Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 140965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
It was taking a chance to go after the MSS in daylight hours, but he didn’t have much time left. He was hot, sweat dripping occasionally, and his mind still felt chaotic. In spite of that, Draden had found himself smiling. He was infected with a killer disease and he was waking with a smile. He assessed his body carefully because he needed to be able to handle himself in a fight. Other than the vicious headache, he was still functioning. The site of the dart entry was swollen and red. His temperature was definitely up. His muscles hurt, but strangely, the effects of the virus weren’t nearly as harsh as he’d expected. Still, he needed to get this done.
They’d had a good evening, although Shylah had cooked up another really foul-tasting ration before they went back to sleep. Thinking about it, even that had made him laugh. Now, in the light of day, they were making their way through miles of forest back to the village the MSS were using as cover.
It was drizzling, a long slide of silver falling through the canopy. He glanced back at her, looking through the tree branches. She looked beautiful, running along a particularly thick limb. She was sure-footed, moving fast, scanning ahead of her as well as below her. He saw her gaze move upward. He liked that. Most people would have assumed no one could possibly be above them. It was unlikely, but they could do it so that meant someone else might be able to as well.
He held up his fist and she froze, which meant she always kept him in her vision. She was giving him a million reasons to fall in love with her. When she stopped all motion, she went completely still, blending into the foliage around her. He knew exactly where she was, but it was difficult to see her. He sent her a small grin, just because she made him want to smile, and then he was all business again. They were back in MSS territory. The village the terrorist cell had taken over was just ahead, a quarter mile in from the river.
He’d stirred up a hornet’s nest the last time he’d been to the village. By killing the men in the infirmary as well as the commander, he’d signaled to them that he could walk into their homes and kill them at will. He’d taken out the majority of their guards. Worse, he’d turned the table on a boatload of those hunting him. Now, they were everywhere, moving through the forest in numbers, looking for any sign to track him. They seemed to be hunting in pairs, which made his job easier, but first, he had to figure out who had taken over as commander. That man would know if they had any more of the virus.
He waited for two MSS members to pass under the tree he was crouched in, and then he began to move forward again, toward the village. The sound of the barred eagle-owl had him glancing over his shoulder. The laughing hoot, very distinctive, was a perfect replica. They were funny-looking creatures with a soft whistle and a call that sounded like the bird was happy and calling out to make certain everyone knew it.
Shylah signaled to him that she would track and dispose of the two MSS members. I’ll hunt here while you go into the village and find out everything we need to know.
He’d made it clear he didn’t want her with him when he interrogated the new commander, but he hadn’t expected her to actively take on those hunting in the forest. She wasn’t asking his permission either. He wasn’t in charge. She’d made that clear more than once. Shylah was an independent thinker, was used to working alone. Whitney had shaped her into his torpedo, and she went after the enemy; she wouldn’t sit at home waiting for Draden to get back from his task.
Draden nodded. Not going to tell you to be careful, woman, but won’t be happy if you fuck up and one kills you.
Her soft laughter slipped intimately into his head, stroking his body like the touch of her fingers. He’d fallen under the spell of her fingers and now, to have that sensation in his mind was almost erotic.
No worries. I’ve got this, unless you’re worried about getting out of there with half their army on your tail. I’m not certain how many times I can pull you out of the river.
Very funny. Although true. He had nearly blown it. They wouldn’t be expecting him to return to their community, which gave him some advantages. Give me an hour. I should be able to find him, break him and get out of there. If they still have the virus, we’ll need to get it back. That’s more important than killing every one of them. It was, but he still intended to do as much damage to them as possible. And Shylah, once you breathe on them, they could get infected. You have to kill them.