Love of War

Salem Cross Love of War First published by Wet Ink Publishing House, LLC 2023 Copyright © 2023 by Salem Cross All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission. This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental. Cover & Editors Cover By: Covers by Christian Editor: Chrisandra’s Corrections First edition This book was professionally typeset on Reedsy Find out more at reedsy.com Contents Blurb 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 Love of Anarchy Books By Salem Cross Blurb The Four Horsemen are missing. With the impending demise of a civilization approaching, Lucifer wastes no time declaring that their strongest next of kin will ride by his side. As one of the many sired by War, I have no choice but to partake in the deadly competition known as the Apocalypse Trials. If I want to live long enough to see the apocalypse, I’ll have to do whatever it takes to win. I can use all the help I can get. So, when sons of Famine, Pestilence, and Death suddenly show up at my doorstep, I agree to work together as a team. No one warned us what would happen when the four bloodlines unite. Author’s Note of Caution Violence, dark themes such as murder, self-flagellation, and light dubcon Chapter One Warren Perched on top of the city wall, I can see for miles out into the vast desert. The cracked clay ground, a few tumbleweeds, and the random cactus are the only constants out there. The bodies currently littering the ground are common, but not as constant as everything else out there. Those come and go. With the summer solstice upon us, the tribes that prefer to live out in the unruled, unestablished, and wild landscape are growing desperate for food, water, and shelter from the sun. As they always do. Each year, droves of them come from every direction, seeking access into the oasis that is Isle of Reverent to pillage for their own gains. And each year, thousands die in their suicidal mission. Really, out of the nine planets that make up Hell, you’d think they’d find a more inhabitable place to live. Here on Planet Five, there are expansive oases littered across the planet between the otherwise barren continents, but to live within those walled up paradises you have to conform. These guys just don’t seem to get it. They haven’t evolved with the times and it’s hurting them. Not only do these tribes constantly fight among themselves, they fight within their own hierarchy. When they do manage to scrounge up a few fighters and head this way, it’s on broken carts, lame horses, and their fighters are undertrained. Honestly, it’s just sad. The Isle of Reverent may be in the middle of nowhere on Planet Five, but it’s the richest and safest, and houses some of the happiest residents. Not a lot of ‘bad’ happens here. Five hundred years ago, I enjoyed the random scrimmages. It broke up the monotony of the day. Now, it’s just pathetic. I use these scrimmages to let my newer soldiers get some training and to treat the boredom. “—a hundred and eighty-nine dead, six severely injured, and when we went to disband a few of their vehicles, we found bombs. Lots of bombs.” Beside me, my second-in-command, Devon, ticks off the details of the latest fight. Her hulking presence casts a shadow over me as she moves closer to peer below us. “Boes and Manny have made more this month in their gambling than I think Mayor Stein has stashed away in his vault.” My teeth grind together. “The older soldiers need to stop betting on the newer one’s ability to hold their breakfast in after a fight. The rebel tribes may be annoying, but they are still living beings who deserve a modicum of respect, even in death. Once the bodies are cleaned up, make sure everyone knows the betting stops today.” “Of course, Captain.” I sigh as I lift a booted foot and place it on the edge of the wall. “How much did you make?” Devon chuckles. “Enough to pay for a round of drinks tonight at the bar.” “I’ll hold you to that.” Devon’s chuckling becomes laughter. My mouth twitches, but I don’t allow myself to smile. There is death below us. Even though we successfully managed to keep yet another raid from taking place, we had to take lives for that to be avoided. That’s nothing to smile at. At least I keep telling myself that. The sinister voice inside my head is whispering insistently that I should go down there, yank the eyes out of each corpse, and add them as ornamental pieces to the spikes attached to the iron gate at the North Entrance to the city. It also laughs right along with Devon. This side of me doesn’t care that the bodies littered below are men and women that could have been mothers, fathers, sisters, or brothers to those back home. This part of me doesn’t care at all. And it’s because of that lack of concern that I make sure to never act upon the wickedness that I dream about at night. Or allow it to slip out into my