AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Before I can respond, his lips are on mine. I lean against him, my hands on his chest, and kiss him back, not ready to part ways. His arms let go of mine and they slide around my back. Breathless and hot, I fist his shirt, needing more of these soft, cushioned lips, and the way his tongue explores my mouth.
Someone clears his throat. “Careful you don’t give the zombies any ideas.” The mirth in Lucien’s voice has us breaking apart, and I roll my eyes at him.
Lucien takes the chance to close the distance between us, drawing me by my waist to his body. His kiss is instant, those wicked lips rolling against mine, his grip digging into my hips with need.
Fingers crawl up my back, when I realize it’s a third hand and not Lucien’s. Breaking from our kiss, I whisper to him, “Please take care of them.”
“Love you, babe. We got this.”
When I turn to Bardhyl, he grabs my waist and has me off my feet in seconds. I gasp and grip his shoulders as I snap my legs around his hips. His lips are on fire. And we kiss like this is our last day on Earth, ravenous and desperate. I adore how he’s always rougher with me, and I’m left with bruised lips afterward.
In moments, he pulls from my mouth, and with strong hands, he lifts me higher as he turns us toward the lowest-hanging branch. “Grab hold and I’ll give you a boost.”
I snatch a branch that is rough under my fingers.
Bardhyl’s hands run down my legs and he grabs the back of my thighs, then pushes me higher.
In haste, I throw a leg over the branch and shuffle up until I’m sitting. I glance down and blow Bardhyl a kiss.
“Love you. Behave and stay up there,” he commands.
“I promise,” I say.
One last look my way with heartfelt smiles, and the three of them slide into the woods amid the undead, vanishing from view. The density of pine needles on this tree makes it difficult to see too much. Slowly, I get to my feet, grasping on to the trunk, reminded of my days living in trees. A time that feels so long ago.
I climb up to the next branch, which offers a better vantage point. And right there in the distance stands the lofty, metal fence of the compound with a small view of the back door. Nerves tangle inside me that Ash Wolves will ambush my men. I chew on my lower lip and just need to shove those thoughts aside or they will drive me crazy.
Settling down, I get comfortable and straddle the thick branch, my back to the trunk.
Now I stare out and wait, hoping that everything goes according to plan.
Bardhyl
Isuck in every rapid breath, filling my lungs. We’ve run the whole fucking way back to the cave and through the tunnels. Now we’re catching our breath inside Kinley’s house at the back door.
Lucien peers out the window through a gap in the thick curtains, while Dušan has the door slightly ajar, staring out into the backyard that flows into the woodlands inside the settlement.
“Is it clear?” I ask, glancing back into the empty living room. We helped Kinley into her bedroom, and she shut the door, closing herself in to stay safe until this is over in case the fight breaks near her home. We told her the bare minimum but enough to know what’s going to be happening outside.
Dušan’s plan is simple, but the best ones usually are. Going for Mad directly exposes us easily to his guards. We’d be overpowered. So a massive breach in the settlement will make him less protected by his guards as panic spreads. And that is when we strike.
I’ve known the dickhead long enough to not expect Mad to get his hands dirty. He sends his men out to search for us in the woods while he sits back in the compound, taking it easy.Sonofabitch.His little rise to the top is going to be short-lived.
“Area’s clear,” Dušan whispers. “We make a break into the cluster of trees leading up to the rear entry of the compound. We’ll be less likely to be spotted this way, then we can open the gate for Meira.”
The door to the house swings open, and we’re on the run.
A strong wind collides into us. My gut tightens and I hold my head low, stealing looks from either side of me. No one to see the three of us cut across the wide grounds and burst into the cluster of trees running along the edge of the settlement. It’s not enough to conceal us completely, but the shadows are a cloak should anyone glance this way.
I can’t stop thinking about Meira and praying she’s safe. She’s surrounded by zombies, but Ash Wolves are in the woods, and I hope to hell and back she remains up in that tree.
We pound the Earth, rushing up the slope, staying close to the trees. I remain behind Dušan and Lucien, and I keep checking over my shoulder. My skin crawls being out here; I feel damn exposed. I loathe how I feel anything but safe in my own home. And this is why I want to murder Mad slowly, make him squirm and cry. And, well, those worms who follow him blindly will also feel my wrath. I’ve taken down a list of names. None of them have escaped my attention. I don’t forget.
Dušan glances back, and with two fingers, signals we’re heading left and toward the rear door, where the woodland inside the compound spreads, offering us better coverage.
We move swiftly, and I scan the rolling landscape that leads back down to the fortress… the home we will reclaim.
About a dozen pack members roam near the back of the building, and I can only assume they’re guards. Since Mad’s forced takeover, most of the pack seem to remain hidden in their homes. It’s better this way, as they’ll stay out of danger.
