Redemption (3 page)

Running a city as large as Redemption with archaic equipment required sacrifice, most of which fell on his pack. They lived in squalor with no complaint to make the visitor portion of the bartering post thrive.

Starting today they’d have to find new ways to make it work because the cottage needed to run as though it was brand new.

“And the air conditioning?”

“It won’t work perfectly, but it’ll keep her cool, comfortable.”

Dread pitted Adrik’s gut as he stared out at the highway. “We’ve survived decades of war, but I’m not sure the pack will survive this.”

He looked over his shoulder to where the majority of the pack stood silently. Waiting. Sadness cloaked them all. Its presence choked him.

“We attempted to contain them. Marek and Giles both suggested an organized reunion tomorrow, but the pack wants to see Bessa—even if only from a distance.” Darkness settled in Ren’s gaze when it landed on Adrik. “They won’t let her come home to no one.”

Adrik stifled the curse lodged in his throat. “Why would Command Central think our pack can get past this after the losses they’ve already suffered?”

“We’ll manage because everyone will follow your lead. Bessa’s sharp. She’s the mate of our Alpha Commander and knows her people need her. She’ll be prepared for their presence.”

Dust billowed into a thick cloud in the distance. Unease pricked his skin. A lone vehicle made its way down the dilapidated road. “They were supposed to have an escort.”

“Fucking flyers probably didn’t think it necessary to escort them all the way here and diverted toward the south to tend to the borderland wars with the Outsiders.”

As Alpha wolf of the quadrant, Adrik was more than aware of the battles to the south. Fortunately Daryn, the Alpha dragon, had insisted on handling the matter. “The support is necessary. He’s been down there with his squadrons for well over a month. We can’t afford to have our attention diverted much longer. The border with Hell’s Highway needs to remain our focus.”

Hell’s Highway was a small patch of land allotted to the Impures during the negotiations that ended The Rending. The NAH obtained control of all lands east of Interstate 55 while the Paraspecies took everything west of Interstate 35 and north of Interstate 10. Use of the ravaged freeway system made sense even though vehicles were rare these days.

The gray van pulled into the gated entrance as Ren and Adrik stepped aside to allow entry. He made his way round to the driver’s side as Jarvis exited the vehicle with a forced smile.

“It’s great to see you, man.” Jarvis embraced him with a hard slap on the back. “Thanks for letting us come here. It means a lot to her, and to me.”

Adrik glanced into the passenger’s side and waved at the frail woman he didn’t recognize as the sweet, fearless Bessa who’d been embraced by every wolf pack as the epitome of the ideal mate. “How is she?”

“Determined.” Jarvis lowered his voice. “She doesn’t like to be coddled. There’s a ton of plants and gardening shit in the vehicle. She’s overhauling the city food garden while we’re here. She’s pretty sure you’ve let it fall apart.”

“She’d be right. Things have been hectic, so gardening duties didn’t hit the radar.”

Jarvis grinned. “Good. Really good. She does better when she has something to think about aside from her illness.”

“Doc’s looking forward to working with her,” Ren stated.

“Good.” The grim expression on Jarvis’s face said what his words didn’t. There was nothing Doc could do even though he was the most skilled healer of the Paraspecies. No one knew what was wrong with Bessa.

“Let’s get you both situated. I’ll send someone out to handle your stuff.” Adrik smiled as Bessa exited the vehicle and made her way to him on shaky limbs. “We’ve got a cottage house ready for you two. That’ll ensure you have a bit of privacy from the flyers when they arrive. We’ll put them in The Tower while they’re here.”

The Tower, a large skyscraper behind the high-traffic public bathing facility, sat vacant for the most part. Most levels of the building were unusable. Stairwells proved unnavigable for all but the most surefooted of Adrik’s pack. It was the perfect defensible location for the visiting elite dragons and gryphons from Command Central, especially since most of the upper levels were immaculate.

The proximity to the Impure cleansing facilities, though, made it less than ideal—especially since the backed-up sewage system was under repair.

“Oh, Adrik. The stench around The Tower is vile and the noise intolerable,” Bessa admonished as she wound her arms around his waist and squeezed him tightly. “You always had the same warped sense of humor as my mate. I suppose that’s why you two get along so well.”

Emotion clogged Adrik’s throat. The beautiful shell of haggard female couldn’t be Bessa. Her once-thick black hair hung in a thin, stringy mass stopping short of her jaw. A cloudy gray masked the brilliant glimmer he’d remembered in her hazel eyes. Sunken cheeks highlighted her dry lips and pale, damn near translucent skin.

Thin arms covered with the same almost nonexistent skin appeared from beneath the thick blanket. She leaned forward and draped herself against him in a hug he longed to return, but the tension cording Jarvis’ body warned him against it. Bessa would probably break in two if someone exerted a wolf’s strength on her.

“I heard you’re going to salvage our garden.”

Bessa smiled and looked up at him as she stepped back and settled her hand on Jarvis’s arm. “I’ve been looking forward to it. I can’t wait to see what all you’ve done with Redemption since I was here last. I’ve heard so many wonderful stories about all the good your pack does here for the Impures, Adrik. The thankless work to help those poor, unfortunate souls makes my heart swell with pride.”

“Some of those unfortunate souls would rather carve out our hearts than accept anything from us,” Ren stated.

Bessa glowered at him, her face as expressive as always. “Ren Demanno, I know I didn’t hear you say that. You know desperation brings out the worst in anyone. I can’t imagine how horrid their lives have been in Hell’s Highway, forced to kill or be killed while being hunted like prey by the succubae.”

Ren’s cheeks reddened. “You’re right, sweet Bessa. It’s good to see you.”

Bessa’s gaze swept the area and landed on the gathered pack. Pride rose in Adrik when she gasped. Moisture pooled in her eyes and a smile appeared on her lips. “Oh, Adrik. Look at all the babies.”

Jarvis wrapped his arm around her waist as she headed toward the crowd. So much for getting her settled quickly and quietly so she could recover from the journey.

“You didn’t tell me there were so many babies here, mate,” she admonished when she stopped and looked up at Jarvis. “Go, tend to your business with Adrik before the flyers catch up. Ren will escort me to the cottage when I’m done here.”

Adrik looked over at Jarvis. “You ditched the flyers?”

Jarvis shrugged. “I didn’t want to wait until sunrise to leave.”

A wealth of unspoken words spilled from his gaze. He’d wanted time alone with Adrik without golden dragon Trent, the king of the Paraspecies, there. Adrik’s earlier agitation eased. At least The Council’s decision wasn’t a surprise.

Adrik and Ren turned as Jarvis kissed Bessa and whispered words meant for her alone. The woman giggled and responded with softer utterances Adrik couldn’t hear. Jesus, the couple had been through hell, but they still loved one another as though they’d just mated.

As Ren escorted Bessa toward the gathered pack, Adrik and Jarvis fell into a silent trudge toward the bustling square where visitors in Redemption could barter for goods, get medical aid, bathe and grab a hot meal.

“I’m glad to have you here, but I hate the circumstances,” Adrik said.

“As do I.” Laughter and a cacophony of voices from the crowded marketplace a few hundred feet away filled the air. Jarvis pointed at the crowd on the other side of them. “What are they in line for?”

“Medical.” The three-story brown brick building served as the pulse of Redemption. Every resource they had was allotted to the facility before any other. “Doc and his crew see thousands daily. The upper level is where the critical are treated. The second level has showers, a rehabilitation area and secured treatment rooms. Most Impures requiring an overnight stay are put in the building across from the alley, the Medical Barracks. They’re running two hundred fifty beds on average.”

“Impressive, way more than the twenty when I was here last.” He crossed his arms and looked at the other buildings. “I see some maintenance is past due.”

Adrik’s jaw twitched. “Finding time to patch buildings, mend roofs and replace plumbing falls by the wayside when succubae infiltrate the town. Skirmishes along the NAH bus lines have increased lately, which means more injuries to tend and more people staying for extended periods of time.”

Jarvis squeezed Adrik’s shoulder. “It wasn’t a judgment. No other Alpha could’ve done even half of what you accomplished here while also leading three packs. Hell, I can’t even get some of them to lead one pack, and their borders don’t require guarding against invasion by the Outsiders to the south, Hell’s Highway to the east—not to even mention the threats in Hell’s Playground. My job as Alpha Commander is going to be a vacation for you. I’m exhausted just thinking about taking your place here.”

“So you know.”

“Yeah, it was my idea for you to assume command. We both know it should’ve been you all along.”

“That’s not true.” Adrik fisted his hands at his side. He loathed the defeat in his mentor’s voice, the utter despair in his weary face. “There’s no reason you can’t continue to lead us.”

Sadness filled Jarvis’ weary gaze. “My wolf bleeds for her. When she…” He swiped his hand along his face and sighed heavily. “I’m lost without her, man.”

They all would be. Bessa was the blood of their people—the mother to everyone and the one every warrior would die to defend. She’d unified the people amidst the chaos of The Rending. While Jarvis had gotten wolf shifters to support Bredon as king when King Sashi was slaughtered—the starting point of the war—Bessa had been the one to keep the packs there when Bredon died.

“This pack will do anything to help. Just ask.”

They continued forward in silence. As they approached the primary entrance to Redemption, children’s laughter mingled with the gasps of newly arriving Impures, who were scanning their wrist devices for the first time and saw how little lab test subjects earned for their two-year stint in hellish NAH facilities.

“I forgot how disgusted I get by all this, seeing the volunteers when they first arrive. Knowing they don’t remember anything done to them.”

“The atrocities have increased,” Adrik stated. “Doc noted more unhealed fractures and scar damage.”

Jarvis grimaced.

Adrik turned to face the man who’d mentored him, fought alongside him for decades. They’d bled for one another and now he was expected to dethrone him?

“Is this really what you want? Say the word and I’ll make it go away.”

“No, it’s not, but Bessa does. She’s my concern now, the pack is yours. This is bigger than you and me so, for now, we do what’s right for the pack, and my mate.”

Shouts echoed within the bustling square. Everyone jostled and shoved their way forward, turning their faced to the darkening sky.

“Everyone, stand back!” Marek, one of Adrik’s fiercest sentinels, shouted as he pushed the crowd away to clear space.

Although every Alpha had six warriors serving in the elite position of sentinel within every pack, Marek was so much more. Although Adrik’s sentinels primarily oversaw security, he’d somehow been fortunate to have dedicated soldiers like Marek, who worked tirelessly to make Redemption thrive.

Adrik’s job would be a hell of a lot more difficult without Marek, Ren, Giles, Peyton, Caden and Cesar. They’d help Redemption through the upcoming transition. More importantly, they’d help Jarvis.

Adrik gazed skyward at the two circling gryphons and lone dragon. The smallest gryphon landed first, his massive body shifting to human form the moment his talons hit the dirt.

What the hell?

In the years since Redemption opened, King Bredon had visited once—at night. Flyers in the borderland outpost were rare enough. Sure, Dragon Alpha Daryn had a den of warriors here, but they remained in human form for the most part.

But that was years ago. The visitors here hadn’t seen dragons in animal form in almost a decade. What was King Trent thinking? As the last two men landed in unison and stood, a hushed silence fell over the thickening crowd. Warriors from Adrik’s pack shoved their way through the gathering to place themselves between the people and the three men who’d foolishly shifted in front of everyone.

Adrik prowled forward, shoving past a gryphon guard he vaguely remembered meeting. Kane. Why had a gryphon with his questionable history been assigned to the elite protective detail? His sister had betrayed their kind and chosen to enslave herself to King Varden rather than suffer in an internment camp or be executed.

“You knew he’d be part of the escort?” Adrik asked Ren.

“Yeah, I meant to warn you in case you recognized him. Kadal vouched for his loyalty. He’s been solid.” Ren’s voice lowered. “Still not happy about their entry. Impures aren’t used to seeing flyers in action.”

“They won’t be seeing it again,” Adrik stated as he charged toward the flyers. Idiots.

The legendary gryphon Commander, Kadal, growled and shoved Adrik when he approached the dragon king. The ancient gryphon was more legend than reality, having defended three dragon leaders now. “Step back, wolf.”

“Are you crazy? We don’t shift in public, especially in front of Impures. Are you trying to incite them?”

The half red, half golden dragon King Trent stepped forward and leveled an amber-flecked obsidian gaze on Adrik. “My apologies. We’re short on time and too weary for pomp and circumstance. I didn’t mean to distress the Impures. We forget how they react to our kind since we rarely interact with them at Command.”

“Of course.” Adrik bowed slightly. “I would kneel, my liege, but it’s not our custom to do anything to point out the hierarchy.”