Wayward Son by Heath Stallcup Read Free Book Online Page A

with Nadia for now. Meanwhile, I’ll come back with you and we can regroup.”
    “And what of us, Chief Jack?” Kalen shifted his weight on the bow. “We were promised a chance at vampires and yet…we’ve only taken a few wolf pelts.” He glanced at the gnome near his leg and smiled.
    “I’m hoping you’ll come with me. We may need to regroup, but for now, the threat from the council isn’t over. I’d rather have a ready force than none at all.”
    Kalen nodded in agreement. He turned and glanced to the parapet of the castle. “Perhaps we should wait until nightfall then. I fear that attempting to move them might be hazardous.”
    “Where is Rufus?” Nadia asked, her eyes betraying the fear growing within.
    Jack turned and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “About that.” He gently directed her toward the castle and to a place where she could sit and rest. “We need to talk.”
     
    *****
     
    Laura placed the phone carefully back into the cradle and rested her head on the desk. “Still can’t get through?” She lifted her head and noted the concern on Jennifer’s face as she leaned against the doorjamb.
    “It’s like they just disappeared.” She sighed and rubbed at her eyes. Pablo stepped briskly back toward the duty office and Laura raised a hand to catch his attention. “Can I ask another favor?”
    He smiled an easy, carefree smile and nodded. “If it is within my power, Ms. Youngblood, it is yours.”
    “Is there any chance that you have satellite access?” She quietly prayed that there was still a way that she could at least ensure that the hangar building was still standing and not a fiery inferno.
    Pablo hung his head. “I’m afraid that is not within my power. We do not have such luxuries.”
    Laura exhaled a long, slow breath and leaned back in her chair. “If only there was some way I could access our own satellite.”
    “What would you need?” Pablo stepped inside and sat down at the computer console across from her.
    Laura shook her head. “Honestly, I’m not sure. We were given an old satellite to use, but…” she stretched her neck as she tried to find the right words, fatigue eating away at her ability to think. “But I just didn’t take the time to learn anything about it. I was supposed to have been gone by now.”
    Jennifer placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “I’m sure they’re fine. Remember what you told me?”
    “We still don’t know who…or what may have attacked them.”
    Pablo rolled closer and lowered his voice, “There is still the possibility that it was simply an attack on their communications. Just because they lost the ability to communicate does not mean that somebody was foolish enough to attack them head on.”
    Laura had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach and shook her head. “I don’t think it’s that simple, Pablo. Would you simply take out somebody’s coms and not attack them directly?”
    Pablo lowered his eyes and shook his head. “No.”
    “Yeah, I didn’t think so.” Laura picked up the phone again and began dialing again.
    “Did you think of another number?” Jennifer asked hopefully.
    “No, I’m just going to keep trying the ones I know until somebody picks up. Surely if…” she paused and stared off at nothing. “I mean, when the survivors of the attack realize their communications are down, they’ll want to get them back up ASAP.”
     
    *****
     
    Apollo weighed his options and debated on how best to deal with Sheridan when he finally stepped off the helicopter and confronted the man. Did he pull him aside, put him in a choke hold and squeeze every last drop of information that he could from him or did he continue to play along, milking him for every drop of intel that he could? As much as it might please him to feel the man’s trachea turn to mush under his probing fingers, Apollo knew that nobody could speak if they couldn’t breathe.
    He jumped from the hovering chopper and strode purposely