“Land’s sake.” Dela stepped back, urging Erin farther back as well.
“What iss he doing?”
“He is like Thorn,” I said.
“Again, when did this happen?” Zanth asked as he twirled his knife.
I ignored him.
A long minute later, Finn stopped shifting and stood behind us, growling. The only person he let approach was me. I held out my hand and let him sniff. He licked my hand and then settled himself in a pile at my feet with a sniff.
Erin stepped forward. “I can look at him when he shifts back.”
“I think he will be fine.” I ran my hand down his pelt. “The look in his eyes, I recognize.”
“It’s the look we all had when we got out. We won’t go back alive, but we will survive,” Dela added.
I nodded.
Zanth walked forward and toed Finn, jumping back when he snapped at his toes. “So how did this miracle come to be? Where was Finn this whole time? In the lab?”
“Yes, there is another floor. One Roger has been using the whole time and one Xade has access to.”
As a group, everyone stepped back from the building.
Marin swore and raked his hands through his hair. “The whole time they were there?”
“I don’t think so. I think since the last major attack, when they took Finn.”
“How did we never notice?” Zanth muttered.
I sucked in a deep breath. “He took Roger as well.”
Erin turned to Dela. “Now what do we do?”
Tears burned my eyes. There was really only one choice. “I will go with Texxak. That is the only way.”
“That is not an option,” Marin barked.
“Marin—”
“No, there has to be another way.”
“Our plan is useless now.”
“We will come up with a new one.”
“Xade is right under us. He offered me a choice and gave me Finn as incentive. He wants me to go to Texxak and kill him.”
Erin gasped. “Your own grandfather.”
“He says Texxak is worse than he is.That Texxak arrived and took over here. That all the evil is from Texxak.”
“Do you believe him?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think I do. I know what Xade is like. I guess I hope that the enemy of my enemy will be my friend. My grandfather hasn’t hurt us. He has kept to his word.”
Marin’s hand gripped mine. “That cannot be our only choice.”
“We can’t go into the labs anymore. Xade is there. We don’t know when he will pop up. He has Roger; there is no virus. Plus, we only have a few fighters and they are tired. Weak and just learning their magics. We have no chance as it is now. None.”
Werner cleared his throat. “That iss not exactly trrue. I have been rreading on the quarrum and sstudying. The motherss while I wass therre let me commune with ssome of the elderss. I know morre now than the E’mani, I believe, or they would not be making thesse sshipss we have hearrd they crreated. The quarum iss inherrently unsstable. I can dessstroy theirr buildingss and homess in a sshort perriod of time.”
Marin grinned. “That is a start.”
“It is not enough.”
Marin gripped my shoulders and shook me. “What is wrong with you? When did you learn to give up? This isn’t you. We fight and we win. That is the only option.” He turned to the rest of the Remains. “The same for all of you. Work on a plan. A legitimate plan. Prog, is Rael back yet?”
“No, still not back.”
“Let me know if he returns.” Marin turned to the Rocians. “Twins, can you go to the airfield and see if you can find another way in?”
“Of courrsse,” they replied.
He addressed the couple next. “Dela and Erin, can you go to Bretylyn? It is virtually deserted. Do your work there. It is hours away from Center but better than nothing. If Prog and his few friends help, you can move quicker.”
He pulled me into his side and I was last. “We need to come up with a plan.”
I leaned my head on his shoulder. We did need a plan, but I feared the only one left to us would require me putting myself back into E’mani hands and away from Marin. I couldn’t let that happen. I’d just resolved to keep him.
Chapter Eighteen
We were so screwed.
Roger was nowhere to be found. So far, all we knew was that he had more knowledge of E'mani genetics than any of us and a desire to destroy all of them that eclipsed even my own need to kill. The virus was a bust with Roger gone. Werner was working on the manufacturing, but he had no idea how to do it on a grand scale which would be what we needed. Rael had not returned with the Avaresh as yet, so the few winged warriors we had were it.
Plus, we didn’t know the capability and number of the troops we faced. And we potentially faced a fight on two fronts. Xade on one side and Texxak on the other, with us in the middle. ’Cause, lord knows, I didn’t trust Xade to keep his promise. I let my head drop into my hands. What could we do?
Tomorrow I had to face the fact that I most likely would end up in another lab. This time with my own grandfather at the helm.
I’d almost talked myself into the belief that giving up would be for the best. It would save the Fost. Texxak would kill Xade for us. I just wish I knew what he wanted the Remains for. I was his blood, but why Erin, Dela, Rael, and all the others? What use were they to him? Would he experiment on us like Xade did? Were we substituting one monster for another? Or could it be exactly as he said? A win for us. It really could be. Texxak was my grandfather after all. He wouldn’t hurt me, would he?
All this thinking wasn’t getting me anywhere, so I needed to focus on something I could change. My relationship with Marin. He’d talked about having this fear of us being separated before. I held that same fear now, and it was growing, along with a certainty that I would end up with Texxak on his ship.
That meant I had to suck every second out of the time we had. Like when I left Groos. This might be the last time I would see him, and I meant to take advantage of every moment. And I had to say goodbye to everyone as well. This time it wasn’t until later; this time it might be forever. They wouldn’t be following me.
My heart pinched and I couldn’t breathe through the pain. I leaned forward and took deep breaths until it passed.
I could do this. I had to.
Marin reached up and rubbed my shoulders, causing a moan to escape me. “We will figure something out. Do not worry, my love.”
I turned and wrapped my arms around him tight. I wanted to believe so badly. “I hope so.”
“I know so. We have each other. Nothing is going to separate us again.”
“Going to Texxak is the best plan.” Marin opened his mouth to reply. I covered his lips. “You know it is.”
“If it comes down to it, then I am going with you.”
“You would do that?”
He leaned his face forward into mine. His hand grazed the side of my cheek. “You should know by now that I would do anything for you. You are my world.”
I pressed into him. “You are my world. And I didn’t have time to tell you. I want to mate. I want the bands. I want everything. With you. Babies. Marriage. A big house and peace. But I don’t think that is going to happen anytime soon.”
He kissed my forehead and rested his chin on top of my head. “I want all of that too. It will happen. I have faith. We have the land on our side.”
Less than reassuring. I hated to tell him that.
I sighed and cuddled closer, noting a distinct bulge greeting me against my belly. I rubbed my hand down his chest and grazed along his groin, eliciting my own moan from him.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” He inched backward and glanced over my shoulder, then aimed me toward the bed. “Let me show you how much.”
My lips creased into a silly smile. “How do you plan to do that?”
“I plan to make love to you all night. I want time with you. Just us, only u
s.”
“Well, I wasn’t planning on inviting anyone.”
“Good.”
He kissed me, a light brush, then he placed his hands under my elbows and lifted me onto the bed. I bounced once and settled back. Marin winked at me from the bottom of the bed as he slowly slid his hand into his shirt to loosen the tie on his vest until it sagged, and I saw a tantalizing glimpse of his tanned chest. Ripped and lean. He shimmied and pulled the vest apart until more and more skin met my appreciative eyes.
I settled on the bed and kicked off my shoes. I lifted my arms to take out my ponytail and Marin made a loud ‘tsk.’ I glanced up to see him shake his head.
“I want to take your hair out. Leave it up for now. I have a special treat coming in a few minutes.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes. So enjoy the tease and think about what I am going to do to you in a few minutes.”
His hand slid along his belly, arrowing south. A bulge met his fingers; he rubbed and let his head fall back. My breath hissed as he did it again and again, the bulge growing. The muscles in his chest working. His eyes appeared to glow in the room as he worked his vest off and stood before me in only his leather pants. He yanked out the leather in his hair, and his mahogany tresses fell around his face, his sharp, fierce face that I loved.
I sat up and held out my arms just as there was a knock at the door.
Marin breathed out and shook himself before opening to the new arrivals. Or should I say, new arrival.
Zanth and Prog carried in a wooden tub filled with water. They were diligent to keep from looking at me as I sat there lusting after Marin. Very thoughtful.
As soon as they left, I lifted an eyebrow at Marin.
“I thought you would want a bath. We can heat the water ourselves.”
My smile spread and without a word, I stood up and shrugged out of my pants, letting my tunic hang to my thighs.
Marin smiled at the sight, his eyes skimming down my legs. I could feel his gaze like a caress. I stepped into the bath and sank down with my tunic on.
A touch of power and the water gave off steam.
I closed my eyes and let my head lay back on the lip of the tub. The steam relaxed my muscles. I heard Marin move around me but kept my eyes shut. The scent of peaches teased my nose. I inhaled and relaxed even farther into the water. I heard a strange squirting sound, and then Marin’s hand rubbed along my hair.
“Dunk down,” he commanded.
I complied without a word. When I came back up for air, his hands kneaded along my scalp and rubbed, raising bubbles. Holy crap. His fingers were magic. I melted even farther into the edge of the tub, my head hanging back. His thumbs circled my temple in a smooth motion over and over again until I almost slept. The back of his fingers drifted down my cheek.
“Dunk again.”
I sunk into the water and suds filled the tub. When I came up for air, I asked, “Are you coming in?”
“In a second, my love. You get to wash my hair.” He moved into my line of sight from behind the tub, and with a swivel of his hips, he pulled his pants down. The sight of his manhood straining took my breath away.
“This is for you.” He stepped into the other end of the tub.
The water rocked and splashed the wooden planks underneath us for a few seconds until the level settled.
“Why are you all of the way down there? Come up here so I can wash your hair.”
With a smirk, he moved forward on his hands and knees in the tub until the front of his body slid along mine. The tease. I felt his rod brush my belly before he turned and settled between my legs with his back to me.
I buried my head in his neck for a second and squeezed. He reached up and grabbed my arm.
“I love you.” And I can’t seem to stop telling you that. My stomach churned and I tried to focus on the moment Marin created for us.
“I love you too.” His hand squeezed my arm. “Are you all right?”
Even he caught on to the overload of loving. “Yeah. Just can’t turn off my thoughts.”
He shifted and dunked under the water, then turned and maneuvered his legs behind me, pulling me into his lap. “Forget about anything but me. We will deal with everything tomorrow.”
I grinned and bit his lower lip. “Look at you being all laid back.”
He smiled and rested his forehead against mine. “I wish I could reassure you that tomorrow will be all right. But I am not certain. That is why I want this time just for us. This night, tomorrow. The rest of the time we have. Can you give me that?”
My chest grew heavy. I twined my arms tight around his shoulders. “That and more. I love you, Marin. All the doubts I had, the fear? All gone. It doesn’t matter to me. We both made mistakes, but we are stronger together. When push comes to shove, you are who I want to be with. When I think of home, it is you. Not Earth anymore. You. And I remember Hope and all our time together.”
He wrapped his arms around me in return and squeezed. “Elizabeth, we will get that future.”
“You said you felt like I might slip away. I am afraid more and more that will happen.”
“And I am feeling more and more that it will not. I cannot allow it. I am sorry. You are just going to have to stay.” His lips twisted into a smile.
“I want to. I finally know exactly what I want.”
Chapter Nineteen
It was a beautiful day, and my time was up. This was it. I would see Texxak soon. And Zachary. My blood family but not the family of my heart. That would be the people behind me, good or bad. I’d said my goodbyes yesterday. Tears still burned in my eyes today.
Everyone lounged in an informal line outside Center. Texxak led a force greater than we thought possible toward us. The body of his troops spread back to the forest. He’d been right when he said we had no chance of taking his army in a fight. At least ten thousand men surrounded the town. Rows upon rows of warriors, true men, not clones, made up of races I’d never seen before. A lizard similar to the Rocians, but taller and spiked. Another had fur and claws and stood on two legs. I would think a grizzly, but his legs ended in cloven hooves, and his legs tilted backward. Another didn’t even appear to stand upright. His knuckles dragged along the ground, and he swayed back and forth; four eyes on stalks waved in the air.
They all appeared eager and so foreign. Weapons dotted their bodies. Guns like the E’mani typically wore, but also bows, clubs, maces, and so many other weapons. There was no way to defeat them. I didn’t even know what they were.
Zanth let out a noisy breath behind me and whispers broke out.
Texxak walked down the crater toward us, Zach at his side. No longer in jeans and human clothing to put me at ease, my grandfather now wore light gray leather, a trend in coloring the E’mani appeared to favor.
I stepped forward, and Marin moved to my side. My shoulders tensed as Texxak neared. He smiled and threw out his arms as if expecting me to run into them.
What was he, cracked? I held my ground as his words echoed in the town without aid of amplification as far as I could tell. “Elizabeth, my beloved granddaughter. I see you are ready.”
“You promise if we come with you, you will not hurt the Fost?”
“Oh certainly.” His smile rivaled that of a snake-oil salesman—all teeth and no joy. My gut clenched. I didn’t trust him. But there was no other way.
“Then we are ready.” I gestured behind me at the Remains. Erin nodded and gripped Dela’s hand hard. Werner and Vale crouched and stared at the lizard men in the crowd, their faces stark. Prog stood silent next to Zanth. Zanth paced, planning to join us all as well. Finn staggered up, supported on one side by his grandmother, Selmay.
“Where is the one called Roger?”
“Xade has him. He disappeared soon after you initially gave us the ultimatum.” I deliberately didn’t mention Rael.
“Pity. I was looking forward to meeting him. The virus Roger made for Earth was quite spectacular.” He motioned us to precede him up
the hill.
I reached down to grab my bag.
Texxak tsked. “No need to bring any luggage. We will provide you with all you need. Don’t want you hiding any weapons, would we?”
Oh no, don’t want that. I sighed and dropped my bag. Marin’s hand gripped my shoulder briefly before dropping away. I started up the hill. As I neared the top, I heard the scuffle from below.
I turned to see Marin and Zanth being restrained by some of Texxak’s men.
“Marin!” I bolted down the hill toward him and ran smack into my father.
He stood in front of me, unmoving. “Texxak told you, Remains only. The Fost Clan Chief is not a Remain, as you call yourself.”
Twisting, I attempted to escape. No. “He is my husband. I won’t leave him behind. I know that is a new concept for you, but I won’t leave him.”
Zackary’s grip remained tight on my arm. “No.” He leaned closer and whispered into my ear. “It is better this way. Trust me.”
Trust him. My ass.
I grabbed for my powers, nearly wheezing, my breath pushing out hard, but before I could accumulate enough to do any damage, Texxak strolled up. He inclined his head to someone behind me. Why do bad guys always sneak up on you from behind?
Mother—
Everything went dark.
When I woke, the room was shadowy. And it was a room, no tubes. A small metal bunk in one corner stood bolted to the ground and a night stand next to it. Nothing else of note. The wall glowed with a faint blue sheen, almost like they’d been dipped in a fluorescent paint.
What happened?
I rolled off the cot and turned in a circle. “Hello. Anyone home?” There was no way Texxak wouldn’t be watching me right now. He seemed that kind of person. “Where am I? Where is Marin? Where are my friends? You lied to me, you fucker.” I ran to a wall and started hitting it. No doors in sight.
Minutes passed as I raged with no response until I slipped down the wall and put my head on my knees.
Why did I trust him? Now Marin and I were separated. I had nothing.
Distant Memory: She remembered everything (Solum Series Book 3) Page 11
