The Survivors: Book One

Angela didn't back down, didn't look away, and Kenn hated the new knowledge about life and death he read in her eyes. She thought she could handle him and that was bad. How much practice had she gotten? What had she done, been through, to get here?

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," Angela stated tonelessly.

Kenn stared at her in shock, unable to believe she would dare to get in his head so openly, so arrogantly. Didn't she remember what he'd threatened to do if she used it on him?

"Everything has changed, Kenn. You broke our deal when you abandoned me for that group of strangers you've been lying to!"

On the edge of control at her veiled threat to reveal his secrets, Kenn was surprised to discover that her disobedience, her betrayal, was worse. He hadn't thought her hold on him was that strong anymore. "You have six years left! You belong to me!" he hissed violently, moving closer.

Angela, struggling against the fear, fought back. "Not anymore. I want out!"

"No!"

"You don't own me!"

"How long have you two been sleeping together?"

"We aren't!"

"Lyin' bitch!"

"You go to Hell!"

Kenn's hand flinched, and Angela felt herself being brushed aside.

Marc stepped between them, finally eye-to-eye with the man responsible for hurting his Angie over and over. "It's been a while, Harrison."

"Not long enough, Brady."

Marc didn't respond to the accusation in Kenn's eyes as he waited for one of them (Angela) to get nervous and start talking, but they (she) remained silent and Kenn frowned deeper.

"You're...traveling together?" he asked finally.

Marc took the lead, big shoulders prepared to take whatever came. "Yes. We were both headed this way, and I couldn't let her go it alone. She was hard to convince, though," Marc lied easily. This was indeed a thin line, and he wasn't the only one walking it. She hadn't been exaggerating even a little. The LC was deadly with the M16 on his back.

"Well, thanks buddy, but I've got it from here. You can hit the redline."

Marc's grin widened into sharp white teeth as the wolf lingered at his hip, dark fur on his back and tail bushed-out aggressively. "Welcome, pal, but a funny thing happened on the way here. I discovered I want to be with… other people, and I might just stick close for a while."

Clearly taunting, Angela knew blood was about to flow and stayed out of it, waiting to see if Kenn would force his own death. Brady was eager and while she wasn't, doing it now, while Kenn was alone, was best if it had to happen.