his nails, and a second later, a beaker exploded. Another one followed, and then the whole lab went up in a roar of flames. He heard an outraged bellow and caught a brief glimpse of Chotgor’s face before the wall of fire separated them. Glass shattered as he threw himself at the nearest window, hoping that the plans had been correct.
He landed on hard-packed snow, the impact jarring his body even as he rolled into the landing. As soon as he regained his footing, he checked his surroundings. The plans had been partially right. He was outside the main portion of the mansion, but an additional wall surrounded the grounds. No matter; he could scale it easily enough.
More explosions sounded behind him as the fire spread, but he ignored them, racing along next to the interior wall as he headed for the owner’s suite. He had to get to Hanna before the fire reached this part of the building. Another wall jutted out into the enclosed area, and he saw the faint glow of a force field over it. Good, this should be the garden outside Chotgor’s quarters.
The claws on his feet threatened to extend again, and this time he let them, allowing the claws on his hand to emerge as well as he started up the wall. He used the slight depressions between the blocks to assist his climb, taking the wall as easily as he had taken the trees of his childhood. His vision wavered, and for a second the bark of a tree seemed to appear over the surface of the wall. He swayed dizzily, then focused on the climb again, moving more deliberately now.
The force field was designed to keep out weather, not bodies, and he slipped through it, dropping silently to the ground below. Once again his vision flickered, and he saw the lush growth of a Pardorian jungle before he blinked.
“Aidon?”
Hanna rushed over to him, throwing her arms around his waist, and he lifted her into his arms, burying his face in the scented warmth of her hair. His cock throbbed angrily, and the need to mate pounded through his veins. Retracting his claws, he thrust his hands under her dress, blindly seeking the sweet heat between her legs. She gasped as he found her core, wetness flooding his fingers before her voice finally penetrated.
“Aidon, stop. We have to get Zemma out of here. Remember?”
Fuck. His need for her still raged in his blood, but he forced it back with every particle of self-control he had managed to gain over the years and lowered her to the ground.
“Yes, of course.” His voice sounded strange, hoarse and dazed, and he realized grimly that the sickness had begun.
Zemma was studying him warily. “This is your idea of a rescue?”
“You’re welcome to wait for the next one. We’re leaving. Are you coming?”
Her face hardened. “Damn right. What’s the plan?”
“Over this wall, then over the outer one. Your clan is waiting.”
“You make it sound easy,” she muttered as the three of them headed for the back wall.
“With any luck, everyone is too busy worrying about the fire to check on you.”
Flames were now shooting high enough to give the sky an orange glow, but even as he spoke, the doors to the bedroom opened. A Bukharan stood there, and Aidon growled, crouching into a fighting pose. Zemma touched his arm.
“Wait.” Stepping past him, she looked at the guard. “Please, Strax. I can’t stay here.”
For an endless second, the male didn’t respond, and Aidon prepared to spring, but then Strax dipped his head.
“I know, Mistress. Go quickly.”
“Thank you, Strax. I—”
“Go,” he repeated and stepped back inside, closing the door behind him.
Zemma stared after him until Hanna took her hand.
“He’s right. We have to leave now.”
The three of them raced to the wall. He lifted Zemma over his head so that she could grasp the top of the wall and pull herself up. She straddled the surface and reached down as he lifted Hanna up to her. His vision blurred again as Hanna’s body rested briefly against his, but he gritted his teeth and retained enough control to release her to the other female. As soon as both females were up, he scaled the wall. They reversed the process on the other side.
The outer wall was taller, but it was also rougher, and Zemma grinned.
“I can handle this.” She started to climb, then looked back. “Do you need help, Hanna?”
“I’ve never been much of a climber,” Hanna said hesitantly.
“I can