by Angela White
“Except, we aren’t afraid of fire anymore,” Adrian gently reminded the demon. “Are we?”
“No. Now, we love it as another needed tool.”
“These chemicals were supposed to gradually change a population into chaos, so that magic users could come forward and save mankind, be accepted.”
“This wasn’t a government plan,” the witch accused. “This was from someone like you, someone who believes he’s helping humanity, while obliterating it.”
“Yes, but not me,” Adrian confided. “My father worked on it while he was governor of Arkansas. This has been in the works for thirty-five years.”
“Your father destroyed the world.”
“And gave us a chance to come back in control of it,” Adrian argued. “Between the descendants who want power and the government officials desperate to stay in power, the herds are in grave danger. It may seem as though there are a lot of us here, but we’re the minority of our kind. Most descendants love my father’s plan.”
“And you?”
Adrian snorted. “I love Angie. I love my fellow Americans, my Eagles. I loathe my evil side more than your host does.”
“Prove that and regain your honor with me!” the witch demanded.
“How?”
“Agree to Marc’s deal and uphold your end, no matter what. Give them the peace they deserve.”
Adrian knew better than to blindly agree, but it wasn’t something he could promise anyway. “I won’t lie to you again. I won’t ever give up on Angie, no matter how many times she trades me for our people. In fact, each time she does it, I respect her more, need her more. Go away? Never!”
Angela snapped back, fury blazing, but his words couldn’t be denied. She hadn’t chosen Marc over Adrian. She’d chosen Safe Haven. They would have their leader. She would have another chance at a child… Angela’s heart broke all over again and she shoved herself into the grayness to keep from melting down. She had a few weeks to get through and then none of it would matter. Marc didn’t know that the time line was shorter than he’d estimated. He thought he had a year to bring her around, but her reign was over now.
Adrian stewed on the information, wondering if she’d let him know how long so that he might have time to stop it. After examining the clues, he understood that wasn’t the case. She was telling him that he didn’t have a year to become Marc’s Mr. Perfect if he wanted to be in control of Safe Haven. He had mere weeks.
“Marc once told me you two were childhood sweethearts.” Adrian wanted to be selfish and use this time to advance his bond, but it was obvious that Angela was bad off. She deserved to be with Marc, though it wasn’t what would give her the elusive happiness that humans were always searching for. At this point, Adrian didn’t believe he could either. Maybe a combo of the two of them, like Neil and Jeremy, but they all knew there was no way it would ever be peaceful. Adrian wasn’t sure what she needed and until he was and knew he could provide it, he believed she should stay with Marc.
“You know,” Angela began softly, with a catlike setup for the pounce. “All my life, people have planned my future as if I didn’t exist. I think I’m done with that.”
When she turned away and tugged the blankets up, Adrian sighed. He was going to push now and duck if needed.
”Wise,” she muttered.
“He said you grew up together. Same small town and all that.”
Angela’s grunt wasn’t encouraging. Adrian tried again, pushing a little harder.
“He also said he taught you to give a blow job?”
Angela’s form went rigid and Adrian prepared to duck.
“So?”
Adrian grinned. “Just wondering what else he taught you. That was a question you avoided when you first joined my refugee camp.”
“I didn’t trust you yet,” she replied tersely.
“You do now.”
Silence.
“Please?”
“Why?”
“I’m bored.”
Angela snorted. “Yeah, right.”
“Is it something awful?”
“To me, it was. He taught me that men leave. That’s what you do.”
Adrian never would have guessed at her hidden bitterness over something that had happened so long ago. Did Marc know?
Angela shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. He can’t change the truth any more than you can. Now let me be.”
Adrian refused with his own snort. “What else did he teach you?”
Angela felt the tears welling again, but she was helpless to stop them. Her emotions were in control, not her mind. “To love him.”
Adrian swallowed his jealousy to help her. “And?”
“That…I could only trust me.” Angela looked up with horrible clarity. “I never have, you know. Trusted another person since him. I can’t.”
Adrian nodded. Now they were getting deep enough to maybe honestly help her. “You should tell him that.”
“I’ve already told him he’s forgiven, that we were kids. I meant it.”
“Doesn’t sound like you’ve let it go, though,” he pointed out.
“Letting it go and forgiving are two totally different things,” Angela warned. “It’s cause and effect. I don’t hate him or blame him anymore, but I have no trust for my fellowman.”
“And that made it easy to kill.”
“Yes. My lack of compassion allowed me to murder.”
“And if you’d had compassion?”
“Safe Haven would have been lost.”
Adrian sent sympathy. “It’s hard, what we do. Those choices are so terrible that we can’t forgive ourselves afterwards.”
“No.”
“I understand. You’ve witnessed me at a low point. I didn’t know how I could continue after everything I’d done.”
“Same here,” Angela muttered.
“But I did. Because my job wasn’t finished yet. Neither is yours.”
“We’ve been over this,” she reminded him stiffly. She knew she needed these talks, but it didn’t make them any easier or more welcome.
“Not really,” Adrian countered. “So far, you’ve deflected and misdirected each time we’ve gotten close to the worst of your chaos. When you can admit the last part, you can begin healing.”
“I don’t deserve to heal!” she shouted, tears burning down raw skin. “I deserve to die!”
Adrian leaned against the cave wall in satisfaction. “Keep going.”
“I got her killed! So many deaths to defeat Donner. I’m awful. Marc should kill me.”
“And?”
Angela tensed in heavy pain. “And…I’m sorry…but I’d do it again. Safe Haven survived.”
Angela collapsed in tears and Adrian left her alone. He was always impressed with her strength, but more, with her refusal to lie to herself at moments like this. She wasn’t excusing it, only admitting it. She was a true leader. He was honored to have been her mentor, but now, she would mentor him.
“Or we’ll die together,” Angela’s witch threatened, glaring at him madly.
Adrian closed his lids, not responding. At some point, he would have to make a truce with that one. For right now, he would try not to antagonize the demon. Angela had enough power now to kill a person without raising a hand. It was amazing. When the ocean became its usual wild self, this council would be able to handle most of it because she was along. The rest would be up to fate. If he was meant to reach the island, he would. If not, at least some of them would because he, and others, had discerned Eagles on that island. Either way, their people would be safe there for a while.
“And after that?” the witch demanded angrily. “Will you be dead, finally?”
Adrian reflected on the deal Marc had offered and on the one that he had made with Angela. Then, he contemplated his own desires. “Be gone, witch. She’s too tired for you right now.”
The demon burst into harsh laughter that rang in Adrian’s mind as she faded. Marc thought he hated enough to kill, but he
had nothing on Angela’s demon. If she ever turned the witch loose, Adrian would be gone in seconds. He was at the top of her list, and rightly so. Betraying a descendant was unforgivable.
Deleted Scene #2
Explicit
“Can I rub you to sleep?” Yuri asked softly, refilling her wine glass. He’d answered all of her questions and then some.
Weary, Kendle nodded. She’d known this moment would come. Now that it was here, there was no anger or revulsion, only a thick heat that needed to be satisfied one way or the other.
Yuri joined her on the bed, bringing a fresh bottle of oil. He got settled with a leg on each side of her, hardness pressing into her cheek.
Kendle closed her lids as his knowing hands began to spread the oil over her skin. As he reached forward to get her shoulders, that hardness thrust against her cheeks, bringing light gasps from the man on top of her.
Kendle obliged him by lifting her top half when his hands came up, allowing him to cup her breasts through the bra. She waited to experience rage or fear, but there was still heat. Now certain that it wasn’t against her will, Kendle rested her cheek on the soft pillow.
Yuri rubbed her for a long time, sticking to areas that would allow her to drowse. She hadn’t arched into his touch when he’d tried, telling him she probably would give him what he wanted, but she would be tense and ruin the mood for him. He waited, patiently, rubbing her to sleep.
When her breathing finally evened out, Yuri let his hands live out the one fantasy he’d been using since his teens. Observing his brother and his girlfriend acting as if she was asleep had damaged him so that only that scenario played in his mind during sex. Now that Kendle was asleep, he could live out his dream.
Yuri stretched to rub her shoulders, thrusting lightly into the bare crack of her ass. While rubbing, he’d moved her underwear into that scented heaven, exposing both globes. He humped them slowly now, trying to control his breathing. When she didn’t resist, he dropped the pretense and braced himself with an arm on each side of her lean hips.
Yuri bounced her a little harder, ready to stop if she woke, but there was no resistance. He kept going. Her underwear slid down slowly, pulled by his single finger to keep from disturbing her. As they went down far enough to show the treasure underneath, Yuri groaned lowly. It was wet and pink. He hardened further, breath shortening.
Yuri rose up, positioning by guess as he braced himself. Running on instinct, he whispered, “Tell me now.”
Kendle sighed. But she didn’t speak.
Yuri slowly pressed his dick against her hot, damp pussy, groaning again. He pushed forward, sliding into her. “Thank you, thank you.”
Kendle held still as he pulled out and then pushed right back in, deeper this time. She started to slide a hand under her hip, hoping to enjoy it, but she was pulled over with a quick movement that put Yuri’s head between her legs.
He licked, softly.
She shuddered, violently.
The night passed.
Deleted Scene #3
“What happened?”
Kyle smiled down at her. “I took longer than I thought. You fell asleep.”
Jennifer stretched, naked under the blanket. Tension flooded the air as she remembered why she didn’t have a nightgown on.
Kyle fastened the thin door to the chamber. It was supposed to be for council members who were on long shifts and needed a moment away from the relentless demands of the camp.
Fresh from a shower, Kyle was dismayed to discover himself too tired to run through the mental plans he’d made for this moment. Not wanting to ruin it, he settled into the small chair by the cot to take off his boots, saying, “I know you’ve made up your mind, but we’re both beat, honey. Can we do this in the morning?”
Jennifer nodded in relief. She felt sore all over and a bit queasy from skipping dinner.
“You sure?” he questioned, eyes darkening at the sight of her bare shoulders and wild hair.
Jennifer flushed. “Yes, please. Hand me my gown?”
“Will you leave it off?”
Cheeks turning scarlet, she did, thinking it was a good way to ease into things. It was also a bit awkward and embarrassing as he stripped down to his boxers and slid in with her.
The narrow cot only allowed them to be on their sides. When Kyle gently rolled her to face the wall, Jennifer felt terror rush over her mind.
Kyle felt her freeze and sighed unhappily. He slowly placed his back to her and felt the tension break. Still aroused by the sensation, Kyle smothered the need to hold her. The trekking they’d done today had worn him out.
Kyle’s body was a warm comfort to relax against. Jennifer sighed in pleasure. “Thank you.”
Kyle grunted, already drifting. “My honor.”
Jennifer smiled, shifting a little to enjoy his heat more fully. She really was a lucky girl. She had the best man in this camp.
Deleted Scene #4
“Grab that dog!”
Tonya knelt down and picked up the cute puppy as Jennifer ran into the lab. “Oh, good! You got him before anything was broken.”
Tonya gave the squirming pup to the teenager and went to the small deep sink to wash her hands. “No problem. Still in training?”
“Yes.” Jennifer spotted the cat too late. The dog leapt from her arms and chased the thin cat from the lab and down the tunnel.
Jennifer sighed tiredly. “I’m sorry.”
Tonya shrugged. “Cats and dogs aren’t friends by nature. They may adjust as long as she doesn’t scratch his eyes out.” Tonya gestured toward the bubbling and boiling beakers. “She’s already got a big strike against her survival.”
Jennifer realized the cat was ill. She glanced down at the book Tonya had opened on the desk. “Cannabis Oil Concentrates in the Use of an Effective Cancer Treatment. Wow. Nice.”
Tonya smiled. “Thanks. I have no idea what I’m doing.”
Jennifer spent a moment scanning the redhead’s mind to check for trouble, but she didn’t need to dig far to discover that Tonya was doing this from the good of her heart. “Can I help?”
“I don’t believe so,” Tonya denied. “This stuff has to cook for a long time. I’ll be here all night.”
Jennifer moved toward the exit calling, “I’ll send you some coffee.”
“That would be great!”
Jennifer tiredly tracked her puppy to the ladder, following the noise. When she got there, she was glad to see the cat climbing the ladder. It was slow, but it was successful, disappearing over the edge of the hole.
The cat, Maybelle, stumbled down the cold stone and wandered into the living quarters. She twined around the legs of Samantha, who was sitting on a stool next to Cynthia.
Sam smoothed Cynthia’s wild hair down and tugged the blanket up to her shoulders. She’d been here for half an hour but the reporter hadn’t spoken once despite her eyes staying wide open.
“I’ll come visit you tomorrow. Keep fighting. This mountain sickness can’t be worse than facing down Cesar.”
Sam stood up. Cynthia’s hand wrapped around her wrist, focusing with ugly intensity. “Tell him I’m calling in my marker.”
“Your what?”
Cynthia let go. “Tell them both they owe me for her life. I’m calling in the marker.”
“What do you want?” Sam asked nervously.
“Freedom. I want out of here, alive.”
“We all want that,” Sam patronized, but Cynthia’s expression blazed with diluted madness. “They’re going to kill me.”
Sam began to say that was the mountain sickness messing with Cynthia’s mind, but the cat ran across the floor and tripped Stanley. He fell awkwardly, slamming into Daryl, who had been making his cot.
Daryl landed on the floor as Stanley landed in his bed.
Daryl glared up at the klutz. “Should I read you a story?”
Stanley struggled from the bed, tipping it over. As the cot collapsed on Daryl’s leg, the cat trotted from the chamber wi
th its tail up.
Samantha joined in the laughter, forgetting Cynthia’s words. When she looked down again, the reporter was asleep.
Sam left the living area, and moved into the corridor. She felt her stomach drop as she saw Neil coming toward her.
“What is it?”
“We need you to run the weather post for the next shift.”
“Okay. Wait. Jeremy has it right now.”
Neil leaned down to whisper, “Jeremy threw up all over the bathroom stall and called off.”
“Mountain sickness?”
Neil shook his head. “I need to tell you something. Please try not to be mad.”
All Angela White Books
Life After War Series
The Survivors (1)
Adrian’s Eagles (2)
Nuclear Ashes (3)
Dystopian Stand (4)
Fight for Survival (5)
Carved in Stone (6)
Shattered Dreams (7)
Dearly Departed (8)
LAW Backstories
Marc and Angie
Marc and Dog
Related to Life After War
The Alexa’s Travels series
Other Books by Angela White
The Bachelor Battles Trilogy
HOP-17: Human Origins Program
Copyright Page
Copyright © 2017 by Angela White.
All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this publication may be replicated, redistributed, or given away in any form without the prior written consent of Angela White or C9 Publications. Made in the USA.
Title: Dearly Departed
Book 8 of the Life After War Series
Edition: 1st, 2017
Length: 822 pages
Author: ©Angela White
Publisher: C9 Publications
ISBN#: 978-1-945927-46-1
C9 Publications
http://www.c9publications.com/
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