Page 100 of Stealing Mercury
“That’s right, Mercury.” Vile expectation slithered beneath Drake’s voice. The remote was in his hand. “Come on over the fence.”
Mercury’s answering howl rang with frustration. Stars, he was so close. He had to know the moment he touched the fence Drake would trigger the pulse system. He’d be stunned and Drake would have him back in a cage before he recovered.
“Put down the remote.” Mercury’s voice vibrated with menace. “Thenwe’ll come over.”
“He’s afraid to face us,” Lo growled. “Without chains and bars between us.”
Something squeezed a fist around Samantha’s heart. She took a fortifying breath and lifted her head. Mercury crouched just beyond the fence. Beautiful storm cloud eyes locked onto hers. “I won’t leave you.” His voice was so low and rumbling she doubted anyone could have understood, but she knew him. Knew his voice. Knew his soul. He’d promised her once. It was the only thing, he’d said, the only thing he had to give her. His promise not to leave her behind.
“It would be smarter to leave me.” She whispered, but she knew he heard.
“Sometimes,” he said. “It’s better to go with your heart and your instincts.”
He used almost the same words she’d used back on theGwendellaand there was absolute certainty in his face. He finally understood. She groaned with a heart full of love and grief. Why now, when she needed him to be smart instead of giving into his emotion and instincts? He wouldn’t give up now, even if it got them all killed.
Lo paced like a trapped animal, searching for some flaw in the fence that would allow him to get to her. “Be the man you claim,” snarled Lo, stare fixed on Drake with a laser focus. “Toss away the remote and let us in.”
Samantha had been willing to give her own freedom to save Hera, to save them, but she wouldn’t allow Mercury or Lo to be put back in a cage. If they were willing to fight for her, she had to find a way to help them.
Her hand closed around the blade handle and yanked, tape and all. She thrust it hard into Drake’s booted foot.
“Fuck!” The remote hit the ground with a soft thud. Drake dropped to his ass, grabbing for the handle of the blade and pulling it free. “Fucking bitch.”
Samantha batted a hand at the remote. She struck it with a rewarding amount of strength. It flew across the ground, well out of reach of Drake or any of the others.
Mercury and Lo flew up the fence with the grace and power of dancers. They dropped to the ground in one, two, heavy thunks that sent dirt flying into the air.
“Fucking, hell,” Drake swore as he scrambled toward her.
A fist in her hair jerked her head back then pain exploded in her temple. Drake screamed. Mercury snarled. He pinned the whip-master to the ground. She tried to blink them into focus. Mercury’s hands held Drake’s head. He looked ready to crush the man’s skull.
And then he hesitated. His muscles went slack. He landed in a pile atop Drake, who shoved him to the side and scrambled to his feet.
Lo lay a few meters away, equally still.
Tears welled and her belly revolted. What little she’d eaten that day came up and spilled onto the hard packed ground. Her belly heaved again, but there was nothing left inside.
Samantha pushed away from the mess and rolled onto her back. Her energy drained away as the adrenaline rush faded and her injuries roared into her awareness.
Through the blur of her own tears, she saw two shapes form out of the shadows of the juvenile center’s roof. Blobs became columns—human columns with rifles cradled in their arms. They’d never really had a chance.
What had she done?
Chapter Thirty-Two
RomaRexArenaMedicalCenter,Roma
Earth Alliance Beta Sector
2210.185
Everything hurt. It was the first thought Samantha had. Her head ached like a herd of cattle had trampled across it. And she couldn’t remember where she was.
“I want her on her feet and ready for the arena in an hour.” She recognized that voice. Drake. She forced her eyes open to see a woman with ice-blue eyes and short blonde hair leaning over her. She wore a white med-coat.
Samantha was in a med-bed, but she didn’t remember how she’d gotten there. As she tried to bring it back, grief swamped her.
“Mercury. Lo.” The words cut free of her chest and across her lips like blades cutting through a fleshy scabbard.
