Page 60 of Stripe Theory

“It’s seen worse.” Alora pressed her hand against the wound, mind already calculating angles and trajectories. “Remember the protein synthesis incident?”

“We agreed never to speak of that again. Also, duck.”

Alora dropped as another burst of gunfire sailed overhead. The maintenance systems finally yielded to her hacking attempts, and she allowed herself a fierce grin as she triggered a cascade of emergency protocols.

Steam erupted from multiple vents, creating a swirling maze of cover. All the contamination was systematically sucked out of the air ducts of the building. Electrical systems surged and popped, throwing sparks that disoriented enhanced shifter senses. And then the entire HVAC system shut down completely.

Whatever Leeta had planned with the ventilation was now moot.

Each movement pulled at her injured shoulder, sending fresh waves of pain through to him. She felt Rehan fighting the urge to abandon his position and come to her aid. Below, his battle intensified – she caught flashes through their connection of him coordinating pride warriors, keeping Leeta’s forces from reaching the upper levels.

Stay focused, she sent.The ventilation is shut down. Leeta is no longer a threat.

The smile his colorful mental response sparked died instantly as she caught movement in her peripheral vision. A mercenary had gotten too close, his weapon aimed at her chest. Maya appeared out of nowhere, placing herself directly in the line of fire.

The sound of the shot seemed to echo forever.

Blood bloomed across Maya’s tactical gear as she stumbled, but somehow took down the shooter anyway. Her expression remained fierce even as pain etched new lines around her eyes.

Through their years of friendship, Alora had never seen Maya’s animal so close to the surface – her pupils elongated, teeth sharpening as she fought to maintain control.

“Next time I play hero,” Maya gasped, “remind me to wear better armor. And maybe dodge faster.”

“Maya...” Alora’s heart clenched as she moved to support her friend. The scent of blood – Maya’s blood – made her stomach roll.

“Don’t you dare stop.” Maya’s voice held steel despite her injury. “Besides, it’s just a flesh wound. The Black Knight had worse.”

FORTY-FIVE

“Now is not the time for Monty Python quotes.” But Alora’s hands trembled.

Her phone buzzed – her father’s familiar ringtone cutting through the chaos. She answered on speaker, dividing her attention between the call and watching for more threats.

“The cure component—we found it,” her father’s voice crackled through static. “But we’re under attack and the lab’s containment systems are failing. The molecular structure is destabilizing faster than we predicted. We need you here.”

Rehan, she sent through their link,part of Leeta’s team is attacking the lab.

I expected that. Security detail is prepared there.

“I’ll be there in a minute, Dad,” she replied and hung up.

Maya met her gaze, blood seeping between her fingers where she pressed against her wound. “Go. I’ll hold them here.”

“You can barely stand?—”

“Please.” Maya’s grin turned feral. “I’ve got a date with Hunter next week. You think I’m letting a little bullet wound stop me from seeing him in a suit?”

Speaking of the devil, Hunter and his men burst onto the rooftop. Gunfire erupted immediately between the two factions.

“You’re outnumbered,” Hunter yelled. “Lay down your weapons and we’ll let you live another day.”

Hunter’s here, she relayed.

Go. I’ll be at the lab soon, his thoughts reached her, warm with trust and fierce with pride,I’m with you.

“Don’t you dare die,” Alora called to Maya.

“Hunter’s here. Get the cure,” Maya ordered, deadly serious now. “Save Sierra. No arguments.”

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