never seen. Which made her worry about the space behind them. She flipped and stood at Cam’s back, the echo of his gunshot ringing in the warehouse space.
There was a grunt and exhale, the sound of death, but she remained looking toward the stairs and rear of the vast room. No one snuck up behind them, but they had to have heard the gun going off. There went the element of surprise.
Cam remained facing the elevator. Instinct had her pivoting toward the small metal door opening. Someone had come up using the stairs.
The soldier who stepped up was still swinging the muzzle of his weapon when she shot him.
“Nice shooting,” Cam complimented.
“I’m better with a crossbow.” She’d been able to practice more, given bullets were hard to replenish. They’d run out some time ago. “Think there are any more?”
He turned to stand beside her. “Probably not, but I could be wrong.”
“Two less at our backs,” she remarked. “But how many up top?” She looked overhead.
The place had more soldiers than expected. All living safely and comfortably with real beds and food. The cold fact nipped her. The stray breeze floating down the stairs lifted her hair as it went on its chilly way.
“Only one way to find out.”
“I could be wrong about the dragon.” Their whole plan hinged on it.
“Whatever happens, I’m here.”
The statement helped calm her. She tilted her chin. “Let’s do this.”
They couldn’t see anything outside from the stairs, only the fact the hatch was open. Just another indication they walked into a trap. Only they knew it was a trap, which meant they might still evade it.
She stepped out first, gun low at her side. She took in the scene at a quick glance. Late afternoon with the sun still in the sky. Bright. So bright, she squinted. She felt exposed and wondered if anyone watched the skies for feral dragons.
The drake lay with his head down, eyes closed. Either truly asleep and unheeding of them all or sly and biding his time.
Are you in there watching? Do you want to be free?
No reply, not even an image.
Glancing past the dragon and purposely ignoring the countess, she checked out the barren ruins. Noted a few soldiers clad in red. None within reach of the dragon when its leash was shortened.
The countess chose to stand the closest to the drake, yet still out of harm’s way, pretending she was powerful and brave.
We can help each other.
Still nothing.
Cam emerged and stood close by, his presence steadying her.
The countess smirked. “Did you really think you could escape?”
“Who says we want to leave?” Cam drawled. “I’m thinking this place would be awesome for some kids I know. You might know them, too, since you had a hand in killing their families.”
The reminder frosted Kayda’s heart. Your enemy is my enemy. She projected the thought.
Did she feel a stirring from the giant beast?
“You’re awfully mouthy,” the countess declared. “Time we taught you some manners.” She snapped her fingers.
Two of the soldiers moved forward.
“Shoot the girl in the leg.”
“No!” Cam roared.
“Hold.” The countess held up her hand and smiled, the pleased smirk of a sociopath. “No? Then on your knees. Hands over your head. Don’t move. We wouldn’t want any accidents while they cuff you.”
“Don’t listen,” Kayda exclaimed. “They won’t hurt me. Not if the Lazuli want me.”
“The Lazuli want your reproductive and genetic ability. You don’t need legs for that.”
Cam hit the ground on his knees.
Kayda stepped forward. “What is wrong with you? Why must you hurt people like this?” A wind swept over the wall of the tower and brushed across the ruins, blowing dust.
“No one has to get hurt if you obey.”
“You can’t tell me what to do.” Kayda took another step forward, knowing the soldiers had reached Cam and thought him cowed. Which left one soldier, and with any luck, he was watching the skies for dragons. Meaning no one covered her and the countess.
Did they think her defenseless? She hadn’t survived twenty years by being useless. It might make her sad to kills dragons, but evil humans? No better than ghouls.
The countess barked, “Stop right now.”
“Or what?”
Thud. The sound of someone getting hit let her know that Cam was handling the first two soldiers.
She lunged the last few paces to the woman’s hateful face. The countess screeched, and she felt something weak scrabbling at her mind as the countess resorted to her psychic powers.
A weak power that proved easy to ignore.
“Fucking diamond whore,” spat the countess, furious she