Free Nocturnal by Jami Lynn Saunders Page B

remained quiet except for the constant patter of the rain.
    He was surprised that the hyenas had agreed to Salvatore’s command that they follow only Rathbone and work together as a single pack of humans, hyenas, and werecats. But the hyenas had mixed with the larger group, which was now spread throughout the brush, everyone ready to fight to the death.
    Rathbone caught sight of several ferals. They were working their way up slowly, sniffing the air. Rathbone passed the word to the young man standing next to him, who ran several yards to the next, whispering the words “show time.”The words spread from man to man and spread downhill, into the bushes and trees.
    The ferals came. They swarmed the bridge that spanned the crevice and poured into the lower clearing that led to the hidden city of Olympia. Hungry for flesh, they screamed and howled as they ran. Rathbone continued to watch through his goggles, almost feeling pity for the beasts. He knew they were human, and he was ready to save them. He was also willing to kill every one of them. Either way, he planned to end this war as quickly as possible.
    Teargas bottles containing the cure rained down on the ferals from the treetops. Several turned to run back across the bridge, but Rathbone set off a dozen gas bombs that had been strategically placed there, keeping them confined. More than a thousand ferals were now trapped inside in the cure zone. As the smoke cleared, he saw more than a thousand naked men and women lying on the ground.
    Before hope could take root in his bosom, a second wave of ferals appeared. They rushed through the crowd of confused men and women, killing several of them.
    â€œSecond wave, go!” Rathbone shouted. More bombs were dropped as defenders rushed the fields to confront the oncoming horde of ferals. Modified rocket launchers shot canisters down the hillside. When it was over, more than three thousand ferals had regained their sanity and their human form. But the cost was more than a hundred humans, including some of Rathbone’s men and many newly converted ferals.
    A new cadet fresh out of the Olympia training program appeared, breathing heavily and wearing a worried look on her face. “Rathbone, sir. They’ve radioed from the city. Something’s wrong.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œThe call was full of static, but it was from Rebecka Hayes. I heard her say, ‘They’re here, they’re here in the city.’”
    Rathbone’s chest began to pound. “Spread the word, humans and werecats stay here, hyenas follow me back to the city!” The word spread fast. As he ran uphill to his Jeep, hundreds of hyenas were racing up the hill behind him.

    Gabriel flew the shell of a plane, anxious to make it back to his wife, daughters, and people. The engine had died moments earlier, and he struggled to keep it airborne to save himself and the men with him. By the wall of smoke a mile ahead of them, he knew the clearing below the city would not suffice. He’d have to glide up the mountain and onto the mountaintop landing strip. He knew it would take a miracle.
    Jack paced the floor, unhappy with Rebecka’s decision to keep his small group secure within the city. “We should be down there with them,” he said.
    â€œEven if we win this round, we still need you, Pippa, and Abby,” Dr. Timothy Adel said. “There’s still much left to be learned. Rebecka is right to keep you all here, safe and together.”
    â€œIt’s night. My nocturnals will be here soon. Then we’ll fly to Rathbone’s aid.”
    Rebecka took his hand. “Jack,” she whispered. “I know we’ve only known each other for a short time, but I beg you to stay here. Let your nocturnals go if you want, but stay here—for me.”
    â€œFor you? But why?”
    â€œBecause I think I love you. And I’ve never loved anyone.”
    â€œYou think you could actually