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“Yes... I am. But, Eva, I don’t want you to say anything now. I want you to think about it.”
She couldn’t move, couldn’t speak. Was she breathing?
Marriage? Her?
“Eva?” Her father knelt in front of her chair. “The decision will always be yours. And if you agree, we can add any stipulations you want to. But please understand this treaty would put an end to an almost decade-old feud. I need you to consider this.”
She couldn’t look at him, but she slowly nodded. For her people, she could consider this.
He rubbed her shoulders, then stood, moving behind his desk. “Good. Now there’s something else. I need you and your crew to deliver a letter to the Skyline Sanctuary outpost. The letter has a list of the survivors of the caravan and explains the events that took place during the trek here. I know the settlement is anxious to hear if their people arrived safely. Also, we need a log of the current weather patterns happening in the valley. Winter will be here before we know it, and it’s vital we keep track of it. We need to know if the patterns are worsening.”
She looked up at his words. A mission? Yes, she could focus on a mission for the settlement and not the—
“Eva, you know the outer points of the valley are a safer place to camp.”
She nodded and stood. “I do. I’ll leave as soon as I can get the crew and gear ready.”
He approached with quick steps and handed her the letter meant for the Skyline Sanctuary, then wrapped his arms around her, embracing her in a hug.
“Eva, be safe. And think about what we talked about. I’d like to have your answer before the annual Harvest Celebration.”
One of her hands clasped her father’s back. “I understand.”
With stiff movements, she turned from her father and walked out into the morning air.
Chapter 3
Three days later, Krieger stood with a few other members of the crew near the elevator shaft. He was still unable to get the image out of his mind of Eva’s pale, stony expression when she told him she was mission bound and wouldn’t be able to take him on a tour of Everwood.
It hadn’t taken much to convince her that she would need him on her crew. She seemed lost in thought the whole conversation, no doubt working in his favor in her allowing him to go.
But hell, she had saved his life, the least he could do was watch her back. He owed her that much, didn’t he?
Besides, his stitches had come out, and he was feeling better. He was ready to see what his new life would be like as a soldier in this settlement, which apparently included new clothes and weapons.
Eva had introduced him to the man in charge of outfitting all the soldiers, Tucker Sanders.The eccentric man’s voice had an edge of excitement as he talked of battle weaponry and the bag of survival gear he gave him.
Even the white hair at his temples seemed to stand on end as he packed for Krieger. Tucker’s smile had extended ear to ear, exposing his silver-capped teeth, which brought a spark of joy to Krieger’s face.
His good mood was ruined, though, when he saw “tall, broad, and dangerous” walk down the steps to the elevator, gear in hand—the badass who had stood next to Eva on the stage the other day. Their eyes met briefly, and his dark eyes seemed to say, back the hell off.
With a deep sigh, Krieger pressed off the wooden wall to introduce himself. After all, they were going on the same mission. Comradery and all, right?
Or was that keep your friends close but your enemies closer?
Either way, friend or foe had yet to be decided.
Krieger widened his stance as he stopped in front of him. “I’m Krieger, seems we’ll be working together.” His outstretched hand hung heavy in the air.
Dark Eyes knelt down to his bag of gear. “I know who you are, Krieger.”
As he straightened, it became obvious Krieger was the taller man, but Dark Eyes didn’t seem to care.
Krieger kept eye contact. “You are?”
“Derek Conroy.” Derek’s toes butted his as his chin rose higher. “I’m second-in-command on these missions. I hope you can take orders.”
Krieger held his position. “I seem to have made it this far.”
