“My name is now David. How in the hell did you get to Brevona?”
“Mine is Ethan. And how we got here is a long story.”
Rachel watched the two men embrace. Four? Another of the Institute’s boys? The other figure came toward them. To her shock, it was Two. “Two? I can’t believe it.”
“Yes, it’s me. I see you got my message,” Two said softly against Rachel’s neck. “My name is Starla now. My real name.”
She had never experienced such embraces and outpour of friendship and love. Overwhelmed, Rachel cried on Two’s shoulder, or Starla, as she’d said her name was now. When she finally stopped crying and wiped her tears, she said, “I don’t have a real name. I don’t remember it, but I was given the name Rachel for my mission.”
“We have a flash drive with all of Schultz’s files. We can find your real name for you if you would like.”
“You can? Though I have come to think of myself as Rachel.”
“There is a lot to talk about. To tell you. Seventeen and Twenty-Four are here too, along with Ninety-One from the male division. David was with me on my mission. You’re both safe now.”
Ethan placed his arm around Rachel’s shoulders as she sobbed, but they were tears of relief. Two patted her patiently on the back. “It’s going to be okay, honey,” Ethan said softly to her. With both his arms around her, he tilted her face to look up at him. “These are our friends. We’re in good hands.” He leaned down and kissed her.
She relished his kiss. Regardless of what she’d been taught in the Institute—and experienced with Kyle’s slobbery disgusting assault—she longed for more of Ethan’s lips.
From the way he gazed down at her, the expression in his brown eyes, she knew she’d get a lot more in the days to come.
“Let’s get them to the camp to meet the others,” David told Starla. “I know they will be just as interested as we are in how they have come to be on Brevona.”
“Come on. Jane, Olivia, and Jason will be thrilled to see you both.” Starla grabbed David’s hand and motioned for Rachel and Ethan to follow.
Jane... Olivia... Jason... Names of their fellow trainees? Starla led them deeper into the woods. How they didn’t get lost, she had no idea. Everything looked the same. The only light they had was the glow from the moons that filtered through the trees. Before long they arrived at a clearing. The embers of a campfire illuminated several tents pitched around it. A small group of people was seated on logs near the fire.
“Look what we found while spying on the insurgents,” Starla called out to the group.
Before Rachel knew it, she and Ethan were engulfed in hugs, and everyone seemed to talk at once. It was crazy and wonderful, and nothing like the restricted atmosphere of the Institute.
A heavy breeze kicked up around them, and Rachel heard the flapping of large wings. An elated grin crossed Seventeen’s—or Jane’s, as she preferred—face.
“Edrian,” Jane squealed and raced to a dragon that had landed in the clearing. Before she had reached the animal, the dragon transformed into a very tall, handsome man.
The man pinned Rachel and Ethan with a penetrating stare. “I have been informed that a dangerous criminal may have escaped New Alcatraz aboard a cargo ship bound for Brevona. He disappeared several days ago without a trace, along with the warden, several guards, and a woman.”
Rachel stepped in front of Ethan, squared her shoulders and gave the man a determined glare. She didn’t care who this man or dragon was, but she wasn’t about to allow Ethan to be accused of murder again. She still had her weapon, if necessary, she’d take the damn reptile out. “He is no criminal, and that cargo ship carried stolen gold to your insurgents.”
“Edrian, they are from the Institute, like us. Let them tell their story,” Jane chided him.
“By all means.” Edrian gestured to the logs surrounding the fire. “Have a seat. I am very interested in hearing about this gold and how you managed to escape the unescapable penal colony.”
Rachel sat down beside Ethan allowing him to talk first, explaining his mission and how he ended up as an inmate at the prison. When he had finished his tale, Rachel told them hers but left out the embarrassing bits about Kyle and what he had forced her to do.
“That is quite a story. My father and the king will be interested in knowing that the insurgents have been funding themselves with stolen gold from New Alcatraz.” Edrian brushed his long hair out of his face. “Rachel, you and Ethan are welcome to stay on Brevona. You are among friends. You will be safe here.”
The joy Rachel had felt upon first seeing Starla sizzled out. She’d been reported as missing and she refused to risk her friends’ lives by staying on Brevona. “The Institute believes that Ethan is dead, but if Schultz even suspects that I am alive, he’ll send an eliminator after me. I can’t stay here. I won’t put the rest of you in danger.”
Ethan gently squeezed her hand. “I won’t let you leave alone. We are in this together.”
Starla chuckled. “Don’t be silly. There is no way in hell we are going to allow either one of you to leave. Your home is with us.”
“But the implant and the Institute—” Rachel stammered before Edrian interrupted her.
“Your implant will be removed,” he told her.
Jane grinned at her. “Let Schultz send someone. All of the adult female trainees should know about the implant by now, besides we are stronger together.”
“You belong here with us,” Olivia piped in.
Rachel felt the burn of tears threatening to fall again. For so many years she had felt so alone, so different from the other trainees with her metal arm and too revealing suits. Now her heart threatened to burst with happiness. They had escaped, vanished, and evaporated from the Institute and New Alcatraz. They were with friends and had a future to plan for...
And finally, a real home.
Other books by Taryn and Gabby:
Crimson Realm Chronicles
In Search of Pride
The Dragon’s Lion
Sword of Betrayal
Sword of Judgement
Testing the Crown
Shard in the Mirror
Initiation Genesis
The Lion’s Stowaway (Star Chasers anthology)
Antique Trove (Standalone story)
Veiled Eliminators
Extrication
Virama
Recreancy
About the Authors
Taryn Jameson is a mother, artist, and avid reader who lives in an enchanted forest that sparks her imagination to create. Her latest outlet is the written word. She is the alter ego of cover artist Angela Waters.
Gabriella Bradley has been a writer and artist all her life, though only ventured into erotic works in 2003. Her hobbies include hiking, gardening, swimming, sewing, embroidery. Favorite movies are old timers like Gone with the Wind, Spartacus, etc. Favorite music is Abba.
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