Page 82 of Above Cursed Winds

“Sehrin, I’ll take the left wing if you take the right,” Jeremiah murmured, killing the lights in the shelter before drawing the armor over the doors. “If we attack as a unit, we stand better odds.”

A malevolent chuckle sounded behind him. “Pass. This isn’t my clan. Myko is the only one who deserves my protection.”

“And what about Zia? Isn’t the mother of your child worth protecting?”

“If she fails to protect herself, that’s her problem, not mine.” Sehrin shrugged, casually leaning a hip against the couch. “She’s served her purpose to me.”

The sound of shattering glass sounded outside, and Jeremiah had no doubt they’d begun targeting buildings. Growling, he glanced back at Myko’s father.

“You’re a coward, Sehrin. While you may claim to have power, all you do is hide behind words.”

Turning his back on the other man, Jeremiah checked the clip before clicking off the safety. Then he was striding for the exit, intent on keeping the invading force as far away from Myko and Zia’s clansmen as possible.

Daylight streamed through the drawn blinds, but Jeremiah quickly inched open the sliding glass door and shimmied out of the gap. Though he was indeed powerless, his gifts having been too strained to be of any use, the cold metal in his hand would suffice.

Jeremiah stuck like glue to the cement foundation of Luna’s basement, eyes keen for any sign of movement. By the time he’d gotten to level ground, he knew exactly where the armed men had gone: toward the dome.

He kept to the cover of the trees before reaching his destination. The screams of terrified mothers heralded his approach, and his heart kicked when he leapt into action.

Arriving behind the mercenaries, he unloaded three bullets—and took down three men—before they turned on him. Snarling, the remaining five men pivoted, loosening their clips on him.

Fortunately, Jeremiah was no stranger to evading an aggressor.

Flipping behind a doorway, he then fired several shots through the drywall, and the heavy thunks on the other side of the wall indicated he’d met at least some of his targets. He held his position, waiting to identify who remained.

Only one enemy. But Jeremiah had already emptied his clip.

The remaining mercenary came in shooting, leveling a spray of bullets towards where Jeremiah had taken refuge. The Elemental leapt into action.

He relieved the other man of his gun and a secondary weapon, before the guy had even realized Jeremiah was in the same room. No violence was spared—and it was only a minute later before he’d choked the mercenary into submission: an everlasting sleep.

A groan in the adjoining room snapped Jeremiah’s attention back to the present, and he crept closer. Peering around the corner, he was startled to see Nolan, Nero’s lieutenant, clutching at his chest and steadily bleeding. The Raeth was propped against a wall, his sword on the floor next to him. Around him were several men Nolan must’ve killed before he’d taken a bullet.

Skidding to the side of the shuddering man, Jeremiah asked, “What do you need, Nolan? How can I help?”

“Nero—Nero already knows.” A weak cough had Jeremiah cringing. “Luna is coming, but I could use another hand.”

Instantly, Jeremiah applied pressure, frowning at the silver-red stream that dripped out from between his fingers.

“Silver bullets?”

Nolan nodded, his eyes closing. “Yes. Hurts.”

“I can imagine.” Offering the other man a tight smile, he glanced around for anything to pack the wound with. “When is Luna arriving?”

“Here, Elemental.” The voice behind him called. “Let me see, Nolan.”

Immediately, the red-haired healer set to work on her clanmate’s injuries. With a gentle hand, she staunched the blood, then began the arduous process of curing the wound.

“What were they doing in the dome?”

“They were going to the air units, Luna,” Nolan winced. “The Raeth they have working for them is a Technopath.”

Jeremiah’s attention sharpened. “Like Remmus?”

“Yes, and he’s also a Shield and a Bane; I’ve no doubt he’s the one who psychically poisoned Remmus.” Gritting his teeth, Nolan attempted to sit up. “That’s why they caught me unaware. They came from the sea, under a shield, and that Raeth who accompanied them poisoned me before I could react.”

Luna’s ice blue eyes jumped to Nolan’s, and all of a sudden, she’d forgotten about the wound in his chest and focused her efforts on the man’s mind instead. Five minutes later, after a thorough cleansing, she decreed him poison-free.

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