Page 89 of Dark Rebel's Reckoning

"It has to be quick," Kyra said softly. "The longer we wait, the more time the Doomers have to make their move."

She was right, of course.

"What about transport on the ground?" Max asked. "We'll need multiple vehicles, safe houses, a secure route to the extraction point."

"Already arranged." Turner tapped his yellow pad with his pen. "We have a large safe house for you and several vehicles."

They continued hashing out details for another thirty minutes or so—contingency plans, communication protocols, equipment needs. Max contributed where appropriate, and so did Kyra.

She was definitely in her element—strategic planning, identifying vulnerabilities, anticipating obstacles.

His warrior queen.

It struck him again how perfectly matched they were. Both fighters, both willing to risk everything for those they considered family or helpless. The thought sent a warm current through his chest that had nothing to do with physical attraction.

Well, there was always that, but this was different. It had an additional dimension to it. A sense of his very soul expanding. This was a new sensation for him and now that he owned it, he vowed to do all he could to preserve and nourish it.

Finally, Onegus glanced at his watch. "We should wrap this up. You all need rest before tomorrow. Ten hundred hours at the airstrip."

52

KYRA

The penthouse was quiet when Kyra and Max returned from the briefing. The living room was empty, and for a moment, Kyra wondered if everyone had gone to bed, but then she heard soft voices drifting from the girls' rooms.

"They're still up," she murmured, relieved she would have a chance to see them once more before going to sleep. She needed to hug each and every one of them.

Max squeezed her hand gently before releasing it. "Go, do some bonding with your nieces. I'll be in the home office, going over the mission specs again."

Kyra nodded. "Thank you," she said, suddenly feeling the inadequacy of words.

How did you properly thank someone who had not only risked his life to save yours, but was willing to risk it again for people he'd never met, simply because they mattered to you?

"No thanks needed," Max replied with that crooked smile that never failed to stir something inside her. "Get some rest, my warrior queen. Tomorrow we fight."

As he disappeared down the hallway to the office, Kyra watched him walk with that confident swagger of a man who knew his own worth. Only when he was out of sight did she head toward the sound of voices.

She found Jasmine and the girls in Arezoo and Laleh's room, Jasmine sitting cross-legged on the floor between the two beds. The girls were wearing new pajamas, looking impossibly young and sweet with their damp hair and fresh faces.

"Everything okay?" Kyra asked from the doorway.

Five heads turned toward her. Jasmine's face lit up with a smile that was quickly followed by a more complicated expression—relief mingled with worry.

"We were just talking about the village," Jasmine said.

"Did you hear anything about our family?" Arezoo asked.

"They're all safe for now. Extra security has been posted at each sister's home."

"They can't stop the bad people," Laleh said softly. "They have magic," she added in a whisper.

"It's not magic," Arezoo said. "They have mind control like what Max showed us. But you are right. The regular guards can't stop them."

Kyra crossed the room and sat on the edge of Laleh's bed. "You're right," she said, not sugarcoating the reality. These girls had endured too much to be patronized now. "But we're going to get them out."

"All of them?" Donya, who was hugging a pillow while resting her back against Laleh's knees, asked, "including our father?"

"No, not him," Kyra admitted. "I'm still not sure what to do about him."

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