He remained motionless in the center of his cell, his every sense flaring out to identify the approaching individuals. Ryland abruptly cut off telepathic communication to those of his men he could reach.

He became aware of the disturbance around him, the dark waves of intense dislike bordering on hatred preceding the group nearing the cage where he was kept. Gather information and support one another as best you can. He had to find a way for his men to break out of the laboratory. His decision would brand them as traitors, deserters, but it was the only way to save their lives.

Ryland took a deep breath, let it out slowly. We have no choice, we must treat this situation as if we were behind enemy lines. Why hadn't Cowlings listened to him? Had Cowlings accepted the sleeping pill in the hopes of a brief respite? He had to get the men out. He'd like a lab analysis of the contents. He glanced at the small white pill lying in plain sight on his end table. Don't touch the sleeping pills they gave you. Ryland had to supply the bridge, and his brain, over time, balked at the enormity of such a burden. The telepathic link between them had grown stronger as they all worked to build it, but only a few of them could sustain it for any length of time. Ryland swore softly aloud as he swept a hand over his face, trying to wipe away the pain speaking telepathically with his men cost him. Kaden responded to his emotions, the words buzzing inside Ryland's mind. Men who had wanted to serve their country and people. Can you? He had talked his men into the experiment that had landed them all in the laboratory cages in which they now resided. But he could not ignore the guilt and anger and frustration rising like a tidal wave in him as his men suffered the consequences of his decisions. He could even ignore the fact that sooner or later, he was going to slip up and his enemies would kill him. He could ignore the pain in his head, the knives shredding his skull.

Chapter One CAPTAIN Ryland Miller leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes in utter weariness. And for McKenzie King, for her dynamite smile and her help in turning those book covers in the proper direction! Special thanks to Cheryl Wilson. The first book in the GhostWalkers series, 2003 For my brother, Matthew King, many thanks for all the help with the research necessary for this book.

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