Page 128 of Decadence

The compound itself was equally as wide as the area of human settlement. In the center was a high rectangular tower that had walls made of dark reflective glass. Because of their affinity for light, humans tended to use the fragile material for exterior walls, of all things. He brought up the map of the building that Kail had so kindly provided and quickly memorized the entry points and internal structure.

Kail was right, of course. The tower’s defenses were not very sophisticated. Perhaps these humans were not used to being challenged on their own territory.

As his cruiser descended, Ikriss reduced its velocity, heading for a paved clearing at the edge of the wall that appeared to be used for parking their strange wheeled land-vehicles.

He stopped and set the Crurix to hover mode, its powerful antigrav thrusters holding it in prefect suspension high above the compound. Noise-dampening suppressors meant it would not be detected by human ears. Advanced cloaking technology meant it was invisible to all but the most highly trained Kordolian eyes.

The Mhyndin came to a stop beside the Crurix. “Lukin, divide the squad. Six and three. I will go with the smaller group. You take the jungleside entrance at the rear. I will take the front. Kail gets the side entrance. You are to prioritize the safety of the captives at all costs.”

“All costs,” Lukin agreed. There was no need to say any more. He was experienced enough to know exactly what Ikriss meant.

Shoot to kill.

No mercy.

When they took these human females, the soldiers of the Syndicate forfeited any chance of receiving Ikriss’s mercy—not that he would have granted it, anyway.

Ikriss stood as his seat’s restraints relaxed, the Sylth withdrawing the pilot’s harness from around his body.

He walked across to the weapons store and selected a curved Callidum longblade, a pair of plasma guns and a long serrated dagger that borrowed its shape from the design of the skrath. He quickly affixed the weapons to his body, grateful for their familiar weight.

His fingers twitched with the urge to fight. The promise of violence made his blood sing. Perhaps his human mate would never understand it, but this was a part of him that he could never deny.

He uttered a soft command in Kordolian, activating his helm. It emerged from the neck of his exo-armor and slid into place over his head and face, sliding dangerously close to his tender horn-buds.

Then he exited through the rear of the ship, slipping through the open hatch, dropping into freefall.

He landed on the hard surface below with a soft thud.

His men were all around him, but they’d already melted into the shadows, taking cover along the stone walls.

In the distance, an Earth creature howled, triggering loud barks from its companions.

There were no alarms; no mobilization from the human guards, no robotic defenses springing into action to attack the intruders.

In the background, Lukin let out a soft laugh.

As if on cue, a siren went off, wailing like a cursed skemosha from the innermost circle of the Nine Hells.

Ikriss flinched, his sensitive hearing assaulted by the piercing noise.

A pack of muscular four-legged furry black creatures burst from a side-house in the wall, barking loudly, baring their sharp teeth.

But as the Kordolians advanced, they sniffed the air and suddenly took fright, retreating into the darkness with their tails tucked between their legs.

They were replaced by a dozen humans clutching simple metal guns. The humans fanned out, shouting frantically in some indecipherable Earth language.

Abruptly, the siren stopped.

Lukin laughed louder. “So much for a quiet infiltration.”

Ikriss inclined his head, acknowledging the ridiculousness of the situation even as a sudden storm of cold anger welled up inside him.

These were the same people that were responsible for Sienna’s capture. Now they were doing the same to other defenseless humans… and thinking they could get away with it.

Under his watch?

The fucking audacity.

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