Already aboard Air Force One, Timothy Decker accepted the call from Vickers and switched on his Bluetooth. To hell with pleasantries. “Did the four Myriads in stasis escape your custody or what?”
“Yes, Mr. President.”
He balled his hands into fists. “How the hell did that happen?”
“Best we can tell, it was the Myriad, sir.”
“The cop?”
“She somehow slipped out of the nest and found the old Myriad who was helping us. Looks like they worked together to free the others. The old one’s handler is in a coma.”
“And the old Myriad? Where’s he?”
“Dead. Killed him myself.”
“Good.” One down. Five to go. Tim took a breath, steeling himself for the war ahead. “A private jet will pick you up and take you to the bunker. You’ll have all of our top military strategists at your disposal. Looks like these cockroaches aren’t going quietly, like we’d hoped.”
* * *
Aspen looked on as the members of Alpha Genesis busily scurried about the kitchen. Even the humans had been assigned posts, blending in seamlessly with the controlled chaos of meal prep. Salad and pizza were on the menu for tonight.
She glanced at her watch as everyone took seats at the table: 7:02 p.m. Skye had already added eight place settings. Out of unspoken respect for their fallen comrade, Tony’s seat remained unoccupied—flanked on both sides by the soldiers whose lives he’d saved.
Sarge cast a glance down the long table. “I see cheese, cheese, more cheese, onion, green pepper, green pepper and onion, mushroom…” He craned his neck. “Is that pineapple pizza down there?”
Those at the other end of the table nodded.
“Everything here but pepperoni, sausage, and hamburger.” He sighed. “Did you guys run out?”
Skye spoke up beside Aspen. “Shrouds are strict vegetarians.”
“Does that mean we have to be vegetarians, too?” Grubbs asked.
“It does if you want to be part of Alpha Genesis.”
“Cool name,” Lattimore said.
“Catchy,” Steiner agreed.
“Soon they’ll be asking for their own T-shirts with our logo,” Hank said.
“We have a logo?” Mrs. B asked.
“We do now.” Liam swept his blue hair aside. “I finished it this morning.”
Grubbs raised his hand. “I’d like a T-shirt.”
“You’ve got some nerve.” Hank winked. “But lucky for you, I haven’t placed the order yet.”
Chocolate milk in hand, Sarge stood from the table. “To Alpha Genesis,” he said.
Everyone raised their glass.
“Thanks to all of you—but especially Tony—these men and I will live to see another day. I vow to stand by you in battle for however long it takes to win this war and free your people.”
“And stop eating meat,” Skye added. “You forgot that part.”
With a long sigh, Sarge’s shoulders sagged in defeat. “Right. That, too.”
Aspen smiled. It looked like these particular humans were going to fit into their group just fine.
* * *
Aspen stepped out of the shower, dried off, and dressed in her pajamas. It felt good to be back in her old room. Even though she’d only slept here for two nights, she realized it already felt like home. Having access to the tunnels whenever she wanted made her feel less confined and gave her the sense of freedom she needed while living underground. She would always miss her life on the surface, but she knew this was where she belonged.
Skye had tidied up and changed the fur-ridden sheets before returning to her own bedroom next door. Everything was perfect. The only thing missing was Tora. Looked like they were back to the thirty-yard rule after all.
Tora had kept her distance throughout dinner and then ducked out after dessert. Aspen suspected she was obsessing over the sanctuary’s air filtration system and already at work on decontaminating the tunnels for safe passage. Something told her Tora would always find a project to keep herself occupied. She shook her head, wondering how long her chosen mate would stay just out of reach.
Aspen opened the bathroom door, teeth brushed and ready for bed. She smelled Tora’s perfume at once. Subtly intoxicating, it reminded her of marigolds and summer rain. Dozens of tea light candles cast flickering shadows on the rock walls. A beautiful piano melody sounded from the speakers. Tora stood from the bed.
“What’s all this?” Aspen asked.
“I promised to give you whatever you wanted if you got back safely.” Dressed in a red silk nightgown that ended just above her knees, Tora stepped over, took her by the hand, and led her to the bed. “I always keep my promises.”
“Wow,” she said, looking around the bedroom. “And all I was going to ask for was new Spidey earmuffs.”
Tora laughed. It was the carefree laugh Aspen had been longing to hear from her since they’d met. She smiled and brought a hand under Tora’s chin as she leaned in to kiss her softly on the lips. When Tora opened her mouth and invited her inside, she accepted.
They kissed slowly at first, with all the tenderness of two people falling in love. As the passion ignited between them, their tongues danced with more urgency. She unbuttoned Tora’s nightgown and slipped her hands over Tora’s breasts, down her stomach, over her hips, looking for the panties that weren’t where they were supposed to be.
“I made things easy for you,” Tora whispered in her ear as she slipped her nightgown off the rest of the way. “Your turn,” she said, easing back onto the bed.
Aspen stood in place and let her eyes roam over Tora’s body. She lifted her white tank top over her head, kicked off her pajama bottoms, and eased her body over Tora’s.
They kissed and ground against one another for long minutes. Feeling Tora on the edge, she pulled away.
“Wait. Come back,” Tora pleaded.
Aspen ignored the request and teased her way down Tora’s body with her tongue. At last, she settled between Tora’s thighs to sample the slippery sweetness that awaited her, instantly rewarded with cries of pleasure as Tora writhed beneath her.
“You better not have made me pregnant,” Tora said, breathless as Aspen lay beside her.
She laughed as Tora climbed on top and returned the favor with a skill and ferocity that left her gasping.