“Do you know how to knock?”
“There’s no time,” Cindrac said by way of apology before walking out of Gabriel and Sephina’s bedroom so they could get dressed.
Cin paced their living room on the planet Betaria until Gabriel came out seconds later in only a nanite created pair of pants.
“What’s going on?” Gabriel knew something must be terribly wrong for Cin to pop in on them the way he did.
Sephina came out of her room, bundled up in a thick robe, and looked at Cin in concern. “What can we do to help?”
Cin was a little humbled by their willingness to help without even knowing what he needed or how dangerous it would be.
“Someone I care for deeply was abducted by the Consortium and sentenced to experimentation,” Cin admitted. He wouldn’t lie to these good people about the danger. “They’re taking her to Raider’s Moon, and I need help to go there and get her back.”
Gabriel didn’t even think about it before allowing his nanites to protectively cover his body and check his weapons and armor systems. Sephina ran into her lab and returned with two pairs of the boots that enabled Gabriel to fly. Cin was overwhelmed by their response.
“I can’t thank you enough for this,” Cin began, trying not to choke up.
Gabriel tested his invisibility, reappeared again, and smiled at Cin. “No need for that among friends. Besides, any headway we can make against the damn Consortium is what we need right now. They’re still reeling from their huge loss when Forchania found the infiltrators and sent them back to the Consortium in a blown-up ship. We need to push the initiative while they’re in chaos.”
Cin couldn’t argue with the logic and was still thinking about it when Gabriel held out his arms.
“Do we need a ship?”
“No,” Cin shook himself from his thoughts and created a portal. “Just follow me through.”
When Gabriel nodded and quickly kissed his mate Sephina, Cin jumped through the portal, grateful he didn’t enter during another private moment. Still, he had to throw up a shield to prevent another attack. Luckily, the man stopped and was laughing by the time Gabriel came through the portal next.
“Cindrac!” the willowy and beautiful man then turned to Gabe with wide green eyes. “Oh, my! Gunnery Sergeant Gabriel Asbury, now of Betaria! This day has become really interesting rather quickly.”
Gabriel could only stare at the closest thing to a real elf that he’d ever seen. The man’s ethereal attractiveness bled from his perfectly pointed ears, pale green eyes, arched white-blond brows, and matching long straight hair to the center of his back.
The longbow, quiver of arrows, white leather leggings and waistcoat, and billowy silken shirt all threaded with gold only completed the look.
“I need help rescuing a human woman from Raider’s Moon before they experiment on her,” Cin admitted, figuring Gabriel and Adamo could get to know one another later. “I need an answer now.”
“Raider’s Moon?” Adamo was stunned. It was the last thing he expected Cindrac to say, who was known to stay out of the war against the Consortium. “This is important to you?”
“More than I can express.” Cin refused to deny the budding feelings he had for Lanie.
Adamo nodded his head and snapped his fingers. Seconds later, Gabriel’s nanites had weapons aimed at the four new elven arrivals. The three tall, willowy men were stunning, but the female looked like a delicate angel.
“Oh! It’s the Gunney!” the female clapped and smiled at Gabriel.
“Who are they?” Cindrac gestured to the new arrivals.
“My trusted commanders,” Adamo said and gestured to the first elven warrior. “This is Osin, Fionor, Aegean, and beautiful Niama. If we’re going to war with Raider’s Moon, we will need them.”
Niama grinned and bowed to Cindrac and Gabriel while the male elves produced wicked looked blades in both hands, crossed their arms over their chests, and bowed.
Cin looked impressed but worried. “This is going to be difficult and dangerous. The moon base is mostly old-time war zone, and it will limit my abilities.”
“We won’t have that problem,” Adamo replied with a grin.
“Ship or portal?” Niama casually inspected her sword and ran her fingers through the flights in her quiver of arrows.
“Portal.” Cin made one in the air, nodded at Gabriel, then Adamo and his people before jumping.
Cin held his hands out behind him to help Gabriel remain standing when he came through the shimmering disc. When he knew Gabriel would be all right, Cin made his way to the ship's cockpit, already using his nanites