by Rayna Tyler
Zaedon
“Zaedon’s right.” Khyron waved his hand around the gathering room of the quarters the females shared the last time they had stayed in the city. “Make yourselves comfortable. We have much to discuss.” He took Celeste’s hand and led her to a seat on the nearest lounger.
The rest of the group either found a place to sit or chose a spot to stand and lean against a wall. Garyck walked over to the entrance leading into the outer hallway and closed the double doors, then took on the role of guard by remaining next to them.
Cara did not move, seemingly uninterested in doing either, so I pulled her in front of me, slipping my arms around her middle and urging her back against my chest.
“Thanks.” Cara tipped her head to the side and rewarded me with a smile.
I believed we were about to face a difficult challenge, and I struggled with the urge to wrap my tail around her legs. The status of our relationship might have changed, but it was still new, and I did not want Cara to assume I was being overprotective. Instead, I sniffed her hair, the soft curls tickling my nose, the calming effect immediate.
Once we were all settled, Khyron turned to Raytan. “Please relay the information you have gathered.”
Raytan was a trusted member of our team and had been left in charge when the rest of us went with Khyron to the settlement in search of Celeste. He hadn’t been happy about staying behind, but had done what he’d been assigned nonetheless. After glancing around the room, he began. “Once Khyron learned that Doyle had posted a bounty on Cara, he sent word asking me to monitor activities in the city more closely. I am sure you are all aware that since the end of the war, Doyle rarely leaves the Quaddrien. He usually sends his males to do his work for him.” Raytan paced as he spoke. “Several days ago, one of my sources reported news of Doyle leaving his compound and traveling to Aztrashar.”
“Are you saying he’s here in the city now?” Cara asked, her voice laced with excitement. “Has someone actually seen him?”
I understood her concern. Not everything we heard was reliable, and with lives at stake, confirming the accuracy of information was paramount.
Raytan stopped moving long enough to answer Cara. “Yes, I had my doubts and personally traveled to the inner city, where the mercs are known to transact their business.”
That particular area of the city was run-down, the streets not safe to travel after dark. It was also where my friends and I first met Laria, Celeste, and Sloane.
Raytan toyed with the hilt of his sword. “I was able to catch a glimpse of the male and overheard another address him by his name, but was unable to discover the purpose of his visit.”
“I think I might know something about that.” Cara spent the next few minutes explaining what Des had told her about Doyle and his possible involvement with whoever was behind wanting Khyron and the vryndarr dead.
“And you trust this male?” Jardun asked, his dark-green gaze sparking with interest.
“I do. I’ve dealt with Des many times over the years, and his information is usually accurate,” Cara said.
“If what Cara has learned is true, then it is imperative we capture Doyle and keep him alive for questioning,” Jardun said. “If we can find out who he is working with, then it may be possible to learn who has been plotting to end Khyron’s life.”
After the war, there had been rumors that Sarus was dead, but none of us had actually seen a body. Jardun was convinced the male was alive and still posed a threat to Khyron and the humans.
Laria scooted to the edge of her seat. “While you were verifying, did you get an exact location where we can find him?”
“No.” Raytan’s frown deepened. “There were too many males with him for me to get close, and following them would have drawn attention.”
Sloane asked, “If we have a good idea where Doyle is hanging out, wouldn’t it be easier to send in soldiers, and have them search all the buildings?”
“It would, but we do not know who can be trusted, or if any of them were loyal to Sarus and willing to betray Khyron,” Raytan said. “We cannot risk someone relaying our plans to Doyle and providing him with an opportunity to escape.”
“And you can bet after your visit to the Quaddrien, he’s turned his compound into an impenetrable fortress.” Logan scratched the stubble on his chin. “If he gets out of the city, we may never get another chance to capture him and find out why he’s here.”
“Raytan, did you happen to notice if any of the males with Doyle were armed with weapons other than swords?” Cara’s body stiffened when she asked the question.
“No, why?”
“During my time at the compound, I learned that Doyle had found some of the laser blasters the human survivors believed had been destroyed in the crash,” Cara said.
All the vryndarr had been required to read the data files given to Khyron’s sire by the humans shortly after they arrived. We all knew the weapons were capable of killing from a distance.
“There is a good chance Doyle might have brought blasters with him, but is keeping them hidden,” Cara said.
“Cara makes a good point.” Sloane pushed away from the wall where she’d been standing. “Swords are no match for those weapons, and there are a lot of unarmed people living near that area who could get hurt.”
“I have already considered the possibility, which is why the people in this room are the only ones who are aware of the plan”—Khyron swept his hand through his hair—“and the only ones who will be going on this mission.”
Khyron, as well as the rest of the males, myself included, had to be experiencing an overwhelming need to protect the females, but knew it would do no good to insist they remain behind. Having my fears confirmed about the reason we had been summoned to the city did not ease my anxiety. I tightened my grip around Cara’s waist, receiving a gentle caress along the scales on my arm.
“And before any of you ask, please know that I did not bring any of the advanced weapons the females found hidden in the solarveyor confiscated from Doyle during your exit from the wastelands. Until their use is absolutely necessary, they will remain safely secured back at the settlement.” Khyron glanced around the room. “I am not willing to risk the lives of innocents, so if Doyle’s males are armed with lasers, it is up to us to disarm them before anyone gets hurt.”
A loud rap echoed through the room. Garyck looked to Khyron for approval before opening one of the doors.
“Garyck, I was looking for Vurell.” Kren, whose head barely reached Garyck’s shoulders, slipped around him and walked into the room. “I need…” He glanced at everyone present and froze. His pause was brief, his surprise at seeing Cara and me quickly pushed away with several blinks of his dark yellow eyes. “Raytan did not mention he was expecting the arrival of others.”
“The drezdarr’s affairs are none of your business,” Vurell interrupted, his voice rasping with irritation. “Have you come to inform me that someone is dying?”
Kren shook his head. “No.”
“Then whatever you need is not an emergency and can wait until later.” Vurell’s admonishment of the younger male seemed a bit harsh, but then he was not known for being polite.
My friends and I were accustomed to Vurell’s gruffness, had learned to ignore it, but Kren, who had been training and assisting him for the last year, had not.
Kren clenched his fists tightly to his thighs and spoke through gritted teeth. “Of course. I am sorry for the intrusion.” He bowed his head to Khyron as he slowly backed from the room.
“Impertinent male,” Vurell mumbled as soon as Garyck closed the door behind Kren, and returned to the same spot he’d been standing before his arrival. “Khyron, please continue explaining your plan, and how you expect me to keep up with the numerous injuries the team is going to incur.”
***
Cara
If the odds of anyone on the team sustaining injuries hadn’t been high, I would have found Vurell’s sarcastic comment amusing. We were al
l highly skilled, and if we were going up against males with blades, my concern would be minimal. Doyle was ruthless, leaving me little doubt that he’d brought lasers with him, or that his visit was somehow tied to what I learned from Des.
“Khyron, you’re not planning to stay behind, are you?” I already knew the answer. The drezdarr would never ask any of us to do what he wasn’t willing to do himself.
“As if,” Celeste huffed.
This mission was going to be our most dangerous yet, and we needed every advantage we could get. I pulled out of Zaedon’s arms and walked across the room.
“Cara, where are you going?” Zaedon asked.
“To get this.” I reached into my bag, glad I’d thought to stuff one of the stun sticks I’d taken from the bandits inside before we left. I’d already given the other one to Josh so he could study the design and try to replicate it. “Some additional protection.”
“Where did you get a stun stick?” Khyron furrowed his brow, his narrow turquoise gaze going from me to Zaedon.
“It is a story for another time,” Zaedon said, uncomfortably shifting his stance.
Zaedon was a proud male, and I couldn’t fault him for not wanting to tell the others how he’d been zapped into unconsciousness.
“This one has been modified.” I walked over to Khyron and handed it to him. “It seems the luzardee found a way to increase the voltage.”
“I have heard about these, but never seen one before. May I?” Thrayn stepped around the lounger and held out his hand to Khyron.
“How does it work?” Thrayn gripped both ends as he studied the stick.
“Thrayn, no, don’t touch…” My warning came too late.
He accidentally activated the control and gave himself a jolt. His arms shook, his roar filling the room. If not for Laria’s quick thinking, along with a well-placed kick to the center of the stick with the heel of her boot, Thrayn might not have let go of it.
The stick hit the floor first, followed by Thrayn dropping to his knees, then falling face forward.
No one moved to help him.
“I can’t believe he actually shocked himself.” Laria bit her bottom lip, trying hard not to laugh.
“I can.” Sloane walked over and knelt beside Thrayn, then rolled him on his back. “Looks like he’s still breathing, so he must be okay.”
“How long will he be out?” Jardun asked as he picked up the stick.
“Several hours, maybe more.” I based my guess on the amount of time Zaedon had been out and the size similarities between Thrayn and him.
“There are days…” Khyron pinched the bridge of his nose. “It would serve him right if we just left him here until he wakes.”
“We aren’t going to leave him on the floor. Not unless you were planning to sleep alone until we return to the settlement.”
Khryon released an outraged gasp. “Zadierra, you would not…”
“Wouldn’t I?” Celeste scooted out of Khyron’s reach when he tried to take her hand.
I was surprised Khyron hadn’t learned that he was outmatched when it came to a battle of wills with Celeste. Or maybe he had and enjoyed the challenge.
“Fine, Zaedon and Jardun can put him in your old room since you will most definitely not be needing it.” Khryon reached for Celeste again, his attempt to pull her into his arms successful. He probably assumed he’d won the battle, but the wink Celeste shot in my direction said otherwise.
With a giggle, Laria draped her arm over my shoulder. “See what you’ve been missing?”
Chapter Fourteen
Zaedon
Besides apprehending Doyle, preventing injury to any of the ketaurrans and humans living near the part of the city where Raytan had seen the mercenary and his males was our top priority. After Jardun and I had ensured that Thrayn was resting comfortably in Celeste’s old room, the group spent the remainder of the afternoon developing a plan.
I pitied Thrayn when he woke up and found us gone. Not only was he going to be disappointed he was left behind, but the pain from the jolt, combined with the throbbing in his head, would be less than tolerable.
Thrayn was doing well as a vryndarr, but he was young and had a lot to learn. He still tried Khyron’s patience, and his latest curiosity with the stun stick would no doubt earn him months of teasing from the other males as well as the females in the group.
Nightfall came quickly, leaving me no time to spend alone with Cara or talk her out of the dangerous plan she’d suggested. A plan everyone else seemed to think was our best option. I, of course, did not agree since Cara would be taking the highest risk.
“You are all clear on what you need to do, correct?” Khyron’s commanding whisper drew me from my thoughts.
Everyone in the group except me gave him an affirmative nod before pulling the hoods of their jackets over their heads.
“Zaedon?” I had voiced my objections earlier, so Khyron knew I was not happy that another male would be accompanying her.
“Clear.” I reluctantly agreed.
I had learned that Cara was not the only one good with disguises. Logan was equally talented. He would pretend to be a merc, then ask to be taken to Doyle so he could hand over Cara for the bounty. The rest of us would take strategic positions and follow. Once we discovered Doyle’s location, we would move in and, with any luck, apprehend him without a lot of bloodshed.
“Khyron, give us a minute.” Cara took my hand and pulled me away from the group.
Once we were alone, I wrapped my arms around her waist, hopefully not for the last time. “You know you do not have to do this.”
“Yes, I do.” She placed her warm hands on my cheeks. “We can’t spend the rest of our lives hiding and worrying about Doyle. I need to know that my grandparents will be safe, and you need to find out who is behind the attacks on Khyron.”
To hear her say “We” and not “I,” to hear that she now considered me to be a part of her future, helped ease some of my trepidation. I pressed my forehead to hers. “I know, but it does not make it any easier for me to agree with your plan.”
“I’m not thrilled about it either, but it’s the only way, and we both know it.”
***
Cara
Logan and I walked along a darkened back street, the only light available coming from several glow emitters attached to the exterior walls on a couple of the dwellings. We stopped a block away and around the corner from a run-down building that housed a bar and an upper floor with rooms used by visitors. The walkway outside was the last place Raytan had seen Doyle.
He fastened a binding around my wrists. “You ready to do this?”
He’d done a good job hiding his identity. Even I hadn’t recognized him when he’d first joined our group earlier. I had no idea where he’d gotten the eye patch or what he’d used on his face to make him seem more intimidating. When this mission was over, I planned to ask him.
“Yeah, just make sure you do whatever it takes to make this look authentic. No holding back.” Mercs didn’t have a problem with abusing their prisoners. I could deal with some pain and bruising if it meant stopping Doyle. Zaedon wouldn’t be so understanding, which was why I’d waited until Logan and I were alone to say anything.
“When have you ever known me to hold back?”
“Good point.” I twisted my wrists, testing the binding to make sure I wouldn’t have any trouble escaping later. Since I had a reputation for using my hands instead of blades to fight, Doyle could decide to switch to shackles. As a backup, I brought along the thin dagger I’d purchased from Des. Hopefully, if Doyle’s males decided to check me for weapons, they wouldn’t think to search my boots.
“Shall we?” I raised my arm for him to grab.
Being convincing also required a little acting on my part, so when he dragged me toward the building, I pretended to struggle.
As soon as we got close to the building, two males stepped out of the shadows, one I recognized, the other I didn’t. If I knew Doyle, t
here were more males posted close by who wouldn’t make their presence known until it was necessary.
Gordon was slimmer and shorter than the beefier male standing next to him. I hadn’t interacted with him much when I stayed at the compound, but I knew he’d been friends with Rick and Neil, the males who’d ambushed Celeste and me on our way to the settlement about a month ago. He wasn’t going to be happy if he ever found out the males were dead and that Logan and I had been partly responsible for their deaths.
“Stop right there.” Gordon fingered the hilt of his sword. “This area is off-limits, so unless you want trouble, you need to turn around and head back the way you came.”
“Rumor has it Doyle’s in the city, and I’m here to collect my reward,” Logan said.
Gordon’s dark gaze flickered with suspicion. “You got a name?”
“You can call me Roy.” The lie flowed easily from Logan’s lips.
“Well, Roy, Doyle doesn’t see anybody, not without an invitation.”
I wondered if Gordon realized he’d slipped up and confirmed his boss’s location.
Logan tipped his head in my direction. “He will when he finds out what I brought him.”
“You don’t mind if we have a look first, do you?” the other male asked.
“Be my guest,” Logan said.
Letting Gordon get close to me was a risk, but as long as he didn’t try to hurt me or unsheathed his sword, Logan wouldn’t use the blade he had hidden inside his long jacket.
Logan’s compliance didn’t seem to put either of the males at ease. While Gordon moved toward me, his friend warily watched the walkway behind us.
Gordon grabbed the back of my hood and wasn’t gentle when he yanked it off my head, pulling some of my hair in the process. “Well, I’ll be damned if it isn’t Cara, or would you prefer we still call you Carl?”
Carl was the name I’d used when I passed myself off as a boy during my stay at the compound. I glared at Gordon, refusing to show any fear. “Either works fine for me.”
“Enjoy the attitude and smart mouth while you can, ’cause it won’t last long once Doyle gets ahold of you,” the other male said with a snicker.