Page 19 of Jude

Her nerves were shredded. She never used to be like this. She always considered herself cool in any situation. She’d become too used to being a shut-in and was paying the price.

And now this. Her van had finally died when she needed it the most.

Sliding from the driver’s seat, Octavia returned to her radio kit in the back. She couldn’t give away her exact location, it was too much of a risk, but she needed Jude to know she was no longer mobile.

She faded out the song. “My transport has decided I need a little fresh air. I’ll be on the lookout for anyone I can hitch a ride with. I’m almost there. I’ll be watching out for you.”

Octavia hoped it wasn’t too cryptic a message. She needed Jude to get there fast. The longer she stayed on this road, the bigger the risk. Any second now, a drone would do a fly past. It would pick up the heat signature from her dying engine and come take a closer look.

Octavia holstered her pulse laser and slid open the door. She stepped out onto the road. This was a three-lane motorway. It would have been rammed with thousands of cars not so long ago. People commuting to work, cursing and swearing as they were made late by the traffic. The eerie silence unsettled her. This felt so alien.

She couldn’t be more than three miles from the meet-up point. If Jude had come to meet her halfway, he’d almost be there. She only needed to wait a few more minutes and everything would be fine.

When had she become such a scaredy-cat? Her fingers moved to her scars. She used to work deep undercover in terrorist cells. She’d brought down more than a dozen. Sleeping with a gun under her pillow was an everyday occurrence. She was used to danger and risk. This felt different, and she didn’t like it.

Octavia walked to the front of the van and scanned the empty road ahead of her. She knelt and pressed a hand to the ground. There was nothing. She’d hoped to feel the vibrations of another vehicle approaching.

She returned to the van, a sliver of sadness running through her at the thought of having to abandon it. She’d planned to take it with her, back to wherever it was Jude and his brothers lived. There was no way she’d be able to take it now.

Quickly, she gathered her music files and slid them into a backpack. She also took a few mobile comms scanners and data chips that contained scanning programs.

Octavia looked around the rest of the van. She collected the only picture she had of her family. That was it. The whole contents of her life filling half a backpack.

Grabbing her cap and a black scarf, she wrapped the scarf around the lower part of her face and pulled the cap on. She made sure her hair was loose, concealing as much of the scars on her face as possible. If she kept angled away from Jude, she would prevent him from seeing her scars. The fact it was night helped. He might not notice what was wrong with her for a while.

She stepped out of the van and froze. She could hear a faint rumble. It was quiet, most likely a hydrogen-propelled vehicle. She touched the ground again. Yes, something was coming. It was cloaked. She’d expected them to be. Jude had told her not to be surprised if he appeared out of thin air.

Still, she took a step back as a huge, black military vehicle appeared in front of her.

It stopped. No one got out.

Octavia swallowed, suddenly nervous. What if it wasn’t them? She shook her head. She knew what vehicles State militia used. This wasn’t one of them. It had to be Jude.

Taking a deep breath, Octavia raised a hand.

The driver’s door opened. A tall guy dressed in black stepped out. His hand was on the pulse laser in his weapons belt. “Octavia?”

She smiled, and the aching tension in her shoulders eased. She’d recognize that voice anywhere. “You got my message.” She took a couple of steps toward Jude. He was better looking in person. She’d looked up pictures of Jude Ember online and seen a serious, dark-haired guy who never seemed to smile. She couldn’t see them in the dark, but she knew he had piercing green eyes, just like his brothers.

“We got it,” he said. “You had a problem with your vehicle?” His voice was calm and low.

“She died on me when I needed her the most.”

“You sound just like you do on the radio.” A smile traced across Jude’s face.

“So do you,” said Octavia. “I mean, you sound like you do when we talk.” She reached up to adjust her cap and stopped herself. She had to keep her scars hidden.

Jude looked over his shoulder. “Lincoln. Come take a look at Octavia’s vehicle.”

The passenger door opened. Octavia knew who this was. She’d seen pictures of him, as well. Lincoln Ember. He had an easy swagger as he walked up and winked at Octavia, Jude right beside him.

“It’s nice to meet you,” said Lincoln. “I love to listen to you when I’m alone in my room at night.”

Octavia raised her eyebrows. “Is that a good thing?”

“Ignore him,” growled Jude. “He’s never alone in his room. He has his dragon mate and daughter with him.”

“They like your music too.” Lincoln gave Jude a cheeky smile.