Page 17 of The Hero Within
A hand caught her arm as she reached a junction, and Colton shoved her down another dirt-packed road. "This way."
Pounding along the streets, she didn't argue as he guided them as far away from the warg dogs as he could. Finally they pulled up in the shadow of a shanty, and Eden bent over, panting for breath as she rested her hands on her thighs.
"What the fuck did you do to me?" CJ demanded. "To those dogs?"
Colton shot him a narrow-eyed glance. But he turned his attention to her. "Go home, Eden. The Rim's no place for a woman like you—"
"You don't get to make my decisions for me," she snapped, stepping right up into his space and clenching her fists at her sides. "Adam might have forgiven you for the part you played in ruining him, but I won't ever forget it."
His eyes narrowed. "So be it."
Colton took a step back, tipping his head toward CJ. "You should keep a closer eye on Miss McClain. Take her home before she gets herself killed."
And then he turned and walked away, his long strides eating up the ground, the sound of dogs baying in the distance.
"Easier said than done," she thought she heard CJ mutter.
"What?"Eden demanded, feeling CJ's eyes upon her as she threw her clothes into her pack and searched the room for anything she might have left behind.
CJ leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest. "This is a bad idea, Edie. It sounded good at the start, but the closer we get to the Divide...."
"Bad situations make for the best possible solution. If we don't get to Cortez City, then we don't get a cure for the plague."
"You don't think I know that? If we don't get a cure, then Lily dies." His voice choked off a little. "I will do anything—anything—to make sure she survives. But crossing the Divide by ourselves is a death wish."
"You're a warg and you were trained by my brother. So was I. We'll watch each other’s backs."
"We don't even know what we're walking into," he exploded, flinging an arm out. Today's moment in the alley had bothered him; he'd been surly ever since Colton made him kneel. "Dealing with the Confederacy is a virtual gold mine. They have medicines, tech and equipment we Wastelanders can only dream of. And this town is full of people who'd cut their own mother's throats for a bag of gold pieces. But they're not rushing to cross the Great Divide to get to the spoils. That makes me think they know something we don't."
Eden yanked her bag closed and pulled the buckles tight, pressing her lips firmly together. He was right. It was a bad idea and she knew it, but what other option did they have? If she let herself stop moving for a second, she could still feel Black Tom's hands on her belt. Still feel the weight of him pressing her down. Eden choked the thoughts down, swallowing them whole. No time for that.
She'd learned her lesson. Being able to defend herself didn't mean much if she hesitated. She was going to shoot first from now on.
"I've been through every shithole bar in this town. The only man who volunteered to help had other plans in mind. And from where I'm standing, no guide is better than one who wants to slit our throats, rape me, or steal everything he thinks we own. We're running out of time. If you've got a better idea, then spit it out."
Silence.
Worse. A lingering silence.
"There isoneman who knows the Divide. He said so hims—"
"No." Eden felt a flush of heat run through her. "Are you insane? Johnny Colton played a part in destroying my life—"
"And then two years ago he saved your brother's life. Adam admitted as much himself. Said something about a debt being repaid between them," CJ replied. "And I'm not entirely certain what I walked into today, but he saved you from that bastard, Eden. And when you tore into him, he simply took it. He didn't even bother to defend himself."
A tremor went through her. She sank onto the edge of the bed. "You don't know what you're asking of me." Heat seared her eyes. "Theyused meto force my brother to betray his best friend.Coltonused me. He promised I wouldn't be hurt, he made me think we were riding to rescue Adam, and then he used me to blackmail Adam into betraying Luc to the same fate. Do you know how many years I've watched my brother try to put the pieces of his life back together? Adam used to keep a silver bullet in his pocket, just in case he ever lost control." She was shaking. Violently. "Because ofme."
The world vanished in a haze of tears.
A dark shadow swallowed up what was left of her vision, and as water lashed down her cheeks, she found CJ on his knees in front of her.
"Hey," he murmured, resting his hands on her forearms. "None of this happened because of you. Adam was already inflicted with the warg curse before they even got to you. You were merely an innocent pawn meant to help them get a hold of Luc. Adam's never blamed you."
"I know," she said fiercely, scrubbing the wet from her eyes.
Adam didn't have to blame her.
He'd spent years hating himself for betraying his best friend to the monsters. Years trying to put his life back together. Drinking too much, all his emotions locked down tight, but sometimes she saw the look in her brother's eyes when the moon rose and the local chorus of wargsong lit the air.
