Mercy. You and I will go in first via teleportation, and backup will have to arrive in helicopters.”
Logan looked him over. “You’re burned and bleeding.”
Ivar grabbed his arm. “I don’t give a shit. Let’s go.”
“Wait a minute.” Ronan pushed him toward the conference room. “We have a satellite feed bringing up the entire area. At the very least, let’s see what we can see before you just jump in. You can also take three minutes and heal your fucking legs. And face. You’re a mess.”
He didn’t like it, not a bit. But Ronan was right. “Okay. Three minutes, and we go.”
Logan nodded sharply. “Agreed.” He followed Ivar toward the room.
Zane Kyllwood burst through the front door, followed by Benny. “We’re teleporting in with you,” he said.
Ivar looked at the demon leader. Just as he was about to answer, King Dage Kayrs jogged in the back door, his black hair tied at the neck and his silver eyes pissed. Seriously so. “I’m coming. Helicopters will be backup, but those of us who can jump are jumping.”
Logan nodded. “Everyone should know that I haven’t learned the ability to transport weapons yet. No metal, gentlemen.”
Benny smiled, his expression fierce. “Good. That should at least even the odds in a fight. Fuckers.”
Ivar’s chest swelled. He had family, and he had friends. Even though he’d been lost and nearly destroyed, these men were his family. They’d help him protect Promise. His throat closed. “Let’s do this.” She had to be okay. She had to be safe. They wouldn’t tear her apart like they did the other physicists until they understood everything she knew about teleporting.
He had to believe that. He just had to.
* * * *
Darkness surrounded her, and it was as if time slowed down and pressed in, trying to break Promise’s ribs. Then, blissful light. The five of them landed, and Niall the Fae rolled toward the far wall, groaning. Apparently transporting four other people, especially the two massive Cyst soldiers, had been too much for the jackass who was the very embodiment of coccydynia.
The Cyst soldier holding her set her down in what looked like an abandoned elementary school classroom and backed away.
She panted wildly, staring at him. The guy was at least seven feet tall and almost as wide, with reddish purple eyes and that strange white strip of hair down his head and back. His skin was thick and white, while his lips were a shocking red. He stayed away from the light coming in the window and moved for the door. She couldn’t get the leverage to tackle him toward the window and would just break her neck trying.
Mercy had no such hesitation. The second she landed, she turned and kicked her Cyst soldier beneath the chin with a solid thump. The guy took a step back and swung out with a beefy fist.
Promise rushed to her friend’s aid, but Mercy had already ducked and then kicked the solider in the groin.
He bent over with a harsh growl.
Impressively fast, Mercy slid on her knees toward Niall and grabbed the silver gun from his back pocket. She was already firing at him when she stood, shooting him in the back of the neck with what looked like a laser. He jerked once. “Ha.” She threw the gun toward an old teacher’s desk crammed into the corner. “Now neither of us can teleport, asshole.”
Niall coughed several times but didn’t turn around.
“Enough,” said a male voice by the door. “General? Please continue making preparations for our exit once darkness falls.”
Promise knew that voice. She turned, her seizing lungs constricting the flow of oxygen to her extremities. “Dayne.”
The Kurjan leader half bowed. “It is an honor to see you again, Dr. Williams.” He strode into the room, looking tall and dangerous in his Kurjan soldier uniform with all the shiny medals on his breast. “And you, Mercy O’Malley. You’re my first fairy.”
“Fae,” Mercy said, her teeth gritted together. “And you’re my first asshole.”
Promise sent her a look. It made zero sense to antagonize the guy holding them captive. She glanced toward the window. The one advantage they had at the moment was the sunlight. If she could get Mercy out there—
“I wouldn’t,” Dayne said easily, leaning his long body against the nearest chalkboard. “I truly don’t wish to harm you, but my men have standing orders to shoot you if you leave the building before dark. They’re positioned all over the property, several in sniper posts well guarded from the sun. The area