Kiara listened as Warren spoke into his cell. He was in constant communication with Fergus and she could hear every word spoken between the two powerful alphas.
Fergus said, “Julio’s nowhere to be seen, but Mary’s on it. She’s scouring the compound. Hold on. I’ve just had word from the squad in the eastern escape tunnel. They’re on the second belowground level where the security room is. Taking fire. Wait, they’ve broken into the room. They’ll be using explosives on the electrical box. I’m hearing more gunfire. They’ve got a countdown going, then all the cameras will be offline.”
Every muscle in Kiara’s body tensed. The seconds lagged then she heard the muffled explosion.
Within half-a-minute, Fergus’s ground troops had entered the compound. The exterior was now very quiet. At least two dozen more Gordion wolves hovered in the air, at wide intervals both horizontal and vertical, keeping watch.
Fergus was situated in the air twenty yards opposite the front entrance. All the airborne warriors waited with rifles drawn. Each continued to survey the various vehicles in the parking lot as well as the pine trees at the edge of the forest across the street.
Warren held her hand to retain their critical physical connection. With his phone to his ear, he moved them as a unit in a slow circle in the air, checking the skies.
She heard Fergus say, “Mary found Julio’s room. It’s on the first belowground level at the far, southern end of the complex. The hall to get there is very long. The women are unconscious. Wait. She says Julio is in there. Shit.”
“What?” Warren barked.
“Mary said Julio just disappeared.”
Kiara leaned close to the phone. “He didn’t disappear. Glissane pulled him into his shield.”
“Kiara’s right,” Warren added.
Fergus rattled off a tidy string of invective. “Mary says the women are barely breathing. Whatever Julio’s done, the three captives will die soon.”
Warren was about to say something, but Kiara caught his arm, then said, “Fergus, ask Mary if she sees even the faintest green glimmer inside the room. This would be the wizard’s aura. If she can detect his signature, we’ll know where both Glissane and Julio are.”
“I’ll ask.”
Kiara’s heart started pounding in her chest. If they remained inside the bedroom, she suspected that she and Warren were being sent an invitation.
Fergus’s voice came back firm and confident. “She said ‘yes’, the signature is there.”
Kiara met Warren’s gaze. He nodded slowly in confirmation, then spoke into his phone. “Have Mary stay in contact with you about that signature. Let us know if it leaves the bedroom.”
Fergus cursed again. “This feels like a damn trap.”
“I agree,” Warren said. “But here’s the good news. If Julio and Glissane remain in one location, you and your force will be free to take care of Julio’s army and evacuate the pack wolves. Kiara and I are going in.”
“I’m with you. I’ll send orders to the squad leaders, then I’ll be right back to you. Keep your phone handy.”
Warren set it on speaker, then slid it into a pouch on his armored vest near his left shoulder.
He took Kiara’s hand. She felt the beginnings of his storm in a tingling on her palm. He held her gaze, his lips set in a grim line. He switched to telepathy. Neither of us knows how this can work or what we can do. Glissane has a powerful reputation as a devious wizard who works in layers. This won’t be simple and there’s no guarantee we’ll make it out of there alive.
She squeezed his hand. I know. But either way, with Fergus’s highly-trained troops taking on Julio’s contingent, we’ll be saving some wolves and putting a dent in his army. There’s just one thing.
What?
She leaned up and kissed him on the lips. Hard.
He responded by sliding his arm around her waist and pulling her tight against him.
When she drew back, she caressed his face and ran her fingers over his diminished scars. Let’s go get ‘em.
~ ~ ~
Warren kept his arm wrapped around Kiara’s waist. This was new for him, going into battle with a woman by his side. Not just a woman, but a powerful alter witch. He hoped like hell that between them they’d be able to disrupt the power-bond Julio and Glissane shared.
He flew first to the open front door and seeing it empty, retraced their earlier pathway. He had one goal right now, to make sure they didn’t get caught in the crossfire.