Daegan

by Veronica Scott

  “We have to. This is our only chance, tonight, in the storm. Once the actual hurricane arrives, he’ll be grounded and we’ll be in an untenable situation, shelterwise.” Daegan kissed her before he switched back to telepathy. Tell this Gabe we’ll be there. Leaving our location now.

  We’ll be on scene in half an hour. Good luck.

  Flo looked at the mouth of the grotto where windblown rain and loose debris flew past. “I’m not anticipating this little jaunt with any pleasure. But if I have to attempt it with anyone, I’m glad it’s you.”

  “Likewise. Your people aren’t going to be able to wait for us once they’re on target,” he said. “I don’t think there’s much chance of the Khagrish being actually alert enough to watch the skies tonight but the winds will be brutal for the flyer. “

  “So you’re saying we need to hustle.”

  He nodded. “Let me go first and you follow right behind me. I’ll try to block as much of the wind and flying objects as I can.” He paced to the mouth of the grotto, made a face at the rain and stepped outside.

  Flo was right on his heels, pulse gun drawn, watching their six. As he’d said, she didn’t expect the Khagrish to be alert tonight, even if they’d discovered the dead guard and Daegan’s escape. The enemy had no reason to expect any outside force to be involved, nor did they know he’d gotten through the force barrier and furthermore, the weather was brutal. As she struggled through the trees and dense brush, she speculated how much worse a hurricane could be than this misery.

  The hurricane winds will be five times worse, Daegan said, apparently hearing her thought or maybe she was broadcasting them. You’d be blown away if we could move at all.

  At least she had her stolen shoes. Thinking of Daegan’s bare feet made her wince. She was shivering because even though they were in the tropics, the rain was cold and she was immediately soaked as soon as she’d left the grotto. Her thin clothing was no shield to the pelting rain and the occasional glancing blow from flying leaves. Luckily Daegan was able to keep them from being hit by anything bigger. More than once he turned and bore her to the ground, covering her with his own body to protect her as a branch or other large item blew by overhead. The trees which grew here were amazingly flexible and bent in the gale rather than breaking, but the wind was shredding the crowns.

  Not much further. We’re almost to the top of the ridge. The wind will hit us hard once we do reach the top.

  I’ll be ready. She was grateful they had the telepathic link because talking took too much energy right now and besides the wind would blow words away. Her leg ached and she was afraid it might give way if she subjected herself to too much more punishment but she wasn’t going to ask Daegan to carry her. He was obviously hurting as well, not moving with as much grace and ease as the Badari usually did and the terrible welts on his back weren’t healing as rapidly as she’d expected. He was running on sheer will power as well.

  If Daegan hadn’t grabbed her when she took the last few steps to the top of the ridge they were climbing, she would have been blown away and taken to her death no doubt. The wind was like a solid force, rushing up the steep grade and doing its best to carry them with it. Stubbornly he plodded along, shielding her, and they managed to descend a few hundred feet, fighting the gusts every inch of the way. He ducked behind an outcropping, which cut the wind marginally.

  Do you see this meadow or plateau he was talking about? she asked, peering into the darkness ahead.

  Yes, but we can’t get to it. There’s a deep ravine. He switched to targeting Kierce and relayed the bad news.

  Kierce’s answer was confident. Gabe says if we can get close enough, he can lower a makeshift basket and haul you two up to us. Hang on—we’re homing in on Flo’s implant right now.

  This experience just upgraded from insane to off the charts. Adrenaline making her even more devil may care than usual, she laughed at the sheer absurdity.

  Well we’re here, might as well take the ride. Daegan’s reply was what she’d expect from an elite soldier like herself, which he unquestionably was.

  Right above you. As Kierce’s message flashed into her head, a bright light shone on them from above. Trying to shield her eyes from the driving rain, she looked up and saw a small cargo net coming toward them, blowing wildly in the wind.

  Stay here—I’ll catch it. Daegan gave her a small push to emphasize his command and stepped away from the outcropping to stand braced against the wind, reaching up for the net. On his third try he managed to snag it in his talons and gestured to her with his free hand. Now—hurry!

  She forced herself to move and grabbed at the net, climbing in ungracefully and clutching the webbing like a drowning woman. Daegan tumbled in beside her, wrapping her in his arms securely. Flo bit her lip until she tasted blood as the net rose in the air, swinging from the flyer like an unwieldy pendulum but thankfully continuing its ascent. Gabe had turned off the searchlight, which was a wise precaution on his part but the only time she opened her eyes and peeked around Daegan, the sensation of being suspended in the air with no clear sense of up or down made her nauseous.

  Only a few more seconds and we’ll be there. Daegan’s voice was reassuring and she focused on him.

  Next thing she knew, the net was being drawn inside the rear of the flyer, which appeared to be a cargo hauler and thus constructed for operations of this type, although the designers had probably never anticipated a rescue mission in this dire circumstance. The flyer was banking away literally as soon as she and Daegan touched the cold metal floor of the craft and the stern door slid shut.

  Kierce and Camron wasted no time in getting the net off of them. Daegan got to his feet on his own power and then helped her to one of the seats along the side of the compartment.

  “You people are all crazy,” she said, “And the idiot pilot most of all. But I’m grateful, guys.”

  Daegan faced Kierce and there was a moment of hesitation before the Alpha took a step forward and the two men clasped arms. “Thank you,” Daegan said.

  Flo had the distinct impression they were communicating other things privately but she couldn’t listen in on the conversation, despite her link with Daegan. Being shut out of the loop annoyed her but what right did she have to hear everything he said? She wasn’t his mate or even in his not-quite-a-pack.

  Camron brought them each a blanket. “I have the med kit if there’s anything that needs immediate tending to?”

  “Cuts and bruises maybe,” Flo said. “What I am besides wet and cold is hungry and thirsty.”

  Kierce handed her a nutrient drink and a survival bar, then gave Daegan the same. “Once we get to shelter, we have a field kitchen so we can supply hot tea and hot food.”

  “Tell me about this place we’re going,” she said, hand shaking as she tried to unwrap the bar. She resisted Daegan’s attempt to take it and open it for her, elbowing him in the ribs. “I got it.”

  “An old lab, obviously abandoned hundreds of years ago. Typical Khagrish construction, so definitely sturdy enough to ride out the hurricane. Well, the buildings must have made it through any number of the storms, right?” Camron grinned. “All the dubious comforts of a lab, but not up to the standard of the valley. We’re all spoiled.”

  “Yeah, right. I’ll take anything other than a drafty grotto in a hurricane,” Flo said. “Any more rations?”

  The flyer suddenly took a steep dive, flinging her from the seat. Daegan caught her immediately and the other Badari hung on to various straps as the craft plunged in the downdraft. Flo wished she was in the cockpit to help but Gabe was the best pilot she’d ever met and if anyone was going to keep them from crashing into the ocean tonight, he would. She bit her lip and hung on to Daegan until the flyer leveled off and started to regain precious altitude. “Remind me to tell hotshot up there we didn’t need the roller coaster ride. He just blew his tip.” She sat back in her seat and bit off a piece of the new ration bar. “I’d go give him pointers but I’m kind of tired.”<
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  “You both look like hell,” Camron said, assessing her with a frown. “I’m going to want to do an exam as soon as we get to the shelter. I wish we’d brought a healer along but no one expected any major injuries on this part of the mission.”

  “We’re recovering,” Daegan said, on his third nutrient drink and ration bar combination.

  Flo leaned her head back against the side of the flyer and closed her eyes. She must have dozed off because suddenly the ship was on the ground. The change in sound and lack of motion woke her and she sat up, blinking, as Gabe came out of the cockpit.

  “You’re a sight for sore eyes,” she said, rising and going to hug him. “Thanks for coming to get us.”

  “I can’t let you out of my sight, can I, Florenzia? You and trouble are bonded at the hip.” Joking as he hugged her back, he studied her head to toe and said, “You look like something the ship’s cat dragged in.”

  Daegan strode forward, hand out and managed to extricate Flo from Gabe’s grasp while shaking his hand and thanking him for the rescue.

  “This is Daegan, the Alpha from the island,” Flo said.

  Are you sure they aren’t mated? she heard Camron ask Kierce. I can hear him growling.

  Flo glared at both of them over her shoulder. “Gabe is mated to Keshara,” she told Daegan. “She’s not here too, is she?”

  Seven hells, no. Not that she isn’t a tough fighter, but Aydarr’s planning on leaving her and Jamokan in charge of the valley during the actual operation. Between the two of them, they’ll keep things running smoothly,” Gabe said.

  “We’d better get inside while the wind isn’t too bad.” Camron went to open the door at the stern. “The lab building we’re using is close by but unfortunately we’ll be in the rain for a minute or two.”

  “Do you need help securing the flyer?” Flo asked Gabe, wanting to do her part like the soldier she was, not give in to being only the rescuee.

  “Yes, but not from you, no offense. You’re obviously on your last reserves. One of the guys can help me with the gravity clamps and then the camouflage,” Gabe said. “You go ahead inside and start recovering. We can talk later.”

  Flo wasn’t going to argue. Her body was crashing as the adrenaline wore off and all she really wanted right now was a bed. As long as Daegan shared it.

  Camron escorted them from the flyer to the building, in a mad dash, the two Badari trying to shield her as much as they could. Still it was a relief to step inside the complex and be completely out of the wind. Darik emerged from the dark recesses of the entry chamber, stowing his pulse rifle. His special mini-MARL floated right behind, glowing bright pink in the gloom as he greeted her with enthusiasm. “Hey, Flo, glad to see you again.”

  “Likewise.” She introduced Daegan and then Camron took them to the dining room the Badari team was using as a command post and gathering spot. Sarl was there with tea already brewed for them and hot sandwiches. Flo took a seat at one of the tables and chowed down, Daegan next to her. “Where are we bunking?”

  “We’re using one of the old cells.” Sarl grimaced in distaste. “We brought sleeping bags but there are Badari size frames in there, which is a step up from sleeping on the floor. “

  “If I want an alpha sized bed?” she asked, a little shy about making the request but feeling driven to remain close to Daegan and reassure herself he was doing okay and recuperating from his ordeal.

  “This place doesn’t have the same setup we did, no alcove for the Alpha in the cell, but once we knew you were coming to join us, we cleared a second cell out enough for you and Daegan to have privacy. I hung up a camouflage panel to cover most of the doorway. If the accommodation suits?” Sarl tilted his head and studied her as if unsure what she preferred. “We can always let you have the room by yourself, Flo, or bunk in with us—”

  “We’ll take the other room,” Daegan said, leaving no room for argument.

  “I’m not crazy about being in a cell,” Flo said, “But I get there’s not much choice here.”

  “We picked this building because it was right next to the landing pad, multiple exit points, good for a quick retreat if necessary, even in a hurricane.” Camron shrugged. “Although we’re sure we’re safe but maintaining a round the clock watch. You ready for me to do my half assed medic thing?”

  “Sure.” She sipped the tea and then ate her last bite of sandwich. She and Camron moved to a small medlab next door to the larger room, and under Daegan’s watchful gaze he checked her vitals, dressed a few bad scratches and stared at her leg, whistling as he gently examined it. “Seems to be healing fine, as far as I can tell. I’m going to leave this alone—we’ll get Timtur to look at it when he arrives with the main force, unless your condition changes. Whatever creature you tangled with came out second best in the fight, I hope?”

  “Yeah they died. I nearly did too, which is why Daegan gave me a transfusion.” Flo glanced at the Alpha and he nodded, eyes glowing slightly.

  Camron shook his head. “I think the goddess blessed you. Next time we ping the valley, I’m going to ask Megan if there’s anything we need to do, or watch out for. No one’s ever done a Badari to human transfusion without running the blood through special processing first. Although I’m guessing if there was going to be a problem, you’d know it by now.”

  “Megan’s our doctor,” Flo said to Daegan before turning her attention back to Camron. “Let me know what she says.” She hopped off the table, grabbing at Daegan’s arm as her leg trembled at the impact. “I’ll just hobble over here and wait while Camron checks you over now.”

  Daegan shook his head. “I’m fine. We Badari heal ourselves usually. There’s nothing he can do for my back.”

  “Force whips?” Camron asked.

  “And then the usual Khagrish torture,” Daegan said nonchalantly as if not wanting to make too much of his punishment and suffering. “Nyddfalorr was taking revenge for my killing his favorite Badari, the one who betrayed my status as an Alpha.”

  “A really unpleasant type by the name of Wint,” Flo said. “No one needs to mourn him. But there was nothing usual about what Nyddfalorr was doing to you, trapped inside the stasis envelope.”

  Daegan was outwardly unconcerned, obviously at peace with his own actions. “You rescued me, thank the goddess, and now I’ve had real food and we’re warm and dry, I’ll finish recovering by morning.”

  Clearly Camron wasn’t going to argue. He packed up his kit. “Darik’s pet MARL12 got the bathrooms up and running so the showers work, if you’re so inclined. We brought a few things with us since we were going to be marooned in a storm for days on end.”

  “Cards?” Flo asked with a laugh.

  “Damn straight. I need to win back all my tokens from you.” Camron chuckled and addressed Daegan. “This woman is killer at card games, all card games, so beware.” Switching his focus back to Flo, he said, “Oh, that reminds me, Jill sent you something. Packed it herself. She didn’t figure we’d be seeing you so early but I’m sure you’ll want whatever she sent.”

  They entered the hall and Flo waited while Camron fetched the item in question, which turned out to be a backpack. Wondering what the Alpha’s mate had sent her, Flo tried to take it but Daegan intercepted her.

  “I’ll carry it.”

  “Thanks.” His possessiveness around the other men was mildly amusing to her. She was willing to cut him a little slack tonight, even though he should be able to tell all of these Badari were mated, except for Sarl, but tomorrow she might have to read him the riot act.

  They proceeded to the cell and Flo made a face as she crossed the threshold while Daegan held the tacked up camo sheet aside for her. “I hate the idea of sleeping here, even if there aren’t any Khagrish on the premises.”

  “You can walk through force barriers anyway,” he said. “No cell can hold you now. But if you’d rather, we can pick another place. Or even sleep in the corridor.”

  “No, I’ll manage my aversion to cells but thank
s. I’d like a shower and clean clothes but I’m too tired to care tonight.” She walked toward the corner of the room where the Badari had dragged two beds together and tossed sleeping bags on top. “Coming to bed?”

  He followed her. “Do you mind if I sleep naked?”

  Flo laughed as a ripple of arousal ran through her inner core, despite her exhaustion, and it felt good. She gave him a fake leer. “I prefer it, are you kidding?”

  Daegan handed her the extra Badari tee shirt Camron had taken from their kit. “If you want a nightgown.”

  She hesitated, reaching for the garment. “If you don’t mind, yeah, tonight I’d like it. I’m too tired to even think about being sexy, sorry.”

  Daegan reeled her in, not having released the other end of the tee shirt. Holding her close, he said, “Just breathing you’re sexy to me, but I have no intention of pushing you to make love tonight. You’re on your last nerve and your last bit of will power and I’d be an inconsiderate lout to expect anything but for you to allow me to curl up with you and keep you warm. All right?”

  “The unspoken part being ‘but tomorrow…’ “ She let her voice trail off suggestively and looked at him.

  “You know me too well already, woman.” He shook his finger at her in mock reproach. “Tomorrow we can revisit what activities we’ll indulge in but only if you’re fully recovered.”

  “Hey, I have those magic Badari blood cells hard at work too, remember?” She kissed him and moved away, taking the tee shirt with her. Rapidly she stripped out of her damp clothes and underwear, and shrugged into the borrowed garment, which was huge on her. She turned and found Daegan already undressed and lying in the bed, waiting for her. Gratefully Flo climbed onto the frame, happy to have the sleeping bags for a bit of comfort and grateful to have Daegan’s big warm self to cuddle.

  They got comfortable and she was drifting to sleep, feeling safe enough to let her guard down, since men she trusted implicitly were close by, on watch, not to mention Daegan right next to her. “You know, I had a thought in the flyer,” she said, wanting to share before she slept, in case she forgot. “When you saw Kierce.”