Page 35 of The General's Captive
I blushed, but just when he started to lean down for another kiss, reality hit. The reality of just how badly timed this was as our next kiss was disturbed by the sound of alarms blasting through the room. Alarms that meant only one thing.
The army was here.
And now all I was left to question was…
Would we ever get that second kiss?
Mateo Rodriguez, my heart aches as I write this. When I think that I will never see that cheeky grin of yours again. The way you always tried to lighten the mood, even in our darkest hours. Your pranks on Riley always made me smile. Your love for peanut butter always had me looking out for some. Every tub I found was a way of thanks for having the patience when training me how to shoot. For encouraging me, even when I doubted myself.
You were one of the best of us.
We will all miss you, my friend.
Feeling Riley take my hand now felt different than all those times he had before. As friends we had always been close. Add to that the flirting that naturally happened between us, it meant that touching each other had always happened in one form or another.
But after that kiss…
It meant that just holding his hand now had my heart hammering in my chest. Of course, as for timing this could not have been worse, as it was time to have my head in the game. Which meant trying my damnedest to put these emotions aside and concentrate on what I did best.
Fighting Myths.
We ran toward the gates, both of us needing to see for ourselves exactly what we were up against. Because even if the council had decided to evacuate, we were out of time. Which meant that getting us all out of here was no longer an option. However, we could at least get some of the civilians to safety, but only if we acted now.
I’d half expected there to be chaos all over the base but, surprisingly, there was no one trying to run for their lives. Instead, everyone was putting their training to good use and focusing their attention on doing what was needed. Going through the motions of the attack protocol as orders were called out by senior officers, directing the others.
Riley and I made it up to the lookout tower, Tiffany was already there with her trusty binoculars in hand.
“What we got?” Riley asked after taking my hand back in his and giving it a squeeze. Something Tiffany didn’t miss as she grinned at me, despite what was currently happening.
In turn, I shot her a look as if to say, ‘not now’ which she wisely heeded. She handed Riley the binoculars and pointed to the darkness that could be seen far in the distance. A darkness that was moving.
I had to say, the sound of Riley’s gasp wasn’t confidence inspiring, nor was the haunted look he had on his face as he handed me the binoculars silently. And I was soon to find out why, as I raised them up to see the biggest horde of Myths we had ever seen.
Of course, we had been attacked before and by more than one creature at a time. What we hadn’t been was attacked by a fucking army of them in numbers that looked too big to count!
“Christ.”This curse came out on a breath that felt stolen from me.
“Yeah, we are pretty much fucked,” Tiffany agreed.
“How long do you estimate we have?” I asked.
“At the rate they are moving, twenty, thirty minutes tops.”
“Fuck!” Riley said, storming from the lookout and making me quick to follow.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to speak with the council and make them see fucking sense, or I am taking those kids myself!” Riley snapped, angry at the time they had wasted already.
“I will come with you.”
“No, you need to make sure everyone is ready. No one knows these Myths better than you. You are needed here.”
I nodded but he stopped, walked straight back to me and in front of everyone, wrapped an arm around my waist. Then he pulled me tight against him and despite the killer army headed our way, I still couldn’t help but swoon slightly as I melted into him.
“I am not leaving without you, so when the time comes, be ready,” he promised intensely.
“But everyone here?” I asked, surprised.
