Reclamation (The Ravening #3)(29)
Author: Erica Stevens

Cade finally took hold of her hand and shook it briskly. "Hopefully I’ll be able to say the same of you."

"You will. We have a lot to explain."

"So it seems."

The man stepped forward and extended his hand. "Timothy Athens."

"Cade Marshall."

"I know."

That only caused my frown to deepen as Jessica turned toward me. "Jessica Leonard," she said as she thrust her hand out.

I released Aiden’s hand and went to take hold of Jessica’s when Cade not so subtly stepped in between us. Jessica’s mouth quirked in amusement but she didn’t say anything as she turned her attention back to me. "Bethany Lake," I told her.

"It’s nice to meet you Bethany. We have shelter nearby that we’ll take you to," Jessica told us.

"Do we have a choice?" Lloyd muttered.

"You do, but I can almost guarantee if you leave here you won’t make it out there for much longer. The choice is yours though." She pinned Cade with her eyes. "I’d suggest hearing us out before you leave; we do have a common goal here."

Hope spurted through me as I glanced at the people across from us and then the ones surrounding me. Bishop strode forward to stand beside Aiden. "I’d like to hear what they have to say," Bishop asserted.

"Have you lost your mind?" Lloyd muttered.

"I can see as clearly as you that there are humans standing willingly amongst them, unless you have the ability for mind control?" Cade shook his head in response to the question Bishop directed at him. "I’d like to know what is going on then."

Lloyd was fairly sputtering, "You’re going to trust him?"

Bishop stared at the both of us before giving a brisk nod. "I am, but like the lady said, it’s your choice."

"I’d like to hear it also," Jenna said as she stepped forward. "I’m assuming that if Cade hasn’t killed Bethany yet than they can’t all be bad. We’re not going to win this battle hiding in tunnels, moving around, and on our own."

"It’s settled then," Timothy said. "Follow us."

I glanced nervously at Cade as Timothy turned and headed back toward the crowd in the woods. "Can we trust them?" I whispered.

Cade stared after them. "You’re the only one I trust, but I think they have something to tell us and I’m willing to listen."

"So am I," Darnell said as he stepped forward. "Let’s go."

I took hold of Cade’s hand as I tried to ignore the resentful stares focused on us as he led me forward.

Chapter 14

My head tilted back as the massive gates loomed out of the forest before us. The large wooden poles on either side of the gates were wrapped with barbwire and adorned with what appeared to be blood, but I couldn’t be sure in the dim light. People began to hold back around us and I felt my own heels dig in as my heart began to hammer with trepidation.

I was convinced this had been a mistake as my gaze traveled up and down the chain link fence that stretched as far as the eye could see in either direction. Razor wire curled around the top of it and I knew the minute we stepped inside those wooden gates there would be no getting back out. Jessica made some sort of intricate hand signal that reminded me of a baseball coach signaling to steal second. The massive gates before us swung open with a groan of hinges badly in need of being oiled.

Light flared over us as torches were brought forth. More figures appeared and the torches were raised high to reveal the six men and women that had emerged from the darkness. There were at least two humans amongst them, but I suspected there were more as inviting smiles spread over their faces.

"You found more," a woman with deep brown hair who appeared to be in her mid to late thirties said.

"Better than that Rosemary." Jessica stepped aside to reveal Cade standing behind her.

A shiver of foreboding crept down my spine when Rosemary’s black eyebrows shot into her hairline. "That is an interesting turn of events," she murmured as she rubbed her chin.

My hand tightened around Cade’s as I stepped closer to him. I knew he’d told me everything he’d thought I needed to know but there was so much he’d kept hidden from me. I sensed I would get some of the answers to the many questions running through my mind from these aliens standing across from us. Curiosity killed the cat, I reminded myself, but the cat also had nine lives and my curiosity was clamoring to be eased.

"Well come along everyone," Rosemary invited.

She turned away but Cade’s words stopped her. "I’m the only one that will be coming."

The woman lifted her torch again as she turned back around. "Everyone will be safe here."

"You’re not going in there alone," I told him.

"I don’t even know where or what here is," Cade said to Rosemary.

"It’s a prison encampment for the humans, or at least it was," Jessica explained. "We took it over a couple of weeks ago, freed the prisoners, and claimed it as our own."

"Did you now?" Darnell inquired dryly. I couldn’t help but feel a little skeptical too. Darnell rested his rifle against his shoulder as he stepped forward. "The last thing I want to do is step foot in there, and I’m not so sure I trust you." His gaze was relentless as it settled upon Cade and though he knew what Cade was now I saw no fright in his eyes. "But Bethany is right; you’re not going in there alone, someone else will hear what they have to say too."

"I’ll go," I volunteered.

"Someone besides you," Darnell sneered.

I felt as if I’d been slapped but managed to keep my face as impassive as possible. I deserved his condemnation, I’d kept a secret from them, a big secret, but I admired Darnell and looked to him for leadership and guidance. He’d helped me when I needed him most. I wanted to apologize to him but now wasn’t the time and I didn’t think he was willing to hear it. I’d chosen my course of action and now I was going to have to live with the consequences of it.

"I’m going," Bishop said.

I didn’t think there was anything that could have kept the curious doctor from going in there, not even the threat of being locked in there for good. "I’ll go too," Lloyd offered. "You should stay with the larger group, in case something goes wrong," he said to Darnell.

Darnell studied the rest of our group before giving a brisk nod. Cade tugged me to the side and pulled me up against the fence. "I want you to stay out here with your siblings."

I shook my head and thrust my shoulders back. "I’m going in there with you."

"It could be dangerous in there."