Kallen's Atonement by Stephani Hecht Read Free Book Online Page A

fight for them. To show them that I’m willing to put my neck on the line for them. Can’t you understand that?”
    The sad thing was, Drake could, and he couldn’t think of a good argument against it. He closed his eyes and let out a silent prayer to whatever god that was listening that they would keep Kallen safe, because he’d already suffered enough. He didn’t need to shed any more blood for the cause. At least not in Drake’s opinion.

Chapter Six
    Kallen sat wedged between Ash and Gage in the back of the van on the way to his first mission. He was so nervous that he was shaking from head-to-toe and felt sick to his stomach. It didn’t help matters that Gage kept barking orders at him, either.
    “Make sure you stay right next to me the entire time.”
    “Got it,” Kallen replied, putting his hands on his knees to keep them from bouncing up and down.
    “Keep your head up the entire time.”
    “Will do.” Kallen swallowed hard in an effort not to throw up.
    “If I tell you to take cover, you do it. No playing hero out there.”
    “I will.” Kallen doubled checked the Velcro on his body armor to make sure it was in place.
    “If you get shot, I’m going to kick your ass.”
    “Okay.”
    All too soon, the van pulled up to an old parking garage. It had been abandoned years ago and had now been taken over by Spider shifters. Spider shifters who had developed a love for human flesh. The human government had ordered the coalition to clean the place out. So there they were, like some souped-up version of Raid Insect Killer .
    They got out and took a minute to look at the parking structure. From the outside, it looked innocent enough. It was just an ancient looking concrete building that was about five stories high. The grounds around it hadn’t been kept up. There were weeds and patches of tall grass mixed in with garbage and other waste.
    Then the wind picked up, and Kallen smelled it, the sharp scent of decay. Unlike most other Hyenas, it didn’t appeal to him. It made his stomach turn, and he gagged.
    “What? You don’t like the smell of rot? I thought all Hyenas liked that.” A Hawk smirked.
    “Don’t forget he’s half Hawk, too,” Gage snapped.
    “And that part hates the smell,” Kallen said.
    Gah, was it strong, too. It didn’t help that it was mixed in with the stench of Spider, which had its own bitter scent. That and the usual city stank was enough to send Kallen’s canine nose into overdrive. He shook it off though, he wasn’t going to give the Hawks the satisfaction of seeing him so worked up before the mission even began.
    Vapor was leading the mission. He came to the front of the group and began to address them. “Okay, I want everybody to keep their eyes open for the shadows. That’s where these bastards like to hide.”
    Even as Kallen nodded, a shiver of revulsion went through him. He’d never seen a Spider shifter in its arachnoid form before, but he could only imagine how horrifying it was going to be. He only hoped he didn’t freak out and scream like a girl. Gage would never let him live it down.
    They got into formation, Ash on one side of him, Gage on the other, and began a slow but steady march into the garage. They were one of two teams. The other going into the south entrance. The plan was to cut off any escape routes, so the Spiders would be squeezed in and eventually all killed off.
    With each step that they took, Kallen’s heart beat a little harder. A sweat broke out under his body armor. His breathing kicked up. He gripped his gun like it was his lifeline.
    “It’s okay to be nervous. Everyone here is. They’d be a fool not to be,” Gage assured him.
    That made Kallen feel a little better. It was nice to know that he wasn’t the only one who was two steps from pissing his coalition-issued underwear. He’d have to remember to thank Gage later on for passing along that little tidbit.
    They finally reached the entry to the parking garage. Since they were in the