Kade (sci-fi romance - The Ember Quest Book 2)

by Arcadia Shield

  “Don’t you dare.”

  “She knows I’m here,” said Honor. “I might be able to talk sense into her. At least give the hybrids time to get away.”

  “It’s suicide going out there.”

  “Someone needs to talk to her. And we can’t take out the guards with what we’ve got.”

  “Then I’ll go.”

  “Wait!” Honor squinted through the darkness and her heart thudded painfully. “She’s got someone with her.”

  Clarice gestured a flame-haired woman closer. A guard shoved the woman in the shoulder, before kicking her off her feet and dragging her on her knees, pulling her along by her hair. It was Anastasia. Her face was bloody, and she’d clearly been beaten.

  “If you want your friend back, then you need to show yourself,” said Clarice.

  The hybrids growled collectively, and the guards swiveled their attention toward them.

  Clarice stroked a hand down Anastasia’s cheek before slapping her face. “If you think what I’m doing is wrong, you need to come stop me.”

  “She’s trying to get us to make a mistake,” muttered Kade. “Stay here.”

  Clarice paused, a cold smile on her face. “And if you think this is bad, just wait until I get my hands on Isla. I hear she’s so sick now she needs help breathing. If I take away that assistance, she won’t live for long. And when I give her to my guards as their plaything, she’ll be dead within the hour.”

  Fury colored Honor’s vision red. She shoved against Kade and marched out of the treeline, ignoring his curses and the fear running up her spine.

  Clarice flashed a shark-like smile as she spotted Honor. “Nice of you to join us. You’ve come down in the world since your time working for me.” Her gaze ran over Honor’s clothing, and her lip curled.

  “This seems more of a promotion.” Honor tilted her chin, knowing what she looked like in her sweat-stained army fatigues. “Keep your vicious hands off Anastasia and my sister.”

  “You have been a naughty girl.” Clarice knelt and stroked a hand across Anastasia’s hair, before standing and planting a kick in her side. “You’ve interfered with our testing facility.”

  Honor took a step closer, but the guards focused their guns on her and she stopped. “This is your work?”

  Clarice smirked. “Actually, my dear, this is your work.”

  Honor’s gaze shot to the building and her blood chilled. “My work? I’ve never been here before.”

  “What do you think you were doing at Intergen? We’ve made use of your synthetic DNA replicator program. It has potential to enhance hybrid abilities for our own use.”

  Honor’s hand trembled, as the urge to shoot Clarice increased. “That’s not ready for testing. It hasn’t gone through second-stage trials. It will be years before it can be tested on human subjects.”

  “As you can see, none of the things inside this building are human.” Clarice’s smirk morphed into a snarl. “But your work was faulty. Nothing we did produced an enhanced hybrid. Some even died.”

  “Because it wasn’t ready,” snapped Honor. “And you have no right to take my work and test it on unwilling victims.”

  “Everything you did when you worked at Intergen is our property,” said Clarice. “You signed a contract agreeing to that. Everything you created became ours. Every tiny program you designed or piece of code you created. I took everything of yours. You have nothing.”

  “I have my freedom,” said Honor. “And my dignity. And the knowledge that the State are a sham. They murdered the monarchy and killed off the dragons. I know everything.”

  “You are mistaken.” Clarice waved her hand in the air. “You have fallen victim to the dangerous delusions of others. And you must pay the price.”

  “I knew you framed me,” said Honor. “I was always honest when I worked for you, and you had me discredited. What did I do wrong?”

  “You were too honest and too keen to make an impression,” said Clarice. “And you were foolish. You thought you’d stand out by mentioning dragon and alien DNA in your reports. Show off and attempt to be amusing. And it got you noticed. Your days were numbered the second you stumbled across that anomalous DNA. Once I knew you were making investigations into that area, I had to get rid of you. And what’s a little framing among work colleagues?”

  Honor cursed under her breath. She had been trying to make an impression, but it grated that it was Clarice pointing out her flaws.

  “You used my research to create this place.” Honor jabbed a finger at the building. “What were you hoping to do, create your own army of dragons to control?”

  “We don’t want those disgusting things back,” said Clarice. “But some of their abilities could be of use. And we like to assimilate other talents.”

  Honor stared hard at Clarice. There had always been something off with her; from the way she moved to the disregard she had of other people, acting as if she was better than anyone else. “Who are you?”

  Clarice’s eyes narrowed. “The victors.”

  “No, I mean, what are you? How did you manage to take over so quickly and make everyone believe this is normal?”

  “My masters are not to be questioned.” Clarice tilted her head to the side, her eyes glazing.

  Rage slid through Honor’s veins. “You’re a disgrace.”

  “And you’re a dead woman walking.” Clarice gestured to the guards.

  Honor heard Kade shout a warning and stumbled back as the guards closed in.

  Anastasia raised her head from the ground and winked at Honor before slamming her fist into Clarice’s stomach and fastening her teeth onto her neck.

  Clarice’s shriek caught the guards’ attention as she fell to the ground, giving Honor time to race back to the trees. Kade grabbed hold of her, tugging her to his side and behind a tree.

  His lips landed roughly on hers before he pulled away and glared at her. “You took a stupid risk.”

  “She was going to kill us all anyway,” said Honor, her breath rasping out. “I had to know what she was doing here. And we couldn’t abandon Anastasia. And when she threatened Isla, I couldn’t stop myself.”

  They turned to watch, as Anastasia was dragged away by the guards and Clarice staggered to her feet, blood running from a wound on her neck.

  “Kill them all!” shrieked Clarice. “No one is to be left alive.”

  Chapter 24

  Kade’s fingers gripped the front of Honor’s shirt. He looked from her to the group of tense hybrids standing in the shadows of the trees. “Are you able to fight with us?”

  Moira stared back at Kade. “We’re sick, not unconscious. We’ll help you the best we can.”

  Kade shot her a sharp smile. “Focus on taking out the guards. When Clarice comes under fire, she’ll make a run for it into the building or back to her vehicle. We can take her then.”

  Moira nodded before turning to the rest of the hybrids. “Form a line. And follow Kade’s orders.”

  “Heath, we’ve got a situation,” said Kade into his comms. “I’ve got the hybrids with me and we need covering fire.”

  “We’re cut off,” said Heath. “Got four truckloads of guards on our tail and trying to lose them. I’ve called for reinforcements. Shit! We’re on fire—”

  Kade cursed as the comms link cut, worry slicing through him because he wasn’t able to assist Heath and the others. He pushed Honor behind him, determined to keep her safe, but she moved back to stand by his side.

  “We’re in this together,” she said. “I will not start hiding behind you now.”

  “You’ve got yourself a fighter there,” said Moira, grinning wickedly at Kade. “Make sure you don’t let her go. The good ones are hard to find.”

  “Don’t I know it,” growled Kade, a frustrating sense of pride and anguish running through him. Honor would never leave him behind or abandon him in this fight, even if that meant she got killed.

  Kade looked through the trees and cursed again as he saw another sq
uad of guards emerge from the building and approach the trees in a single line. They were facing a firing squad, and they were outnumbered.

  He checked his weapon and made sure Honor and the hybrids were in position. “On my mark.”

  “We’re ready,” said Moira.

  Kade lined up his first target, mentally marking the next guard for his attention. Honor’s warm presence by his side calmed him and the first two guards fell before the rest even saw him fire.

  “Get down!” A volley of blasts shot towards them, and Kade pressed low into the ground, an arm wrapped around Honor.

  Two hybrids leapt into the trees, clinging to the trunks, and spat fireballs at the approaching guards. The guards broke apart but were quick to regroup.

  “They’re keeping your boss protected,” yelled Kade, as he saw six guards standing point around Clarice.

  “I’ll still kill her.”

  From the venomous look in Honor’s eyes, he could believe that. “Moira, get your fighters to focus on the center guards. We need to break their line.”

  “Will do.” Moira issued her own orders and three more hybrids stepped forward, fear and determination shimmering in their eyes.

  Kade and Honor blasted two more guards off their feet, but they kept coming, and their shots were getting too close.

  A hybrid screamed and fell from the tree as a guard’s laser blast struck her in the chest.

  “Kill them all!” Clarice screamed, still watching from within her circle of guard protection.

  “No chance,” spat Honor. She pulled herself to her knees and aimed at Clarice.

  Before Kade could offer covering fire, a volley of pulse laser spat through the night sky, straight into the guards. They scattered, aiming their shots in every direction, as they struggled to identify where the fire was coming from.

  Kade squinted into the dark as a draft of heat passed over the trees and a smile crossed his face.

  “Thought you might need a bit of help.” A familiar voice came over the comms.

  “Baron? Is that you? What’s Hive One doing here?”

  “Hey, we leave our bunker on occasion, too, you know. Wanted to make sure everything was okay.” This time it was Reed. “Heard you were having a few problems.”

  “And we were doing recon not far from here.” Baron’s voice cut off, as their copter’s pulse laser shot through the night, killing more guards. “Heath sent the order through that you were pinned down. Thought we’d better make sure you didn’t need help with the beautiful ladies you’re rescuing.”

  Kade chuckled, relief coursing through him. “You’re here for the women.”

  “What else?” Reed laughed down the comms. “Give us a moment and we’ll clear this for you.”

  The tension eased from Kade’s shoulders as he saw the guards in disarray. But then he spotted Clarice fleeing into the waiting vehicle. He raised his gun at the same time as Honor, and they fired on the armored car.

  “That devil isn’t getting away,” said Honor.

  They both fired again, but the vehicle’s protective shield bounced the pulse laser blasts off.

  “Baron, have you got Arlo’s pulse rocket launcher installed?” Kade called. “Could be what we need to get rid of this problem.”

  “Last time I used that, it burned off half my hair,” said Baron.

  “You’ll look good with a crew cut,” said Kade.

  “You owe me a beer for doing this,” muttered Baron. “What’s the target?”

  “Black armored vehicle just leaving the site.” Kade watched with gritted teeth as the vehicle sped away, Clarice inside. He could hear Honor’s angry breaths shooting out of her, as she saw her enemy vanish into the night, and gave her hand a squeeze. “We’ll get her.”

  A blast of smoke shot past the trees as the rocket sped toward the retreating vehicle. It slammed into the bumper and the car pivoted perilously on its axle, before spinning in a circle, the tires screeching as it stopped.

  Honor raced out of the treeline before Kade could stop her, her weapon raised as she headed toward the car.

  “Stay here,” Kade ordered the hybrids, and then chased after Honor. Most of the guards were dead or fleeing, but he needed to watch her back. She was too focused on stopping Clarice to notice anyone after her.

  “Above you!” yelled Baron. “Another copter.”

  The light of the copter shone on the damaged car, and a ladder extended above it.

  “Take them down,” said Kade.

  “We’re on it,” said Baron.

  “Oh, no you don’t, you bitch,” yelled Honor, raising her gun at the car. “She’s not getting away.”

  Kade matched Honor’s pace as she neared the car, just as Clarice leapt out of the door and grabbed hold of the ladder.

  They both fired as the copter flew away, Clarice still clinging to the ladder as they disappeared into the night. Baron shot laser fire at the enemy copter, just as it blinked out of sight.

  Honor let out a scream and fired into the air, but Kade knew it was too late. Clarice was out of range.

  “You want me to pursue?” asked Baron. “Is she someone important?”

  “Yes! Get Clarice,” said Honor.

  As much as he knew Honor was hurting, he couldn’t send Baron and Reed chasing after her. “No. Go check on Heath’s situation and get him back here. Then we need a hand with the remaining hybrids.”

  “We’re on it.” Baron cloaked the copter, and they vanished.

  Honor scowled at Kade, but then nodded and let out a huge sigh. “You’re right. But that evil bitch needs to pay. She threatened my sister.”

  Kade wrapped his arms around Honor’s shoulders and dragged her toward him, feeling her heart pounding in her chest and her limbs shaking. “She will. They all will.”

  “This isn’t over,” said Honor. “She’ll get what’s coming to her.”

  “With you chasing her, I’ve no doubt of that,” said Kade. “Let’s sort out the rest of these hybrids and get back to base. We’ve done enough for tonight.”

  HONOR BLINKED THE EXHAUSTION out of her eyes as she watched the hybrids clamber into the truck and the last of the guards taken away. Baron and Reed had destroyed the remaining enemy trucks attacking Heath, and he’d returned to the building with the others.

  Anastasia was also safe. She was a bruised, bloody, angry mess, but the State couldn’t get to her anymore, and a flicker of a smile crossed her lips as she recalled how Anastasia had attacked Clarice.

  Now the fighting was over, she realized how exhausted and bruised she was. She had cuts on her head and arms she hadn’t even noticed getting as they’d fought to help the hybrids.

  Anger still burned through her as she remembered Clarice escaping. She was furious with her for threatening Isla, exploiting her research, and manipulating the hybrids. But she’d failed this time, and Honor would make sure Clarice kept failing.

  She looked around, but couldn’t see any sign of Kade. He’d gone back in the building to do a final check to make sure no hybrids were left behind. She wanted him back. And she wanted to sleep. And then, well, Honor needed to figure out how to make things work with Kade. Now that she knew the truth, she wanted to fight for it with him.

  Reed gave her a wave, so she walked over to where he stood with Baron next to their copter, and introduced herself.

  “Nice to meet you.” Baron gave her a friendly smile, and Reed nodded. “Looks like you’ve had quite a night.”

  “I hear this is a normal day for the Ember brothers,” said Honor, her gaze still searching out Kade.

  “You could say that.” Reed raised a hand to his head, and Honor’s eyes widened as she saw blood dripping from his fingers.

  “You’ve been hurt.”

  Reed lowered his arm and looked at his fingers before shaking the blood off them. “I don’t feel it.”

  “You must,” said Honor.

  “He’s a cyborg.” Baron grinned at Reed.

  Reed shook his head.
“I’m not. But I have modifications that come in handy during combat.”

  “Prosthetics?” asked Honor.

  “Better than that,” said Reed. “Lost half an arm and my leg below the knee in combat. Volunteered to be a guinea pig and try out some new technology, rather than get kicked out of the forces with a pity pension and a pay-out. The military were running tests to ensure soldiers could remain combat-ready, even after they’d been thrown into a minefield and had their brains blasted to bits.”

  “Told you he was a cyborg,” said Baron.

  “What I am, is stronger and faster than you’ll ever be,” said Reed, punching Baron’s arm.

  Honor nodded. “I’ve read research papers on this. Aren’t there techniques used to join living tissue and cybernetic wires together, so they communicate with each other?”

  “Your girl’s clever.” Reed’s gaze went over Honor’s shoulder, and she turned to see Kade standing behind her. Her heartbeat instantly spiked. He looked battle-stained, but relatively unharmed.

  “Cleverer than the two of you.” Kade draped an arm around Honor’s shoulders. “We’re ready to leave.”

  Honor’s curious gaze went back to Reed. “I’d be interested in learning more about you.”

  “Any time you’ve got a free evening I’m happy to take you out,” said Reed. His gaze shifted to Kade, and he grinned. “But I imagine your evenings will be busy from now on.”

  Honor’s cheeks flushed as she caught Kade’s intense gaze. “I’m sure I can find time to do research.”

  “Don’t count on it,” growled Kade.

  A flutter of excitement shot through Honor’s stomach as Kade’s grip tightened on her. She said goodbye to Baron and Reed before walking side-by-side with Kade back to the truck. “How are the hybrids doing?”

  “Many are weak,” said Kade. “They’ve been feeding them all sorts of unpleasant drugs while they’ve been held here. Sophia and Clarissa will be busy when we get them to the bunker.”

  “How about their mental state?” Honor could only imagine the horrors these women had been through, and how fragile it would make them. If it had been her, she’d be broken. “Do you think they’ll recover?”