Adare growled and glared down at the fragile woman in his arms. She was in a hospital gown, with the twin plastic bags on her chest. He cocked his head to the side. “Then hurry up. Let’s go.”
Ronan shook his head. Adare had always disliked humans, and weakness repulsed him. A female in a coma would just piss him off. But he’d have to deal with it so the rest of them could fight. Ivar was correct. Ronan needed his hands free to protect his mate. He took another gun. “Ivar? I’m assuming there’s a way out?”
Ivar planted his hand on the opposite wall, and it slid open to reveal a dark tunnel lit by red lights on the floor. “Follow closely, because I have several bombs planted along the way. At the end there’s transport waiting.”
Ronan nodded. “You take point. Then Adare carrying Grace, then Benny, then Faith, and I’ll take up the rear. In case they come from another direction.”
“Good plan.” Ivar looked around his depot. “Fuck. I liked this place.” Then he turned and started running down the tunnel.
Another explosion echoed, and this time, sharp shards of rock slashed from the ceiling. Ronan pivoted, tucking Faith into his body and shielding her. He moved for Grace, but Adare had already wrapped himself over her before leaping into the tunnel.
Fury lit Ronan that they were being attacked. That he’d led somebody back to a safe place—the place he’d put his mate. If she wasn’t there, he’d stay and fight. Maybe Omar was with the group. With a growl, he nudged Faith toward the tunnel. “Run after Benny, sweetheart. If your feet hurt, tell me. I can carry you.”
She looked at him, her face pale and her eyes wide. But she nodded and turned, moving into a jog despite the too-big pants and her bare feet. The gun looked too large for her hand, but she held it, moving quickly.
The tunnel turned into a labyrinth. Ivar led them in what seemed like circles for nearly thirty minutes. The group stayed silent, and more explosions rocked the mountain behind and above them. Finally, they emerged into a gulley of sorts. Rain slashed down and thunder bellowed in the distance.
Ivar ran toward a stand of trees and stopped right before he reached it, tugging off some type of sheet that had masked another helicopter. This one was dark and silent, shaped sleekly. How marvelous to be able to hide a helicopter.
Ronan swept Faith up on the way to protect her feet from the pinecones and other stickers in the grass. He sat in the back of the helicopter with her on his lap next to Adare and Grace.
Benny jumped into the pilot’s seat with Ivar next to him. “This is a modified design I may have stolen from the Realm,” Benny said easily as he punched the buttons. “We don’t need helmets to talk, and we can go into stealth mode.” He lifted three red levers toward the middle. “And that’s not all.”
Something pinged against the helicopter.
Ronan reacted instantly, shoving Faith down and covering her. His window blew open and something pierced his shoulder. He growled and pointed into the darkness.
Three Cyst ran out of the trees, their pale skin glowing even under the cloud cover. They fired continuously.
Ronan leaned out and fired the gun, hitting one Cyst in the forehead. Blood spurted and the monster fell back into a tree. Ronan glanced down at his wrists. These new weapons were handy. Taking aim, he fired toward the second soldier, who was weaving back and forth.
The helicopter lifted into the sky.
Adare leaned out the other side, firing rapidly.
Benny turned the copter to face the Cyst.
“What are you doing?” Ronan growled.
“Watch this.” Benny pressed one of the red levers, and smoke billowed from the side of the chopper. Something shot at the Cyst and exploded. “Rockets.”
Ronan stared at the scorched earth. Holy shit.
“That’s nothing,” Ivar said, punching up something on his phone. “Give me a minute.”
Benny turned the helicopter and started rising.
Ronan reached for Faith, pulling her onto his lap. She cuddled right in, for once not fighting him. He pressed his thumb lightly to her jugular, where her pulse beat too quickly. “Take a few deep breaths.” He tried to keep his voice calm when he wanted to completely blow his temper. How dare the Cyst attack? He’d put his mate in danger, and there was no excuse for that. He pressed her head beneath his chin, holding her tight.
She trembled and curled up on his lap, her nose against his neck. Her knees rose and the sight of her bare feet hit him square in the gut. Slowly, he turned his head to see Adare holding Grace carelessly, staring out the window.
Now Ronan knew. Now he understood why Adare had been so destroyed. So lost. Probably still was. Ronan hadn’t mated Faith yet, hadn’t even completed the sex act, but even so, if he lost her, he’d be empty.
Ivar cleared his voice. “And out your left window, you’ll see a nice burning campfire.”
Ronan frowned and turned toward the window.
Ivar tapped his phone.
The earth rumbled. Ronan stiffened, listening. Then the entire mountain exploded. Fire soared high and bright, smoke billowing up around it.
“Fuckers don’t like fire,” Benny said congenially, banking a hard left.
Ronan relaxed, holding his mate. He’d get her new clothing and definitely some socks. “Please tell me we have a secondary location.”
Ivar turned toward him and winced. “Kind of. It’s a bit rougher than this one, but it’ll have to do.” He sighed. “But we definitely need to check the perimeter. I don’t know if the Kurjans followed you guys from the bar or if they discovered our holdings years ago and have just been waiting to attack.”
Ronan sighed and settled his chin on Faith’s head. Her trembling had stopped. He looked at Adare. The last thing Ronan needed was Adare taking responsibility for this attack and disappearing to drink himself into oblivion again. “This wasn’t your fault.”
“Maybe.” Adare hadn’t stopped staring out the window. “But it probably is.”
Ronan looked down at the motionless woman. “Is she okay?”
Adare frowned and looked down at Grace as if he couldn’t wait to be rid of her. He paused and then stilled, tilting his head. “There’s something…” Obviously careful not to jostle her, he slowly tugged down the left side of her gown. The shape of a key was clearly outlined on Grace’s smooth skin. Above her heart, but below her clavicle.
Adare turned toward Ronan, his eyebrows slashing down. “Did you know?”
Faith stiffened and slowly lifted her head, turning to see her sister and the marking. She bit her lip.
“No,” Ronan said, emotions battering him harder than a hurricane. “I did not know.”
* * * *
Faith didn’t have any words. She looked at Grace, Adare, and then braved a glance at Ronan’s face. Solid rock. No emotion. That wasn’t good. The adrenaline in her body dissipated, and she shivered. Ronan palmed her entire head and pressed her face back to his neck, his other arm holding her securely.
His heated body warmed her, and the scent of male and the woods filled her. She didn’t have the energy to fight him—or explain. There was a good reason she hadn’t confided in him, and she probably would’ve told him after she’d worked it all through in her mind. That was true. Time hadn’t exactly been on their side. She tried to lift her head, not really surprised when he kept her in place. “Ronan—”
“Later.” His breath brushed her hair.
Any time not right now worked for her. She let her body relax and absorb his warmth. The helicopter hummed quietly, and every once in a while, they dipped low enough for rain to slash against the window.
Even though she’d hurt his feelings, and she could sense he was mad, she was secure. Safe. What was it about him? About them? As a logical and educated woman, she questioned everything. Yet she’d never been able to explain her ability with coma patients, and she sur
e couldn’t explain her feelings for this man. Male. For this immortal, protective, kind…male.
When he’d touched the marking to her neck, it had felt right. As if finally, after years of being alone, she’d finally found home.
How crazy was that?
Even more surprising, her body yearned for that marking to be permanent. Being mostly immortal would be incredible. Just think of the good she could do and the advances in science she could see.
To say nothing of an eternity with Ronan Kayrs. The idea made her both crave and hesitate. He was just…so much.
And she couldn’t forget the fact that he needed her. That in mating her, he’d regain his strength. Perhaps he’d also regain it if they rebuilt the full Seven, but her instincts told her Benny had been correct. She could help heal Ronan and help him get ready for the coming battle with Ulric. If she was going to mate Ronan, or if she was even just considering it, she had to believe him about his enemies. Plus, she’d just seen the Cyst attack them. They were the bad guys. She had to trust him.
He’d earned that trust by saving her and her sister.
Finally, they started descending.
“Where are we?” Adare asked.
“Secondary headquarters, which is not up to snuff. Rocky Mountains, much farther north in Wyoming.” Benny set the helicopter down with a soft bump. “They won’t expect us to stay in the same mountain range.”
Good point. Faith lifted her head, and this time, Ronan let her. She shivered, looking outside at the wild rainstorm. Two jeeps were parked beneath a large tarp, barely visible in the storm. A barely discernible road, more like a trail, led between two massive pine trees. “Where exactly are we?” she whispered.
“An hour outside of Northtown,” Benny said.
“We’ll get you some socks,” Ronan said, peering out at the trees surrounding them. “I take it there’s a tunnel entrance around here somewhere?” He shifted Faith on his lap and stuck his gun into a harness at his thigh. “How far is it?”
Ivar pointed toward an odd-shaped rock outcropping. “We’re at the end of one of the escape tunnels. Wait here, and I’ll run and open it. We don’t have sensors on the doors yet, so we are definitely unprotected. We’ll have to work around the clock securing the place.” He stepped into the storm, and the wind plastered his cargo pants to his thighs. He dodged through the rain and pressed his hand to the rock. A hole opened up.
Faith sighed. Then she looked at her sister. “We need to get her a blanket before we take her in. That gown isn’t enough.”
Adare looked down, frowning. “Humans.” He pulled his vest over his head with one hand and dropped it by his feet. Then he tugged his shirt off the same way. The cotton garment was big enough he could almost wrap Grace in it. “I’ll keep her dry. Just tell me where I can set her down.” His voice was low and hoarse.
Faith bit her lip. She didn’t know this guy. Before she could question him, Ronan opened the door and jumped out, running gracefully toward the rock. He held her against him, hunched over her, protecting her from the storm. Within seconds, they were back inside the earth.
Adare appeared right behind them, securely holding Grace. Ivar pressed a button on the stone wall, and lights appeared strung along the ceiling. Temporary mining lights.
“We’ll get you all settled, and then Benny and I will cover the helicopter and start the computers.” Ivar moved forward, shaking water from his hair.
Faith pushed against Ronan. “I can walk.”
“Be quiet.” He followed Ivar, with Adare behind them. His hold was gentle but firm, and his steps quick. Before long, they reached another set of bedrooms—these decorated in muted pastel colors.
Faith wanted to be amused that Ivar had gone with different decorating schemes for the different mountains, but she couldn’t drum up any humor.
They all moved into the first bedroom, which had a light pink bedspread, matching chair, and antique white dresser. Adare set Grace beneath the covers and looked around for a place to put her food and saline bags. “She probably doesn’t need the saline,” he mused.
Ronan set Faith on her feet, and her stupid borrowed cargo pants fell to the floor. She kicked them out of the way since Ronan’s T-shirt covered her almost to her knees. She pushed the pink chair over and took the bags from Adare to place gently on the seat. “Sure, she does.”
Adare looked at her, looked at Grace, and then turned on his heavy boot and left the room. The Scottish guy was kind of a dick.
Faith bit her lip. Gathering her courage, she focused on Ronan.
He nodded. “I know why you didn’t tell me.”
There were a lot of reasons, most of them time-related. “I’m sure I would have,” she said softly.
His eyes had softened with a glow she couldn’t quite read. “This doesn’t change anything.” He paused and then stood firm. What had gone through his head?
“I thought that since she was one of the Keys, maybe she could…you know, be mated,” Faith said.
The sympathy in Ronan’s face nearly dropped her to her knees. “No, Faith. Sometimes we can force the marking, but no way would anybody mate a woman in a coma.” He reached out and pushed a piece of hair out of her eyes. “I’m truly sorry.”
She swallowed over a lump in her throat. “You can’t be sure.”
“I am.” He sighed. “Take your time and get your sister comfortable. Then try and sleep. Dawn should arrive in a few minutes, but you could sleep for a few hours.”
She faltered. “What about you?”
His gaze, even tired, pierced through her. “I will return when I know this location is secure. We can talk later.” His tone hinted that he’d moved past reconnaissance and creating lines of communication with his strategy. Going on attack, no-holds-barred…was next.
There was so much to think about, and even now, she wanted to go to him and snuggle right into his chest. She had never felt like this in her entire life. “Okay,” she murmured.
“Right now, I’ll go and get the layout of this place in case we’re attacked again.” He rubbed a hand over his forehead. “Which seems likely, the way things have been going.” Then he turned and prowled down the hallway, quickly disappearing.
He hadn’t even tried to kiss her good-bye.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Ronan finished scouting the entire facility around noontime. He stalked through the tunnels toward the main control room. This stone was rougher against his boots, and the lights weren’t nearly as bright.
He emerged into a room with half the screens and computers as the control room that had just been blown to hell. Equipment was jumbled haphazardly in one corner, and computers still tilted in the box in another. Ivar sat at a long table, studying a screen on the wall. Pictures of twenty people were lined up on it. “Who are they?” Ronan asked.
Ivar didn’t turn. “Top human physics experts of the day.” He kicked out a chair next to him, and it rolled a foot. A drink can and a magazine with some guy holding a rose on the cover sat to his right.
“What is that?” Ronan asked.
“Benny and I have a bet on who the next dater will choose on the television show,” Ivar said absently. “Dater is a show where people date and then the guy chooses one woman. It’s called reality TV.”
Ronan blinked. “What’s real about that?” Had his friends lost their damn minds in this new world? He shook his head.
Ivar shrugged. “Ben thinks it’s going to be this woman called Carla, but she’s just a wench. No way will Jason pick her.”
Okay. They’d lost it. Ronan went to the chair and sat, reaching for the can, which was cool and smooth in his hand. He’d seen Ivar drink a few of these. “What is phosphoric acid, natural flavor, taurine, caffeine, and glucuronolactone?”
“Nobody really knows,” Ivar said, staring at the screen.
Ronan
set the can down. “Why would you put that into your body? None of the ingredients sounds like anything we should eat.” His brothers had been sissified a little bit.
“Tastes good,” Ivar muttered.
Ronan shook his head, pulling a keyboard toward himself. “You’ve done a thorough job with this secondary location.”
“I needed more time.” Ivar tapped several keys and ten of the faces on the big screen disappeared. “I’ve already talked to our immortal physicists, and the sad fact is that the humans might have knowledge we’ve missed.” He typed again and three faces remained: Two men and one woman. “These three are working in interesting fields.” More keys clacked and only one face remained.
“Pretty,” Ronan mused. The woman had thick black hair, deep blue eyes, and a pointed chin. Her hands were up as if the photograph had been taken while she was giving a lecture.
Ivar nodded. “Meet Victory Rashad.”
“Victoria?” Ronan asked.
“No. Victory. She signs her emails Vicki.” Ivar stared thoughtfully at the picture. “She’s a theoretical physicist working in cosmology and particle physics.”
“Interesting. Smart woman. What else?” Ronan asked, leaning forward.
Ivar pulled up a list of bullet points on the screen right in front of him. “I had a friend bump into her as she was leaving a yoga studio. He sensed her Enhancement.”
Ronan studied Ivar. “Enhanced? Interesting.”
“Isn’t it, though?” Ivar’s voice deepened. “Her research includes extra dimensions of space, elementary particles, and fundamental forces.”
“Okay.” It all sounded like it might apply. Ronan leaned to the side so he could see the screen and keep reading. “She’s at Harvard, studying supersymmetry, cosmology of extra dimensions, and dark matter.” Along with several other sciences Ronan hadn’t heard of. Or at least, he hadn’t heard of the human labels for such. “You think she might be able to help?”
“There’s only one way to find out,” Ivar said, pushing away from the table. “Garrett and Logan are an hour out. They’ve decided to do the ritual. You okay with that?”