Page 106 of Echoes of War

The younger one swung his ax above his head, holding it there, his eyes so dark they were nearly black bore into her soul as she peered up at him. Laurel closed her eyes, knowing what was about to happen. Her only hope being that his swing would stop at her flesh. The last thing she saw before it connected was the sway of his ash brown hair.

“My mother said the same thing about my siblings right before I killed her. The weak don’t have a place in Covert Province. Looks like you’re no longer needed.”

Pain radiated through her spine as the ax jabbed into her back and her body went numb. She felt nothing and everything at the same time, stars swarming in her eyes before it all went black.

Her eyes opened again at a loud bang. She scanned around the room for the source. Emma was there, smoke coming from the barrel of her gun as the man with light brown skin bled out in front of her, eyes unseeing. Hal’s fists pounded into the flesh of the younger one; he fell before Laurel, no longer recognizable but deathly still.

“Baby,” Hal said, rushing to her side.

He lifted her up, placing her into his lap as blood crept from the corners of her mouth. Hal reached over, pulling Olivia and Mason upright, scanning them for injuries. When he found none, his attention went solely on his wife.

Laurel offeredhim a weak smile. “It’s okay my love. There’s no pain. It doesn’t hurt. Our babies … they’re safe.”

“I’m sorry,” he wept over her. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you.”

Laurel coughed, a warm feeling came over her body as she recognized Emma’s light touch over her hair. “None of that. You were always there when I needed you the most.” She choked, the blood in her mouth becoming too much. “Get them to Monterey. Get them to our girl. It’s safe.”

And all went black.

Tears poured down my face, and I pushed the door to my quarters open.They weren’t safe here, but death would have to wrestle me personally for harm to come to those kids ever again.

Olivia was sprawled across the couch staring up at my cluttered shelves listening to Emma as she read from a book, Mason pulled into her lap.

“Hal …” I whispered, stepping into my room.

Dark circles rimmed his once vibrant sky-blue eyes. His shoulder-length, ash brown hair had grayed at the roots, matching his facial hair. He rose from behind my desk, taller than I remembered, skinnier too.

Relief swarmed over me at the knowledge that they were okay. I hadn’t seen anything happen to them in my vision, but the need to place eyes on them to be certain had clenched at my chest with worry.

They had been my family for a short time, but that connection to them had always remained. Their safety, the need to check in on them, was a constant in my mind. I hadn’t seen this though. Laurel’s death. With everything going on, my friend had shamefully slipped my thoughts.

I took in the creases of his tan face, frozen in place as I let him study me. We both looked rough as shit. Considering the circumstances, I suppose it could be worse. He had never liked me, only tolerated me for Laurel and the kids’ sake.

Where Laurel saw a girl in need and a companion to have at her side, Hal had seen right through my bullshit, taking me for the threat I was. He was a good man though. Hal had taken care of me, let Laurel treat me as one of their own.

It was his decision to force me to leave after … the incident. I didn’t blame him. It wasn’t safe for them with me there. Fuck, it was supposed to be safer for them with me gone. They were supposed to be safe—Laurelwas supposed to be safe. Without me there, the threat to their family was supposed to be gone.

I wondered if he realized that part of the reason he’d lost his wife was my fault too. First, I’d almost taken his children from him, and now it was my fault his wife was gone. Had I not loved the wrong man, they may have been traveling throughout Transient. They would have never sought Laurel out because of the stupid note I’d sent.

There was no confirmation that my letter of warning had doomed them, but what other reason did they have to hunt her down? She was just a mom who wanted the best for her family. I thought I was giving her that, letting her know what was coming her way. She was supposed to spread the word and get the hell out of dodge. Laurel was?—

“Tomoe,” Hal said, strolling toward me, shoulders slouched. I braced myself as he approached, waiting for him to punish me. It was what I deserved. Hal fell to his knees before me, head leaning onto my stomach, tears in his eyes. “Laurel … Texas …” He started.

My body stiffened, not expecting this reaction from him. “I know. I saw. You don’t have to say anything, I know.”

“She got your message. We did what we were asked. She got your message.” I let him break.

Let him fall apart in front of me knowing he’d been strong for the kids. He needed this. And if he was here, in front of me like this, I knew deep down he didn’t blame me for herdeath.

Only I could blame myself.

Emma shifted on the couch, placing Mason down next to Olivia gently. She was her mother’s twin, her and Olivia both. Their mousy blonde hair, the specks of brown in their blue eyes. They almost passed as Hal’s daughters, though I knew they weren’t. None of them were, though he claimed them all as his own.

“Auntie Moe.” Emma’s breath caught, her fists clenched at her side as she stood. She ran forward full speed, careful not to knock into Hal as she rammed into my side. “You’re here, you’re safe!”

Olivia grinned meekly from her place on the couch. The girls were old enough to remember me. We’d bonded during the hours of me telling them stories as Hal and Laurel went out in search of food. It had killed me every day what I’d almost done to them, what my nightmares had willed me to do. That was part of the reason I left without a fight. Now they were here.

“Laurel wanted me to bring the girls here. It’s not safe out there anymore,” Hal said.

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