Semper Mine (Sons of War #1)(26)

“Probably not,” I reply. “Did you all bring rain coats?”

They nod, even Jenna.

“Captain Mathis made us,” Lexi says.

Damn Marine. I know it’s not Captain Mathis’ fault that it’s supposed to rain, but I don’t mind blaming him for it, especially knowing I probably should’ve listened to him.

The skies are overcast but I don’t smell rain yet, and I pray not to see any until we get back in tomorrow evening.



As usual, my luck doesn’t hold long. We make it through the obstacle course, a quick lunch and then begin a hike to the private campground where we’ll be spending the night.

It starts raining an hour before we get there. Not a drizzle – a downpour. I think I’m the only one without a raincoat or poncho. At least the kids and Petr are okay, even if my mood is tanking fast. Quickly soaked and cold, I keep one eye on the kids and another on the muddy trail beneath me. Captain Mathis was right about socks, too, and I’m almost glad I listened. My feet are soaked by the end of our march.

As the last team to go through the course, we’re also the team that spent the most time in the rain.

I’m not sure what to expect when we get to the campground, but it’s not a damn tent city. There’s one that’s acting as a cafeteria and a second one for the kids then four smaller ones, one on each side, that I assume are for the counselors. The bathrooms are modern, at least.

Twisting my hair into a bun, I see the youngest boy, Rory, as he slides in the mud and lands on his face in a puddle. His pack and sleeping bag go sailing and land in a puddle. I’m the last in the caravan, so I stop to help him.

“Gotcha,” I say with a quick smile. My hands are almost numb from cold, and I haul him up.

Only to feel my feet slip in the mud.

We both crash down again. Wetness soaks through one side of me, and I resist the urge to curse in front of him.

Rory is giggling. Unconcerned with the mud, he pushes himself up to his knees and grins at me.

“You’re enjoying this.” I can’t help but smile at the look on his face.

He nods. “Do you think they have cocoa?” he asks.

“I hope so,” I reply, and carefully climb to my feet once more. Grounding myself more firmly, I offer him my hand and pull him up.

I hate being dirty. A glance down at my side shows me that I’m caked with mud. I’m already soaked through and looking forward to crawling into my sleeping bag, where it’s warm.

I spot his sleeping bag in the middle of the puddle and groan internally.

Or maybe I’ll sleep outside in the rain tonight.

“Rory, is this yours?” I ask, picking up one end.

“Yeah.” He wraps his arms around it and carries it towards the tent.

“You can’t sleep in that, honey,” I tell him. I retrieve his backpack and follow.

“Okay.”

I’m not sure what that means. I trail him into the kids’ tent. It’s warm, dry and buzzing with activity. The kids each have a cot with a trunk at the foot where they can put their bags and things. They’re talking and excited, unaffected by the rain. Captain Mathis is with the team, helping them set up their sleeping bags then stowing their stuff away so as not to look messy.

I swear – he’s got to be the most anal person I’ve ever met. Then again, he’s dry and I’m soaked through. I might need to start listening to him about the weather, if nothing else.

Trailing Rory, I’m too miserable and tired to notice perky Brianna until she addresses me.

“Oh, did you fall, Kitty-Khav?” she asks in a syrupy voice. “You should’ve checked the weather.” Unlike me, she’s dry as a bone and smiling. Her team was the first to go through the obstacle course, which meant they probably caught about ten minutes of rain, as opposed to our hour or so.

Fuck off. I don’t say it, because of the kids, but I’m definitely thinking it. I glance at her and keep walking. I’ve been practicing punching my pillow in anticipation of the day I get some alone time with her.

“Katya, I hope it’s okay, but Riley and I are going to stay with the kids tonight just to make sure there are no issues,” she calls after me.

“Sounds good,” I reply, not surprised to be exiled to the pup tents outside.

“I heard Jenna’s a bed wetter, so I’ll come get you if she has any problems.”

I stop, surprised she’d say something like that so loudly. Doesn’t she know how sensitive a kid is to something like that? I was ridiculed as a preteen for my scars; I know how cruel kids can be. Half the tent had to have heard her.

My eyes find Jenna. She’s staring at her feet, her face red. A few of the other kids snicker.

Glancing at Brianna, I see her smirk before she turns away.

Oh, hell no. I shake off my sleeping bag and start towards her, only to be stopped short when someone’s arm wraps around me. I’m pulled back against a hard body I instantly recognize.

“Not the time or place,” Captain Mathis says softly.

“You don’t f*ck with a little kid like that!” I whisper and strain against him. It’s one thing for her to pick on me, but on a sweet six year old? Who does that?

He holds me tight against him. “Stop, Katya. We’ll handle it a different way.”