happen because our differences divided us.”

Adrian frowned at Neil’s limited understanding of the master plan on this issue. Kyle knew the truth. Eventually, both women and homosexuals would be a part of his army. There was only one way for either of those to happen–a representative had to step up and carry the heavy duty of being first. With the gays, Ray was their champion. Adrian already knew how this match would go or he wouldn’t have allowed it to happen yet. The females didn’t have a champion. None of them wanted to learn how to take a hit or shed blood.

Adrian moved toward the cage, giving Kyle a negative motion when the mobster would have enlightened Neil and Marc. Like with Angela’s gifts, homosexuals in his army had to be handled one step at a time. First, was exposure. After that, was reaction and possible recovery from lying about it in the first place. Then, the respect for not quitting would show up. If Ray got that far, more would come of it.

“But beating them? What comes next, banishment?” Marc was struggling to keep the conversation private. “How will that fix a future problem?”

Neil ignored the sarcasm. “It won’t fix it, but it will eliminate it from this group. And not by bad methods, either. Ray volunteered to be an Eagle. He wasn’t singled out, and if he honestly thinks he can be one of us, truth has to come first.”

“Why not just talk to him?”

“Because he already lied by pretending otherwise. He leers at women, says he has a thing for Becky. It’s gone too far for a simple conversation. He’s hiding.”

“And the camp agrees with Adrian handling it this way?”

“The camp doesn’t know we have homosexuals here!” Neil was horrified. “If they knew, they might kill them. Adrian wouldn’t be able to stop it. That was a part of the old world, and these people will turn into wolves at the sight of it.”

Marc let that sink in. Adrian was trying to protect them? No. Adrian was one of the wolves watching for the old world too. He didn’t want his camp to turn into a lynch mob and maybe lose leadership. “Why not just tell him to leave? Why go through all this?”

Neil let out a disappointed grunt. “You’re so quick on the pickup that I forgot you’re a rookie here. Look around, Marc. What does Adrian’s leadership scream, more than anything else?”

Marc wasn’t sure what to say.

Neil waited, certain he would get it. They all did.

Struggling, wanting to understand how they could all be okay with such horrid reasoning, Marc pushed by his anger to think about the Safe Haven he’d seen but hadn’t wanted to acknowledge. “Light…hope… He cares about them.”

“Not just about the ones already here, but about all life. You’ll see it in time.” Neil sighed. “Even those we turn away, he misses.”

It clicked for Marc. “He wants the gays to stay.”

“More than that. He hopes for their differences to be admitted to and faced.” Neil understood more than Adrian or Kyle thought he did, but Neil didn’t think it would ever happen, so he’d given Marc that view first. “They can be gay; they just can’t lie about it. Lying made the old world go round.” Neil signaled toward the cage, where Ray and Kyle were starting their match. “That one, however, might not go further no matter how good he does. He’s lied too many times. For anyone to be accepted in Adrian’s army, that’s the number one thing you never do to the boss. We can’t forgive it.”

Both of them were thinking of Kenn as they turned to watch the match.

2

Eight minutes later, Kyle hadn’t taken a single hit, and the rookie was on the ground, bleeding and gasping for air. The dog tags were still in the far corner.

“Get up!” Kyle pointed. “Get up or get out!”

Ray struggled to his feet, all pretenses gone with the pain and blood, as the trainers had known it would be. “I belong here too!”

“Prove it. Be a man!”

Ray came in too low, letting his anger at the insult drive him.

Kyle used it to throw him to the ground. He smirked in satisfaction when the rookie let out a cry that was feminine.

Marc saw Adrian’s signal. When Ray got up, swinging wildly, Kyle let the hits land. The football coach darted for the tags.

Metal in hand, Ray’s fists clenched when he realized he had to get by Kyle again to give them to Adrian.

“Don’t hesitate. I’m just a man.” Kyle was surprised the bleeding rookie hadn’t given up yet.

“Yeah, one who loathes me.”

Kyle shrugged. “All our enemies will hate you. Your belief in yourself has to overpower that fear. If you can’t control your need to hide or beg for mercy, you won’t survive here and neither will any of the others who think we don’t know about them.”

Ray started to lie again.

Kyle got angry. “Why don’t you leave? Take your friends with you!”

Ray’s eyes glazed over as he advanced. “You keep them out of this!” He drove his head into Kyle’s gut, taking them both to the ground.

As the buzzer sounded, Adrian was there to take the tags the panting rookie held out.

They both stood; Kyle moved toward where Kenn stood.

Adrian stared. “Pass.”

Ray gawked at him in disbelief, breathing rough. Blood dripped from numerous cuts and small gashes. “What?”

“You made it into my army.” Adrian’s voice softened. “You’ll pay a higher price for it than my other men.”

Ray lifted his chin. “Because I’m gay.”

“No.” Adrian was proud of the man, but he didn’t let it show. “Because you’re not one of us yet.”

The rookie’s face fell inward, collapsing until he was almost on the edge of tears.

Marc swallowed a snide thought. Everyone feels an urge to serve Adrian. Is it in the air? The food?

“The war came and blew it all away. We’ve started over, but you’ve been lurking in the past, not sure which way to go.” Adrian gave Ray the rest of the truth. “Some people will never be okay with it; some people will never forgive you for hiding it. All I can promise is the chance to pave a path for others like yourself. You’ll work twice as hard as any man in my army, and you may still never get the peace and acceptance you long for. Be sure, Ray.”

Adrian’s gaze shifted to Kenn’s unreadable expression. “You can survive here while continuing the old ways. A lot of things that are discreet will be tolerated, but unless you change, you’ll never be an Eagle.”

Ray’s voice was icy. “You mean go straight.”

Adrian shook his head. “Change is different for every man in my army. The only wrong choice is lying about it. The truth always shows up at some point. Doug is waiting in the tent for you.” Adrian turned to the other men. “Next matchup in the cage is Neil. If you just came out, draw a number from the hat.”

3

An hour later, Marc and an exhausted Neil entered the big tent. The pungent smell of hay filled their noses.

Doug gestured. “We’ll all match for a few days.”

Neil laughed. “Yours is a better color.”

The two men gave Marc a pointed look.

He understood it was another way they would be able to help. Conversations over black eyes wouldn’t just be about him and Kenn.

“The small hay room is an improvising test. The men have a certain amount of time to make something from what’s there, usually a communication device.” Neil pointed things out as Doug went by. “The cubicles are the same, but each level goal is harder.”

“Do you use your own list of ideas or what Adrian and Kenn provide?” Marc watched Seth’s fingers fly over a nice 9mm that his blindfold kept him from seeing while he did it.

“Both. For Doug, who served, it’s also okay to invent his own.” Neil gave him a glance that said Marc would also use his own experience when he got this far. “The big hay room is memory, alertness, thinking. They may have to stare at doors, then use the clues on them to find someone or something. Another level might be asked to view things, then get hit with questions when they come out, like what color were his socks, which window had curtains, or which target had a grenade. The higher the level, the harder the questions. Each member of the team must pass six of seven parts. If two or more of them fail, none of them advance and they all repeat the course with the next group. Adrian’s goal is to have all the camp’s men in training by the time we settle somewhere for the winter.”

“And the women?”

“Eight ways to start a car with a dead battery. Now!”

They were both distracted by Doug ambushing a pair of guards who had thought they were done and drawn his attention with their high fives.

The two men stammered answers.

Neil pointed to a dark corner that wasn’t being used. “Let’s go over there so he doesn’t get us next for distracting them.”

Marc thought about repeating his question but realized he didn’t need to. After watching all of this, he knew the answer. There were no women here because this was man’s work. Few females would have the courage to try, let alone be strong enough to succeed.

Angie does. Angie is. Marc pushed away the thoughts. She won’t want this… Marc didn’t want to explore that any further. He wasn’t sure he could take it. “I’ve only counted six tests. What’s the seventh?”

“Adrian’s approval. You either have it or you don’t.”

Marc frowned, confused. “He didn’t give it to Ray, but Ray passed.”

“Ray earned it by the rules, but some things will not be accepted by these people yet. What the camp is against as a whole, I am too.” Adrian’s voice rang out as he and the last group of men came into the dark tent behind them. “Ray passed the tests, but the camp’s approval and mine go together.”

Marc nodded. They had his back, and he had theirs. God help those caught in between.

“Have you decided to accept the winner’s slot with my Eagles?”

“Of course.” Marc knew the right answers to give. “If you’ll have me.”

Adrian nodded. “I will, but I must ask. Why the change of heart?”

Marc was aware of Kenn’s furious visage in the group of thirteen Eagles behind Adrian. “I haven’t had one. I just think it’s a good way to spend my time. I like to stay busy.”

“Not enough.” Kenn sneered, stepping by him. “That’s not enough to get you your own team. They won’t follow you for that reason.”

Marc snorted, ready for the big confrontation if it had to happen now. “You’re the only one hoping for power and control. The rest of us just want to survive.”

There was a thick silence where most of the men expected a fight.

Kenn lifted a corner of the flap. “I’d never betray Adrian that way and he knows it. He’s my first priority. You’ll never be a true Eagle until you can say the same. Your loyalty is to a woman; that won’t be enough to earn you a place here.” Kenn stepped into the cool night air, voice a low mutter. “I’ll see to it.”

4

Angela was more than tired by the time Chris said they were done for the night. She had stayed for many reasons, but the biggest was his defense. The vet hadn’t given the impression he wanted to talk about it, which was good, because everyone else sure did. He didn’t want a thank you, so she’d given him her help instead. By 11pm, every animal had been watered, fed, bedded in clean areas, and they had finished repacking everything and put it all away.

“It’s late.” Angela used lotion on her chapped skin.

The vet blew out their light, then gave her an unexpected smile that revealed a handsome man. “Not for me. I’m usually here until 2am.”

“Hi. I’m Angie.” She held out a hand, feeling like she’d made a little progress. She was pleased when he didn’t hesitate to shake with her. He even added a heartfelt apology as the wind blew garbage from the forest around their boots.

“Yeah, I’m Chris. Sorry. I’m not sociable. It’s why I treat animals and not people.”

“You do all this once a week?”

He nodded.

She turned to go, Dog heeling smartly. “I’ll be here next week, as long as they don’t have me scheduled for something else.”

Chris stared as she and the wild, yet trained wolf vanished into the dark forest. She was smart, quiet, hardworking; he was already looking forward to the next time.

Every single male here will want her. The vet reluctantly included himself. Chris wasn’t worried about her getting into his mental doors now. His secrets were hidden deeper than she could go without him noticing.

5

Marc saw Angela come from the shower camper and slowed, but he didn’t go to her. Instead of making eye contact that wasn’t allowed, Marc counted how many men were staring, hoping she would respond. These were the proven men; they had a place here that Marc might never have if Kenn’s words were true. And hadn’t the silence afterward said they were?

Marc couldn’t help the rare moment of self-doubt. Why would Angie pick him over all these men? He no longer thought their time together would hold her while he earned a place. Is there still a chance for us?

As if she sensed him, Angela turned.

Angela was hurt when Marc turned away. He pretended he hadn’t seen her and ducked into his tent. She could feel him wanting to take it back, but he didn’t.

She got moving with a heavy heart. She’d loved Marc all her life, and while she knew he would fight for her freedom, she wasn’t sure if he’d fight for her.

Angela pushed it away, concentrating instead on everything she’d done today as she headed to the mess.

Male eyes followed, including Adrian’s from his dark tent. Her hair was past her cheeks in wet, shiny, black curls that a man longed to have wrapped in his fist as they made love. She was beautiful. When she went by, men noticed whether they intended to or not.

The sense of a job well done followed Angela, even when she recognized the lone man at a corner table of the dark, deserted mess. She ignored him as she walked toward the front, starting to feel the chill on her wet hair.

“She’s off duty; the boy covering the mess is asleep in the cabin.” Kenn took a chance. “I’ve got a thermos over here.”

Angela considered how bad she wanted the coffee.

“I can leave.”

His offer surprised her. She joined him at the table, comforted by the sound of guards walking by. She couldn’t see the moon, Marc, or Adrian, but she knew all three were there. Two of them were watching over her.

Angela sat on the opposite bench, at the far end. As Kenn unscrewed the lid, she studied him. He looked different from the Kenny she’d known before the war. Back then, his hair had been neat and trim, never a beard, and his fingernails had been pristine. He had worn designer fashions bought at the most expensive shops in the mall, and he’d always sported the latest athletic shoe. She’d hated the solid red pair. They looked like they were covered in blood and after a rough day at the hospital, it wasn’t something she’d needed to see every time she got into their closet.

The man who sat her coffee down bore little physical resemblance to that person. This new man wore dusty jeans, muddy boots, and a filthy jacket that had seen a lot of wear. He had a thin goatee; his jaw was covered in a few days of stubble, and dirt was under his nails–all things he used to pride himself on avoiding.

“Sugar?”

Angela shook her head. She saw his surprised expression. She started to tell him that she no longer needed to seek comfort in food, but thought better of it. He wouldn’t understand. The Kenny she had come to loathe was a lazy, cruel man who was only really happy when he was the center of attention. He hated kids and pets, had nothing good to say unless it benefited him somehow, and he had been a slob to live with. She’d picked up after him for a decade, but he had never once helped. He said it was woman’s work and he meant it. If the man across from her, pretending to read his papers, was what he appeared to be, then Kenn had changed and the slaps were…what? Twitches from the past?

This man was helpful, sought-after. When he’d said he did a little of everything, he hadn’t been lying. Angela was sore about how high up he was here, but not surprised by it. She just hoped he wasn’t after Adrian’s job. Those shoes were way too big for Kenn to fill.

Angela sighed. Safe Haven’s XO was calm, easygoing, patient. She was suddenly filled with cold resentment for the man. Why was Adrian worthy of that strength, but not her and her son? Kenn could stop himself from hurting some drunken camp member who’d taken a swing at him this morning, but he couldn’t keep from shoving her eight-year-old son into a wall for jumping on his bed. For Adrian…but not for me.

Angela shivered, recognizing the moment. She had made up her mind, and it had little to do with Marc. She would feel this way if she had come here alone. It wouldn’t go away, even if Kenn never mistreated either of them again. She hated him, and his being so different now made it crystal clear. She couldn’t forgive him, and she certainly couldn’t abide him touching her ever again. It’s over.

The door in her mind swung shut with a final thud that echoed. She felt the witch inside applauding her choice.

“You’re quiet.” Kenn had been trying to wait and let her speak first so he could get a feel for her mood, but he didn’t like the resolve he was reading in her eyes. What’s going on in that pretty, brainless head of hers?

“I’m thinking.” Angela glared. “I can’t make decisions if you’re talking.”

Her tone suggested bad news for his plans of reconciliation. When she said nothing else, just sipped her coffee, Kenn felt that ball of rage return. “What decisions?”

“A lot of things, though most of the votes have been counted on the big issues.”

Kenn’s face fell; sadness overwhelmed the anger for a moment. He was going to lose it all. It had been so good here, so perfect. “That’s it, then. You’ve picked him.”

The words were full of hurt. She chose to fight the guilt. Kenn couldn’t be allowed to spot a weakness like sympathy. “My choices are based on our past.”

“But things are different here. I’d never be like before.”

“It’s too late.”

Kenn was quiet for a long minute. He had known as soon as he recognized her show of force. Marc had always been better. “You want to be with him?”

Angela forced an angry tone to cover her fear. Marc wouldn’t let him hit her more than once, and neither would Adrian or his men. Kenn’s threats had all been bluffs. “Right now, I only know what I don’t want.”

Kenn flushed, controlling the need to slap her for the open defiance. “You don’t have to be such a bitch about it!”

“Why should I tiptoe?” Angela’s eyes were chips of ice. “You never cared for anyone’s feelings until now, until Adrian, and that stings for me!” She shoved herself away from the table.

Kenn let her go, wanting her body but hating her. He was changing; he was ashamed of most of his behavior toward her and the boy, but a bigger part of him still wanted to hurt her.

Kenn had always been skilled at giving people what they wanted. Before, it had always been: act one way and think another, but the war and his time with Adrian had left a mark. If not for Angela’s arrival, he wouldn’t be feeling like an outsider. Why can’t she just be happy that I’ve changed? Why can’t she give me another chance? Why didn’t she just die?

Angela kept walking. Because Marc finally came for me.

6

“I wasn’t sure if you’d let me come.” Becky was breathless.

Neil frowned, wishing she were older while longing for an hour alone with the hot little piece. His post was farthest from camp tonight; he had worried about her coming out here all day. They were surrounded by thick trees and almost total darkness, but alone? He was never sure, thanks to Adrian’s setup. “I shouldn’t have. This isn’t safe for either of us. There’s no other guard here.”

Becky came closer in the cool darkness, heart pounding. “That’s why I like it. We’re alone.”

Neil tried to fight the arousal when she swept his body in innocent desire. This was the furthest their flirting had gone so far. “Don’t tease me, Rebecca. I’m not one of the little boys you play with.”

“Playing is not what I had in mind.”

His body responded, but Neil scowled. “Tell me why we’re here.”

She blushed.

Neil realized she was working up the courage for something forbidden, but he didn’t stop her. As long as it was her doing the actual touching, his place would still be safe.

“I need to ask you something.”

Neil’s body responded again to the invitation in her voice. “Go ahead.”

Becky moved even closer, putting them inches apart. “Do you like me? ’Cause I sure do you!”

Before he could speak, she leaned forward and pressed her soft lips to his.

Neil froze, aware of the rules even as his body strained to get to her.

The teenager felt his coolness after a few seconds. She stepped back, cheeks scarlet. “Sorry, guess I misread.”

Her muffled voice was thick with humiliation. Neil moved toward her even as he told himself he shouldn’t. He pulled her into his arms. “You didn’t misread.” He leaned down. “Can I kiss you?”

Her blush deepened as she nodded.

Neil placed a chaste kiss on her mouth... Her arms went around his neck. He held himself still with iron willpower. God, it’s been a long time!

He broke the embrace, tilting her chin up. “I am interested, but this is forbidden right now, and I won’t break Adrian’s rules again, not even for you.”

When he pushed her back, she let go. “But in October…”

Neil sighed, body hard. “Come fall, I’ll be one of the many tapping on your tent flap.”

Before she could swear that he was the only one she wanted, Neil held up a hand and put more space between them. “No promises from either of us. That’s a long way off and there’s still a lot to be done.”

“And I’m gonna help. You’ll see.” She beamed at him. “October, Neil. Then I expect a real kiss.”

Neil was thoughtful as she left. He wanted the flirty teenager, but there were other, more urgent things he desired.

“You know, there can be exceptions to my rules.”

Neil jumped. He turned to see Adrian coming from behind a nearby tree.

“She’s made an adult choice. If you want her now, you have my approval.”

A little embarrassed, and not about to tell the truth, Neil swept the thick, black hills around them. Clear. “She’s not ready.”

“She thinks she is.”

Neil pushed his hat further onto his head as the wind gusted sharply. “She’s fourteen. What does she know?”

“She knows you’re attracted to someone else. I imagine she saw the way all my army was gawking at Angela, and she wanted to stake some sort of claim on you.” Adrian lifted a brow. “Did it succeed? Are you marked?”

Neil blew out an awkward laugh, shrugging. “Not as much as Marc, but yeah, Becky’s got some of my attention.”

“Good. It’s a great match for her, a solid start to this side of being an adult. Tell me when you’re ready. I’ll set it up.”

Neil nodded, always grateful to have Adrian. He was the solution to so many of their problems. Their population was mostly male. To keep the men from fighting so much, the age of consent had been lowered to sixteen, but it went deeper than just hormones and control. They needed babies to keep their country going. Without new life, they were doomed.

“You spent the day with him.”

Neil was glad of the subject change. This was what the boss had come out here for. “Yeah, he should be in the shower right now. I told him I’d meet him at your tent for the game.”

Adrian already knew Neil and Marc were becoming friends, but he had to ask. “What’s the verdict?”

“I think Marc is one of those special few you asked me to look out for. He’s already starting to win people over.”

“While my right hand has spent the last two days pushing everyone away.” Adrian was aware of everything that had happened now, thanks to the nightly reports.

“If Kenn doesn’t back off, the camp might file a charge and vote for punishment.”

Adrian sighed. “He’ll come around. I hope.”

Neither man thought it would be easy.

“What about Rick?” Neil didn’t like the guy, though he hadn’t had much contact with him yet. Something about him is even more off than with Kenn.

Adrian scowled this time. “He’s out of quarantine, with a guard.”

“His schedule starts tomorrow?”

“Yes. Come morning, all the new people are on company time, though I’m sure that will come earlier for some than others. Kenn will be hot-to-trot for a while.”

“Did you see his face when we got in line for the shooting contest?” Neil smirked. “I thought he was going to choke.”

“Yes, I did.” There was no answering mirth from Adrian. He wasn’t the least bit amused. “Kenn didn’t want me to know how good Marc is. He also didn’t tell us that Marc was his team leader or that Angela was a doctor. What else is he hiding?”