Chapter One
Kaia
Kaia stared out at the vast desert beyond the walls of the compound. The area was once filled with lush greenery and the scent of flowers, but that was decades ago. One hundred years after war had destroyed Xaria, leaving much of the planet a wasteland, pockets of Xarians struggled to survive.
Kaia remembered the stories her Gran told, stories of the world before the war. There were parties, and dancing, and although some Xarians were poor, everyone had enough to eat.
So why did the different city-states go to war? Greed. Some had more than others, and it was coveted. Now those who were left paid the price for that greed.
"You look like someone with a lot on their mind."
Kaia turned her head to the speaker. Micah had joined their small community two months prior. He was a quiet man, and although he was new, she found him easy to talk to. He’d left his former community because the compound leader was cruel and their beliefs didn’t line up.
"I was just thinking about some stories my Gran used to tell me when I was little. It's hard to believe this all used to be green."
The compound had a small garden they'd painstakingly grown, but it wasn't enough to feed everyone all the time.
"I've seen photos of what Xaria looked like before the war. It was beautiful."
She moved so she could lean against the parapet that encircled the walls of the compound. "I'll bet." She studied him for a moment. "I'm going to have to take a trip into Duskcairn soon. I overheard you telling Rafe you needed to replace a broken wrench. You're welcome to tag along."At least he's talking to someone, she silently mused.
"That'd be great, thanks. Just let me know when and I'll be ready."
"Sure thing." She nodded at him and walked away. She had a million things to get done—it felt like it anyway—and only so many hours in the day.
"There you are, Kaia. I've been looking for you. A call just came through for you. It's Aimee," Tala told her.
At the name, she increased her pace so she could get to the old comm unit. Almost a year ago, Aimee had gotten into a drunken brawl in Duskcairn. Normally that wouldn't have been a big deal, but she'd made the mistake of picking a fight with a high ranking member of the Void Syndicate, who just happened to be the law in Duskcairn.
"Aimee, you still there?"
"Kaia! About time! Um, I need you to come get me. Now."
"Wait. You're out early? You had another month to go."
"Yep." The younger woman popped the last letter.
"Shit! Fuck, damn, motherfucking shit! Okay. I'll be there as soon as I can. Do not, I repeatdo notgamble! I know the viper that hangs around there and you do not want to owe him."
"Fiiine. I won't, but hurry."
“I mean it, Aimee. I know you. I know how much you like to gamble, but he’s not someone to fuck with.”
“I said I won’t. Just get here already! Jeez!”
She ended the connection on the communicator and tore through the compound, barking orders. "I need a rover ready to go to Duskcairn in five minutes!"
She bolted into the quarters she shared with her partner, Rafe, and almost tumbled into his lap because she stopped so quickly. "She's out! Aimee's out! I'm headed in to get her now. Want to come with?"
"I'm really not feeling like taking the trip. I'll see her when she gets back," came his less than enthusiastic reply.
"Suit yourself," Kaia replied, her voice neutral. In recent weeks he'd gone from attentive and always part of the action to dismissive and aloof. She didn't know what was going on with him, but she was close to her breaking point.
Pushing her personal issues to the back of her mind, she strapped on her holster, along with her pistols, tucked daggers into their holders at her hips, and added a third, longer blade, to the sheath she always had strapped to her back. On her way to the rover, she grabbed two larger guns and arched a brow at the large man sitting behind the wheel. "You get shotgun, Tuck, or get the fuck out."
"You're the boss," the man replied before he moved over to the passenger seat.
Tuck was a beast of a man. He'd been the sole survivor of a reaver attack when he was thirteen. He'd survived for twenty four years, on his own, in the badlands until they'd crossed paths ten years ago. At forty-seven, he could run circles around men half his age.
