Death 07 - For the Love of Death by Tamara Rose Blodgett Page A

progress over the embankment slides over us as they draw nearer.
    “Are they enemies?”
    A simple question. His eyes search mine.
    “Yes,” I say.
    “Why only me?” he asks.
    Why did you raise only one zombie? It's a fair question.
    “I'm seventeen,” I blurt. A small untruth.
    His lips twitch. Dark hair is a vaguely curling cap against his scalp.
    “Then we'll run, mistress.”
    He gives me his back, bending over, his arms out at his side.
    Piggy back.
    A laugh leaks out of me and he turns his face, only his profile visible.
    “There is nothing funny about the approach of over ten of those things, mistress.”
    I sober and climb on.
    His arms wrap my legs. Strong ones.
    “Ready?” he asks.
    I nod, though he can’t see it. “It’s Deegan.”
    The zombies all call us the same thing.
    The first bot shoves through the thicket.
    Its stare latches onto me.
    “Paranormal, level four.” It pauses, then, “Reanimated humanoid.”
    I swear it smiles before it says, “Exterminate.”
    “Not today, jack,” the zombie beneath me says.
    Then he’s running, the wind and bots at our backs.
    I don’t even know his name.

CHAPTER NINE
    Caleb
     
    “Baby, no—ya can't come.”
    Jade's emerald gaze narrows down on me like two laser beams.
    Damn.
    “Do not patronize me, Caleb Hart.”
    I don't roll my eyes, but it's an effort.
    I try for reasonable, not my best thing. “I don’t know what kind of a snafu the kids have gotten themselves into, or if it’s a volatile situation.” I rake a hand through my hair. “I don’t want to have my entire family to worry about. As you know, the kids are enough.”
    She sighs and absently strokes Onyx’s head.
     
    The pack is nervous. The dog scents the cave. Nothing is different. Yet the boy’s worry is bitter in the dog’s nose.
     
    Onyx ducks from underneath Jade’s affection and comes to stand in front of me.
    He stares.
    It’s all right, Onyx, you’re a good dog.
    Thunk, wag, thunk.
     
    The boy makes the good sounds in his head. He wags his tail, yet—the sound does not match the anxiety scent. The dog will watch the pack. Stay alert for danger.
     
    “It’s just, gah!” Jade storms around our small kitchen. Denim and a dark green tee peek out from beneath an apron my mom made for her a decade ago.
    Mom.
    I shove the sadness deep. I don’t have time for those moments of grief that sneak up when I’m unaware.
    She whirls, eyes flashing, and black hair spins around her body. “I’ll go crazy not knowing.”
    She studies my face, seems to get an idea of my struggle somehow, and mauls on her lip.
    I pull her against me, careful to touch clothes, not skin. “Let me go, Jade. I’ll get the kids handled and pulse communicate what’s happening.”
    “Use Deegan.”
    Deegan is a psychic conduit. She can relay images like a movie to anyone in the world by touch.
    It's faster than pulse, more intimate.
    It's also off the government radar. As far as they know, she is catalogued as a four-point AFTD. Among other things. Dee is the latest Random to manifest in the nation. With a genius IQ.
    Must've skipped me.
    I smirk.
    Jade's hands fly to her hips. “What's so funny, buster?”
    I tow her behind me, careful to ring her forearm over clothes, and head to the door. We don't have time to waste on talking.
    “I'm thinking the kids are all right. Especially Deegan.”
    Jade winds her arms around my waist, and I press my lips to the top of her head.
    “I'm still pissed you won't take me,” she says against my chest.
    “I know. I gotcha,” I say against her hair.
    “I love you, you jerk.”
    I smile, though she can't see it.
    “I love you more.”
    I move through the entry door and onto the broad steps that view the grandfathered strip of lawn on the boulevard.
    Onyx gives a single sharp bark. It sounds a lot like goodbye.
    He and Jade watch through the sidelight windows flanking the solid nine-foot oak door.
    She waves once then turns away.
    Onyx stays where he is,