Parallel Attraction Page 22

  "You follow well," he said, his eyes narrowing in appreciation. Veckus would be considered quite handsome by many people on Earth, but when Marco gazed at the tall blond, he only saw ugliness and hatred.

  Veckus reached for Marco's field glasses, and over his comm system he ordered another unit of troops to make the ascent. "They will be here very soon," Veckus said, lowering the glasses. He turned to Marco. "And where is Jared's human now?"

  "Inside the mitres," he lied.

  "Bring her out."

  Marco hesitated. "She's not to be harmed." He met Veckus's gaze pointedly. "You do remember that?"

  Veckus shrugged indifferently. "Well, Raedus's directive has changed slightly. We're to get rid of them all."

  Marco stared at the warlord in disbelief. To the Antousians, their sworn word meant nothing and was ever shifting to suit their current needs.

  Veckus's hand twitched against the pulse gun holstered at his hip. "Yes, we'll just have a nice little group execution and be on our way," he said with a smile.

  They would not hurt Kelsey. Marco would not allow it.

  "Kelsey was never to be harmed." He gave the Antousian a forceful glance. "That was our arrangement from the beginning."

  Veckus scowled in distaste. "Well, I'm a bit troubled by the idea of one dethroned and exiled queen left as a rallying point. I want this rebellion quashed once and for all."

  Marco thought a quick moment, as priorities shifted and realigned in a nearly forgotten way. "Yes, I supposed the Beloved of Refaria would be a problem. But then you'll owe me something else."

  Veckus looked at him hard. "Power? Money? Your reward will be yours for the naming once we've spilled their royal blood."

  "Good." Marco nodded in satisfaction. "Then have your way with the female."

  Below, a sound of a lone mortar shell echoed across the lake. Veckus flinched like the coward he was. "Too soon for a firefight," he said.

  Marco waved off the concern. "Itchy trigger fingers on someone's part, that's all. We've got the high ground and the advantage. Besides, the Refarians think I'm acting alone. Still, you should wait behind the rocks," Marco told the hybrid calmly. "We must protect you at all costs, my lord."

  Veckus nodded in agreement. "Of course. Best to maintain the illusion that it's only you."

  Marco chose not to correct the hybrid's false assumption that Jared thought he acted alone. Nor did he see fit to inform him that the king and queen had formed not one, but two spatial bridges within the past hour.

  Veckus and his flanking soldiers took a position behind the rocks where they'd hidden before.

  And Marco knew exactly what he would have to do, because even after all his long history with Jared and Kelsey, he had come to understand something crucial about himself this night.

  He realized that he had never fully turned away from his queen.

  Chapter Eighteen

  "Come with me, Kelsey. Now." Marco knelt beside where she huddled on the rocks, quickly loosening the ropes that he had tied her with.

  "What's happening?"

  As the bindings fell away he pulled her close to him— so close that she could feel his hot breath fan against her cheek. "Go to Jared," he whispered in an urgent voice. "There's an unused trail off to the eastern ledge, and if you take it, that portion is unprotected. All their attention is trained on Jared's advancing units on the south trail."

  She stared at him in silent shock, and he squeezed her upper arm tightly. "Now, Kelsey," he said, his voice husky. "Before I change my mind."

  She nodded, moving to the ledge, but he pulled her back by the hand. "I can't protect you here, Kelsey," he reminded her in a low voice. "You know that. But Jared can. Get him and get out of here."

  Before waiting for Marco to leave, Kelsey was already on the move. She scrambled down the dark hillside as quietly as she could, hoping to reach Jared before his enemies did. She became more and more frantic as she made her way down the trail, wondering how she'd ever locate him or even any of his soldiers in the midst of such darkness. As she slid down the path, her foot caught on a hidden piece of brush that sent her sprawling forward roughly onto her hands. A sharp pain immediately shot through her wrist, and she was pretty sure she heard the snap of a broken bone. But there was no time to think about that now.

  Get to Jared. She trained her thoughts, forcing herself back to her feet. She glanced quickly over her shoulder, searching for any sign that she was being followed.

  Focus, Kelsey. Keep yourself together. Finding Jared is the only thing that matters. As she stumbled down the path it seemed as if she were floundering in an ocean of darkness, groping for some unseen shore. If only she had a light of some kind, anything at all to guide her.

  Then she remembered one singular advantage that she had over their unseen enemies.

  "You've no business here at all, Jared," Scott insisted with an uncomfortable glance up the dark trail. "Or have you already forgotten the details of your capture a few years ago?"

  "You know I'll never forget." Jared kept his voice emotionless, but it wasn't easy.

  "Good," Scott said. "Then you'll also realize why I'm the one to lead the team in, not you."

  "Is that your opinion or your sense?" Jared never liked being taken out of the action—and now, with Kelsey's life in the balance, he liked it even less than usual.

  "Both," Scott said.

  Jared studied the steep cliffs, the rocks above them on the trail silvered by moonlight. They had no idea what waited for them at the top of the winding path. "She needs me," Jared whispered.

  Scott clasped his shoulder with an intensity of affection that Jared rarely saw in his friend and lieutenant. "She needs you alive, Jared," he said, giving Jared's bulletproof vest an adjusting tug. "You know you've got no business on this mission. Period. I should have made you stay behind at the compound to begin with." Scott never minced words when it came to leadership, one reason Jared knew he could trust him with his own life and, more important, with Kelsey's.

  Jared's hand hovered against his comm button as he contemplated his next set of commands. Every soldier waited, at the ready. He trusted Scott's instincts, especially at a moment when his own skills felt so impaired by emotion, but his fear and worry for his lifemate were immense, and his need to fight for her was nearly overpowering. That made it impossible to stay away when he understood the intentions of the enemies she faced up on that trail.

  Still, as leader he also knew his own safety had to take priority. "Anika and I will return to our position by the lake," he finally agreed. "If anything happens, you signal for us immediately. Do you understand, Lieutenant?"

  Scott nodded his agreement. "Be careful, Commander."

  Jared glimpsed the flicker of worry in his friend's dark eyes. "You're the one who needs to be careful," he reminded the Antousian softly. "I'm entrusting my queen into your hands."

  Marco studied Kelsey's descent through his binoculars and wished for at least the tenth time that he'd simply gone with her. What purpose could he possibly serve by remaining? Although he knew the answer to that question: He had to end what he'd started by leading Veckus to the mitres.

  He rocked back on his heels and continued watching Kelsey's halting progress through the green haze of the night-vision glasses. Humans registered with a mid-level energy reflection, whereas the Antousians' thermal register was always brighter, and the Refarians' the brightest of all. Then of course there were Jared and Kelsey, another story altogether. Kelsey's register had always been completely singular, falling somewhere between the human and alien ones as a result of her change, her energy much stronger than a human's, yet not as brilliant as that of the others. And Jared's reading was the strongest and brightest of any he'd ever seen, even Thea's. It had always been a great source of annoyance to Veckus's future self that even with all his power, he had never once registered anywhere near as strongly as Jared on an average day.

  But that wasn't the most fascinating thing. What Marco was w
atching unfold now was an image he'd witnessed through these binoculars hundreds—perhaps thousands—of times before, and it never failed to awe him. He was observing the way Jared's and Kelsey's thermal energies altered when they came into contact with each other. Whenever they were within proximity, their body chemistries and heat indexes literally changed in composition, assuming entirely different levels than each held on their own.

  Over the years, he'd trained his eye to instantly recognize their own peculiar heat impressions so that he could track them, but he'd also quickly learned to follow their secondary register—the unique one they created together. Quite simply, when Jared and Kelsey were near each other they blended, their energy becoming one. He wondered if Kelsey could feel how close she was getting to Jared, because he could certainly see it in the way her thermal energy was beginning to escalate, as was Jared's where he was crouching just behind a nearby rock. Marco couldn't see him completely, could only catch a glimmer of his thermal register, which was intensifying by the moment as Kelsey approached him.

  Marco's reflections were cut short when he saw another familiar radiation, that of an Antousian hybrid who was now flanked by two Refarians. That team was moving up the eastern trail, the same one he'd sent Kelsey down. He'd been so busy tracking her that he'd nearly missed their approach. It had to be Scott Dillon accompanied by two other soldiers. What the hell did Scott think he was doing? He'd always liked Scott a great deal and had no old scores to settle with the man. Marco looked around quickly, trying to choose a course of action.

  But when he gazed back through the binoculars again, he saw something much more disturbing on the path below: three Antousian hybrids off to the side, also tracking Kelsey's movements. His pulse raced as old instincts came sharply into focus. They were in terrible danger—all of them—and he had to do something or Kelsey would die today after all.

  Jared crouched in their hidden position, waiting beside Anika. Ahead of them in the darkness they heard a sudden noise, and a ripple of silent tension spread throughout the unit. Each of them raised their weapons, all senses on alert and ready to move.

  The sound came again, almost directly upon them now. Perhaps it was an animal? Jared spread his palm on the cool rock where he crouched, steadying himself—and felt his chest begin to burn. It was only then that he focused on a background sensation that had been subtly building within him over the past few moments. His energy had begun to escalate. He hadn't even keyed into it—he often felt this way in the midst of a battle. It was a natural part of his D'Aravnian nature, and his other self often came to the fore when he was in danger. He'd been so caught up in the moment that he hadn't grasped the true source of the fire building within him: his mate.

  A golden thread began to weave between the two of them, joining them. The connection became a living stream of impressions and sensations, a gossamer trail of fire leading Kelsey straight to him. She was almost on top of him; she was that near.

  Not physically. It was her energy, teasing at him, urging him to open their mating bond. His hands burned with the power of it, the heat radiating into his forearms instantly. Love, where are you?

  Oh, thank God. Listen, Marco let me go. The connection solidified between them, causing his body to tighten with awareness of her. He trembled in reaction, and leaned against the rock to steady himself.

  Set you free?

  He seems to have had . . . a change of heart. But I'm trying to find you in the dark. I've made it down this trail—he showed me one the Antousians weren't guarding.

  So she knew about the Antousians now. She knew all about his enemies, he realized, with a sickening spasm of his stomach. Try to tell me where you are, he urged. You're near me; I sense it.

  Me too.

  His wrist began to throb with a dull, painful ache. You're hurt! he cried across their bond. If that bastard so much as—

  It's nothing; don't worry. I fell

  Again the sound from just beyond their position. Anika crouched, cocking her gun, but Jared caught her shoulder. It's Kelsey, he mouthed.

  I'm going to call like an owl, he told her. Follow that sound. Cupping his hand to his mouth, he released the bird's cry.

  I heard that! You're nearby, really near.

  Cupping his mouth again, he prepared to cry out again, when searing, bone-shattering pain exploded through his arm. He processed the accompanying sound of gunfire a moment later—as if he were a distant observer of the event. In the background of his mind he heard Kelsey calling out to him, communicating. But he couldn't focus enough to answer her because of the mind-numbing pain that radiated through his arm and shoulder and on into his chest like a shock wave.

  Anika leaped to her feet, followed by others. He tried to do the same, but his legs buckled weakly beneath him. Only then did he realize he'd taken a shot not just to his shoulder, but to his upper thigh as well.

  Kelsey, I am . . . injured.

  Oh, God, Jared. Be careful, be careful. I'm coming. Be careful!

  Stay! he rasped. Love…stay…there.

  "Sniper!" Anika cried as he collapsed to his knees. "Protect our commander." Orders spun about them, and he tried to work his mouth, tried to see anything other than the blinding red haze of his pain. His people took hold of him, forming a ring about him with their own bodies. Clawing at the frozen ground, he gasped for breath, unable to find it. The sniper had aimed well, hitting only places where his body armor left small vulnerabilities.

  Kelsey. She was out there, in danger, and now he couldn't protect her. That was his last thought before he collapsed face-first in the snow.

  All she could feel was the pain. Blinding her, crippling her, shattering them both into millions of pieces. Jared's, her own; it was all joining in some horrible, swirling dance between the two of them. She'd known the precise moment he was shot because she'd felt every one of his wounds as if they were in her own body. Every one of his injuries was an assault on her because of their open connection at the moment of impact. And now Kelsey would be damned if she would let him go, not like this. Not now.

  Clutching at her chest, she tried to cry out to him. Jared, wh-what. . . ?

  No answer.

  She couldn't move, couldn't think; she couldn't even cry out to him again. All she could do was lie on her back, dark forest overhead, and experience Jared's tormenting pain. Far worse than the physical sensations was her awareness of just how much he was suffering; one of the guns they'd shot him with wasn't any ordinary weapon. It couldn't have been, not with the massive electric shock it sent through her entire body—and she'd absorbed only a fraction of what Jared had experienced. Something close to an explosion had seemed to blast within her chest. Whatever they'd done to him, every sensation he was feeling ricocheted through their bond. She'd heard him cry out her name. Heard it in her heart, her mind. And then he'd just blacked out, leaving her alone in the midst of their connection. Alone without him and it was almost unbearable.

  But with the passing moments the pain hadn't waned— it had only intensified. She should break the connection, but she couldn't leave him, not like this. Not when he needed her so much. Suddenly, amidst his agony, she felt the dazed stir of his waking consciousness, and the connection became more vibrant again. Then something significant altered—something within Jared.

  What's happening? she wondered in utter panic, and yet she couldn't seem to look up; the pain was that immobilizing. Or maybe it wasn't just the pain that had incapacitated her. Maybe it was something more. It almost felt like a deadly shock was spreading throughout her entire body, her extremities. Then she heard his voice, terribly weak and distant.

  Kelsey, you have to break this.

  I can't . . . Everything felt hazy and unclear, and the pain was enveloping her entire body.

  Kelsey! Listen to me. Jared's voice, just beyond a circle of light. He was trying to shove her out.

  No. I will not leave you, Jared. I will not….

  Break it now, Kelsey, he commanded forcefully.r />
  Why? She sobbed, afraid for his life.

  Because I can't. They've done something to me and I can't, Kelsey, and.. . I won't let you suffer.

  And I won't break the bond while you're injured. I will not leave you!

  Kelsey, he pleaded. If you love me... let go ... please, love. Just let me go.

  And not because she was willing to leave him did she do it, nor because he asked. Not even out of fear or physical pain did she relinquish the hold the bond had over her. But because she did love him, she allowed their connection to slip away.

  Marco heard the spattering of gunfire and pulse weaponry coming from the direction of the lake. He flung himself down the trail, stumbling and catching his hands on loose rocks and dirt. With his intuitive skills he sensed Kelsey nearby and in pain. He'd lost sight of her through the night-vision goggles after spotting the Antousians positioned near her. It was imperative that he get to her before she was captured.

  Then, slightly ahead on the darkened trail, he found her crumpled form. It was worse than any of his imaginings in the past moments; his queen lay on her side, unconscious and curled into a tight ball. He immediately dropped to the ground beside her. "Kelsey," he implored, lifting a hand to her cheek, "tell me where you're injured."

  No answer. She was unconscious, but as he skimmed his hands over her body he couldn't seem to find any injuries apart from a swollen wrist. Radiating off her body, however, was the pulsing aura of immense pain.

  He tried calling to her again, brushing a thick auburn lock back from her face. Her features were twisted in a mask of pain. His queen in such torture; it nearly sucked the life out of his body.

  Scooping her into his arms, he knew she had only one hope: He had to get her to Jared and the others, now. She stirred slightly in his arms, moaning. "My queen, I will get you to him." he vowed, and took off running down the trail.