Her hand rose, brushed my hair back so she could see my face.

  “I’ve wanted to do this since we met.”

  Her fingers tangled gently in my locks and she closed her lids in pleasure.

  “So soft…”

  The feel of her enjoying my body had that sense of pride waking, needing to be fed. I wanted her thinking about it all day tomorrow, so when I took her tomorrow night, she’d enjoy it more.

  My body swelled to life at that thought, and I pressed against her hip in renewed want. I planned to do this every night, but right now, I needed to hear her moaning as I sent her over that cliff.

  Thanks to the Network, I knew exactly how to position us to be sure I was making full contact with the outside of her body, as well as the inside. We were taught that there was little pleasure for the woman without that extra stimulation, though our training models certainly hadn’t seemed to care one way or the other.

  I used my free hand to be sure. Only able to reach her with my thumb, I timed my strokes so that either my length hit her on the in-stroke or my thumb rubbed on the out.

  “Oohhh...”

  Her low groan sent heat flaring through my body and I moved faster, recognizing the delicious feeling this time. I would have to build up my control so that I could last longer. That thought, of practicing this over and over, had my hips and thumb stroking faster.

  Her body arched, claws ripping into my shoulder, and I grunted, jerking forward. “Yeah, uhh!”

  Angelica was keeping pace with me now, mouth locked against my shoulder to hold in those noises I wanted to hear.

  I stopped moving, struggling to get what I wanted before I exploded.

  Angelica’s moan of protest had me lowering my head to hers. “Look at me.”

  She flashed crimson orbs, body swelling around mine, and I held her flushed gaze as I stroked my thumb over her nub.

  She arched again, lips clamping down, and I stopped.

  She growled at me, understanding what I wasn’t saying, and I leered. “That’s right. I wanna hear it.”

  I was rougher this time as I rubbed the most sensitive part of her, and she allowed a low groan to escape. The sound of it almost broke my control.

  “I like that,” I admitted, thrusting forward as my thumb pressed down.

  “That’s…I…”

  She shuddered, head tossing, and I smirked. When I’d told her I was well trained, I hadn’t lied.

  I did it again, watching her eyes bleed into a shade of red I was entranced by.

  My speed increased and she trembled as pleasure started sweeping her up. I tightened my grip, didn’t gentle my movements. I wanted to see it and feel it, but I needed to hear it.

  Her body tensed, muscles straining, lips parting…

  I jerked forward, mashing down on that nub and she cried out. Searing, burning heat rolled over me again and I pulled back from that sweet edge by a hair.

  Her lids started to close, chest arching tight nipples, and I slid an extra finger between us to squeeze that slick nub… hard.

  Her body clenched around me and her claws dug in.

  Yes!

  I rolled my fingers, making sure she got to ride each wave, every one drawing a sharp, gasping moan that I felt to my soul. She was mine now.

  Her tense body relaxed against me and her claws withdrew from my skin, but she wasn’t done shuddering and I locked onto those lips, silently begging for one more groan to send me out of control.

  “Mmmm…”

  “Ohh, yeah, that’s my Angel…”

  Chapter Twenty

  Day 17

  Angelica

  I moved out of Jason’s warm embrace reluctantly.

  I had guard duty, but I wanted to wake him up and remind him of our deal just one more time… I turned toward my kit, my clothes, instead.

  We’d passed a sweaty, sticky, perfect night, and I couldn’t wait to do it again. In the beginning, he was a beautiful toy that I would never get to play with. Now, he was the reason I burned.

  I turned back for a last glimpse before slipping out, seeing he was hugging my pillow now. Sweet.

  I didn’t know exactly where we went from here, or how it would all work out, but anything was worth the hours he’d given me. They were burnt into my head, and my heart.

  I tugged the curtain closed, glad we were heading out after breakfast. The feeling of time running out was clear. The storm had both groups pinned down, but I could hear nothing outside now, and that told me Rankin would be sniffing around. If we got a head start, we might be able to double back around and hit her on her flank.

  Full of serious, progress-making thoughts, I joined Sam at the far table. There were very few people around us, male or female, and there was no need to censor our words.

  Sam laughed at my dazed happiness, spotting it right away. “Feeling better?”

  I couldn’t hold in the blush or the teasing leer. “You know it!”

  A similar flush crawled up her cheeks. “Yes, I do.”

  Sam’s eyes weren’t on me, and I turned to see Baker had just entered the room. He found her for a second of intense contact that made her cheeks brighten further.

  “Guess we both feel better,” I commented, trying not to add more.

  Candice breezed into the room a second later. “Good morning, everyone. Isn’t it a beautiful day?”

  Behind her, Daniel wore mussed hair and a love mark on his neck.

  Sam’s glance met mine, fighting for control.

  I snorted to keep from laughing out loud. “It’s that family thing again.”

  Our loud brays echoed through the room.

  Jason

  “Are you okay?”

  Daniel’s quietly-asked query was met with my small leer.

  “Oh, yeah.”

  Daniel smiled, relieved. So, he hadn’t been completely sure if she would hurt me. It said he still only trusted his loving owner. I wasn’t the only one Rankin had damaged.

  I stayed at Daniel’s side as he moved toward the main tunnels, wondering where Angelica was, what duty she was performing for Baker. That she would stay and help now, I had no doubt.

  “Will we win?”

  I hadn’t meant to ask that, but I didn’t pull it back.

  Daniel turned, and I saw his eyes were filled with fire - Candice’s fire.

  “Yes. The Network will fall, and all males will be free.”

  He believed because she did. I understood. It was an impossible dream we bachelors shared, but rarely ever spoke of. It was a nice feeling to know that here, in the Borderlands, there were no listening ears to carry tales.

  I realized I felt safe here. It let me extend myself in the friendship I hadn’t been allowed to give while under Rankin’s control.

  “I’m Jason. Lot number 21207.”

  The former bachelor smiled again, a bit sadly. “Daniel. Lot #21198.”

  We shook hands, both feeling a bit self-conscious. We let go quickly, and kept walking.

  After a minute, Daniel asked the question I thought most of the males here wanted an answer to.

  “What is it, do you think? That draws Pruetts?”

  I shrugged, voice lowering so that only he could hear me. “Maybe it’s Rankin’s mark. The need to get rid of it, or cover it with their own scent, that drives the heat. After that?” I snorted. “I have no idea.”

  “It’s courage.”

  We both turned to see Baker a few feet behind us. He’d been so quiet, we hadn’t heard him.

  I viewed the rebel leader like the other males here, but also with an extra respect that came from knowing that Candice found him strong enough to help him train them. I didn’t care so much about his past with her… at least I didn’t think I did, but it was hard to imagine liking him less because of it. In fact, it sort of gave us a bond. These Pruett women were hard to resist, with their rough, bloody hands, and their kind, generous hearts.

  “Courage means everything to them.”

  Baker’s tone revealed his amusement. “You just have to have big balls.”

  All three of us stood a bit straighter, chuckling proudly.

  Angelica

  I was glad to see the dust wall fading into the northern distance as Sam and I stood guard, but it also made me nervous.

  The dust storms were followed by the rains and the conclusion of the breeding season, both of which lasted a month. Anyone still sheltering in these lower areas of the southern borderlands would be washed away by flashfloods, or eaten by the hungry gulls that followed each storm, knowing it spit out fish and worms alike along the way. Bald horrors, the gulls were the size of old world vultures and much faster. Against large flocks, people and livestock caught out in the open were unlikely to survive. It was time for us to get these males to safety and it was also time that I knew the truth of Rankin’s hold on Jason.

  “I need you to clear something with Candice for me.”

  It hadn’t drawn much reaction when I’d given Sam my report and other things from the complex, letting her pass them on, but this time, her expression said she wasn’t sure what I would want that I couldn’t ask for myself.

  “I need to talk to Daniel…Alone.”

  Sam’s face wrinkled in understanding. “About Rankin.”

  I nodded, but didn’t add any details.

  “I’ll let Candy know.”

  I waited for more, but the Head Defender’s name had triggered Sam’s thoughts.

  “She’s close. The males were jumpy this morning, like they can sense her.”

  I nodded again. Sam and I were sure that Rankin would try something now, and we’d made the choice an hour ago. As soon as we saw a hint of where she was lying low, we would attack. We were on alert for it, the start of our next bloody battle, except this wasn’t about the Change. It was payback.

  “She won’t wait much...”

  I narrowed my eyes against the rising glare, finally seeing what we’d been waiting for - that tell-tale, mostly still dust plume of a group making camp. In this rough wind, it was too contained to be riding or fighting. Our chance had come.

  “Let’s go.”

  We slipped off the ledge where we’d been on duty, and moved toward the next match, the scheduled fight I had no doubts of winning. They didn’t stand a chance against our fury. Sam and I both had a cherished male in those caves now. Rankin wasn’t getting anywhere near them.

  Rankin had her troops sheltered under a small grove of twisted, petrified trees with broken branches that resembled the creature in the leper colony. We kept low as we got closer to the sprawling camp, but it only took a few fast sweeps to see that we were alone.

  Rankin wasn’t in the camp. No one was. The Network tents were there, but not the horses, and the wind had already obliterated the tracks. They’d known we were close - that we would come here if we saw the signs…

  Sam and I exchanged horrified looks, realizing our arrogance had allowed us to be tricked.

  Jason!

  I spun toward the cave.

  Jason

  “I see you’re feeling better.”

  I smiled up at Greg from my perch near the cave entrance. “Yes.”

  The scarred playboy studied me closer. “Those Pruetts are something, even the cousins.”

  I was very proud of myself. “Yes, they are.”

  I could see Greg was happy, Rosa’s ownership suited him, and I was a bit surprised when he lingered to ask another question.

  “Did it change anything for you?”

  I thought about how Angelica and I had held each other all night, the way we’d woken twice, frantic for each other. “I’m not sure.”

  Greg stepped around me. “As long as you’re happy, and she’s satisfied, it’ll be enough. Daniel told me that when the Runners first came. I understand now.”

  He headed inside, and I considered his words, realizing he’d been worried about being owned too. After his bravery when he’d let Rosa claim him, it shouldn’t have been a surprise that he’d played the part so well. Doubts and damage were things the Network had given us in abundance, but we’d developed protections.

  An abrupt movement at the end of the guard line pulled my attention. I watched one of Sam’s big Runners fall from her post in a bloody heap.

  A second Runner followed.

  I started shouting for help. I didn’t plan to stop until my owner told me to.

  Angelica

  “Angel!”

  The sound of Jason’s shout tore into me, bringing true panic and the Change. It ripped through me in a few seconds of furious snarls.

  My bigger body shoved me along faster, and I leapt up the edge of the gritty cliff. I didn’t stop, lunging again, and I went over the edge and into the clear yard in front of the entrance of the cave in a sprawling leap.

  A fast glance saw Network troops and horses filling the yard, Jason being swung over Rankin’s saddle, other rebel males being brutally snatched up as they fled. All the work we’d done…

  I screamed.

  The sound of a Changeling’s fury was attention-getting for most people, but for animals, it was terrifying, apt to cause a stampede. Horses shied from their overloaded burdens, rearing up to spill them.

  I didn’t wait to see if Rankin’s mount did the same. I flew toward her with more anger than I’d ever felt in my life.

  Rankin sensed me coming. She wretched Jason in front of her body and held him as a shield to my justice. Didn’t she know that I was beyond that? She wasn’t leaving here with him, even if it meant his life!

  I flung myself at her, and knocked them both from the panicking horse.

  Jason

  I knew she wasn’t stopping, but Rankin didn’t.

  I tried to help by ducking under the leap, but it didn’t matter. We flew off of the snorting animal and landed in a breath-taking heap on the ground.

  The horse stomped, hooves slamming down in fear, and I rolled away from the chaos as Angelica and Rankin tried to tear each other apart.

  Blood sprayed as claws tore into flesh, and I cowered under the noise, their fury…

  More horses stomped around me, snorting as their riders tried to keep them under control, and I shuddered, clenching my eyes shut.

  “He was mine!”

  “Now he’s free!”

  The sounds as they clashed were loud, two hard, Changeling bodies slamming together… I imagined the winner then, my new owner dead at her feet, and loss flooded my heart. No more Angelica, not gone, but dead! I… I would give myself up! Rankin would leave her alive if I was willing.

  I chanced a fast peek through the clouds of grit.

  Rankin’s claws torn away a chunk of Angelica’s flesh, the arm pouring blood and I cringed lower as my owner swung back.

  Rankin screamed in pain as Angelica’s punch broke something. I heard the crunch and flinched away from them.

  “What’s that?”

  “Look out!”

  “Get them out of there!”

  I turned to where they were pointing and then the cave exploded.

  Woooossshhhhh!

  Brilliant white light slammed into me. I felt my skin baking as I sank backwards into the grayness. Noises slowed down, my sense of touch faded…

  I tried to fight. Where was my Angel?

  In the next instant, a heavy form landed on top of me. I heard my scream, but it didn’t sound familiar. Blissful coolness smothered me, and I groaned.

  Bbbaaaaammmmmm!

  Something else exploded. I knew by the shudder of the ground we were on, and I screamed in agony as more heavy shapes piled on top of me. The scent of them was thick, familiar, and I sank into the darkness.

  Angelica

  “Jason?”

  He moaned, full of pain, and I forced myself to keep waking him.

  “Jason.”

  His lids fluttered before flying open to reveal wild, bruised gray eyes. “Who won?!”

  I placed a light hand on his shoulder to keep him back, and felt him cringe.

  “Please! Say something!”

  My heart thumped. “You can’t see me?”

  “Angel?”

  He groped out, and I swept him against my body in grief and sorrow. “I’ve got you. She’s gone.”

  He let me keep him close, but he didn’t return my embrace, and I hurried to offer comfort that was likely a lie.

  “It’s the flash. It’ll wear off.”

  He didn’t answer and I gently held him back to see a single red drop rolling from one glassy eye.

  “I’m blind.”

  His tone said he wasn’t going to be able to handle it, and I jerked an arm at one of the surviving medics.

  Jason flinched again at the movement, listening to the steps. His face grew into full panic.

  “Please don’t leave me here. Please! Don’t leave me here for her!”

  I swallowed my awful hell, and held him still while a weeping medic shoved the needle into his arm.

  “Who...” I gathered myself, knowing he needed this. “Who are we?”

  The drugs worked quickly, but he never lost that wild tone. “Pruetts!”

  “Hold onto that, Jason. I’ll be close.”

  He sagged in my arms, more bloody tears falling, and I kept him in my grip as we started for the only other shelter near here. He didn’t move as we traveled, and I was grateful to my Changeling state for the first time in my life. It let me carry him all the way.

  As we walked, another storm began to flash and rumble behind us, but none of the surviving rebel males flinched from it. The Network had cured them of that fear with two harsh blows in broad daylight.

  Those around me appeared exactly like we had after the Network had sent one of its bombs to Stone Mountain - covered in soot and angry, shocked fallout. For an instant, I was back there, trying to keep the falling rock from crushing Baker.

  Baker!

  I found him leading our small group and was glad, but the rock of pain in my gut didn’t ease. Jason had been hurt because of my arrogance.

  I ducked into the mucky storm drain as Sam’s remaining Runners secured it, moving to a back corner. I hated to let go of him, even for a minute, and forced myself to lay him on the filthy ground so that I could dig through my pack for the medicines that might heal his burns, and a cloth to bind his eyes. There was a small chance…