Page 119 of Born Savage

“It came to me in pieces over the last few weeks. I sensed you weren’t ready yet. Or maybe I was advised you needed to experience the truth when you were ready and at your own pace. I don’t profess to understand all of what has been shared with us or how we can affect the future. But what I do know is that we were brought together for a reason. That must include destroying the king and his loyal followers. That’s what Peter was trying to tell us. That’s what your John was telling you.”

“Angels of Destiny.” Perhaps she was right.

“Yes. Maybe it’s time we simply put our faith in what so many people died to protect?” Her eyes were shimmering.

“We don’t know where we’re headed, Star.”

“Not completely, but we are close. I can feel it.”

I wish I had her faith.

“In the dream my father mentioned I was provided with men willing to sacrifice their lives for the cause. To protect me until the time was right.” I tipped my head toward the house.

“I have a feeling the men still sleeping consider being with you an honor. They are your friends, Rage. They are some of the strongest, most honorable people I’ve ever met.”

My turn to cup my hand against the side of her face, enjoying the feeling of brushing my fingertip back and forth across her soft skin. “I feel the same, Star. I only worry I will fail them.”

“Fail them? You are what heroes and leaders are made of. Now, if you’re finished feeling sorry for yourself, we should go. We’re being chased. Whoever they are, they’re not close, but they are on the scent.”

We’d come across two other bands of Dwellers, but ironically, no Freedom Hunters. What did bother me was that we were running out of food. We had enough for the child and the dog, at everyone’s insistence, but we were growing weak. Blade and Ghost were fighting fatigue as well as a fever. I feared we’d lose them.

Much like I’d been warned in the dream.

Something I wasn’t certain I could stand. They were my friends. They were my family as Star and Wren had become. At this moment, I feared my father’s beliefs had been that of a man who, while willing to sacrifice himself, had already succumbed to radiation sickness.

That thought was crushing.

I took her hand into mine, pulling her fingers to my lips. They weren’t as frigid as they’d been for so long. She’d known things, anticipating danger. Whether another gift or a hunch didn’t matter. We’d learned as a group to pay close attention to what she said.

“Then we will go. And I’m not feeling sorry for myself.”

“Yes, you are.” Her slight laugh faded into a shadow of darkness crossing her face.

“Now is where I suggest you keep the faith.”

She placed her hand on my chest. “I’m frightened. What if we’re wrong?”

The question was something we’d all struggled with. “Then we build Eden ourselves.”

Leaning into me, she presented her lips. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

With a solid jerk, I pulled her against me, enjoying the feeling of having her so close. “Be careful tempting me.”

“I’ll never stop tempting you.” As she pressed her lips against mine, the same rush of desire hit me. I pulled her onto her toes and rubbed my hand down her back. Even though we were both freezing, the body heat we shared was even more exciting.

Star pushed away, twirling the flower in her fingers. “Come with me, Rage. We can do this.”

She had more resolve than anyone I’d ever met. “Then we head out. Maybe today is the day.”

With nothing but a single bag for each person, we set out as we’d done every morning, Wrath controlling the GPS system after having lost faith in our maps.

What I could say was that the terrain was lusher than we’d seen, the snow beginning to melt and underneath were hidden treasures; plants that shouldn’t exist, trees with real leaves even when there should be little if any life.

The frigid temperatures had also passed, leaving a tingling warmth both from the brighter sun and the exertion of walking with additional speed.

We’d been walking for hours, more determination with every mile.

“Look, a path of some kind,” Wrath said soon after. He jogged ahead, crouching down between a group of trees. Real trees. While disfigured from acidic soil, they reminded me of those near the house I’d grown up in.