Act of Command

by Mandy M. Roth

Lazily, she touched his cheek, the edges of her lips curving upwards. “Do shut up, Corbin.”

  He did, his eyes widening.

  She grinned, looking so sexy that he wanted to fall upon her and fuck her again. “We should get off this floor and be ready for the escape to start, but if you dare act like you regret this, I will claw your eyes out.”

  “Wait? You don’t regret this?”

  “You were shutting up, remember?” she asked, with a wink.

  He tucked himself into his pants and then stood, bringing Mae with him gently. He righted her gown as best he could and realized she was not only full of his seed but wearing it as well. She also bore his mark—his claim.

  She was his wife.

  He dragged her against him and held her, shaking slightly as the reality of it all sank in. He kissed the top of her head. “I know I’m to be quiet now, but love, I need to get us out of here.”

  “I know,” she said, touching his chest. “But don’t do anything stupid. I didn’t used to think you were real. Now that I know who you are, I’d like to keep you in one piece.”

  He snickered. “Yes, dear.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Go.” Corbin released her and then pointed to the other side of the infirmary. He wanted her safe and away from the entrance should his plan go south. He couldn’t wait any longer for an extraction. His gut told him they were on borrowed time as it was. He’d not risk Mae.

  She nodded and did as he instructed. He turned and began to take inventory of their surroundings. Something, that as a trained soldier, he should have done the minute he woke there. His cock had guided his actions. It was time for his head to do so now.

  There was a clanking noise and then a rancid smell filled the room. He twisted to find Mae near a long counter with various vials of liquid on it. One vial was now on the floor, broken open, sizzling.

  Mae’s lips pursed into a thin line and her brows quirked upward. “Sorry. I didn’t see it there.”

  He remembered her in glasses then the night he’d seen her on campus. “Love, try not to blow us up, okay?”

  She shrugged. “I’ll do my best. No promises. I’m clumsy. Amazing I haven’t broken my own neck in here yet today.”

  He didn’t bother to hide his smile. His wife was funny on top of being beautiful and clearly brave. She’d survived two weeks of being held by the enemy and hadn’t broken. She was a strong woman—albeit one who couldn’t see very well at the moment.

  Corbin sniffed the air once more, making sure the chemical on the floor wasn’t one that would cause harm to anyone if inhaled. He was satisfied it was safe and set his attention upon the door. It didn’t open. Not that he expected it would. He tried to pry it open but it held firm. He even attempted to override the access panel to no avail.

  A thought occurred to him and he looked back to find Mae touching various vials on the counter near her. Good gods, did the woman have a death wish? Who knew what the scientists here were working on? His mate could blow herself up if she wasn’t careful.

  He covered the distance to her quickly and lifted her, causing her to gasp. He set her on the bed and stared at her. “Sit here. Touch nothing.”

  “I was just wondering what they all were,” she said, her voice making his body warm. He wanted her again, but it wasn’t the time for that. He needed to get her to safety. “I was hoping to find something that would help your wound.”

  Corbin glanced at his side, all but forgetting he’d been hurt. It was healed over for the most part, the scar ugly and fresh looking. It would fade away in days. He took Mae’s hand and brought it to his side, wondering just how bad her vision was without her glasses. “I’m fine, love.”

  “Wow, I thought you said what they gave you slowed your healing.”

  “It has.”

  She blinked. “And you’ve healed over that much already?”

  He kissed the tip of her nose. “Sit tight. I beg of you. The vial you knocked over has something corrosive in it. Had that spilled on you—” He shuddered at the thought. “I can’t handle anything happening to you. I’m hanging on by a thread as it is. I need you to listen to me. Please.”

  She huffed. “I’ll sit here and be good.”

  “Thank you.”

  Corbin moved in the direction of the long counter full of liquids. He searched for one that smelled and looked the same as the one on the floor. When he found it, he lifted it carefully and went for the door. He poured it over the access panel and then grabbed a pole used to hang IV bags and rammed it into the melting mess. The door popped open in the center, but didn’t open all the way.

  He used the pole to pry it open enough to get his hands in. Once he did, he drew upon his strength and yanked hard. The doors gave way enough to be able to get Mae and himself through, one by one. He turned and put his hand out to his mate, before realizing she probably couldn’t see the action from across the room.

  He didn’t want her trying to come to him on her own if her vision was off. He went to her instead, taking her hand in his. “Time to go, love.”

  She tugged on his hand. “In case this goes sideways, thank you for coming for me. And thank you for helping take away the pain. Our first date has been interesting, to say the least.”

  He stiffened. He’d learned enough of the Fae to know some had the ability to sense impending danger. Could she, and if so, did she sense her own demise? Panic assailed him and he had to fight to temper it. He shook slightly as he held her hand in his. Unable to help himself, he bent, his lips claiming hers, needing to know she was alive and well. When he broke the kiss, he stared down at her. “Stay behind me, love.”

  He was about to say more but he heard men approaching. “Guards are coming.”

  She gasped. “Lie down and I’ll lay the chains on your wrists and ankles. They won’t know you’re undone.”

  He admired her creative thinking, but that wouldn’t work. The guards would see the door was pried open and they’d know she wasn’t strong enough to do it. He lifted his mate and ran with her to one of the glass cells to the side in the infirmary that seemed to double as a lab. He’d seen cells like them before and knew they were sturdy. He selected the one closest to the entrance of the infirmary, but off to the right. If he was right, and he hoped he was, the glass that was there was built to withstand a supernatural trying to break free from it and that meant, it was bullet proof.

  He placed Mae on her feet within the small cell and stepped out, into the open area of the infirmary, shutting the door to her cell, but not locking it. She stared wide-eyed at him, shock on her face. “Mae, stay there.”

  “Why put me in here?”

  He sighed. “Love, its safest for you there. I’m right here. I just need to be sure you’re safe and well while I deal with the threat coming.”

  Corbin twisted and put his back to the clear cell wall, hoping the guards would enter the infirmary to see what had happened and not just start firing weapons through the pried open doors. The men’s chatter ended and one stepped into the open area of the infirmary, weapon drawn.

  Corbin disarmed him with ease and struck him in the back of the head with the butt of his weapon. He made a move to grab the other guard through the opening, but the man reared back and punched an alarm on the wall before aiming at Corbin. Sirens went off and white lights flashed through the building. Every guard in the place would respond.

  Ducking back, Corbin stayed out of the line of fire, but the counter full of chemicals towards the back of the large infirmary, was not as lucky. Vials broke and smoke filled the room, the fumes causing his eyes, nose and throat to burn. He’d seen enough lab accidents lately back at headquarters to know how dangerous fumes could be. They filled the entire area, flooding the adjacent cells as well. He didn’t care about himself. His only worry was his mate.

  Mae!

  Corbin ran at the cell he’d put her in for safekeeping. He could barely see his hand before his face with all the fumes and smoke and knew she wouldn
’t be able to see anything. The sound of gunfire increased and Corbin strongly suspected more than one guard was now in the laboratory. A bullet whizzed past his head, narrowly missing him, but going right at the cell Mae was in. He heard the impact of it against the glass and the ricochet. Additional gunfire sounded around him, all aimed in his direction as he fumbled for the door to the cell. He knew the guards were just laying down fire, unsure where he was with all the fumes and smoke. The problem was, their attempt to cover the room in bullets meant they were also firing at Mae. Even though she was behind glass that didn’t mean she was safe.

  As the sound of the cell glass cracking filled Corbin’s head, fear gripped him. The glass door gave way under his touch, shattering to the floor. Corbin leapt into the cell. “Mae!”

  He couldn’t find her; the smoke was too thick. It choked him and he stumbled forward, his arms out as he searched frantically for his mate. “M-Mae!”

  No response.

  He took another step forward, his boot connecting with something, causing him to nearly trip. When he realized it was a body, his lion surged, wanting up. He bent, touching the lump on the floor. He felt it then and realized it was indeed his woman.

  His wife.

  And she wasn’t moving.

  He smelled blood and everything on him shut off. He knew he wouldn’t be able to hold off his lion and he didn’t care. They’d done this to his mate. They’d hurt her. They’d die.

  With a roar he stood and spun, stepping through the broken glass, his focus on the guards in the large infirmary with him. He let his lion up. Let it take control and he lunged at them.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Brad paced the cell, his body on edge. They’d taken Mae hours ago and he’d not seen anyone since. He’d seen many women come and go since he’d been taken. For a while he’d desensitized himself from it all, but Mae had changed that for him. He felt a strange friendship forming with her. It wasn’t sexual, but he did care about her and her well-being.

  He heard footsteps and then smelled one of the guards. He smelled something else too. Strawberries and mint? What a strange combination. His wolf took notice of the scent as well, wanting to know the source.

  Brad looked through the display window into Mae’s cell as the door to her room opened. It wasn’t Mae who entered. A leggy redhead staggered in, turning to glare at the guard near her.

  “Hey, I told you that Ezra said to bring you to this cell,” the man said. “Stop looking at me like you want to rip my nuts off.”

  “Oh, I do,” she snapped, her voice making Brad’s cock stir. “I want to spoon feed them to you, asshole.”

  The guard nodded. “I know. Crazy bitch.”

  He shut the cell door and the woman folded her arms under her large breasts.

  “Dick!”

  Brad grinned, liking her fire.

  She looked around the cell and froze when she turned to see the window between the cells. Her brows met. “Who are you?”

  “Brad. And you?”

  “Alice,” she said, glancing around the room more. Gasping, she ran to the bed and bent. When she stood she had Mae’s glasses in her hand. Her gaze snapped to him. “Who was in here before me?’

  “That is Mae’s cell,” he said softly. “They took her hours ago. She was having a reaction to the drugs they’re giving us.”

  Alice shook, clutching the glasses in one hand, looking much more vulnerable than she had when she’d first arrived. “They have Mae too?”

  “You know her?” he asked.

  “She’s my best friend,” answered Alice, the fight seeming to leave her. She sank to the floor and sat, holding the glasses to her chest. “She’s so innocent and always forgetting things. She’s not a fighter. She can’t handle this.”

  Brad didn’t point out that not many people could handle it. Another thought hit him. “How long have you been here?”

  She didn’t respond at first, when she finally did, she sounded tired. “At this facility, just today. I was at a different one for a couple of weeks. I think. Time is hard to keep without a clock.”

  He knew what she meant.

  She kept going, “They said I was too difficult to deal with at the other place. They brought me here. Something about it being higher security or something. Oh gods, they’ve had Mae this whole time, haven’t they?”

  Brad’s chest tightened at the sound of her grief. “She’s been here just over two weeks. She mentioned being taken the night of a blind date.”

  Alice gasped and met his gaze. “I was taken then too.”

  The door to the room Alice was in opened and Ezra entered. Brad couldn’t help but feel a spark of jealousy at the way Alice’s body relaxed at the sight of the man. “They have my friend Mae.”

  Ezra nodded. “I know.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” she demanded, holding Mae’s glasses to her chest as though they were precious. “You came with me from the other place and you never once mentioned they have my best friend too?”

  He sighed. “I only just found out this morning. I didn’t know that two of you were taken from the same location. That information wasn’t presented to me prior. She’s fine, Alice. I promise.”

  “Did they force her to breed?” asked Alice, her face paling. “Like they threatened to do to me?”

  Ezra snorted and Brad punched the window, flipping the man off. It was no laughing matter. Ezra shook his head. “Relax, wolf. I’m only laughing because any man who tries to get near Alice has been very sorry.”

  Brad wasn’t sure he bought the beautiful creature in the cell next to him was capable of more than a harsh verbal tongue lashing, but this was the second guard to reference her piss and vinegar.

  Alice shrugged nonchalantly. “I told them they weren’t touching me. They should have listened.”

  “Not sure the one you went at this morning will ever have use of his manhood again,” said Ezra with a grin.

  Alice smiled, looking very proud of herself. “Good. Asshole should know it’s wrong to touch a woman who doesn’t want to be touched. Now every time his dick doesn’t work, he’ll remember why that is.”

  Brad liked her. A lot.

  Ezra held his hand out. “Mae needs her glasses. She’s resting now and I made sure to leave someone with her who will keep her safe.”

  Alice stiffened, her gaze narrowing. “This Caesar guy you’re working with?”

  “The fact you were able to read my thoughts before I figured it out and started blocking you is unnerving,” said Ezra. “And to answer your question, no. Caesar isn’t with her. He’s not checked in with me yet. He should have.”

  “You think something happened to him, don’t you?”

  Ezra offered a curt nod. “I have to say you’re one of the few people in my long life who can do that—who can read me. I’m not really a fan of it.”

  Alice shrugged again as if it was no big deal. “Never met a guy who could shift into a dragon. Hell, I didn’t think dragons were ever real.”

  “Most people assume werewolves aren’t real,” replied Ezra. “And I think Brad would be the first to dispute that claim.”

  “I’m a lycan,” he said, posturing. He wasn’t bitten, dammit. There was a difference.

  Ezra glanced at him. “You’re a hell of a lot more than just a lycan now after the Corporation got their hands on you and you know it.”

  “The Corporation?” he asked and then stepped back. “The people who took me to start with?”

  Ezra spoke, “I was planted with them, in one of their German facilities to start with. It became clear I was needed on this end more.”

  Alice stepped closer to Ezra and handed him the glasses. “Tell Brad about the Shadow Agent Ops thing.”

  Groaning, Ezra eyed her. “Announce it to everyone, why don’t you, little succubus?”

  She was a succubus?

  She looked him over. “Like he’s going to tell them. He wants them dead as much as me. Maybe more.”

  E
zra stared in Brad’s direction. “I’m guessing much, much more, Alice. Brad has been held against his will nearly a year, at least from what I can tell by his paper trail.”

  Brad touched the glass. “Do you know about Vic or Kimberly?”

  Ezra glanced at the door and then back to the window. “Vic is still being held by the Corporation. They have him buried deep in one of the black sites. I suspect they intended the same for you, but you were liberated from their holding station.”

  Liberated?

  One bad situation to another was more like it. And odds were, he’d be auctioned off to the fucking Corporation and end up right back where he started from. “I’m not going back.”

  “Didn’t think you’d want to,” said Ezra.

  “Kimberly?” he asked, needing to know about his friend.

  “Kimberly has been free for months. That is all I know. I’ve been in too deep to keep up on it all.”

  Exhaling, Brad put his head against the glass. Kimberly was safe. Good. At least one of them had made it out. He looked to Ezra. “Get Mae and Alice out of here no matter the cost. Use me as a diversion if need be. I want them safe.”

  “You don’t even know me,” snapped Alice. “Why would you sacrifice yourself for me? Are you stupid?”

  “I still want you safe.”

  Ezra stood tall. “I want all of you safe.”

  Brad didn’t bother to get his hopes up. They’d been dashed far too many times in the past to bother and his spirit couldn’t take another letdown.

  The door to Mae’s cell opened and another of the guards appeared. “Ezra, we have a problem. Something is happening at the other facility. Felix has given the green light on Operation Red.”

  As Ezra tensed, Brad knew what Operation Red was. It was the call to eliminate all the prisoners. He’d heard the term used before. Ezra nodded and held a hand up. “Go to the main room. I’ll be there in a minute. I’ll deal with these two myself.”

  The guard left and Ezra grabbed Alice’s arm. “Alice, you need to listen to Brad. Caesar isn’t responding to my calls, and with what Felix ordered, I know something bad has happened to him.” He looked to Brad. “Alice, I’m going to trust Brad to get you out of here.”