Page 458 of Fated to be Enemies

“I’ve stored my logs on these micro-drives.” He handed a second one to Bowen. And a third to me. “I hope to give a full report to my captain, but I need to know if we’re separated or I’m captured—or worse—that what I’ve endured was not in vain.” His voice dipped low, filled with an anguish I hadn’t detected before now.

Valla placed her hand on his arm. “You will deliver your intelligence to my brother yourself. But know that I will keep this safe. Just in case.”

His captain. Kol. How I longed for him, wanting so desperately to send a message via comm. But I trusted Gaius. I wouldn’t risk anyone’s life for my own peace of mind or to still my restless heart. I’d have to wait.

Kieren reappeared, newly attired in dark clothing, a huge scabbard strapped to his thigh. Again, my heart leaped at the sight of him, looking so much like his brother. He gave me a wink. “Well, Moira darling. If things don’t work out with Kol…” He swept his arms down his body as if gesturing what I could have.

I shook my head with a light laugh, the first time since I’d tickled Julian in his bedroom. My laughter faded fast, wondering how my sweet nephew fared after witnessing such a nightmare in his own home.

“Let’s go,” snapped Gaius, picking up the body bag.

Bowen was at my side. “May I assist you to the roof?”

“Please.” I let him put his arms around my waist, and with one beat of wings and a swift jolt in the air, we were thirty feet higher on the platform leading to the rooftop.

Bowen let me go as soon as I regained my footing, all of us following behind Kieren as he disabled the alarm and ushered us out the door.

“If I may ask,”—came the deep, quiet voice of Bowen—“did you see any young women from Primus in captivity where you were?”

“I did. I met two from Primus.”

Pain creased the man’s brow, making me feel even more miserable that I hadn’t helped them. As if I could have.

“Did you get their names?” His green eyes glittered under the moonlight, so familiar.

“One was named Lena. The other I didn’t find out.”

His eyes closed, then it hit me. His features, though more masculine, mirrored the girls I’d met in that horrible place. Specifically the older, angrier girl. Was he somehow related to them?

I continued softly. “They couldn’t speak to me very much, and I only saw them a short time.” I wouldn’t tell him they were being used as sex-slaves for those beasts, for he knew and cared for these human women. I wouldn’t add to his pain, but I would give him hope. “I don’t know much, but I can tell you they looked strong, determined to survive.”

“Thank you.” He gave me a sharp nod, his eyes full of heavy emotion as he spun away to the edge of the roof.

“Hurry, Moira.” Gaius held open the body bag.

“Wait!” shouted Bowen, expression taut and strained.

I’d stepped one foot inside the bag and froze right before the wind was knocked out of me. Someone slammed me to the ground. Kieren stood above me, swinging a dagger at a yellow-winged Morgon in a familiar black tunic. Balisk.

The whip of wings and boots hitting pavement sounded just before the sliding of steel on steel and the pounding of fist into flesh. Bowen swung a long, thin saber in deft arcs. His opponent, a Sunsting, dipped and puffed a lungful of air, blowing a burst of fire at Bowen who somersaulted above and out of danger. He landed behind him, swinging his silent blade and severing the Morgon’s head from his body. The head bounced on the pavement. My stomach churned. Before the body hit the floor, Bowen engaged another enemy soldier in combat.

Gaius launched himself at the towering Balisk, while Kieren fended off another coming for me. Barron wasn’t in this crowd of Sunsting soldiers. Gaius stabbed one in the shoulder just as Balisk came up from behind and locked a thick arm around his neck.

“You should die slowly, Gaius, but I want your death too much.”

Gaius flapped his wings, partly trapped by Balisk’s body. A flash of silver. A line of red. Gaius gurgled and crumpled to his knees.

“No!” I screamed.

Balisk pulled his arm back and swung full-force through the air, slashing one of Gaius’s wings in half. A post-mortem humiliation. Hatred burned inside my chest. My days of body boxing didn’t prepare me for full-combat mode amidst falling bodies. How ill-prepared I was for this entire investigation, for this ruthless world.

Balisk stalked toward me with a feral grin and yellow eyes penetrating through the dark, looking more demon than Morgon or man. A primal shiver tingled up my spine. I scampered back, trying to get to my feet.

Kieren dispatched a soldier and shoved me back behind him. “Stay down.”

Balisk circled, obviously angling for his target. Me.

“Didn’t take you for a human lover, Moonring,” he growled, ducking Kieren’s swift slice through the air with a thick short-sword. Kieren dodged another swing of Balisk’s dagger, saying nothing. Balisk pivoted closer to me.

---