“Hold up,” Payne’s voice came over the two-way radio. Kyle adjusted the volume and reseated the tiny transceiver in his ear canal. “Ian’s going to fly ahead and make sure the situation hasn’t changed.”
“Copy that,” Quinn replied then found a relatively safe place to stop.
Ian climbed out of the passenger side of Payne’s SUV and took off his shirt. After tucking his earpiece into the pocket of his jeans, he spread his wings and leapt into the air.
“Why’d he take off his radio?” Ava asked after Ian disappeared above the trees.
“Didn’t want the wind to blow it off,” Carissa guessed. “I flew with him once and it’s really windy up there.”
“You flew with Ian?” There was a little too much envy in Ava’s voice for Kyle’s comfort. He had no doubts about Ava’s loyalty, but her fascination with the raptor was still annoying. “When? Why?”
“Long story,” Quinn grumbled, and Carissa laughed. Apparently, Kyle wasn’t the only one annoyed by their interest in Ian.
“I’ll tell you later,” Carissa promised. “We better focus right now.”
Quinn took off again, his pace slow and steady. Suddenly the truck lurched violently to one side and then the other. Kyle bumped his head against the window before he positioned his hand against the dashboard. “Take it easy.”
“Tell that to the trail. What little there is of it.” Quinn wrestled the wheel with both hands and shifted his gaze between the truck’s mirrors. “They must fly in and out. This is painful!”
Silence spread as the climb grew even more treacherous. Several times the trail was so steep Kyle was tempted to get out and steady the truck. Tree branches scraped against the windows and the seat belt bit into his chest. He glanced at Ava and Carissa, finding each pensive and still.
He accessed his link with Ava, knowing there would be little time for reassurances once the raid began. Despite the looming danger, her emotions were remarkably grounded. An occasional spike of fear flared through her determination, but overall she was calm and—ready. He pushed affection across the connection and she responded with a smile.
“There’s a small clearing after the next descent. We’ll hike in from there,” Ian directed. “We don’t want them to hear our approach.”
Quinn turned the truck around and backed into the cover of a leafy tree. Payne followed suit, positioning the SUV for a fast getaway.
Ian was waiting by the time everyone climbed out. Erin handed him his shirt and he pulled it on as he explained, “The guards work in pairs and follow predictable patterns. This shouldn’t take long.”
Anything involving Osric was never that easy. Kyle reviewed phase one in his mind, trying to anticipate complications. They’d done their best to cover all bases, but there were still so many variables. He gave Ava a quick hug as protectiveness welled within him. She’d outsmarted her wolf pursuers. In fact, he wouldn’t have been able to find her without Carissa’s help.
His people would never accept a leader who had yet to be tested in battle. Like it or not, Ava needed this opportunity. “Keep Erin company for now.” He brushed his lips against Ava’s then stepped back. “We’ll need you soon enough.”
“Let’s do this thing.” Payne wasn’t armed with conventional weapons. Anything he carried into the fight would have to be abandoned once he transformed into one of the guards.
“Follow me.” Ian headed off through the trees and the others fell in behind him. Each of them was more accustomed to giving orders than receiving them, but Ian was the only one with firsthand knowledge of the situation. They hiked up a rise and remained within the trees near the crest until the hill dipped suddenly. Hustling down at an angle, Ian gradually slowed their pace.
Kyle spotted the guards off to his left and Ian motioned for them to fan out. Skirting the target, Kyle crept along, giving the others time to reach their positions. Ian sent a telepathic pulse, signaling the charge. The guards snapped to attention, shouldering their weapons as they scanned their surroundings.
Ian dropped down from a tree, knocking one guard to the ground and kicking his rifle out of reach. Stunned and confused, the guard thrashed. Ian easily deflected the blows. A well-placed punch rendered the guard unconscious then Ian reached into his pocket and withdrew a couple of oversized zip ties so he could restrain his prisoner.
Reaching the second guard a moment later, Kyle and Quinn coordinated their attack. Quinn ripped the rifle out of his hands as Kyle jerked his arms behind his back, preventing him from activating his radio.
“You can’t do this!” The guard yanked against Kyle’s hands, arching and twisting in a futile attempt to escape. “They’ll kill me this time! Please let me go.”
Kyle had been so focused on the task that he’d barely glanced at the guard’s face. Motioning Quinn forward he traded places with the other Therian so he could move in front of the guard. This was one of the guards he’d run into when he was lost on this mountain with Ava. “Who are ‘they’?”
The guard shook his head and panic clouded his gaze. “No one fails them twice. I’m already dead.”
“Heard enough?”
Kyle nodded and Quinn punched the guard then steadied him as he collapsed onto the leaf-strewn ground.
“Which one was in charge?” Payne moved closer, looking at one guard and then the other.
“I’m not sure, but I had a run-in with this one already. He’d be more than happy to get his hands on me and Ava.”
Quinn bound the guard’s wrists and ankles with zip ties as Payne knelt at his side. Kyle had heard of skinwalkers, had even known Payne inherited the rare ability from his mother, but he’d never seen the transformation before. Was the process significantly different than any other Therian shift?
“I need his uniform.”
“That would have been nice to know before I restrained him,” Quinn muttered then snapped the sturdy plastic so he could undress the guard.
Ian held his position, but he was obviously curious as well. Payne took the guard’s head between his hands and closed his eyes. For a moment it seemed as if nothing happened. Then the wind stilled and silence spread over the area like an insulating blanket. Kyle felt energy streaming around and into Payne. The currents were warm and softly sizzled.
Bending closer to the guard, Payne whispered words Kyle didn’t understand. Payne repositioned his hands as his arms began to tremble. The chant grew louder, his lips moving faster.
A spark, like an ember escaping a campfire, floated out of the guard and into Payne’s mouth. Kyle thought he’d imagined the manifestation until it happened again. Payne inhaled deeply and more sparks followed, forming a shimmering stream. His features blurred, the angles smoothed and his skin paled.
This must be how Ava felt when she saw a Therian shift for the first time. His respect for her grew with each passing moment. It was amazing that she hadn’t run screaming in terror. It really was rather grotesque. Kyle watched the undulation of Payne’s flesh, heard the crack of joints and crunch of bones as he assumed the guard’s smaller shape.
Payne finally released the guard’s face and struggled to his feet. Though he was shaky and a bit dazed, the likeness was absolute. Quinn handed him the uniform then knelt and restrained the guard as Payne put on the uniform.
“We’ll carry these two closer to the vehicle shed then incapacitate the rest of the guards,” Ian told Kyle then he turned to Quinn and added, “I know you’d rather keep Carissa out of this, but we could use the cover.”
Quinn reluctantly nodded and they turned their attention to the unconscious guards.
“You good to go?” Kyle asked Payne. “We need to secure the complex before they reach the shed.”
Payne rolled his shoulders and stretched out his back. “Lead on.”
Rather than backtrack, Kyle reached across his link with Ava and told her they were ready for phase two.
Chapter Eleven
Ava looked at her sister and smiled with a little more con
fidence than she felt. “Time to go. Kyle needs me.”
“Yeah, Quinn just called me too. Be careful.” Carissa hugged her tightly.
“You too.”
“You’re both in good hands,” Erin stressed. “Trust your men and trust yourselves. You’ll be fine.”
“Says the woman who’s staying behind.”
Rather than being insulting, as Ava feared, Carissa’s comment made Erin laugh.
“Get!” Erin waved them on. “They’re waiting for you.”
Using their link like a beacon, Ava followed the signal to Kyle. He stood with a uniformed guard in the trees to one side of the complex Ian had described. Her steps faltered and her gaze shot back to Kyle.
“It’s all right.” Kyle looked at the guard and smiled. “Damn convincing, isn’t he?”
“Payne?” The guard inclined his head and a shiver raced down her spine. He looked exactly like one of the guards they’d encountered during their first trip to this area. No visible trace of the lion-shifter was left. It would be so easy to misuse such a powerful ability.
“Remember, we’re his prisoners.” Kyle coached. “Don’t fight your nerves too hard. You should be afraid and upset.” He took out his pistol and handed it to Payne, who also held the guard’s rifle.
“Walk in front of me with your hands in the air,” Payne told them.
“This guard has an ax to grind with me, so don’t hold back.”
Payne chuckled. “I didn’t intend to.” Even his voice had transformed. Gone was the unusual accent and the deep rumbling tone. He tucked Kyle’s pistol into the back of his pants then repositioned his rifle.
They stepped out of the trees and headed across the grassy clearing, making a beeline for the nearest exterior door. It was safe to presume someone was watching, so Payne fell into character. “Not too close and keep those hands up!” He poked Kyle in the back with the barrel of his rifle. “I can’t believe you had the balls to come back. I’d be impressed if it wasn’t so stupid.”
There was no keypad or scanner to trigger the door so Payne told Ava to try the handle. It was securely locked. Should we try a different door?
Camera at ten o’clock. Give it another second. Kyle projected the thought without shielding it, so Payne could hear him as well.
Payne looked into the camera and called out, “Open up. I’ve got a present for Osric.”
Ava heard the subtle pop as the lock released, but Kyle stopped her before she could try the handle again. Don’t seem too eager to get inside.
“Open it, bitch!” Payne nudged her with the rifle, the contact far more careful than it had been with Kyle.
“Wrong shifter, asshole,” she returned, and he kicked her in the butt, propelling her toward the door. The handle rotated and she slowly pulled the door open.
Kyle stepped through first, but the caution seemed unnecessary as the hallway was empty.
Someone was monitoring that camera. There’s likely a guard headed our way.
It felt odd to have anyone other than Kyle in her mind, but she heeded Payne’s warning. They proceeded cautiously, Kyle moving beside her as they turned a corner and entered a wider corridor. There was nothing unique or menacing about the building. They passed an office on the right and approached what appeared to be a lab on the left. The bottom portion of the wall was obscured while the upper half was transparent.
A guard came into view as he rounded a corner. “You’re out of luck, Carvel. Osric left this morning with Barns. I’m not sure who the backers summoned. They both seemed mighty jumpy.”
“Shit. Then who’s on duty.”
Ava couldn’t see Payne’s expression, but he certainly sounded petulant.
“Daniels, of course.” The guard’s impatient sneer made it obvious the real Carvel would have known.
“Then I’ll ask Daniels what I should do with these two. I’m not sticking my neck out again.”
“Whatever you say.” The guard turned around and Kyle lunged for him, trapping his arms against his sides as he wrestled him to the floor. Careful to keep the guard’s hands away from his weapons, Kyle dragged his arms behind his back and pinned him to the floor with his knee.
Payne approached and the guard renewed his struggles. “You fucking pussy! Are you working with them?”
“Close enough.” Payne disarmed the guard while Kyle secured his wrists and ankles. Good thing they had lots of zip ties.
Ava looked around, belatedly checking for cameras. There were so many details, so many things that could go wrong. How did these men keep track of everything?
“Where’s Daniels and are there any other guards in the building?” When the guard didn’t reply, Payne pulled up on his bound wrists, twisting his shoulders. The guard cried out between clenched teeth. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll scan your mind and I’ll make it hurt worse than anything you can imagine.”
The guard stilled, color draining from his face. “You’re one of those freaks, aren’t you?”
“Speak!” Ignoring the question, Payne yanked on the guard’s hands for emphasis.
“Control room.” The guard panted and turned his head, looking away from his tormentor.
“Which is where?” Payne grabbed his wrists but waited for his answer.
“Turn right, second door on the left.” He sounded so dejected, Ava almost felt sorry for him. Then she remembered he was in league with Osric and the spark of pity sputtered out.
Kyle opened an office door and dragged the guard inside. Ava heard the familiar smack of flesh hitting flesh and a muffled groan.
“He was already restrained. Was that necessary?”
“Yes!” The men answered as one.
Trying not to be distracted by their aggression, Ava fell into step beside Kyle. Payne resumed his role as antagonistic guard and they headed for the main corridor. There was a dark-haired woman and two young men in the laboratory. They watched with obvious curiosity as Payne marched his prisoners down the hall, but none seemed interested enough to interfere.
The control room door was unmarked. Payne knocked with the butt of his rifle. “Daniels, open up! I’ve got my hands full.”
After a short pause, the door swung inward and Kyle grabbed the guard by his shirtfront and yanked him into the hall. Payne caught the door before it swung shut and Kyle went to work on the guard. Daniels put up more of a fight than his comrades, punching and kicking with obvious skill. Kyle absorbed a few blows while Ava moved out of the way, then he unleashed his Therian speed and strength.
The guard reached for his pistol as he executed a flashy jump kick. Kyle grabbed his ankle and swept his other foot out from under him. Daniels went down hard on his back, his head slamming the floor with enough force to knock him out.
“Now you don’t have to punch him.” Payne chuckled.
Kyle rolled him over and zip tied his wrists then pulled his sidearm out of its holster. Leaving him on his stomach, Kyle secured his ankles then tucked the gun into the back of his pants.
Ava stepped into the doorway as Payne moved farther into the control room. A wide console had been mounted below a large, oblong monitor. The monitor was divided into six sections, three on top and three on the bottom. The first two sections displayed external shots of the complex while the other four were internal.
“Let me see if I can find a full list of the cameras. There has to be more than six.” Ava sat down at the keyboard, feeling useful for the first time since the mission began. The operating system was familiar, but the program itself was not. It took her a few minutes to find a main menu, but the rest was pretty straightforward. “Here we go.”
“Is the lower level available?” Kyle moved up beside her chair while Payne returned to the doorway.
“Lower levels. There are two.” There were thirty available cameras, so Ava took them level by level. There were no surprises on the first two levels or in any of the exterior shots. She selected the first six cameras on sublevel one and sent their signals to the monitors
. Images of identical cell-like rooms filled the screen, each containing at least one captive. “Oh my God.” Her stomach clenched and her heart thudded in her chest. “What is this place?”
Kyle moved to her other side and touched the upper corner of the monitor. “Is that…”
Two girls huddled together on the narrow bunk, their images so small they were barely visible on the cluttered screen. Pity and anger twisted through Ava’s chest. What the hell were innocent children doing in a place like this? She selected the camera again and the image filled the screen.
Without explaining his excitement, Kyle tapped his earpiece and began to pace. “Ian, call Jake. We’ve found the girls!”
Ava looked at the screen with new interest. These were two of Jake’s nieces? How wonderful! But weren’t there three missing? And who were the rest of these people? She returned to the divided screen and Kyle pointed to one of the other rooms. “Show me this one.”
She toggled the image and Kyle let out a happy cry. “That’s Cheyenne. We have all three!”
“Not yet we don’t,” Payne said from the doorway. “There have to be guards down there and what about the lab rats? They’re the ones doing the experiments. They have to be held accountable for their actions.”
Quickly selecting the other images on sublevel one, Ava determined that there were six holding cells, a treatment room and two guards. The second sublevel was basically a duplicate of the first.
“Go through all the images again,” Kyle told her. “Make sure we didn’t miss anything.”
The upper level housed living quarters and none were occupied at the moment. She located two additional teams of scientists, but no more guards on the main level.
“Let’s leave Quinn and Carissa in the shed as planned,” Payne suggested. “But we could use Ian. Especially if anyone manages to sound an alarm.”
All was quiet right now, but they were rather outnumbered.
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