Dragon Warrior

by Shéa MacLeod

  He raised a dark brow at that. “Join Sanctuary? What would I do here?”

  “Well, for now, you could teach. Teach us how to fight. How to defeat the drags. How to stop the Marines from taking everything we have. And when you’re better, you can help us fight.”

  He heaved a sigh. “I don’t know, Rain. I’ve been fighting a long time. A lot longer than any man should. I’ve lived far past my expiration date.”

  “Don’t say that,” she snapped, angry. “So, maybe those crazy lunatic scientists did mess with your DNA. Bring you back from the dead when they shouldn’t have. But so what? You’re here now. You’re alive and that’s what matters. You can help us change the course of this war. Maybe even help us win so instead of fighting all the damn time we can finally start learning to live.”

  “Wow. That was quite a speech.” He looked a little surprised. Maybe even a little pleased.

  Rain was surprised herself. She was a Tracker. She’d never much thought beyond the next track, the next fight. It was all she’d ever known. But suddenly she was imagining white picket fences and bullshit like that. She swallowed. “It’s just ... it’s a miracle you’re still alive and still...” She waved helplessly at his physique.

  “Still young?”

  She flushed. “Um, yeah.” Not to mention hot. “Just seems a waste not to, uh, use it. The alive part, I mean.” Damn. She should just keep her mouth shut.

  He grinned at that and reached out with his good hand to skim his thumb along her bottom lip. The contact startled her yet thrilled her down to her very toes. It wasn’t that she’d never been touched by a man before, but the fact that she was being touched by this man. A man who’d been haunting her daydreams for far too long to be healthy.

  “Very well, Rain.”

  “You’ll stay?” Her heart did a stupid little flip-flop. She needed to give the thing a stern talking to later.

  He smiled. “Yeah, I’ll stay.”

  MICAH WATCHED THE SMILE spread across Rain’s face and he suddenly felt like he’d just won the frigging lottery. Damn, but she was beautiful when she smiled. She was pretty, anyway, but that smile.

  He watched that sweet backside of hers as she sashayed out of the medical ward. What the hell was he thinking? He was a fucking zombie, resurrected from the dead, for crying out loud. He had no right to think of her as anything but a comrade in arms. There was nothing he had to offer her except his screwed-up DNA and a really good sword arm.

  Berating himself for being seven kinds of fool, he trailed her down the hall. At the very least, he could train her people so they had a fighting chance. And who knew, maybe watching her from afar would be enough.

  He rolled his eyes at his own idiocy. As if watching Rain Mauri from afar would ever be enough. He hadn’t banged his head that hard.

  She turned around, tilting her head to the side, pursing her lips in a way that made his stomach tighten and his heart race. “Are you coming?” She all but tapped her foot with impatience.

  “Uh, yeah. Sorry. Thinking.” It was all he could do to keep the smile off his face. He didn’t think she’d take too kindly to his amusement.

  She gave him an arch look. “Staring at my ass, you mean.”

  He burst out laughing. Crazy. The woman was going to drive him bat shit crazy. No doubt about it.

  Chapter 14

  “STEP FORWARD. THRUST up. Withdraw. And again. Step. Thrust. Withdraw. Excellent. Once more.”

  Rain sat, tucked back in the shade of one of the parking bays watching the training session. They were all in their early- to mid-teens, full of energy. Too much sometimes. Micah kept them separate from the rest of the trainees, drilling them until they nearly dropped from exhaustion. He claimed it not only kept them out of trouble, but that at their age they were more likely to develop useful skills than the older trainees were.

  It had been three weeks and things were progressing nicely. The trainees were getting more skillful and Micah was nearly healed. Clara thought his manipulated DNA allowed him to heal faster than a normal person.

  She eyeballed Micah as he marched up and down the line of boys and girls, adjusting a grip here, correcting a stance there. Damn, he was beautiful. Every line of him tightly muscled, he moved with a grace and agility that was almost superhuman.

  She frowned at that. She supposed it really was superhuman. Thanks to Dr. Barnes.

  She bit into the tomato she’d stolen from Padre Pedro’s garden. The tangy juice gushed over her tongue. It tasted of sunshine and fresh things. A rare treat in this wasteland of a world.

  Padre Pedro often told tales of the time before the Wars when food was plentiful, and water gushed freely at the turn of a tap. She could hardly reckon it herself, but the Padre wasn’t known for lying. Exaggerating maybe, but never an untruth. She’d have to ask Micah if it were true. He’d know.

  The warning bell clanged, startling Rain out of her reverie and snatching her attention from Micah’s truly excellent backside. She scrambled to her feet, eyes scanning the wall.

  Joey Turrow’s blond head popped out of the lookout box. “Marines!” he screeched in his cracking, teenage voice. “Marines coming!”

  “Crap.” Rain wolfed down what remained of her stolen tomato and headed toward Micah at a run.

  The trainees had scattered. They knew exactly what to do when the Marines showed up. Micah gave her a baffled look. “What’s going on?”

  “The Marines. We’ve got to hide. Come on.” She took off for the entrance to the underground, trusting he’d follow her.

  Normally she’d face the Marines alongside El, but the last thing she wanted to do was give away the fact that their former female captive was from this compound. And now there was Micah to think about. No way in hell was she letting them take him back.

  She led him down through the main body of the compound and into one of the storerooms. At the back of the room was a row of wooden shelves bolted onto the wall and packed with heavy crockery and large, steel pots. Her fingers fumbled under one of the shelves until she found the hidden catch.

  The entire shelf along with part of the wall swung out leaving just enough space for them to wiggle through into the gap beyond. Rain quickly lit the hurricane lamp tucked into a niche inside the space, and swung the secret door closed behind them.

  “A secret door. Are you kidding me?”

  She glanced at him. “We’ve got them all over the compound, but this is the best one. Keep moving.”

  She led him further down the tunnel, following several twists and turns until it spilled out into a natural underground cavern. It was a small space, but it had been cozied up with the addition of bottled water, tins of food, and bedding. A person could easily hide undetected for weeks.

  “This is the safest place in the compound. We stay here until Padre Pedro gives us the all clear.”

  He frowned. “Don’t you think this is overkill? I know these guys, fought beside them for years. Worst they’ll do is grab some food or beer and be off.”

  “You knew them on equal footing. As a Warrior. Not a civilian.” Her expression hardened. “Things have changed. It’s too soon since their last raid. They’re not here for food or beer. They’re here for you.” Maybe her, too. “They’re your friends. You should know how they operate.”

  “They’re not my friends. Warriors keep to themselves. No emotion, therefore no interest in attachments. Besides, they think I’m dead,” he pointed out.

  She frowned. “Maybe they went back to the site and found your body gone.” She mentally berated herself for not having thought of that before.

  “I suppose. They don’t bother usually, but Barnes is nuts enough to want my body back. Bastard probably thinks he can resurrect me again.”

  “This is the closest compound to the base from the south. Maybe they’re going from compound to compound trying to find you.”

  He ran his fingers through his hair. “How many more experiments can he run on me? This is fucked up.”

/>   “True.” She nodded. “Which is why it’s doubly important you stay hidden.”

  “You mean we stay hidden. They won’t be happy you escaped, even if you were incompatible.”

  She laughed. “Why do you think I’m down her in the bowels of the earth with you?”

  He shrugged and gave her a boyish grin. “Thought maybe you wanted to get me alone. Have your wicked way with me.”

  “Don’t tempt me.” The minute the words were out of her mouth, Rain wanted to slap herself silly. What was wrong with her? She wanted to sink through the ground in embarrassment. She probably would have if she hadn’t seen the heat in Micah’s eyes.

  “Now there’s an idea.” His voice was low and husky.

  Rain swallowed hard. It wasn’t like she was a stranger to sex. In the world she lived in, people were encouraged to sleep with multiple partners from a fairly young age, at least until they started having children. Babies meant the human race had half a chance of surviving. Puritanical views about sex and marriage meant the human race would die. Simple as that.

  Still, she’d never once felt about anyone the way she felt about Micah Caine. Suddenly it was about more than just sex. And suddenly it was really important that he felt the same way.

  “I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” her voice came out a little breathless. “The Marines...”

  “They’re up there and we’re down here. They’re not going to find us.” He peered into her eyes. His own had gone sapphire blue. “I know you want to. So do I. Since the minute I woke up it’s been all I can think about. Me. You. What it would be like.”

  He trailed a finger down her cheek, and she shuddered at the sensation. “Are you crazy?” she whispered. “We’re in mortal danger here and all you’re thinking about is sex?”

  “Can you think of a better time to think about it?”

  Frankly, she couldn’t. They were safe enough for now. And this was the first time they’d had any real privacy since he’d arrived at the compound weeks ago. She shook her head. Slowly.

  He tucked a strand of dark blond hair behind her ear. He was just a breath away now. “Can you think of a better time to do something about it?”

  Her mouth felt dry as dust and butterflies the size of drags were going crazy in her stomach. She shook her head again.

  “Good.”

  Then he kissed her.

  His lips were warm and velvet soft. He urged her mouth open and his tongue was hot and wet as it danced over hers. Heat rushed to pool between her thighs. Every bit of her ached for him to touch, to taste.

  She buried her fingers in the thick silk of his hair. The ink-black strands no longer shaved to his scalp showed the promise of a slight curl.

  His hands, rough from years of wielding his sword fighting the dragons, skimmed the soft skin of her belly under her shirt and up toward her breasts. She made a sound against his mouth, half begging, half demanding.

  She wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders, leveraging her body closer to his. The heat of him wrapped itself around her. She wanted him so much.

  “Rain? Rain are you in there?” Joey’s young voice piped from up the tunnel.

  “Shit.” Rain shoved Micah back, scrambling off his lap. Disappointment speared through her. Disappointment mirrored on his face, but the last thing she needed was Joey Turrow finding them doing ... stuff.

  Joey’s head popped around the corner, his pale blond hair shining in the lantern light. “Padre Pedro said it’s safe to come out now.”

  “Right behind you, Joe.”

  Micah’s voice was remarkably steady, but Rain wasn’t stupid. She could tell he was still a little breathless. Joey gave them both an odd look, then shrugged his shoulders and headed back up the tunnel.

  “Oh, great.”

  Micah stood up and pulled her back against him. “What’s wrong?”

  Rain pressed her face against his chest for a moment, then leaned back in his arms. “He knows what we were doing.”

  “And what were we doing?” There was a teasing edge to his voice. It made her smile.

  “You know what we were doing, Micah Caine.”

  He nuzzled her temple and her heart did a funny little flip flop. Micah Caine affected her like no other man before. It was weird. Scary and exciting all at the same time.

  “Who cares if he knows? What’s the big deal?”

  She shrugged at that. “Well, nothing, except the entire compound will know in less than five minutes.”

  “Good.” He had that macho, manly look in his eyes. Marking his territory.

  “Men.” She rolled her eyes at him and stomped after Joey. Even the good ones were idiots.

  Micah’s belly laugh followed her all the way up the tunnel.

  Chapter 15

  “RAIN, WE NEED TO TALK.” Elan wasn’t exactly sober, but he was closer to it than he had been in weeks.

  “Fine. Talk.” It had been a couple days since the raid and Rain was overseeing the moving of the armory. The Marines had come too close to finding it for comfort.

  “I think...” He hesitated. “Listen, Rain, it’s time you and Caine found somewhere else. To live.”

  “Excuse me?” Rain whirled on him. “What the fuck, Elan?”

  He winced a bit at her tone and held up a hand. “I’m sorry. I don’t want you to leave. You know I don’t. I love you like a sister. But it’s for the best.”

  Her expression hardened. “After all I’ve done for you and for Sanctuary? You’re going to throw me out of the compound like some sort of ... criminal?”

  Being thrown out of a compound was the ultimate punishment. In a world dominated by drags, it was tantamount to a death sentence.

  He closed his eyes, pain written on every line of his dark face. A face so heartbreakingly like Sutter’s. “You know it isn’t like that Rain. The Marines, they were after you. And Caine. You saw what they did to the place. What they did to our people.”

  She had. They’d torn up over half Padre Pedro’s gardens. It would be a wonder if he could salvage even a few of the plants. Shortsighted idiots. They’d discovered one of the secret storerooms and what they hadn’t taken they’d smashed into uselessness.

  Worst of all was what they’d done to the people. The older Turrow boy was beaten nearly senseless. And he wasn’t the only one. Clara’s ward was full to overflowing with the injured. Even worse, one of the Marines caught one of the teenage girls down by the well. What he’d done to her had been beyond horrific. Rain had made sure she got a good description of him from the girl. That was one Marine who wouldn’t see another winter.

  “Micah’s almost recovered. He can help us fight them.”

  “Fight them? Are you insane? We can’t fight them. They’ll kill us all. No,” Elan shook his head. “I’m sorry Rain, but the only way Sanctuary is going to survive is if the two of you leave. If you’re seen somewhere else, the Marines will leave us alone.”

  “So, we’re to be a distraction. Bait.” Her voice was cold as ice.

  “For the good of our people. We’ll all die if you stay.”

  In that moment Rain hated Elan more than she’d hated anyone in her life, including the Marines. Only she knew he was right. Even with the training Micah had given them, these people weren’t fighters. There was no way they would survive an all-out war with the Marines.

  “Fine. We leave at first light. Now fuck off so I can finish my job.”

  “Rain, I’m sorry...”

  “I said, fuck off. I do not want to see your face again. Ever.” She turned her back on him. Finally, she heard him walk away, his footsteps fading. She swiped a hand across her face, glad she hadn’t let him see her cry.

  “I’M SORRY, RAIN. THIS is my fault. If it weren’t for me ...”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. They were looking for me, too. You know they were. If El had any balls...” She sighed as she took a long, last look at the place that had been her home for as long as she could remember. “It doesn’t matter. H
e was right. Whatever he may or may not owe me, his responsibility is to the compound. And right now, we are a danger.”

  She hated that she’d had to leave her books behind. The only one she’d taken was the book of poetry by Whittier. And Micah’s picture. Not that she needed it anymore. She had the real thing walking beside her.

  They turned and headed north along the dusty road. Or what had once been a road. It was cracked beyond repair and weeds grew up through every break in the surface. It was only marginally easier than walking on the bare ground.

  “What did you mean by Elan owing you?” Micah matched his stride to her shorter one, angling his body close enough so she could feel his warmth.

  She sighed. “I saved his life once.”

  “Tell me,” he urged.

  They had nothing better to do and it was a long trek to Fossil. She shrugged. “It started a little over ten years ago. I was just seventeen.”

  THE WOMAN WAS THE FIRST new arrival to the compound in at least five years. They’d pretty much given up on the rest of the world by then. There was the compound and the Marines and the drags. That was their world.

  And as far as Rain was concerned, her own world was Elan and Sutter. They were like her big brothers and they meant everything to her. The only other person she had any use for was Padre Pedro.

  At seventeen, Rain was already the best Tracker on the compound. Better even than Sutter. Her life was almost magical. During the day, she and Sutter tracked together. At night they sat with Elan and Padre Pedro and swapped stories and jokes and sipped home brew. When necessary they fought drags or hid from the Marines. That was life and life was good.

  Then she came.

  Rain and Sutter were prepping for a track when the lookout yelled down, “Incoming!”

  Rain glanced up through the open gates of Sanctuary. The sun was in her eyes so she had to squint. The minute she saw the woman walking toward the gates, her heart filled with dread.