The Eve (The Eden Trilogy) by Keary Taylor Read Free Book Online Page B

got to start bridging this gap and animosity between us,” Avian said, placing a hand on my back.  “Or there’s going to be another war.”
     
    Over the next week, Avian, West, Bill, and I made plans for our journey and departure.  We gathered supplies, carefully picked our firepower.  And we discussed who the fourth member of our crew should be. 
    Elijah was laid up and in bad shape.  He’d been shot twice in his left leg, and once in the chest.  If the bullet had hit two inches higher he would have died.  But even if he was at fighting readiness, he would be needed here in New Eden.  Graye was in charge as head of security detail until Elijah was healed up.  So Graye was out too.
    Gabriel was still working with the civilians to carve out a normal life.  He was helping to keep the peace between the refugees and the members of New Eden.  Plus Gabriel wouldn’t have been my first choice on this kind of mission anyway.
    Had we not had to deal with the refugees, I would have picked Tristan in a heartbeat.  But nerves were still on edge and a fight was ready to break out at any moment.  If not for him, we’d finish each other off like we’d tried to do two weeks ago.
    So there were very few options left.  There were others on security detail, but none that I knew well enough to trust their skills on a mission of this importance.  I was considering Tuck, but he also had duties he needed to fulfill here in New Eden.
    “Maybe we don’t even need a fourth,” I said late one night as Avian and I stepped into my room.  “We’ve got you, me, West, Bill; we all know what we’re doing.  Why do we need another?”  I pulled my boots off and tossed them into my closet cupboard.
    “I think that’s totally up to you,” Avian said as he slipped his own shoes off and lined them up by the door.  He started pulling his firearms off and laid them on the counter.  “I think I’d rather work with a tighter crew anyway.”
    “I have to say, I’m pretty impressed with how well you and West have been working together for the past week,” I said as I walked into the bathroom.  I turned the water on in the shower and leaned against the door, my shoulder pressing into the cold steel of the frame.
    “He’s different now,” Avian said as he crossed the room.  He stopped just short of me.  He placed his hands on either side of the doorframe.  “Whatever you two talked about last week sure put him in a different state of mind.”
    “I just pointed out a few things to help him move on,” I said.
    “I’m certainly enjoying the benefits of it,” Avian said, a slow smile creeping on his face.  He leaned in closer.  “I haven’t seen you this relaxed in months.”
    “Having a purpose will do that you,” I said as his lips met mine.
    His arms wrapped around my waist and my hand ran over his once again shaven hair.  He lifted my legs and set me on the counter in the bathroom.
    “Oh no, no, no,” I said, smiling against his lips.  I placed a hand on his chest and pushed him away.  “I’m supposed to get in the shower and then go for my last meeting with Royce.  If we get started in on this,” I said, waving a finger between the two of us, “I will not make it in time.”
    “You will be the death of me, woman,” Avian teased as he nipped at my jaw. 
    I couldn’t help the ridiculous smile that spread on my face as he stepped away.  I very much didn’t want him to go as he crossed back to his shoes and bent to pick them up.  He looked back at me where I still sat on the counter.  He gave a low, playful growl, before opening the door and stepping out.
    I climbed into the shower and turned the water freezing cold.
     

 
     
    SIX
     
    Over the next few days, a truce began to form between the residents of New Eden and the refugees. 
    Their six children were welcomed into Lin’s school room.  She insisted children were children, no matter where they had come from.  They deserved an