Nomad Mortis Read online

  CONTENTS

  Dedication

  Legal

  Image

  Timeline

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Epilogue

  Author Notes - Craig Martelle

  Author Notes - Michael Anderle

  Craig Series List

  Michael Series List

  Social Links

  They say behind every great man, is a great woman,

  but what if the woman is a Werewolf?

  DEDICATION

  We can’t write without those who support us

  On the home front, we thank you for being there for us

  We wouldn’t be able to do this for a living if it weren’t for our readers

  We thank you for reading our books

  Nomad Mortis

  The Terry Henry Walton Chronicles

  Team Includes

  BETA / EDITOR BOOK

  See Craig’s author notes

  JIT Beta Readers - From both of us, our deepest gratitude!

  Alex Wilson

  Kelly ODonnell

  Joshua Ahles

  Micky Cocker

  James Caplan

  Ginger Sparkman

  Kimberly Boyer

  Paul Westman

  John Findlay

  Keith Verret

  Thomas Ogden

  John Raisor

  Sherry Foster

  If I missed anyone, please let me know!

  NOMAD MORTIS (this book) is a work of fiction.

  All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Sometimes both.

  Copyright © 2017 Craig Martelle and Michael T. Anderle

  Cover by Andrew Dobell, www.creativeedgestudios.co.uk

  Cover copyright © LMBPN Publishing

  LMBPN Publishing supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  LMBPN Publishing

  PMB 196, 2540 South Maryland Pkwy

  Las Vegas, NV 89109

  First US edition, June 2017

  Version 1.0

  Editing by Mia Darien, www.miadarien.com

  The Kurtherian Gambit (and what happens within / characters / situations / worlds) are copyright © 2017 by Michael T. Anderle.

  Find the high-res version here:

  http://kurtherianbooks.com/timeline_jeff/

  TIMELINE

  World’s Worst Day Ever (WWDE)

  WWDE+20 years – Terry Henry Walton Returns to humanity

  Nomad Found

  Nomad Redeemed

  Nomad Unleashed

  WWDE+23 years – Terry & Char get married in New Boulder

  Nomad Supreme

  WWDE+24 years – The move to North Chicago is complete, Kaeden & Kimber join Terry & Char’s family

  Nomad’s Fury

  WWDE+25 years – Cordelia is born

  Nomad’s Justice

  WWDE+50 years – Terry Henry is taken prisoner

  Nomad Avenged

  WWDE+50-100 years – Nomad Mortis

  WWDE+125 years – Nomad’s Force

  WWDE+145 years – Nomad’s Galaxy

  PROLOGUE

  “Company, Ah-Ten-Shun!” Terry ordered.

  The four platoons snapped to the position of attention and locked their bodies in place.

  “Warriors to be retired, front and center, march!” Terry commanded.

  A small formation in the back of the company ordered a right face, forward march, column left, and proceeded marching until they were standing in front of Colonel Walton.

  Captain Mark ordered a hand salute. Blackbeard and Lacy mirrored his motions.

  “Ready, two.” And they dropped their salutes.

  “At ease,” Terry ordered loud enough for all to hear.

  He was ready to deliver a speech, but couldn’t find the words. He waved the group behind him to join him; Jim, James, Gerry, and Kiwi rushed forward.

  Ayashe started shaking her head as she watched her parents add to the complete breakdown in discipline. Char joined her husband. Terry and Char held hands as the groups converged. The platoons remained in formation until their platoon sergeants called them to attention and dismissed them.

  Mayra had promised the best feast ever. One steer and two hogs were turning on three different spits. There was even a barbecue sauce made from sugar beets that the older people said rivaled anything from the before time.

  Char’s pack squeezed in around her. One fewer, leaving them with only six. She knew there were three more in Kentucky and now they had a pod for their own use. She knew what she wanted to do with it. All she had to do was convince TH.

  Cory, Marcie, Kae, Kim, Auburn, and the grandchildren watched from the side, talking among themselves as siblings would.

  Joseph leaned more deeply into the shadows. It had turned into a very sunny day. He was feeling sated after being allowed to drain the cow’s blood before it was slaughtered. He would enjoy the celebration by spending time with his friend, Terry Henry Walton.

  But first, there had to be a few words around the fire for those who had died—two privates, Adams, and Billy Spires.

  Felicity wore a black armband in honor of her dead husband.

  Terry worked his way away from the retirees to stand alone at the side, watching those who had risked all to free him. He didn’t think he had earned that, although he was happy they’d come. Beneath the surface of his smiling persona, the fire burned.

  His eyes glowed red briefly, extinguished through his force of will. Kirkus didn’t know what he unleashed. The war with the Forsaken had only just begun.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Los Angeles, in old California, WWDE + 50

  “Cut him off! Cut him off!” Char yelled into her communication device.

  Lieutenant Boris triggered his device to confirm the order while yelling at first platoon to haul ass to their secondary location.

  Terry Henry Walton slapped Char’s butt as he ran past, and she took off after him. He had to slow down to let her catch him. Terry became inordinately happy when the guillotine was ready to fall on the next Forsaken.

  He had become obsessed with removing the Forsaken threat from planet Earth. He didn’t want anyone to go through what he’d been through, survive what the oldster
s in Cheyenne Mountain had survived.

  He had declared the Forsaken a blight to be wiped out. Terry’s moral compass wavered, but he was convinced he was right. He insisted that Joseph be by his side for one final vetting before condemning the Vampires to death.

  Akio approved.

  Not that last part, just the first bit where the Forsaken as a whole were meant to be wiped out.

  Akio and Joseph were not friends, though Joseph had earned Akio’s begrudging respect. The Forsaken had Terry and Char’s complete trust.

  Terry and Char ran like the wind, gaining on the Forsaken. When he emerged from a tunnel, he found himself facing first platoon, lined up to bring the maximum amount of firepower to bear.

  Boris barked, “Snipers!” And five shots rang out. The Forsaken flew backward from the impacts, gasping and wincing as each silver-tipped round slammed through his body. Surprisingly, he didn’t go down.

  “Cease fire, we’re coming out of the tunnel,” Terry yelled into his comm device as he and Char continued to run. Joseph was struggling in the rear. The colonel heard Boris order the cease-fire.

  Terry and Char slowed when they reached the end of the tunnel so Terry could announce their arrival. “Colonel and Major coming out!”

  Silence greeted them as they walked into the open. The Forsaken was still standing, but he had his hands on his knees and was gulping for air. They waited at the entrance for Joseph before approaching their enemy.

  “Good morning,” Char said in a light voice.

  “I’m not sure it’s so good for him,” Terry added.

  Char shrugged one shoulder.

  “Maybe we should tell you, may all your mornings suck worse than this one, but then again, you probably aren’t going to have any more mornings, so say your peace. Tell us that which will give you solace in your final moments. Out with it, so we can get on with the business of killing you,” Terry said matter-of-factly, watching for the creature to start squirming.

  “Come on, TH, enough with being an asshole. Just kill it,” Char grumbled.

  Joseph walked past them, approached the Forsaken, and put a hand on its shoulder as if they were old friends.

  “He will kill you, you know,” Joseph stated. The injured Vampire struggled to stand upright. Joseph helped to steady the creature

  “Why? I wasn’t bothering anyone,” the creature stuttered.

  “Au contraire, asswipe. You’ve been feeding on humans, and that’s a big no-no,” Terry answered as he drew his short cavalry blade.

  Despite Terry and Char’s concerns, Aaron and Yanmei had gone back into Mammoth Cave and recovered Terry’s gear. They understood the symbolism of returning Terry in one piece, triumphantly.

  They’d done exactly that. When the four pods landed in Mayor’s Park, the rescuers and the rescued alike walked out with pride and honor.

  Terry couldn’t express his appreciation enough to those who risked it all to help him escape. He didn’t want to put them in that position again, so to him, the answer was simple.

  No Forsaken equaled no unwanted guests kidnapping people.

  The logic was irrefutable in Terry’s mind.

  Joseph stayed between Terry and the other Forsaken. “I’m Joseph. What’s your name?”

  The Forsaken snarled and growled at Joseph, clamping his jaws shut as a final act of defiance.

  “As you wish,” Joseph replied and stepped away.

  Terry’s eyes flashed red while Char’s started to glow a soft purple. The Forsaken lunged.

  The blade flashed, and Terry stepped aside to let the headless body stumble and fall to the ground where Terry had been standing.

  He looked to Char. She closed her eyes briefly and ventured into the etheric. “All clear.” She blinked her vision clear and locked eyes with her husband.

  Terry thrust one finger in the air and twirled it. “Mount up!” he yelled.

  Joseph looked at the corpse, mumbled a few words under his breath, and walked away.

  Terry cleaned his sword on the Forsaken’s clothes and put it back in its scabbard. He took Char’s hand.

  “Shall we?” she asked.

  “Yes, we shall,” Terry agreed. Without looking at the shriveling body, they turned and headed toward the pod. Terry started to whistle.

  “You know that hurts my ears,” Char claimed, pointing to the silver streak of hair framing one side of her face.

  “I’m sorry,” Terry apologized. “I could believe that the dog whistle hurts Cory’s ears, but you’re as human as I am.”

  Terry raised an eyebrow as he expected an outburst and a quick wrestling match.

  “That cuts me deep, Terry Henry. If I had known that you were prejudiced against Werewolves, I would have never spent all these years with you ravishing your body. You shame me, sir!”

  Terry smiled, but his mood soured. He turned serious. “Kirkus fired the first shot. Fuck him and his kind. We’ll respond with broadsides until they keep their ugly heads out of sight, and then we’ll root them out and watch the sun burn them alive.”

  “Whatever you feel you have to do,” Char replied cautiously. “As long as it doesn’t detract from the community. We have people there who are counting on us.”

  Terry gripped her hand tightly and chewed on the inside of his lip.

  “I can’t get it out of my head. Getting ripped apart while in chains, getting pummeled. I know it’s just pain, but it was the feeling of helplessness.” Terry stopped walking and looked at the ground. His hand hung limply in Char’s.

  “Helpless? You killed eight of them before they subdued you. Then you killed one more while in captivity, and then you killed Kirkus himself after being tortured. That doesn’t sound helpless to me, TH! And you knew that we’d be coming for you, too,” Char told him, purple eyes sparkling as she smiled.

  “I know what this is about, TH,” Char went on softly, now frowning. “This is about your self-recrimination from when Melissa was killed. There, you were helpless. She was already dead. The only thing you had left was vengeance. With Kirkus? All you needed to do was buy time. It was completely different this time, love. You have absolutely nothing to feel bad about.”

  Char moved in front of him and straightened his eyebrows with one index finger, drawing it slowly over his eyes. “You’ve got a couple crazy hairs going on here. I’ll need to clip those when we get back.”

  Terry wanted to laugh, but Melissa was on his mind. It had been forever since her murder. He knew that he’d been forgiven because he forgave himself. Kirkus was still in his head, but TH comforted himself by thinking of how he ripped the creature’s head off.

  The colonel had practiced with his sword. The latest fight proved how much he’d improved.

  “One of your cleaner cuts, TH. I like the improved technique,” Char said as she trailed a finger down his face to gently caress his lips.

  “I want a clean kill. Even the Forsaken shouldn’t have to suffer,” Terry replied as his blue eyes grew ice cold. “I guess I became judge and jury too, and their sentence is a foregone conclusion. Their crime is their very existence, and I’m going to fucking kill them all.”

  North Chicago

  Felicity sat in the mayor’s office looking at the chalkboard with the columns and the numbers. Sue was there and had just updated the board after hearing the latest reports.

  “What are those Weathers’ boys doing out there?” she asked.

  The cattle herd was growing faster than the demands for meat.

  “We need more people, or the Weathers clan is going to have to keep those bulls penned up,” Sue replied before pointing to a different column. “Fishing fleet is maintaining status quo.”

  Felicity mumbled her agreement.

  “I could use some sun. Join me?” Felicity got up from her desk and headed for the door. She didn’t have to ask Sue twice.

  When they made it outside, Sue already had her shirt tied up, exposing her tight abs.

  They found a spot on the grass and l
aid down.

  “Tell me about Ted,” Felicity asked out of the blue.

  “What?” Sue asked, rolling on her side to see if Felicity was joking.

  Felicity played with the blades of grass. “I don’t want to outlive another man,” she whispered, looking ashamed for saying the words out loud.

  Sue had not worried about that aspect since she’d only had two partners and they were both Werewolves. Normal humans never held any appeal because they were too fragile.

  “Ted has one of the kindest souls you’ll ever meet, but he can be so infuriating. He doesn’t even know you exist ninety-nine percent of the time. That’s probably the worst of it. All you have to do is be inside the small window through which he is looking at that moment, and it’s good. Otherwise, you might as well be alone,” Sue advised.

  “I already am alone, and I have been for some time,” Felicity confided.

  The wolf pack ran into Mayor’s Park followed closely by a braying coonhound pup, and then Cory. She’d always commanded the respect of the wolf pack since she had grown up with them as the alpha’s favorite. Felicity had hoped Ted would be with the pack. Sue was glad that he wasn’t.

  ***

  The pod landed in the new landing zone, the LZ, on what used to be the naval station’s athletic fields. They’d become heavily overgrown over the past fifty years, but the warriors weren’t deterred. They’d hacked the growth away, then lit a fire to clear the rest. The fire burned out of control briefly, but after a short period of panic and flailing, the FDG stopped it from spreading.

  The buildings beside the LZ were being recovered and rebuilt into a proper barracks to house the entirety of the Force de Guerre. The motor pool was on the back side along with the lake. That gave the FDG the most options for a quick response.