God still lingered in my heart.
I gripped the chain on the front door and eased open the lock. The tiny clicks of links on links filled the room as I twisted the deadbolt and eased open the front door.
I stared at the wide, thick tubing that ran in a line through the building, a makeshift catchment Dad had made before he was gone. The drain fed the water through filters he made from charcoal into the basement store in a room filled with barrels.
I had enough water to last another three full years before I had to start looking—if I survived that long.
Food was getting scarce, soon I’d start setting traps just how Dad had taught me, but right now…I had a different trap to set.
I headed down the wide stairs to the basement. The door marked ‘Private’ was wedged shut. I pushed through and left it open, like breadcrumbs in my wake.
Sunlight from a small rectangular window carved through the gloom. I glanced at the rows and rows of steel drums. They looked heavier than they were. After the first wave, Dad and I used the fuel in the truck to cart them here. We loaded them, one after another, to store down in the dark and the cold.
But it wasn’t the water I needed. It was the room.
I made for the thick steel door to the power plant for the building and gripped the heavy handle with both hands.
The fire door, Dad called it. Designed to buffer the building if anything went wrong inside. It’d confine the flames and protect the occupants, but today…today it’d confine something else.
I left the door open and turned toward the wall. Two monstrous, heavy chains rested in a pile, all tumbled together like a lover’s embrace. Dad had carted them downstairs, but that was when I was weak…that was the me that didn’t fight to survive. They’ll hold anything you put in there, Harlow. You understand what I’m saying?
I understood perfectly in that moment. Somehow, he knew it might come to this. I gripped the steel links and bent to hoist them both over my shoulder as a faint, heavy thud echoed from somewhere in the building.
I bore down, driving my boots into the cement, dropped one chain at the doorway, and carried the other inside.
Soon now…soon…
“Harlow?”
I gripped the shotgun, stepped into the shadows. The sound of his voice sent a shudder through my will. “In here.”
My palms turned slick with sweat. Even through the steel I could feel him, and with each heavy thud of his boots, my mind raced. Maybe this wasn’t right? Maybe I shouldn’t do this? Maybe I should trust disease when the cure was in my hands?
Shadows descended as he filled the doorway. His head turned, brow narrowed. “What are you doing in here?”
“I need you to help me with the chain. Gotta secure the building from the others,” lies…lies…lies.
He strode inside with purpose, and bent. There was something about the way he moved, something about the way he trusted—something that nagged me as I lifted the shotgun across my body and stepped close.
There was a second when he stilled, and then he turned his head toward me.
I bore down with everything I had and hit him right in the center of the temple.
There was no panic, no fear, only a sickening crack before he crumpled to the ground.
I’m sorry, those words filled my mind as I reached for his neck and searched for a pulse. Could Pestilence die? Could the plague just disappear from the face of the earth with one hard crack against his skull?
Kris’s face loomed inside my mind as I gripped Pestilence under the arms and heaved, setting him with his back against the wall.
There was no end to the disease of insanity, no cure for loss of hope. The path you chose was the path you forged, for you held inside you both darkness and light.
I gripped his wrists and wound the chains tight behind his back.
His eyelids fluttered, fighting to stay awake. “Harlow…no…don’t do this.”
But it was already done.
I gripped the shotgun and stood before my captive in the dark. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t like being used. You played with me, forced your way into my bed. So you’ll stay down here in the dark until I decide what to do.”
“Don’t…you don’t understand. He’ll come for you…don’t you know that?”
War.
The name echoed, and I was filled with the terror of my vision. Blood, gashes…a woman screaming…me…screaming in rage and lust.
I can feel him growing stronger. War is coming for me.
I’m not ready…I don’t think I’ll ever be ready.
I turned my head, taking one last look at Pestilence before I strode out. Metal on metal howled as I heaved the steel door shut and reached for the chain.
War didn’t determine who was right or wrong.
War only determined who was left.
And when the dust settles, I plan on being the only one standing.
The only one with a soul intact.
I could live with that.
Even if my heart…even if my heart…the heavy links rattled in my hand.
I couldn’t say the words.
But I didn’t need to.
The words resounded in the way the darkness urged me to turn around and unlock the door.
My fingers trembled, hands slick with sweat, as I reached behind me and skimmed cold steel. Go to him, my body was alive with purpose.
I closed my eyes and prayed.
Please, God…give me strength.
Turn the page to check out the next in the series.
She’s got Pestilence in her basement.
He’s bound, gagged. His blood slick on her hands.
His touch warm on her body.
And he’s calling the others…the three riders she’s hunting.
War is coming and she’s not ready…She doesn’t think she’ll ever be ready.
But she’s been given a mission—a Calling to her tainted soul.
Lamb, Pestilence calls her.
But she’s no Lamb.
She’s a Lion.
Her name is Harlow Morgan, and she's the last hope a dying world has left.
**This is a Post-Apocalyptic Reverse Harem Series filled with danger, lust, and dark romantic themes.
Pre-order War on Amazon today
Also by Kim Faulks
If you love Dark Paranormal Romance, then you’re going to love the Zodiac Dragon Guardians.
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Copyright ? 2017 by Kim Faulks All rights reserved.
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For you.
For Spirit.
Ace
Book VIII
The Zodiac Dragon Guardian Series
Brothers to the last enemy.
The Shadow Government is cleaning house and high on their hit list are four names: Regan Rivers, Darrion Slater, Senator Artemas Roth, and one lone man with a damaged past, and a dangerous need to protect.
Former US Marine Sniper Holden Lee—a.k.a Ace.
Ace will risk his life to protect his team.
He'll do what he does best…move toward the sound of gunfire and kill everything in his path.
Brothers to the last fight.