Page 42 of Orange Lake
“Crix, I believe you will handle the diversion?”
Crix smirked. “Of course. You know who you’re talking to.”
He makes it sound easy but given the slaves’ location, it is not easy to break into the heart of the camp undetected.
“Coone - “
“Got it Zirc. I will set it up on this location,” he said pointing to our disembarking point. “Then I’ll provide support for Crix and his crew. Sure you don’t want me to disable their comms?”
“Negative. Freeing the captives is enough distraction to flood their communications. Roqs,” I turned my body towards him. I knew it wasn’t by chance only that he is slightly to my left between Coone and Jigen.
And not beside me.
He has his blank alpha face on. Good.He is compartmentalizing like me.
“We go here based on Coone’s intel. Either we get the crystal or we destroy it on spot.” Roqs has a black crystal that he knew how to use. The black crystal I have, the relic, is still an unknown. Thus, we can’t use that in this battle.
One of the rarest crystals the planet and very few people knew about the black crystal he has. He only used it once. It was so effective he swore he does not want to use it again. It backfires on the one using it, but so far, we do not see any negative effects it has on Roqs. The last bearer of the black crystal had to be killed in our tribe.
“I know what you’re thinking Zirc. That’s a good plan.” He nodded at me.
I see Coone’s face lit up. “Oh.”
“Oh?” Crix repeated. I can see a vein ticking on his forehead. “What do you mean ‘Oh’?”
Jigen placed a hand on Crix forearm. He knew his lover well. We know it as well.
“Can the two of you please stop speaking in codes?” Volks implored.
“They’re not speaking in codes,” Crix removed his arm from Jigen’s grip and went to me. “I know you and Roqs’ reputation.”
He said reputation like it’s so repugnant.
I sighed. All at once they tensed up. Good. They know me sighing is worse than growling.
I was about to speak when I felt Brin’s hand on my arm. I and the rest could see that I deflated like a balloon.
“Don’t antagonize them, Zirc,” she said. She had the gall to rebuke me? Me?
“They want to help you. And I can tell this is a very serious mission. If this is the same group we encountered before we came to this place, then you and the rest need to know how to counter them. I need to be there.”
Silence. Yet, I can feel my veins pumping with blood. I feel light headed.
Her? Come to our mission?
Before I can grab her to shake the idea out of her head, Roqs grabbed her away. I growled loudly and even felt the stirring of my beast trying to get out. I controlled it. I will not lose my control in front of everyone in this room. If I can’t control myself, then I have no right to lead them. Which is the plan.
I heard Coone laugh. I turned to him, eyes narrowed.
“Don’t glare at me Zirc. You found her. I must say, for someone who likes to swim in the lake, I’m not surprised she wants to join our mission.” He grinned widely. He is fascinated with her simply because he finds her deranged. But he always like the mad people. That means he’s warming up to her.
Not my business and not my priority right now.
“NO!” I growled loudly. I turned toward Brin. The female looked rebellious even if Roqs had her by the waist. Her arms in front of her, her legs akimbo, and her lips curled in mutiny. So defiant. So determined. And sexy as hell.
My chest rumbled loudly but even I can hear I liked her this way. Of course, she only narrowed her eyes at me like I should follow her!
“Why not? I was able to move when they fire whatever that thing is to us. You need me.”
