Chapter Eighteen

 

Bree felt a whoosh of cold wind as a man dressed all in black strode in, a hood drawn low over his face. He was tall, powerfully built. Another assassin.

A thin stream of laser-sharp light burst out of the folds in his billowing cloak. Bree’s finger depressed her weapon’s trigger at the same time the beam impacted it. Her weapon became instantly molten hot. But she so badly didn’t want to fail Ty, to be disarmed so quickly, she gripped the pistol a few seconds longer than she should have.

She stifled a yelp, dropped the pistol. She knew martial arts, but the assassin was armed. Muscles and bone didn’t fare well against superheated atoms. Her right hand throbbed, angry welts preceding the blisters she knew second-degree burns would bring. But she wasn’t going to lie down and surrender, no matter how bad the odds.

I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender my men while they still have the means to resist.

No, she hadn’t wanted this kind of attention. She’d wanted to find out Cam’s fate, and either find her, or if that was impossible, go on with her life. But she now saw that there were bigger things in the world than her own little goals. As a military officer, she’d already grasped that fact. Only now did she truly understand the concept of selfless duty.

The intruder closed the door behind him, smearing something around the entry keypad—to keep others out?

Suddenly, above Bree’s head, there was a noise in the air vent, from where the first assassin had come. The black-clad man at the door fired—not at her, but at the newest intruder.

A heavy body fell from the ceiling and landed in a heap at her feet. “More UCE scum,” the man at the door said. “It seems I was just in time, Banzai.”

She recognized the voice. She bit back her shock. “In time for what, Kyber?”

He threw off his hood, his nostrils flaring as he took in the carnage in the room. “Aren’t you going to thank me?”

“Thank you.” She swallowed. “For all you’ve done for me,” she said. Her voice sounded thick with an odd mix of gratitude and panic. “But, I’m not going with you.”

“Aren’t you?” Dressed simply in black, dark gray tattoo patterns swirling from the outer corner of one eye down to his jaw, he didn’t look like the king he was. “See this?” he said, waving a hand at the bodies all around. “This is what you can expect in the UCE.”

She said nothing. He’d come here undercover—alone, apparently; no entourage and no guards; nothing but advanced weaponry, the best money could buy in a land known for its innovative technology—and tracked her all the way to where the Shadows said she’d be safe. He had a better grip on his kingdom than she’d ever dreamed. In that instant, she both hated and admired him for it.

“I had to put down the proprietor and her security guard. No, not permanently, Banzai. Don’t look at me like that. When they wake up, they won’t remember that they were on their way to your room—or why.”

A neuron fryer! Her heart leaped. She had one of those hidden in her pocket, thanks to Lopez.

“The noise,” Kyber went on, explaining. “You did not make good guests.”

“Too bad,” Bree said with a frown. “If her security was better, we wouldn’t have had to make all the noise.”

“I doubt a simple inn’s security could have stopped the powers behind this plan.” He aimed the sleek gun at Ty.

Ty glared back at him, half-unconscious but his expression firm. Bree’s heart twisted with his heroism. Wounded, he’d killed the assassin. Now he faced his nemesis, ready to fight despite pain and blood loss. The SEALs of her day would have been proud to have this man in their ranks.

Kyber strode past her, headed for him. “Don’t touch Ty,” she warned.

The prince’s mouth tightened. “So, she has feelings for you, Armstrong. Feel blessed?”

“I never hated you, Kyber,” she blurted. “I considered you a friend.”

“A friend.” He made a face. “How sweet.” Then he aimed his pistol at Ty. “This will cook your brain before you have the chance to say ouch. So don’t try anything.” He glanced at Bree. “Sit on the bed where I can keep an eye on you. Move!” he growled when she was slow to respond.

She walked, sullenly, where he directed. As she passed Kyber, she thought she saw a flicker of remorse, of regret. “I’m not going back with you,” she told him again.

“You both are. You and Armstrong. If you think you’ll be safe anywhere else, then perhaps you’re too stupid to go through the trouble of saving. But you aren’t, Banzai. I know you are an intelligent woman. I know you’ll make the right choice.”

The right choice was risking all to get to the Shadow Voice. Somehow she knew that. She met Ty’s gaze. She was surprised by what she saw there. Maybe you will be safer with Kyber, she read in his eyes.

Frowning, she shook her head. Safety wasn’t everything. And in this situation, it meant nothing. Don’t be afraid of death; be afraid of the unlived life.

But she had to do something quick. She didn’t know what time it was, but already it was growing light outside. Any more delay, and they’d miss the morning rendezvous. She began to sweat.

Kyber crouched by Ty. The emotions passing from one man to the other almost set the air on fire. They were competitors on every level. “I’m not going to kill you,” the prince said with disgust. “But you’ll surely do it to yourself if you don’t do as I say. Convince her to come back to the palace and stay there. Anywhere else, she’ll be in danger. I’m sure you appreciate that.” Kyber’s gray eyes turned smoky and shifted to her. He added, “I’m going to treat him in order to stabilize him for transport to my physician.”

No. When he turned his attention back to Ty, Bree slowly sank her hand into her pocket and pulled out the neuron fryer. She swallowed, aimed. “So sorry,” she whispered. Then she fired. Kyber stiffened and fell over.

Bree pressed her hand to her stomach, her breaths short gulps. Then she got hold of herself. “We’ve got to go. Now!” she said to Ty.

To her amazement, Ty staggered to his feet. “The nanomeds,” he whispered. “I do believe they’ll keep me alive until we reach the Shadows.” He limped toward her, and she grabbed him by the arm.

“Let’s hope they know a good doctor, because before we go anywhere or do anything, we’re getting that hole in you patched up.”

She gave him a hug, a long and tight squeeze that she knew made all his injuries cry out in misery. But she needed it and so did he, so she held him close for a few precious seconds longer. Then they hurried from the room, bound for their meeting with the Shadows, and armed with the most coveted gift of all: freedom.