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Chapter Sixteen
Movingthrough the city was a lot different than moving through the suburbs. Some of the roofs weren’t as accessible, so there was less cover. And there was a lot more tension.
Only two of the people from Tenacity had left the back of the truck after seeing where we’d stopped. It seemed stupid to come all this way and not at least try, but I understood their fear. I was so filled with it that I felt sick. The only thing holding me together was Tor’s strong arms. I leaned more firmly into his chest, glad he was carrying me. The fey were far faster than any human could hope to be, and I knew he would bolt if any infected were spotted.
He gave me a comforting squeeze and continued jogging with the group.
Ryan lifted his arm and pointed to the left. The fey changed directions, turning down that street at the same time an infected called out close by. I lifted my head and looked behind us. Several of the fey peeled away from the main group, darting away to investigate the source of the sound. I hoped it wasn’t a trap.
Tor turned again, and I saw we were heading straight for a chain store and grinned. Eight fey encircled each human-carrying fey while the rest went inside to do an initial sweep. I knew the store was full of infected when three ran out into the early morning light. The nearest fey broke away and killed the infected before they could make a sound.
Inside, though, several called out.
“I need lookouts on the roof,” Ryan said softly. “We need to watch every direction to make sure more don’t gather while we’re inside.”
His eight fey took running starts and climbed the vertical face of the store while the one carrying Ryan joined Tor in the center of my group.
“A store like this is how Mya almost died. Stay next to Tor at all times. Grabbing distance, no farther.”
I didn’t even want to leave Tor’s arms.
The group of bloody fey emerged, their arms full of infected bodies.
“Did you check the tops of all the shelves?” Ryan asked.
“Yes. It looks like other humans have been here. Many of the cans are missing.”
Ryan swore and glanced at me.
“It’s still worth checking,” I said.
We moved inside, thoroughly surrounded by fey. And it was a good thing, too. The easy-to-eat items were gone. The candy section was decimated. But, the baking aisle was almost untouched.
Fey with totes packed up what I indicated. It was a decent haul, including the overstock supplies we found in the back. When we had cleared everything we could, we went in search of another store. We got lucky and found one not far away.
Unlike the previous store, the new one hadn’t been touched, and there were far fewer infected inside. We gathered as much as we could from that one as well. I even managed to spot a novelty t-shirt for the city in a triple X.
“This will give you more shoulder room,” I said, holding up the soft grey shirt for Tor’s inspection. He barely gave it a glance before his gaze went back to scanning everything around us. All the fey watched our surroundings as alertly as Tor. It made me feel more on edge but also well-guarded.
I tucked the shirt into my jacket along with a handful of candy bars and indicated I was ready to be picked up again. Tor relaxed slightly when I was in his arms and opening a candy bar. I eagerly took a bite and held it up to him. He only hesitated a moment before chomping off a portion.
Smirking, I watched him chew and swallow.
“Well?” I asked softly. “Was it good?”
“I like the peas you make better.”
I snorted a laugh and ate the rest myself.
The runners who transported the supplies carefully varied their paths to and from the trucks. Despite their efforts, they still drew infected attention. More calls rang out as we left the store, and I could see concern on Ryan’s face and pure panic on the other two human’s faces.
I looked up at Tor. He winked at me. The gesture was so unexpected and shocking that any fear I’d been starting to feel vanished. With a small smile, I rested my head against his shoulder as he jogged with the rest.
The group slowed, and I lifted my head to see a fey on top of a nearby building. He was gesturing like we needed to back up. Tor and the other fey looked to Ryan, who was already looking behind us at another rooftop fey. That fey was gesturing to keep going.
Ryan swore.
“I knew you’d kill us one of these days,” one of the men said far too calmly.
