Page 42 of The Ozar Triad

“You are the obvious choice. You are fast. Lithe. You’ll take the scaled ones by surprise. We are slower. We’ll go in by force. This operation will be in and out. We go as fast as we can. Once Riley has the crystals, we retreat back into the tunnel and return to open ground. Hopefully we can find a craft and get the hells off this planet,” Rujali said.

She gave a sharp nod. She understood. She was determined. Focused. She was a professional through and through.

Klaej didn’t think he could become prouder of her.

Rujali ran through a hastily put together plan of attack. Rujali would fight those on the right. Setzan would subdue those on the left and Rujali would attack those over the crystals. Klaej listened and committed the steps to memory, seeing each stride in his mind. Rujali was the best tactician, while he was better at, well, slashing.

Rujali caught Riley’s nape in the palm of his hand and kissed her hard and fast. She stiffened for a moment, and then melted into him with a moan.

Klaej’s shaft thickened as he watched his brother kissing their mate. There was something about observing how she melted and went pliant while her mouth was ravaged that set him on fire. He wasn’t surprised how much he enjoyed watching. Rujali and his mate’s pleasure was his.

Rujali ended their harsh kiss and passed her to Setzan. He didn’t hesitate and captured her mouth in his with a desperation born of heading into battle. Riley threw her arms around his neck and the muscles in her arms flexed as she locked him tight against her. Setzan’s hand slid down her back to cup her backside. He gripped a plump cheek and ground her against his growing erection. Her hips twitched in response.

Oh, yes. Their mate was exceptionality responsive.

Setzan withdrew. Riley’s gaze was unfocussed, her lips plump and wet. Setzan smirked and turned Riley towards Klaej. He didn’t bother hiding his erection, grinding it into her soft belly. He wound one arm about her shoulders, a hand resting on her plum backside before slashing his mouth over hers. His tongue dove into her wet heat. She met his movements with a bold sweep of her tongue.

Reluctantly, he ended their kiss. It wasn’t enough. It would never be enough, but there was nothing he could rectify about it.

It was not the time for any more kissing. Now was the time for battle.

Chapter Seventeen

Riley

Rujali’s plan was swift, brutal, and, she had to admit, very good. He was a talented tactician. Knowing that made him all that sexier.

And that kiss. From each of them.

Searing.

It had taken her a couple of seconds to ground herself, and then she scurried behind Rujali, following him around the corner into the bright cavern beyond. Everything was laid out as he’d said.

They moved swiftly and quietly as a team should. One monster turned, its beady eyes locking on them, and let out a squeak. The others turned and in that instant her men roared loud enough to just about rupture her ears.

Rujali swiped down with a lazy sweep of his sword. A Reptilian arm bounced across the ground, green blood spurting from the severed end. Setzan stepped next to his brother and rammed his rifle into the underbelly of another Reptile and squeezed the trigger. The creature was blown backwards from the force of the bullet. Her legs went weak. She had to get her hands on one of those. Klaej crashed into another Reptile, sending the creature to the ground before stabbing another in the middle of its chest.

They moved in complete synchronization with each other and made the perfect path for her to dart through. She had her eyes on the prize.

Three of the most beautiful crystals were aligned on a sleek bench. Each was about thirty centimeters high the width of her fist. They let off a subdued light. One was a bright purple magenta, the other swirls of sea-green, and the middle was bright, shining gold.

Once her eyes fell on the golden crystal, she couldn’t take her eyes off it. Somehow, she was at the bench, her hand fisted around the crystal. Only this time it didn’t sear her. A golden light exploded from deep within and encircled her with warmth. Motes of different shades of gold and flecks of silver danced in the light. It was as though, with her touch, the crystal had come alive.

Warmth flooded her hand and travelled through the entire length of her body. A gamut of emotions poured through her: Bliss. Despair. Elation. Horror. She was ripped from one to the polar opposite of the other so fast it was a blur. Her mind reeled in the turmoil, heart hammering as she experienced each and every emotion as they spun through her.

Another burst of light erupted from the ends of the crystal and she was caught in a golden glow of circling dust. She felt as though she was spinning uncontrollably through a supernova. Love so intense she had no name for it left her breathless. She’d never felt a love as powerful. So right. So… everything. She never wanted to stop feeling it. All she wanted to do was lie down, forget everything, and bask in it forever.

A clawed hand raked over hers, dislodging her hand from the crystal. Her breath caught as the golden light and love shattered around her, although the crystal still glowed with an achingly beautiful intensity.

She snapped back to the battle. She rammed her blade beneath a monster’s jaw, the tip of the blade appearing on the top of its snout. Green blood spurted from the wound and down her hand. Its eyes rolled back in its head and it sank to the floor.

Forcing the sounds of battle behind her, she turned her attention back to the crystals. Wires were attached the top and bottom of each crystal. She didn’t know if this was a good or bad thing, but she ripped them all off.

When the last wire came off, sirens screamed so loud they must have been able to be heard in the next galaxy. There would be only one reason for something like that to be so loud—reinforcements.

“Got ’em. Retreat!” she yelled, gathering the crystals in her arms.

Rujali, Setzan, and Klaej fought the slashing tails and kicks from the Reptiles. She dodged one way and then the next, ducking beneath Rujali’s arm and then sidestepping around Setzan. They cleared a path to allow her to pass.

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