backup, you know, I can make that happen."
For a long while Carlos didn't answer as he turned away and gave Yonnie his back to consider again. They both knew that Yonnie was talking fast because he didn't want to hear what Carlos had to say. Neither of them did.
"Appreciate it, man," Carlos finally said. He let his breath out hard. "As my boy ... my blood brother, I'm gonna ask you to stay outta the hot zone." Carlos shook his head and kept his voice to a dull rumble. "It's 'cause I love you, man. It's gonna get crazy, I can feel it. White light everywhere and my side will smoke anything with fangs ... shit, I might get hit with friendly fire, when it's all said and done. Your people don't need to see you helping us, either ... because something tells me this battle might kick up enough dust for Level Seven to get in the mix directly." He turned and looked at Yonnie. "Bad enough Nuit and them is on your ass.
You don't want the granddaddy of Darkness to catch you messing with his game over there. Believe it."
Begrudgingly, Yonnie nodded. "Since you put it that way ... I hear you. But remember what I said before, too. If you do see me, and it's too late, make sure you do the hon ors." Carlos simply closed his eyes and nodded. "All right, man. I hear you, too."
* * *
damali steeled her nervous system for the most intense security checks they'd probably experienced to date, followed by a twenty-three-hour flight from LAX to Tel Aviv. It didn't matter that the drive up to LAX was only a few hours, or that the airport would be thirty-one miles west of Jerusalem when they got there. It was deja vu. They'd be flying out at 6:40 p.m. to arrive the next day at 3:40 a.m., crossing however many time zones, night into day this time, and she told herself to simply hunker down and sleep on the plane. She didn't think that was possible, until Carlos kissed her temple and told her he knew... and that it would be all right. He'd felt it, too, that's why he'd lost his mind trying to kill
Nuit... and he held her next to him just rocking that pain away, no words, just knowing right beside her the same way he knew what was inside those they'd healed together in Nod.
Knowing that he knew, that he'd not just heard her but also felt it in his bones down to the marrow with her was more than enough. She wrapped that silent comfort around her like a blanket as his heartbeat and body heat lulled her to sleep. A caress at the crown of her head and a gentle, deep voice inside her mind finally made her let go. She had no choice, because what her husband told her was filled with the sweetest, most profound truth he'd ever uttered.
Don't let them take your sanity, baby. That's what they want. As long as you have your mind, that means you can access your spirit ... so even if your body is gone, they haven't won. Don't let them take my wife from me, boo, be cause they 're twisting the knife in an old wound... together, me and you, let's let it go.
* * *
due to the insanely early time of arrival in the morning, the Covenant set it up so the team could lodge at the King David - and even sleepy, jostled, hot, and cranky, she wasn't mad at them at all for the choice.
True, it was set in the New City part of town, west of the Old City. But as the team filed into the grand lobby with its gracefully arched ceilings and columns covered with ancient geometric designs, and into rooms in warm cream and brown hues set off with Old World elegance and writing desks, there was no complaint whatsoever. Not even Rider said a word. Mostly, they were just grateful that they got there alive with no midair plane attacks, bomb threats, or a million other things that could have gone wrong. Even their luggage came, and everyone in the group credited the clerics' solemn prayers. When she came out of the shower she watched Carlos at the window. He was watching the sun rise over the Old City and for a moment she hesitated, not wanting to encroach upon his private rapture. But the draw to