Page 64 of Tamed

“Affirmative.” The commander manipulated the holo-controls in front of him and the main display split into four segments. One took up half of the display, while three smaller partitions formed a column on the left. “We tapped into palace surveillance, but there are many blind spots. We’ll be able to see more once Arcon’s team is inside.”

The top section of the column flickered to life and displayed two of the Wraiths. Zevon believed there were a total of six, but as usual, Movu was being frustratingly secretive. These two had exchanged their traditional robes for the uniforms of palace guards and they stood there waiting for Zevon’s signal.

“Entry team, you’re clear to proceed.”

One of the Wraiths nodded and then they both ‘flowed’ through the energy barrier that formed a perimeter around the inner section of the palace. A palace guard was waiting for them on the other side. This was the operative Soro had mentioned, the one capable of bringing down the force field.

The three jogged down the hallway and stopped at a nondescript door. One of the Wraiths flowed through the door and opened it for the others. The spy stepped inside the room followed closely by the second Wraith. The door swung shut behind them.

Zevon quickly realized what the commander meant about blind spots. It would be nice to know what was going on inside that room.

Tension mounted as the pause lengthened. Was there a problem? Why was it taking so long?

The door finally opened and the spy stepped out alone. He held up his thumb and mouthed the words, “Good to go.”

The Wraiths must have flowed to their next position from inside the control room.

Zevon tried to contact Arcon telepathically but his mind was densely shielded. Not surprising. He would have done the same during a dangerous mission. He was about to ping the comm system in Arcon’s armor when the largest section of the display activated.

Arcon led his team down a corridor somewhere in the palace. Zevon wasn’t familiar with the area, but Arcon seemed to know where he was going. Arcon held a pulse pistol, his features locked in an expression of intense concentration. The triads followed close behind him, the females sandwiched between their mates.

A fresh surge of emotion reached Zevon’s mind, anxiety mixing with anger. There wasn’t much he could do now but watch, so he moved back to stand beside Kendra. “They’ll be fine. Arcon is a skilled fighter with many battles behind him. I would not have chosen him for this mission if I had any doubt that he’d succeed.”

“I’m not worried about Arcon,” she insisted. “I was thinking about Jill and Loren. They must be so scared, so defeated.”

“Not for long, my love. Arcon’s team will be there soon.”

She looked up at him and smiled, but her emotions were still volatile.

Arcon led his team down one corridor and then another. They jogged up a flight of stairs then continued on, hesitating at each corner. Arcon leaned toward the next passageway and Kendra squeezed Zevon’s arm.

“That’s the hallway I saw in my vision,” she said in an urgent whisper. “Jill’s in the bedroom two doors down on the right. Loren is on the left.”

Arcon’s mind was still shielded, so Zevon relayed the message through his audio-comm.

Suddenly, one of the Wraiths appeared at the other end of the hallway. He acted as if he were surprised to see the guards and then took off running. The guards promptly followed. Doubtlessly, the other Wraith was waiting just out of sight. Movu had trained his team well and Zevon was glad to have them.

Zevon watched closely as Arcon approached Jill’s door. Would he be able to get it open without one of the guards? Apparently anticipating the complication, the Wraith flashed back into view. He had one of the guards with him. The guard had his wrists bound in front of him, but—with some strong persuasion by the Wraith—he scanned open the door.

Raina rushed into the room and freed Jill from the bed. Eden quickly found something for Jill to wear. Jill went with them as they freed Loren and then the Wraiths teleported the traumatized females onto the Anolox.

“I’m going to go make sure they’re okay,” Kendra said as Arcon and his team reset for the next phase of their mission.

Zevon nodded, his gaze fixed on the display. Now that the captives were safe, it was time to neutralize Verbet.

Kendra took a couple of steps toward the doorway then stopped. She gasped and crossed her arms over her belly as if she were in pain. Fear and confusion pulsed across their link, urging Zevon into action. He rushed to her side and wrapped his arm around her back. “What’s wrong, love?”

She held up her hand, her body shaking as some sort of vision ripped through her. “Bomb,” she whispered.

Fear stabbed into his mind as she spoke the word. “What bomb? Where?”

Her eyes flew open and she yelled, “They’ve turned them into bombs! Jill and Loren are bombs.”

Zevon ran from the command deck, shouting orders as he went. “Isolate Jill and Loren. Everyone out!”

Kendra followed close on his heels. “We have to protect them too,” she insisted.

They reached the high security area where all passenger arrivals took place.

---