Bethany

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BETHANY HAD TO POWER up a bunch of batteries in trade for some knitted sweaters and heavy jeans, but it only took about three hours before she got Lucas his clothes. They ate breakfast together with Lisa and her friend Karen, who was going to join them. Then they all split up. Her head was aching, but she wasn’t done with the Tech for the day.

It was her turn to help run the hot water and electricity for the camp. She had six other Techs helping her, but the camp pulled a lot of energy. Then again, all the tribes in the Northeast were here by now. And all of them were lining up to experience some free Tech. She heard shaving razors and the whine of a hair dryer. Clacking keys and the grinding of an ancient printer entered into the cacophony as information was printed out and distributed via a photocopier that had seen better days—even before the meteor hit.

Her fingers started going numb, so she eased off pulling energy. Let them have a tepid shower for a few minutes. She flexed her fingers, and while feeling started to come back, her headache was a constant drone. It made her irritable and bone-weary tired. It was hard not to feel like another beast of burden, especially since the horses got fed and watered and allowed a brief rest after exertion. She’d found out last night that the farmer who had sold her Lisa had outsourced her to a few other people. That was the way it went. But it meant that by the time dinner was served at the great banquet, she’d be toast and would probably fall asleep during the opening speech.

She heard the hum of the solar and wind generators, and she felt an ease in her efforts. They were trying to mass-produce them, but without the energy to make the factory work, it was a handcrafted effort, and not many were willing to invest in the Tech. Still, the few machines they had were making their creators very, very wealthy. There was definitely progress being made. Perhaps in another twenty years, she wouldn’t be a freak of nature anymore. She’d settle for being an amusing oddity.

After a long morning, Bethany looked around for Lucas at lunch, but she was too wiped to make much of an effort. After eating a quick lunch, she sank into bed and pulled the covers over her head. She was thinking about finding Daniel and trying to will away the fatigue when the attack came.

The explosion rocked the cabin. Large nails shredded the walls, and a thick bleach smell crept in. She was spared the worst of it by the heavy cot she had been lying on. It flipped over on top of her after the blast. Bethany lay there stunned until the acrid smell started to make her choke. What happened? Why would anyone bomb the Tech cabin?

Holding her breath as the fumes started to burn her eyes and throat, Bethany eased herself out from under the bed, trying not to get cut on the glass or sharp wood. She crawled on the floor. All Tech ground to a halt, and she could hear shouts and running feet heading toward them.

That was when the rapid gunfire started up. Someone was spending a lot of money out there. With her eyes crimped shut against the burn, Bethany groped around for her backpack, cutting her palms on debris. She had to get out of here before she passed out or before whoever had the guns decided to come in. Moving the large dresser to get to the window Lucas had tapped on last night, Bethany worked blindly but quickly. Her lungs started to ache, but she knew from experience that if she took a breath, it would be worse. She had to hurry.

The fumes were getting thick, but Bethany slit her eyes open enough to get her bearings. Using the dresser as a stepping stool, she levered herself up and threw her backpack out of the window. She scurried through jagged glass, shredding her jeans and giving herself a nice long cut on her leg.

From the outside, it looked as if the cabin was barely standing. The front and all the computers had taken the brunt of the blast. Bethany buried her face in the ground and took a cautionary breath and held it as she tasted the ammonia and bleach still. Keeping low, like she had been taught, she scurried on her elbows until she saw a picnic table. Tipping it over, Bethany got behind it and then let herself breathe again. Spots came in front of her eyes as she gulped down air with greedy gasps. Dizziness caused by the exertion, the fumes, and disengaging from the electronics made her vision dim. She fought against passing out and curled into a ball using the table to hide.

The gunfire had stopped, and there were people shouting and gathering around. No one wanted to go near the cabin until the vapors dissipated, but she could hear a few brave souls trying to get through the debris.

“Are you all right?” a woman with soft green eyes asked her. She was dressed in a leather jacket and pants. Her long blonde hair fell into messy waves down her shoulder, and she smelled like a wet dog.

“Lisa?” Recognition came slowly. Bethany must have inhaled some of the poison. She tried to focus her eyes.

“Yeah, come with me. Lucas is tracking the saboteurs.”

“How bad is it?”

“It’s bad. I think they were trying to take out all the Techs.”

“Why would anyone do that?” Bethany said, letting Lisa help her to her feet. She coughed out some of the poison that still lingered in her chest, and they staggered into the forest.

“Lucas thinks it’s the Purebloods.”

“Are they some kind of ultrareligious group?”

“No, I think it’s just some people who like the way the world is, and they’re afraid of going back to the way things were.”

“We’re a long way off from that,” Bethany said.

“Not if we get the computer technology that we lost back. And it’s rumored that the Cal Poly University is nearly intact.”

“After being under water?” Bethany snorted.

“That’s the thing, it never was under water. A chunk of San Luis Obispo and the surrounding area had just broken off and floated away into the Pacific.”

“And now it’s back?”

“Now boats have seen it as an island in the distance. Alacatraz still stands—why not one of the colleges?” Lisa said, pulling her along the edge of the conclave, keeping low to the ground so they wouldn’t be singled out.

“I’m sure there are looters there even as we speak.” Bethany’s throat was raw and she swallowed hard to soothe the burn.

“There is plenty for everyone.” Lisa held up her hand, and they rested against a large boulder.

Three long blasts of an air horn was the conclave’s summoning signal. It appeared that the big event was going to take place after all. Lisa started to get undressed.

“What are you doing?” Bethany asked.

“These are the only clothes I have with me. You can stop giving me that prissy look. I enjoyed the hell out of earning them.”

Bethany flinched back at her tone. “I’m not judging you or your brother.”

Lisa sighed. “I know. I hate being poor. Can you put them in your pack for me?”

At her nod, Lisa’s form shifted, and the white Great Pyrenees dog was back beside her, wagging her tail happily. As they walked to the conclave’s gathering place, Bethany’s neck tingled as if there was someone sighting down a gun barrel at her.

“Bethany!” Maya said and rushed from where the other elders were huddled together on a raised dais.

Bethany cringed  as over two hundred people turned to look at her. Maya caught her in a fierce hug. “We thought the worst.”

“How are the other Techs?”

“Two injured, two who weren’t in the cabin are fine. But the rest...Bethany, the rest are all dead.” Maya gripped her tighter. “How did you escape?”

“The bed landed on top of me, and I crawled out the windows before the gas took me.” Bethany hugged back. Twenty people dead. “Why? Why did this happen?”

“We don’t know. But for now you need to stick close. I don’t want you to go anywhere alone.”

“I’ll be fine,” Bethany said. Then shivered. Five Techs remained in the entire Northeast.

“I don’t care,” Maya said. “I’m putting our Shifters on guard duty.” She waved her hand, and two big men came over.

Bethany recognized them as George and Steven. They were lovers and they did anything Maya asked. She suspected that they would even kill for her. She grew a bit uneasy.

Maya snapped her fingers at them. “You shift right now and protect Bethany. You are not to leave her alone, and you have my authorization to kill anyone who tries to take her from our tribe.”

“Maya!” Bethany said, even as the men dropped their human forms. There was a lot of sniffing and growling going on between them and Lisa, but it evened out into a dull roar.

“You are a very valuable commodity,” Maya said. “Especially now. Our tribe can’t afford to lose you.” And with that, she made her way back up to the podium. Bethany could see the other chiefs congratulating her good fortune that her pet Tech was still alive. Stepping over the wolves, Bethany grabbed a seat on a log. With her entourage, no one was able to sit close enough to talk to her.

“It’s nice to be wanted,” Bethany said sarcastically and dug into her pack for some dried meat. She nibbled on it and offered some to the Shifters while the conclave was called to order and the opening statements began. She scouted the sky for a glimpse of an eagle or anything that might be Lucas. Closing her eyes, she started to drift. It was like last night was just a dream. All she could feel was pain, and it hurt to breathe. Bethany tried not to cry.

This was only her third conclave, but it started out no different from the last two. Thank you all for coming. We’re the inheritors of the Earth. Our survival is crucial on our working together. Keep the lines of trades open. Yada, yada, yada. And no fighting among the tribes.

The last bit caused some stir with the crowd. Chief Alexander of the Mid Region got up to speak.

“We believe that a group of assassins calling themselves the Purebloods are behind the cowardly attack on our Tech cabin. They have banded together to murder anyone that they consider not to be human.”

Bethany’s eyes popped open, and the pain burned away as she seethed with anger. Somewhere a radio began to play music. When Chief Alexander looked pointedly at her, Bethany realized her emotions had triggered it. She lowered her eyes and actively disengaged the link between her and the radio. The chief cleared his throat. “Of course any rational person realizes the bigotry and nonsense behind the assassins’ ideology. They had started out exterminating Shifters, telling us that they were feral and that they were becoming bogeymen from the old stories. Werewolves, dragons, that type of nonsense.”

The three Shifters surrounding Bethany made disgruntled noises.

“Sadly there were some who believed their lies. All of us have a story to tell about what has hunted us in the great night. Those of us old enough to remember the days after the meteor can tell you that if these super creatures really existed, they would have taken over in the chaos years that followed. Might making right and all that. The tribes of the Northern Conclave have made a decision to excommunicate the Purebloods. No tribe will offer them sanctuary or respite. Those who are found to have aided them will be given the same fate. The Purebloods are to be killed on sight. For the good of the tribes and all of our futures.”

There were even more distressed murmurings going on with that. On the one hand, it was good to kill an enemy. On the other hand, how many people were going to offer as an excuse “I thought he was a Pureblood” for murdering their neighbor? But then again, it was good that the tribes were taking a stand against the genocide on what a few crazies thought were “nonhumans.”

The next up to speak were two men dressed in fine wool jackets and heavy canvas pants. They might have even been wearing pre-Meteor boots, but Bethany couldn’t get a good look at them from the angle she was sitting at. Lisa nudged her knee with her nose, and Bethany made sure she paid attention.

“My name is Lewis, and this is my partner, Clark. We’re looking to hire a team of professionals to take a journey across the country to the Pacific Ocean.”

He waited until the mutterings died down.

“We will need Techs and Shifters, hunters and looters. We’re going to investigate rumors of a college library, still intact and above the waterline.”

This time it took a good ten minutes for the chattering to die down.

“I am offering ten items of salvage from the library, full meals, and transportation to and from the site. Also anything you loot for yourself along the journey is yours to keep as well. We’ll start from our base camp a few hours’ away in New York, travel through to our territory in Colorado, and then onward to Nevada where we’ll pick up our boat.”

“How are you planning to get across the country?” a farmer shouted up.

“We have taken great pains to rebuild steam engines and tracks.”

“All the way to Nevada?” A disbelieving voice popped up from the back.

“Please speak with your chiefs and then come to us once you have obtained their permission for this journey.”

“Permission?” Bethany straightened up. Since when did she require permission to do anything? She tried to catch Maya’s eye, but Maya was frowning and writing something down into the bound book she always carried. This didn’t bode well. She couldn’t even speak to Lisa about it without George and Steven overhearing.

Next up were all the merchants who spent about five minutes each explaining what they were selling and willing to trade. Despite her growing agitation, Bethany noted that there were a few booths she was going to have to visit before she left.

When the conclave’s meeting broke up, Bethany made a beeline for Lewis and Clark. She had read history books when the looters found them, and she had been lucky that the Orange Grove tribe had a few retired teachers who took it upon themselves to come out of retirement to teach the children. They were no more Lewis and Clark than she was Pocahontas.

Lem blocked her path.

“Not interested,” Bethany said and tried to scoot around him, but the wolves kept getting in her way.

“Maya said she wanted you to share her cabin since the Techs’ cabins are now inhospitable.”

“That’s not necessary,” Bethany said. “I can pitch a tent with the rest of the tribe.”

“You, uh, can also share mine.” He looked at her left eyebrow or maybe it was the interesting branch above her head.

“Maya said.”

“What?”

“You forgot to add Maya said after your last sentence. Now, if you would please get out of my way. I have some business to discuss with those gentlemen over there.”

“I’m sorry, Bethany. We’re not supposed to let you do that.”

Lisa bared her teeth at the wolves.

“I don’t believe this.”

“I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding,” Lem said. “Once you and Maya talk things out, I know everything will be all right. Please? It’s just that you’re too valuable to our tribe to have you leave us. Especially since everyone is going to be after the remaining Techs to go to their tribes.”

“Maya doesn’t own me. I’m not a slave,” Bethany said, kicking out at George as he tried to herd her by nipping at her ankle. Lisa almost got his ear the next time he tried it.

Lem looked flustered. “I know. And we don’t want to hurt you.”

“Why would you hurt me?”

Lem turned red. “I’m just following Maya’s orders. She said to get you into the cabin and keep you there until it’s time to go home.”

“Are you going to force me to stay there against my will?”

“She didn’t say.” Lem shifted uncomfortably. “But, yeah, I think so. It’s for your own protection, though.” He brightened up.

“No. It’s for the good of the tribe,” Bethany said bitterly.

“See, I told her you would be reasonable.” He offered her his hand.

Bethany shifted her backpack so she could reach inside. She came up with the .45 and pointed it at Lem. “I am reasonable. Reasonably sure I can kill you in cold blood, and because I’m a Tech and you’re a farmer, I’d get off with a slap on the wrist. How do you like them apples?”

Lem looked at the wolves.

“They might throw my aim off. But I’m aiming for your torso. It’s a big target. Bottom line, at this range I’m going to hit you. It’s going to hurt, and you’re going to be recovering for a long time. That is, unless you get an infection from where they cut you open to take out the bullet. Ask yourself, is it worth it?”

Lem put up his hands and backed away. “I’m not your enemy here. We just want to keep you safe.”

“You just want to keep me,” Bethany said. She backed away from Lem, and he let her go, but the wolves kept at her heels. She wasn’t dumb enough to think she could stop the both of them, but as they currently didn’t have thumbs, she could resist their herding techniques. And she was pretty sure George and Steven knew she hadn’t taken the safety off the pistol.

“Okay, okay, don’t shoot,” Lem said.

“The three of you need to get out of my sight,” Bethany said.

“Maya’s orders say....”

“Stuff her orders. You leave me alone, or I’m out of here. I will leave the tribe, and there is nothing you can do short of force to stop me.”

Lem looked away. “Okay, guys, heel.”

“They aren’t dogs,” Bethany snarled. “They’re people just like you.”

“Not like me,” Lem said. “I’m just a farmer, remember?”

He turned his back on her and strode away. George and Steven didn’t move.

“I mean it, you two. I will shoot you.”

George growled.

Lisa growled back.

“It doesn’t have to get ugly, guys. Just give me some breathing room.”

Steven barked, and they backed off to the far end of the camp.

“I think that’s as good as we’re going to get,” Bethany said to Lisa. “Can you find Lucas?”

Lisa looked to the sky and howled.

“Oh, shush.” Bethany laid her hand on Lisa's muzzle. “It’s not that bad.”

But when she looked back for George and Steven, they were gone.

“Lady Tech!” The farmer she had bought Lisa from waved her down. Lisa began to growl, and the farmer dropped his hand. “I was wondering if we could cash in the video game hour now for my son. If it’s not a bad time.”

It was a terrible time. Her headache had just started to go away. Most of the Techs were dead. Her tribe was getting possessive. But she paid her debts, and it was one less thing she’d have to do before leaving for California.

“No time like the present,” Bethany forced a grin and made her way over to the farmer, who was with a young boy carrying a handheld computer game. She surreptitiously slid the pistol in the front of her jeans and pulled her sweater over it.

“I’ve got the game inside it,” the boy said handing it to her when she got close.

Bethany looked at the back. It didn’t take batteries, so she would have to charge the internal drive herself. He’d probably get more than an hour’s play time out of it, but it was too late to renegotiate. Besides, he was a cute kid.

“Clear a space,” she said, flopping down to cross her legs on the straw, mindful of the barrel of the pistol poking her. She adjusted it and wondered if someone had a back holster for trade. Maybe she could have Karen design and make one. It would probably come in handy on the road to California.

When the boy would have shot forward to sit near her, Lisa growled at him, and his father clamped a hand down on his shoulder. “We don’t mean no harm. The boy hasn’t had a chance to play since last conclave.”

Bethany made a nondescript grunt. At least it was a puzzle game and not a shoot ’em up. She closed her eyes to focus on the electronics. She felt them like dormant snakes. Breathing in, Bethany let the wind through the leaves fill her ears and senses, taking in the power like a windmill and slowly funneling it into the game. Bethany was going to pull it slow this time. No dire need. No one waiting in the shower queue. Just her and the energy. She saw the innards light up as they took the charge and come alive with a hum. Feeding more power into it, she gave it a full charge. Once the sun started filtering through the layer of ash and garbage that the meteor had put up, it had become less strenuous to power small items like this one. When that happened, solar batteries and their chargers would trade for enough food to feed a tribe for a year. They were rare, but maybe in California there would be lootable stores. It could be such a lucrative trip. Maya was a fool to try and stop her from going.

The sounds of the world came back to her slowly as the energy filled up the unit. Dogs were barking, the leaves were falling, and the wide, scared eyes of the child jolted her back to reality.

“Here ya go, kid,” she said and handed him the game.

He took it from her and backed away slowly. She looked at him, confused. Why was he afraid of her? Hands grabbed her from behind and yanked her to her feet. She kicked back and connected solidly with the knee of her attacker. She recognized George’s deep grunt, and it was confirmed when Steven dived on her legs and wrestled her into submission. Her forearms were in George’s tight grip, and after a wild kicking spree, Steven had her ankles held together. She was being carried by two bare-assed Shifters toward the chief’s quarters. No wonder the kid had run.

“Help!” she yelled and writhed, but the two Shifters had a good hold on her.

No one wanted to get involved with tribal discipline or politics. Lisa wasn’t even around. Even though she didn’t blame her, Bethany still felt a stab of disappointment at the betrayal.

Lem walked up and reached under her shirt.

“I’ll kill you,” Bethany snarled, but he was only after the pistol.

His ears turned red, and he looked away. “Bethany, we don’t want you to go.”

“What about what I want?” she snapped and refused to cry. She was embarrassed and humiliated that they had taken her so easily.

“You’re behaving weird.”

There was that word again. “I’m weird? I’m not the one flashing the entire Northeastern conclave carrying an unwilling woman.”

“I didn’t say you were weird.”

“Lady Tech!” the farmer called out. “My tribe is prepared to guarantee you protection. Just say the word. We’re the Valley tribe.” He had gone back to his tent for a shotgun, and his son was nowhere to be seen.

“Is this what you want?” Lem leaned into her. “War with the other tribes?”

“No one would go to war over me,” she said, shocked.

“No, but they’d go to war to have one of the last five Techs in this area,” Keith said, opening the door to Maya’s cabin and giving the farmer a deadly glare.

“Get her inside and shut the door,” Maya said, brandishing a rifle at any curious onlooker who wanted a closer look.

Somehow, they all shuffled inside, and George and Steven dropped her on the floor. But before she could recover, George hauled the arm she swung at him behind her back and used his other arm to wedge against her throat.

“I’m being treated like a slave. Not as a valued member of the tribe,” Bethany said, squirming in George’s steel embrace. She couldn’t twist too hard or her arm felt like it was going to come out of its socket.

She needed to breathe. The arm George had around her throat was cutting off all her air, but Maya was oblivious.

“Bethany, you don’t know these people. They could use you for your Tech and leave you drained by the train.”

“A train?” Lem interjected. “The ground is all tore up. Whatcha gonna do when you run out of tracks?”

Bethany wheezed and tugged at George’s arm.

“Oh for God’s sake, George, let her breathe. She’s not going anywhere with the five of us here.”

George flung her away, and Bethany gasped for breath. “I...don’t believe...you...people,” she wheezed.

“You pulled a gun on me,” Lem said.

“Bethany, if you’re unhappy with the tribe, we can renegotiate your benefits. If Lem isn’t your preference...”

“Stop pimping for me,” Bethany ground out. “Look, I’ll be back. I need to do this.”

“Why?” Keith sneered. “Prove to us that you’re not doing this to retaliate for my wedding.”

“Oh, get over yourself,” Bethany said. “It’s not always about you. I’ve already found someone else.” Even if he didn’t care enough to stop her from being dragged bodily through the conclave.

“Keith, I thought you told me that your marriage to Simone wouldn’t cause a problem.”

“Maya, it doesn’t.”

“Because I need a Tech more than a potter, you know.”

Keith paled.

“It’s not about Keith. This mission has got a lot of potential for the tribe,” Bethany said.

“I can send any number of people. George and Steven, for example. You’re my only Tech.”

“I have a mate,” Bethany said, trying to persuade her using Lucas’s plan. Although she hadn’t seen him since breakfast.

He snorted. “Who? That Shifter bitch?”

The door was kicked open, and Lucas stood there. Lisa crouched beside him with a crossbow nocked.

“Shifter bastard, actually.” He moved into the room toward Lem, who was pointing the shaking pistol at him.

“Who are you?” Maya demanded. “These are my personal quarters.”

Lucas turned his eerie predator’s gaze on her, and she took a step back toward Keith.

“Why don’t we put down the weapons and talk about this rationally? Lem, unload the pistol and give it back to Bethany. We’re all friends here.” Maya held up her hands in a soothing motion.

“I, uh,” Lem said, “don’t know how to do that.”

“It still has the safety on,” Lucas snatched it out of Lem’s hand. He put it in the small of his back where his jeans fit snugly—not that Bethany was looking or anything.

Lisa lowered her crossbow, but it was still nocked to shoot.

“This is Lucas and Lisa,” Bethany said. “They’re going to help me find my brother. But I need to help them with this looting adventure first.”

“You told me that your brother was feral.” Maya narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“He may not be. He might have been framed.”

“This is a lot of nonsense,” Maya said.

“If you leave us in a lurch, we might not survive the winter.” Keith turned on his best smile. Bethany found it didn’t do anything for her. Not when Lucas’s broad shoulders blocked the rest of Keith from her view.

“My tribe’s survival is not contingent on one little girl,” Maya snapped.

“I’m not saying that,” Keith backpedaled.

“What he’s saying,” Lucas interjected, “is that he’s grown soft. Being used to warm blankets and hot water.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Keith snapped back.

“You have a wife now to keep you warm,” Lucas said. “And I’m sure somewhere in your travels you’ve learned how to build a fire.”

“What about this train hooey?” Lem asked.

“There’s a working steam engine. Wood fire will run the boiler.”

“But there aren’t any tracks,” Lem insisted.

“You know this how?”

Lem looked around for support. “Ain’t there? The meteor busted up everything, and then the dang dust that near kilt everyone smothered over everything.”

“Lewis and Clark have resources. We won’t be able to ride straight to the West Coast, but they have had workers rebuilding the lines. We should be able to make it there and back in a month.”

Keith scoffed. “Coast to coast and back again in a month? Can’t be done.”

“And you know this how?” Lucas repeated. When he didn’t get an answer, he turned to Maya. “Even if we run into trouble, worst-case scenario, we’re talking about a few months out. A month or so to loot—remember as chief you can claim a portion of the looted items as your tribute.” Lucas slanted Bethany a warning look.

Bethany understood where he was going with this.  She massaged her throat and glared daggers at George while Lucas buttered up Maya.

“And then a few months back. You’ll have your Tech back before harvest. But it won’t take that long. Not with the railways that Lewis and Clark have set up.”

Shaking her head, Maya began to pace. “I’ve heard the rumors.”

“Think of the knowledge, the treasure,” Bethany said, hoping to appeal to her greed.

“And you’ll get two Shifters when she returns—if you are interested in adopting my sister and me. Three if we find her brother.”

Bethany’s mouth dropped open. She hadn’t been planning on coming back.

Maya’s eyes lit up with avarice. “Of course. Of course, the Bluff tribe will welcome you with open arms. As the name would imply”―Maya started in on her invitation rap―“our tribe exists on a very defensible bluff. We have a large lake that we use for fishing and providing our daily water needs...”

Lucas held up a hand. “My woman is with your tribe. I’d live in a blanket in a tundra for her.”

Bethany’s knees felt wobbly, and she felt herself flush again when they all turned to look at her. It’s not true, she wanted to say. No one falls for someone that fast. But she wanted to believe Lucas, at least for a moment, and she could ignore the ache in her heart that no one had ever or probably would ever feel that way about her.

“Then it’s settled,” Maya said, her eyes gleaming.

Lucas extended a hand to Bethany, who took it in wonder. “And now I believe we will take our leave. While your cabin is roomy and your company gracious, we would be more comfortable in my tent tonight.” He flashed a sexy slow smile that had Maya momentarily transfixed.

“Of...of course,” she twittered like a girl and smiled dazedly after them.

“Your woman, huh?” Bethany said when they were out of earshot, because she couldn’t leave well enough alone. If there was a scab, she had to pick at it until it bled again.

“Are you offended?” he asked in a tone that suggested he didn’t care one way or the other.

“Not after I saw the look on Keith’s face. I can’t believe I slept with that jerk.”

“I prefer not to think of it,” Lucas murmured, and Bethany grew warm inside.

“You know if things were safer around here, you might have gotten lucky tonight.”

He stopped short, and because Bethany was mooning about him, looking at the stars, she plowed right into him.

“I can keep you safe.” He gave her a dangerous smile, and cupping his hand behind her head, he slowly brought his head closer to hers.

It was just a kiss, she thought and closed her eyes. It took forever, but his lips brushed hers once, and her knees buckled. Honestly, that doesn’t happen. It just doesn’t.

“I think I hear my mother calling,” Lisa said and shifted into a bird and took off flying.

“Your mother?” Bethany was still dazed by the potent kiss.

“Mother Nature.” Lucas winked, pulling Bethany into his arms.

“Okay, buster, that’s enough fooling around,” she said shakily, all too aware that she was about to throw caution and probably her panties to the wind. “There’s bad people out there that want to kill me.”

“It’s not fear I smell on you. It’s excitement. The way your breath quickens and your heart races when I do this?” He leaned in, his lips almost touching hers. She felt the vibration of his words on her parted mouth. And when she turned her head, his breath heated her neck and made the little hairs on it rise in reaction. “I want you. For you. Not for a repayment of a debt.”

She swallowed hard, and wished she could believe him. “After what happened in the Tech cabin, do you think we should let down our guard?”

“I’ve had my share of bad ideas,” Lucas admitted. “This doesn’t feel like one.” He dropped a silken kiss on her throat, then slid his mouth up to her ear when she didn’t protest.

“Maybe they’re still out there,” she said, gripping his hair to pull him back to stare into his eyes.

“Maybe they were hunted down and killed,” he said and then abruptly released her. “Come on, we grabbed some space just over this hill. You probably could use some rest more than sex, anyway.”

“And just like that you’ve changed your mind?” Bethany heard the words come out of her mouth before she could censor herself. She hurried to keep up with him.

“I think you have a point.”

“I do?” Bethany wasn’t sure she wanted to have a point.

“We’re too exposed in a tent. Once we get on a train or in a pack—a traveling pack, we can continue to explore each other.”

Bethany nodded, strangely crushed. They walked in silence for a little while. The night was getting chilly, but Bethany thought that the chill she was getting was more from reaction than the cold.

“Did you hunt them down and kill them?”

“Would you be afraid of me if I said yes?’

She shook her head.

He nodded his.

“Good,” she said. “But you probably should have left one alive for questioning.”

“Maybe next time. When they haven’t threatened my mate.”

“Is this mate talk for show?”

He shook his head this time. “You affect me.”

Hope fluttered in Bethany’s chest. Maybe they could have something real. “We should talk about this.”

“We will. Once the danger is past.”

“Should I go talk to Lewis and Clark now?”

“No,” Lucas said. “They’ll be busy tonight...interviewing.”

“Shouldn’t I interview?”

“Over my dead body,” he said in a low, warning growl. “Besides, you’re a Tech. You’re already hired.”

“You sound so sure.”

“One in five left in this part of the world. You’re worth your weight in gold.”

“So,” Bethany said. “You think there will be a next attack?”

He nodded. “But not on my watch. You and Lisa can take the tent.”

“Where did you get the tent? I thought you came here with nothing.”

He scowled into the night. “Lisa is very resourceful.”

“I cleaned up after the Tech bombing and was paid for it. You have a suspicious mind,” Lisa said from inside the tent.

“I’ll switch to cat form and guard the perimeter,” Lucas said, ignoring his sister, but his frown eased slightly.

“What about you? Don’t you need to sleep?”

“I’ll catnap.” He grinned at her.

She pulled her gun out of his pants.

“Careful now,” he warned.

“The safety’s on.”

“The safety is a mechanical device, and mechanical devices are known to fail now and again. When was the last time you fired that thing?”

“Not often enough,” she said. “I can’t bear to waste the bullets. When times get tough, I use them to hunt bunnies.”

“It helps if you call them rabbits. Or dinner.”

“Not with my aim.”

“Could you hit something if you wanted to?”

“I find a man’s chest at point-blank range an easier target than a bounding bunny in a field.”

Lucas grunted and pointed to the pavilion-style tent. “There should be plenty of furs and blankets to keep you warm. Don’t shoot the cougar,” he said and shifted into a gorgeous cat, flicking his tail across her knees.