Read Horde (Enclave Series) for Free Online Page B

silence at the upending of their orderly world.
    Among their number, I saw Zachary Bigwater but neither of the elder Bigwaters, nor his sister, Justine. The kid looked older than he had a few days before when he’d begged to come with us because he was sweet on Tegan. In a heartbeat, everything could change. He wore despair like a necktie; it slumped his shoulders and kept his head low. For some reason, he couldn’t meet anybody’s gaze. Tegan tried to talk to him, but he turned away without speaking.
    “He’s carrying a pretty big burden,” I said softly.
    “Losing everything isn’t easy.”
    Fade knew that better than anyone. Once, he had a sire and dam who loved him. First she got sick, then his sire did, ultimately leaving him alone. A lesser boy would’ve wound up in the gangs and let them take away everything his parents taught him. Instead he fled to the dangers and darkness down below, determined to hold fast to the person they’d taught him to be. Even down below, the elders hadn’t touched the inner core that made him special. I admired him for that.
    I loved him for everything.
    Studying the refugees, I shook my head in perplexity. It was preposterous to imagine that we could herd such a large group to Soldier’s Pond while escaping detection, but failure was unthinkable. Somehow we had to deliver them to safety; otherwise everything about Salvation would be lost. I understood that intuitively, seeing echoes of the ruins. All the people who lived and loved in Gotham had been decimated. I didn’t want to see that happen to the people who had been kind enough to take us in.
    “They have no chance without us,” I whispered.
    “It’ll come down to avoiding enemy scouting parties,” Stalker said, joining us.
    “Do you have some ideas in that regard?” I asked.
    He shrugged. “Maybe.”
    “Let’s hear them.”
    “We could split into smaller groups, trying to lead them away from the refugees.”
    I shook my head. “That would leave them defenseless if the strategy failed.”
    “If it comes down to a straight-up fight, we’ve already lost,” Stalker said flatly.
    Fade prickled to life. “With that attitude, what’re you doing here? Shouldn’t you be saving your own skin? You excel at that, as I recall.”
    At the veiled reference to how he’d abandoned his cubs at the first sign of trouble in the ruins and threw his lot in with us because we knew how to fight the Freaks, Stalker narrowed his eyes and took a step forward. While I didn’t want them arguing, I was glad to see Fade getting angry about anything, even strategy.
    Still, I stepped between them and shook my head. “We should talk to Morgan. Presumably he’s been fighting the Freaks longer than we have.” He was older anyway, though that didn’t always mean what I thought it should in terms of experience. “Come on.”
    The boys flanking me, I joined the guardsman. “Do you have any thoughts on how we can keep these people alive?”
    “Pray to all your saints.”
    I had no idea what that meant or what a saint might be. This didn’t seem like the time to ask. “Are you being serious?”
    “Half,” Morgan said. “But it’s not the most practical approach. A group as large as ours will certainly attract attention. I propose we send scouts ahead to make sure the way is clear and keep sentries moving on the perimeters at all times. I’ll also need a squad to guard our rear flank. That’s the group most likely to see combat.”
    “I’ll fight,” I said.
    “Me too.” Fade spoke almost as quickly as I did.
    Stalker didn’t react to that quiet resurgence of our old dynamic; at least we weren’t broken as a fighting team. “If I’m welcome, I’ll volunteer as a forward scout.”
    Morgan glanced my way, probably for confirmation this was a good idea. So I said, “He’s the best Salvation has.”
    “Then welcome aboard. Go see Calhoun for your assignment.” Stalker didn’t look at me again, merely went off to the