The Lasaran (Aldebarian Alliance #1) - Dianne Duvall Page 0,30

rifle, and headed for the door.

Still clutching her own weapon, Lisa returned to Taelon, tucked herself under his arm once more, and guided him to the door.

The soldier opened it a crack and peered out. “Okay. Let’s go. If you don’t want the woman to be killed, keep her close to you. Our orders are to leave no one alive to carry tales. But they won’t shoot her if it looks like she’s helping you.”

Taelon nodded. “Go.”

“Yes, sir.” The soldier stepped out into the hallway, weapon raised and ready to fire.

Lisa and Taelon slipped out behind him.

“That way.” The soldier pointed.

They made their way up the hallway as quickly as Taelon could manage. Several bodies littered the floor. Splatters and streaks of blood adorned the walls.

Gunfire erupted behind them.

“Shit!” The soldier put his back to theirs and opened fire at the opposite end of the hallway. “Go on!” he shouted over his shoulder. “I’ll cover you!”

Fear riding her hard, Lisa urged Taelon onward, huffing under the strain of keeping him upright.

He gripped his chest.

“Are you okay?” she asked as they turned toward the front of the building. Had he been shot?

He nodded.

Another cramp shot through her abdomen. Holding Taelon with one arm, she gripped her stomach with the other and tried to breathe through it.

You’re in pain, he murmured in her head. His concern soothed her like a healing balm. It had been so long since anyone other than her biology professor had worried about her.

“I’ll live,” she replied. At least she hoped she would.

I’m weakening, he admitted. I don’t know how much longer I can maintain the illusion.

“Maybe you don’t have to. You’re dressed like them now.”

As if to punctuate her point, two soldiers garbed in black pants and shirts jogged toward them.

“Step away from him now!” one shouted.

Taelon tightened his hold on her. “She’s not one of them. The lab coat isn’t hers. She was a prisoner here.”

More gunshots erupted in the hallway they’d left.

One of the soldiers took off, running toward it. The second nodded at Taelon. “We’ve got a triage unit set up a mile from here. Get one of our guys to drive you to it. Our medics will see to your wounds there and patch you up until Seth or one of the other immortal healers can help you.”

As soon as Taelon nodded, the soldier took off after his companion.

Immortal healers?

Lisa had no time to ponder that as they continued forward. The closer they came to the front of the building, the more soldiers and vampires they encountered. Thanks to Taelon’s ruse, all either ignored them or helped them along.

At last, they stumbled outside into fresh air. Or rather fresh air tinged with the scents of battle. It looked like a damn war zone. Soldiers in camouflage lay dead or wounded on the ground. Soldiers in black tended to their own wounded while continuing to offer protection to the vampires inside.

Or was it vampires and immortals?

Lisa wasn’t sure. This was all so surreal.

She spotted a Jeep parked near some Humvees and armored transport vehicles. “There.” She turned Taelon toward it and hobbled forward.

Another soldier in black saw them coming and shouted, “Medic! We need a medic over here!”

Suddenly, distant screams poured forth from inside the building, both male and female.

Every soldier stilled and went quiet.

The screams built, containing such agony and heartbreak that even Lisa and Taelon stumbled to a halt.

“Oh shit,” someone whispered.

The ground beneath their feet shifted violently.

Gasping, Lisa staggered.

Taelon clutched her tighter as he fought for balance.

A loud rumbling sound arose as the ground continued to shake and roll in the grip of a strengthening earthquake. The trees in the forest that surrounded them swayed, their leaves swishing and falling from their perches.

“Everyone out!” a man yelled inside. “Now! Go! Go! Go! Into the vehicles! Get as far away as you can!”

Do it, Taelon urged as he stumbled forward.

The soldiers around them flew into motion. The Jeep she’d been eyeing sped away.

Lisa helped Taelon into the passenger seat of a nearby Humvee, then ran around to the driver’s side. Climbing up onto the seat, she gripped the key in the ignition with trembling fingers and turned it. The engine purred to life. Fumbling around, she found the headlights and turned them on. She had to adjust the seat and move it closer so she could reach the damn pedals. Then, shifting into drive, she floored the accelerator and tore away.

Other vehicles did the same, some coming very close to colliding in