he’d acted as though he didn’t care about anything but his own pleasure and why he’d held back being part of Luken’s team. He’d been a man sustaining a façade to protect those he loved. He’d been nothing but warrior, after all.
Yet, seeing Merl so completely destroyed brought the war home to Rachel in a way it hadn’t during the past month of training. She’d made a transition, a big one, to Warrior of the Blood. She battled beside the men, making use of her shield ability, the occasional use of a wrecker shotgun, and her finesse with daggers.
But she’d forgotten the other side, the one of personal destruction.
Luken began waving them toward the door, no doubt intending to give Merl some space. She put her feet in motion, her hand still tucked within Duncan’s. She had no idea what he was thinking, but her own reaction had put her back in the past without warning.
There were many reasons she’d fought against joining up with the Ops Team. The main one had involved Grieg, her abusive husband, now deceased. Not that she was excusing Grieg’s behavior, but the warrior life took a toll on the men and women who served.
Did she really want that life for herself? She’d made a commitment to serve on the team because she knew this was where she belonged, at least for the present. She’d be offering her shielding protection to Duncan and the rest of the team repeatedly over the coming weeks, perhaps even months. And she’d be saving lives.
But how could this ever be a lifetime endeavor for her?
You okay? Duncan sent.
I don’t know.
Don’t do this, Rachel. Don’t pull away from me.
I’m not. At least she didn’t think she was.
You are. I can feel it in your silence.
The door to the sycamore room was now shut and the rest of the team had disappeared up the hall to the living room.
Duncan turned her toward him. “Talk to me.”
The moment had blindsided her, reminding her that Duncan wasn’t the only one with issues. She said softly, “What kind of life is this for anyone?”
He pulled her against him. “I don’t know. Sometimes I wonder if I hadn’t been the son of a famous Militia Warrior, I might have chosen a different path.”
She was so stunned; she drew back and looked up at him. “You’re serious? Duncan, I’ve never heard you so much as hint you would have ever done something else with your life.”
“I know. And I also know, like you, I’m built for this life. It’s a weird paradox.”
She sighed. “There are moments, like this one, when the nature and sheer size of the mountain in front of us overwhelms me. Do you think those men in the vision were part of Merl’s team?”
“I think it’s even worse. I now believe Merl served as the leader of the Warriors of the Blood on Third and when he left, he thought he was saving them all, his sister included.”
“Oh, God,” she whispered. “And instead, Yolanthe imprisoned them.”
“And soon, she’ll kill them. We have to get them all out. I see that now. But I have no idea how we’ll be able to get the job done.”
She felt it as well, the future hurtling toward the team, demanding more from each than she could have ever imagined.
He added, “Since I’m having visions, my guess is Yolanthe has a Seer or possibly several working for her. She might already know about us. At the very least, she’s seeking information about me. I know she’s not finished trying to put me back in harness.”
Rachel sighed and for a moment laid her head on his chest. The future felt so uncertain yet full of demands. She’d already made the commitment to the team, and she wouldn’t back out now, but Merl’s distress had definitely reminded her of all the stakes involved.
~
Duncan held Rachel close, not wanting to let her go.
There was nothing simple in this group of warriors. If what Duncan believed was true, Merl felt responsible that his men were in prison, God help him.
After a moment, he released Rachel. “We should
Yet, seeing Merl so completely destroyed brought the war home to Rachel in a way it hadn’t during the past month of training. She’d made a transition, a big one, to Warrior of the Blood. She battled beside the men, making use of her shield ability, the occasional use of a wrecker shotgun, and her finesse with daggers.
But she’d forgotten the other side, the one of personal destruction.
Luken began waving them toward the door, no doubt intending to give Merl some space. She put her feet in motion, her hand still tucked within Duncan’s. She had no idea what he was thinking, but her own reaction had put her back in the past without warning.
There were many reasons she’d fought against joining up with the Ops Team. The main one had involved Grieg, her abusive husband, now deceased. Not that she was excusing Grieg’s behavior, but the warrior life took a toll on the men and women who served.
Did she really want that life for herself? She’d made a commitment to serve on the team because she knew this was where she belonged, at least for the present. She’d be offering her shielding protection to Duncan and the rest of the team repeatedly over the coming weeks, perhaps even months. And she’d be saving lives.
But how could this ever be a lifetime endeavor for her?
You okay? Duncan sent.
I don’t know.
Don’t do this, Rachel. Don’t pull away from me.
I’m not. At least she didn’t think she was.
You are. I can feel it in your silence.
The door to the sycamore room was now shut and the rest of the team had disappeared up the hall to the living room.
Duncan turned her toward him. “Talk to me.”
The moment had blindsided her, reminding her that Duncan wasn’t the only one with issues. She said softly, “What kind of life is this for anyone?”
He pulled her against him. “I don’t know. Sometimes I wonder if I hadn’t been the son of a famous Militia Warrior, I might have chosen a different path.”
She was so stunned; she drew back and looked up at him. “You’re serious? Duncan, I’ve never heard you so much as hint you would have ever done something else with your life.”
“I know. And I also know, like you, I’m built for this life. It’s a weird paradox.”
She sighed. “There are moments, like this one, when the nature and sheer size of the mountain in front of us overwhelms me. Do you think those men in the vision were part of Merl’s team?”
“I think it’s even worse. I now believe Merl served as the leader of the Warriors of the Blood on Third and when he left, he thought he was saving them all, his sister included.”
“Oh, God,” she whispered. “And instead, Yolanthe imprisoned them.”
“And soon, she’ll kill them. We have to get them all out. I see that now. But I have no idea how we’ll be able to get the job done.”
She felt it as well, the future hurtling toward the team, demanding more from each than she could have ever imagined.
He added, “Since I’m having visions, my guess is Yolanthe has a Seer or possibly several working for her. She might already know about us. At the very least, she’s seeking information about me. I know she’s not finished trying to put me back in harness.”
Rachel sighed and for a moment laid her head on his chest. The future felt so uncertain yet full of demands. She’d already made the commitment to the team, and she wouldn’t back out now, but Merl’s distress had definitely reminded her of all the stakes involved.
~
Duncan held Rachel close, not wanting to let her go.
There was nothing simple in this group of warriors. If what Duncan believed was true, Merl felt responsible that his men were in prison, God help him.
After a moment, he released Rachel. “We should
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