table with one hand and wrapped the other arm around her. I’m sorry.
“It’s okay,” she told him. “We can do this.”
He nodded.
Shifting to his side, Lisa kept one arm around him as he found his balance. She hadn’t realized until then that the hazmat suit had fallen to the floor. Well, shit. How was she going to get a naked alien out of the building without getting caught? He was bound to attract attention.
She glanced at the door. Maybe there were clothes in the next room? The doctors probably changed out of their everyday clothes before coming in here, right?
When she had arrived, the fighting hadn’t reached this section yet. But the gunfire was getting closer. “If we’re going to do this, we need to do it now.”
Again he nodded.
Lisa started toward the door. He leaned heavily on her, making every step a struggle. “I need to find you some clothes.” As soon as they made it to the next room, she propped him against the wall. “Will you be okay if I leave you here for a minute?”
Yes.
There were some cabinets about the same size as gym lockers across the room. Maybe she would find something in there.
The door to the hallway burst open. Two soldiers in green camo rushed in.
Their eyes widened when they spotted her and Taelon.
Then another soldier—this one garbed in black cargo pants, a black shirt, and a black bulletproof vest—ducked inside and fired.
The first two soldiers danced in place as blood spurted from their chests.
Lisa gaped at them. Had the soldier in black come with the vampires? He was dressed like them.
She threw her hands up when he turned his weapon in her direction.
His eyes met hers, then shifted to Taelon and widened. “What the hell?”
A soldier in camo stepped into the doorway.
“Behind you!” Lisa cried.
The vampire soldier spun around. He and the guard both fired their weapons multiple times.
Both soldiers stumbled back a step. The camo soldier’s head snapped back as a hole appeared in his forehead.
He collapsed to the floor outside.
The door swung shut.
The soldier in black bent forward and gripped his chest.
I need his clothes, Taelon said.
Lisa glanced at the fallen camo soldiers. Darting forward, she grabbed one of their semiautomatic rifles and aimed it at the soldier in black. “Don’t move.”
He froze. “Easy.”
“Drop your weapon,” she ordered.
He did so, slowly raising his hands in the air. “Look. You don’t want to do this. This building is full of people who want everyone who works here dead, and you probably don’t even know how to use that.”
Shifting her aim half a foot to the right, she fired.
The computer on the desk behind him flew apart.
The soldier jumped. “Okay! Okay! Take it easy. I just—” He broke off as he glanced past her at Taelon. His eyes widened. “Oh shit. You’re an immortal?” He relaxed and lowered his hands. “Why didn’t you say so?”
Lisa frowned and looked over her shoulder.
Taelon met her gaze. Blood now trailed from his nose. The vampires he works with have black hair, sharp canine teeth, and glowing amber eyes, so that’s what I’m showing him. He thinks I’m one of them.
“Did this woman hurt you?” the soldier demanded furiously.
Taelon shook his head. “She’s helping me.” His voice was deep and rough. “I need your clothes.”
“Yes, sir.”
To Lisa’s complete and utter astonishment, the soldier yanked off his boots, then swiftly removed his vest, shirt, and pants. And he didn’t just hand them over. Wearing white boxers, he crossed to Taelon and helped him slip the black garments on.
“Shit. What did those fuckers do to you?” he muttered as he pulled the black T-shirt down over Taelon’s chest wound. “Or did Gershom do this?”
Taelon didn’t answer.
“We have medics outside who can help you until the fighting ends. Then Seth or one of the other healers can take care of these wounds for you. There are also several immortals in the building who can teleport you directly to network headquarters either here in Texas or in North Carolina. Both are on standby, ready to treat casualties.”
Moisture glistened on Taelon’s brow. “Your shoes.”
“Yes, sir.” The soldier handed over his boots and stuffed Taelon’s feet into them. Lisa was pretty sure they were too small, but Taelon made it work.
The ground stopped shaking.
All three looked at each other.
“I’m not sure if that’s a good sign or a bad one,” the soldier said, “so you’d better haul ass and get out of here.” Grabbing the discarded vest, he strapped it on, retrieved his