The League 3: Paradise City

by Sherrilyn Kenyon

  A smile lit Gannon's entire face. "You don't mind?"

  "Not at all. Let me get cleaned up and I'll be right there."

  "Thank you."

  Alix spoke up to Gannon. "Could you please make sure someone brings him something to eat? He hasn't had anything since a small dinner yesterday and he could use a good breakfast."

  "Of course." Gannon turned to him and winked. "You picked a good wife."

  Devyn watched shock play across Alix's face. "I know," he said to Gannon. "And I appreciate your noticing it."

  Her face turned so red Devyn half expected flames to ignite.

  "Come, wife, and clean me up."

  As soon as they were out of Gannon's hearing, Alix punched him in the belly. "You're awful!"

  "I know, but I enjoy it so."

  Morning passed quickly while he showed the doctors how to make the serum until he could get a real antidote and vaccine to them.

  As he worked with the doctors and treated a number of children, he began to see what Alix had meant. A part of him adored working with them. The way they looked up at him with their trusting eyes and eagerly laughed and touched him.

  He didn't know how to explain it, but a part of him responded to their needs like a flower unfolding before sunshine. Every time one of them laughed, he felt as if he'd accomplished something spectacular. And he hadn't felt like that in a long, long time.

  A little after noon, he finally had to retire. Yawning, he made his way back to their chambers, his sight blurry, his eyes sore.

  Alix greeted him at the door and pulled him into the bedroom. He stared at her in surprise. "You can't sleep on the couch," she said, a timid smile on her lips. "After the night you've had, you need your rest."

  Devyn fumbled with his clothes, but accomplished little. Too tired to bother, he started for the bed only to find Alix blocking his way, a stern frown on her face.

  "You can't sleep like that," she chided, reaching for the ties on his surgical jacket.

  She helped him undress and tucked him into bed, her touch gentle. He wanted the energy to pull her into his arms and make love to her, but his body couldn't respond with anything more than hungry images that played across his mind and tortured him.

  He caught her hand as she started to leave. "Stay with me."

  Biting her lip, she scanned the room. "I don't know. ..."

  "Please," he whispered. "I just want to hold you for a little while."

  Her smile warmed his heart. "All right." She snuggled up beside him and a jolt of electricity tore through him. It felt so natural and so right that she should lie next to him. For the first time in his life, he had a sense of who he really was and what he really wanted.

  "Alix?" He waited until she rolled over and looked at him.

  Pulling the strands of golden brown hair from her cheek, he stared into her eyes and a part of him knew he'd never be happy with any other woman. "I've been thinking about what you said and I think I might go back to school and study pediatric medicine."

  Her happy, loving gaze scorched him. "I think that's wonderful."

  He smiled, stroking her cheek's softness. "I owe it to you. If you hadn't planted the seed, the tree wouldn't have fallen on me."

  She lifted a confused brow. "Excuse me?"

  "I would never have thought of it alone."

  She laid her head on his chest and ran her hand down his ribs, bringing a wave of delight to his body. "You give yourself too little credit."

  He took her hand in his and held it, wishing he could think of some way to keep her like this forever.

  What would happen if he couldn't free her? Everything he knew about her told him she wouldn't stick around. She wanted her freedom and if he couldn't give it to her, she'd run. But would she let him follow? No, she was too independent for that. She'd creep out one night while he slept and he'd never see her again. The thought suffocated him.

  Pain tore through him and he knew he couldn't lose her. No matter how much time and money it took, he'd get her freedom. He just prayed she would be willing to wait.

  * * *

  Gannon woke them up a little past nine that evening. Alix noticed the paleness of Devyn's face and the tiny shake in his hands that he fought hard to conceal.

  As soon as he dressed, she took his hand and squeezed. "Is this what happens when you get hungry?"

  "In a way. This is the beginning stage of low blood sugar. If I don't eat soon, it'll get worse, and finally I'll pass out."

  Alix didn't like the thought of that. "Have you ever passed out before?"

  "Not yet. I learned early to eat before I get too bad off."

  Hand in hand they went to eat.

  They entered the dining hall and Alix froze in shock at the number of people who had come to say farewell to them. Jory came running in a pair of spotted pajamas and threw himself into Devyn's arms. Devyn scooped him up. A wide smile lit Jory's face and he held out a large piece of paper with colored drawings on it.

  "I made this for you, Dr. Kell. See, it's a doctor and he's helping people get better." He wiped his nose on his sleeve, then pointed back to the picture. "And this is me helping, 'cause I know what you got to do to make them okay 'cause you showed me, and over here is Mrs. Dr. Kell, and she's helping, too."

  Devyn looked at her, his eyes shining, and heat sizzled through her. "Did you do this all by yourself?" he asked Jory.

  "Uh-huh."

  "Well, you did a great job. I'll have to frame this and hang it up when I get home."

  Jory's mouth fell open, his eyes huge. "Really?"

  Devyn smiled and held him close, tugging at Alix's heart as she watched him and yearned for a way to give him his own child.

  "You bet," Devyn told the boy.

  Jory leaned back. "Can I come see it sometime?"

  "Now, Jory," Ila said, pulling her son from Devyn's arms. "You can't bother Dr. Kell on his planet. We have to stay here."

  "But why?" he whined.

  "It's the law."

  Jory looked at Devyn and poked his lips out. "It's a stupid law."

  Ila rolled her eyes and Alix stifled her laugh at the woman's aggravation. "Now say good night to Dr. Kell. It's past your bedtime."

  "Okay." He wiggled out of Ila's arms, ran to Devyn, threw his arms around his leg, and squeezed tight. "Good night, Dr. Kell, and don't let the bad people shoot you tonight."

  "I won't," Devyn said, ruffling his hair.

  Jory looked up at him, smiled, then ran to Alix. She started in shock at the contact of his tiny arms wrapped around her. She'd never had a child touch her before and she found the sensation incredible. Kneeling down, she pulled him to her and his little arms encircled her neck.

  "Thank you for letting Dr. Kell help me."

  Alix smoothed his hair where Devyn had messed it up, her heart pounding. "Anytime. Just promise me you'll try to stay well."

  "Okay."

  "Jory?"

  "I'm coming."

  Alix watched him tuck his hand in his mother's and walk away from her and she knew then that she wanted children. God help her, but the thought of growing old without that special devotion and love left a hollow place in her soul that threatened to tear her apart.

  As she glanced at Devyn as he folded up his picture and conversed with another doctor, an ache seized her chest until she wanted to shout.

  Please, she begged silently, let me find a way to be free. Let me find a way to stay with Devyn.

  Dinner was a hurried affair. All throughout the meal, Gannon and his lead commander briefed them on how they intended to break into the Emir's palace and "appropriate" the shuttle. She stifled her laughter at their military euphemisms and wondered if they realized what they were doing. Even Devyn seemed caught up in the terminology.

  After an eternity in which they discussed things she barely understood, Gannon led them to a small room, where they were given black battlesuits to don.

  Devyn covered her hair with a black cap and smeared camouflage on h
er cheeks. His fingers glided over her skin, raising chills and bringing heat to her most sensitive parts. Even now, she'd much rather retire with him to their room than risk his life for anything, including her freedom.

  "I feel so stupid," she said, smiling.

  "You'd feel a lot worse if someone shot you."

  "True."

  He placed one last dab on the tip of her nose, then handed her the tube.

  She took the camouflage tube from him and stared at the sick-smelling black goo.

  "Now remember," Devyn warned. "There's a pattern to this. Put the tan color where my face is naturally dark, and the black goes on the light reflective zones."

  She frowned. "The what?"

  His amused smile thrilled her. "My ears, nose, cheekbones, and forehead."

  "You're kidding." she said, laughing.

  The humor fled his face. "This is serious, Alix. If my skin reflects light, a sentry could see me, and if you neglect to cover any part of my exposed skin I could trip up the infrared scanners. Either way, I'm toast."

  Her heart pounded at the thought. Images of him lying dead like Sway, or on a surgery table, haunted her. She couldn't stand even the thought that he might be hurt by their plans tonight. If anything happened to him . . .

  Stop it, she ordered herself as hysteria poured through her. She had to keep control or she would mess up and get him wounded. No matter what, she would protect him.

  Alix smeared the waxy substance between her thumb and forefinger. "Maybe you ought to do this after all. I'm afraid I'll make a mistake."

  He kissed the tip of her nose, then brushed his finger there to reapply more camouflage. "Okay. Where's a mirror?"

  Once they were dressed, Gannon handed them a pair of night glasses.

  Alix started to put them on, but Devyn grabbed her arm. "Not inside. They amplify light and if you put them on in a bright spot, you'll be blinded."

  She took a deep breath. "Did you learn all this in the HAWC?"

  All emotion faded from his eyes. "This and more."

  Before she could think about his words, Gannon handed them two small blasters. Alix hooked hers into the empty holster at her side.

  Devyn shook his head. "I don't use those."

  Gannon lifted a disbelieving brow. "Are you sure?"

  "Positive," Devyn said. "But I'll take a herotosh if you have one."

  Gannon motioned to a soldier to bring the small stun bombs to Devyn. He hooked several onto his belt and gave her a comforting smile.

  "Are you two ready?" Gannon asked.

  Devyn took a deep breath. Alix prayed her legs would quit shaking and nodded to him.

  "Lead on," Devyn said, and her stomach knotted in fearful expectation.

  Silently, they climbed aboard the hovercrafts and made their way to the dark, forbidding city.

  They abandoned their vehicles outside the gates and moved in through the sewer system. Alix held her breath even though she knew the oxygen tubing that ran to her nose and mouth filtered out the smell. The filthy sewer just didn't look conducive to breathing.

  They crawled out of the sewer just before the palace gates. Then they crept around back to a secluded place where they could breach the gate without being seen.

  Gannon stopped the soldier who was working on the code and looked at Alix and Devyn. "Remember," he whispered, "we have thirty seconds to get inside the gate once we jam their scanners."

  Devyn nodded and reached to take her hand. Alix appreciated his support. She needed it. Her heart thumped in her throat and her limbs shook. This was it. One mistake and she could cost all of them their lives. Go!

  Devyn went first and pulled her through. Gannon and the other four members came in and disconnected the jam. They took a moment to get their bearings, then headed off toward the east. Devyn hung back just slightly.

  Curious, Alix looked at him. Despite the heavy camouflage, she detected his worry lines. "What is it?"

  "I don't know," he whispered. "I've got a bad feeling. It's like—"

  A blaster charge sizzled just past her shoulder and into the back of the soldier in front of her. Screaming, she stumbled and fell to the ground, Devyn on top of her.

  "Ambush!" Gannon shouted, running for cover.

  Blaster recoil sounded and sparkled all around. Everything happened so quickly, she could barely follow who ran where and exactly what was happening.

  Alix pulled out her blaster, but her fingers shook so badly she dropped it. She tried to pick it up, but Devyn's insistent pulling and another round of fire that barely missed her dissuaded her from getting it.

  "What are we going to do?" she asked as he led her to a wall, then pushed her down and crouched beside her.

  He reached out to her, holding her close, but didn't respond to her question.

  "Gannon?" Devyn asked into his link. "Where's the ship located?"

  Alix held on to him, watching the Urbanite soldiers fill the yard around them. Her entire body trembled from her fear and she prayed they'd make it out alive.

  Lights came up and everything stood out in stark relief.

  "Okay," Devyn said, in response to Gannon's words. "I want you and your men to get out of here. We can manage on our own."

  He paused and she could just make out Gannon's excited chatter. "Trust me," Devyn said. "I can handle it from here."

  With that, he threw down the link and grabbed her hand. "Alix," he said, forcing her to look up at him. "You've got to follow me, pay attention, and for God's sake don't trip."

  Following the line of the wall, they made their way steadily to the east. The Urbanites continued to move to the south and she assumed that must be where Gannon was leading them.

  She bit her lip, her palms sweaty. "Do you think Gannon and his soldiers will make it?"

  "I hope so."

  She took a deep breath and asked the question that weighed heaviest in her mind. "Do you think we'll make it?"

  The silence that answered her wasn't comforting in the least.

  Devyn grabbed her and shoved her down. He covered her with his body and leaned against the wall. She closed her eyes, inhaling the fresh scent of him, and somehow it soothed part of the terror consuming her.

  "They're heading out the gate!" a soldier said, running past them.

  Sweat dripped down her face, stinging her eyes, and she wiped it away, realizing as she did that some of her camouflage came off on her hand.

  "C'mon," Devyn whispered, helping her to her feet.

  They reached a long white wall. Devyn paused and opened a steel ventilation grate. "This should take us to the landing bay," he whispered. "Just follow behind me."

  As soon as he was inside, Alix squeezed in. She'd never liked tight spaces; they reminded her too much of closets. The walls hugged her so tightly she could barely breathe.

  How could Devyn move so effortlessly?

  They seemed to travel endlessly through winding, tight metal corridors, and panic welled up inside her. Were they ever going to get to the end? What would be waiting for them? Closing her eyes, she forced herself not to think about that. After what seemed like an eternity, Devyn stopped and started scratching the grate in front of him.

  "Are we there?" she whispered.

  "Yes," he said. "I can see the shuttle."

  Happiness swelled inside her. They were almost free. Devyn crawled out of the duct, then turned around to help her through.

  Dimly lit, the shuttle twinkled in the center of the bay like a star. No one loomed anywhere nearby and for once it looked like fate had befriended her. She smiled at Devyn.

  "So, Kell, we meet again."

  They turned simultaneously to see Irn step out from behind the shuttle with a group of Urbanite soldiers. All of their vile group held rifles aimed straight at her and Devyn.

  Chapter Eighteen

  "This is not a good day for a reunion," Devyn said under his breath, and Alix had a strange urge to kick him.

  Irn walked forward. "This time, Kell, we'r
e going to settle it."

  Faster than she could blink, Devyn jerked a herotosh from his belt, tossed it, and pulled her against the wall. A piercing white light exploded and the sound of blaster recoil filled her ears.

  Devyn ran, pulling her after him. Alix reminded herself not to stumble. They ran toward the shuttle, but a group of soldiers cut them off.