by Nina Croft
Rico sniffed the air. “Well, it’s too close to dawn to leave. We’re going to have to sit out the day and make a run for it under cover of darkness.”
“A run to where?” Milo asked.
“The shuttle from the Trakis Five,” Dylan replied. “We checked them out and one of the representatives is sick and confined on board. He can fly the thing, so we don’t need to override the biometrics. We’ll be cutting it close, though. We have another twelve hours while the planets are in alignment and after that the shuttle won’t make it back to Trakis Two.”
They carried the last two nukes into the ship and stored them with the others. Destiny was going to attempt to disarm them. But there was no rush now. They had the whole day and he hadn’t slept in…a long time. He was exhausted and his head hurt. He had an overwhelming urge to lie down on an actual bed and hold Destiny while they both slept.
She looked as tired as he felt. Shadows under her eyes.
“I’m going to go check what’s happening out there,” Dylan said. “You two…don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Rico snorted. He’d found some whiskey and was swigging straight from the bottle. “I’m going to see if I can contact the Trakis Two. We might need them before this is over.” He left as well, and they were alone.
“Let’s go to bed,” he said, holding out his hand.
She looked at it longingly. “I have to…” She waved a hand at the nukes.
“They’ll wait. And you’ll work better after some rest.”
With a quick nod, she slid her hand into his, then led the way, taking him to a small circular cabin on the other side of the ship. This was obviously where she had been sleeping as her clothes lay over a small stool, and the huge bed, which took up most of the cabin, was rumpled and unmade.
He undressed her slowly, then stripped off his own clothes.
This time they made love slowly and sweetly, and afterward, he pulled her naked body close and stroked her back until her breathing evened out and she slept.
Sleep eluded him, though.
Milo couldn’t shake the feeling that they were making a huge mistake by leaving Kinross alive. They couldn’t rely on the bastard to do the convenient thing and die. And while he was alive, he would keep coming after Destiny. She was his one hope of life. She would never be safe until Kinross was dead. Kinross would pursue them across the universe. She would spend her whole life looking over her shoulder.
She deserved a chance at a good life.
That was one thing he could give to her.
Plus, while they had taken the nukes, who knew what else Kinross had up his sleeves? He’d obviously been planning this long before they’d left Earth. He could have weapons secreted on other ships.
None of them would be safe while he was alive.
Not Destiny. Or Rico.
The people he loved.
He didn’t want to die. For the first time in centuries he had something to live for. But he knew one thing: if something was truly worth living for, then it was also worth dying for. First, he had to make sure she would be safe.
Decision made, he relaxed. He could have a little while longer. Pulling her closer so she snuggled against him, he closed his eyes and slept.
He woke to the sensation of a warm mouth engulfing his hard cock. He groaned and reached down, threading his fingers through her hair. She peered up at him, as her hands slid over his balls, cupping him, squeezing, while her mouth played its magic and the pleasure built inside him, intensifying as he tried to control the thrust of his hips. She held his gaze as she sucked on him, sliding her lips over his shaft until his spine arched and he gave up and came with her mouth still around him.
Afterward, he collapsed back on the bed, weak and lethargic, a smile on his face. She licked her lips and then kissed his cock and crawled up the bed to snuggle against his chest.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you, but I couldn’t resist, and it was there and…”
“It was a wonderful way to wake up. The best ever. Now, go back to sleep.”
She closed her eyes and her breathing evened out. He lay for a long time, trying not to sleep again. He didn’t want to waste any of this time with her.
Finally, he knew he had to go. He slipped from the bed without waking her and grabbed his clothes from the floor. At the door, he turned for one last look. She was curled on her side, her hands under her cheek, a smile curving her lips. Fixing the image in his mind, he opened the door and stepped outside. In the corridor, he dressed quickly, then headed for the bridge. He found Rico in the pilot’s seat, an empty bottle in front of him and a scowl on his face.
“Did you get through?” he asked.
“No. It seems your girlfriend is the only one who can work this thing. Either that or I’ve broken it. What are you doing up?”
“I’m going to kill Kinross.”
Rico’s eyes narrowed. “I thought we’d decided that was a suicide mission.”
“Not necessarily. I think I can do it.” He just wished he had his wand.
“Are you sure this isn’t about revenge?”
“Maybe a little.”
“Your mother gave up everything—including you—for revenge. You wasted most of your life on Earth attempting to get revenge on your father. You really want to go that route again? You think Destiny will appreciate the gesture?”
“It’s not only about revenge,” Milo said. “He’ll come after her. He can’t do anything else. She’s his only hope of survival. Besides, he’s the sort of man who hates to be beaten. He’ll come after all of us. And we don’t know what else he brought from Earth. He’ll have contingency plans, and I’m sure you don’t want to spend the next few years looking over your shoulder.”
Rico pursed his lips. “Maybe you’re right. But if so, we should all go. Make sure the job is done properly.”
Milo shook his head. “One man is more likely to get through and get close enough to do it. And you need to get Destiny off this shit planet. I’ve never asked of anything from you, and now I’m asking. Get Destiny to safety. Give her the life she deserves.”
“She’s not going to be happy about this.”
“She’ll get over it. Besides, I’m planning to make it back.”
Rico gave him a long look, then shook his head. “After a thousand years, you have to fall in love again now.”
He grinned. “I know. Inconvenient. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Rico gave him another look, but this time he nodded. “Okay. But try and stay alive. I hate dealing with hysterical females. And we leave this fucking planet in three hours. No later. Make sure you’re at the shuttle.”
He wanted to say something but wasn’t sure how. In the end he just nodded. “Thank you,” he said. “For everything.” Then he turned and walked out. He met Dylan as he exited the tunnels into the forest. He was in wolf form but shifted when he caught sight of Milo.
“You’re going after Kinross?”
He nodded.
“I’d offer to come along, but to be honest you’re better off alone. But good luck. Put a bullet in the bastard from me.”
“I will.”
Dylan gave him a sly smile. “And if you don’t come back, I’ll look after Destiny for you.”
“I’ll be fucking back and leave Destiny alone.” But it comforted him to know there would be someone else to look out for her.
Now, it was time to end this.
Chapter Forty-Three
“Happiness is like one of those palaces on an enchanted island, its gates guarded by dragons. One must fight to gain it.”
—Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo
Destiny woke up with a feeling of well-being. It lasted for all of two seconds, which was when she realized she was alone in the bed and Milo was gone.
She sat
up and looked around the room. It wasn’t big and there was nowhere to hide.
His clothes were gone from the floor.
He’d probably just woken up and left her to sleep.
Except she had a bad feeling.
She jumped out of bed. She felt better, wide awake, and the dull headache that had lingered after the anesthetic had cleared was gone. But she wanted Milo. She left the clothes where she had dropped them and pulled on one of her own yellow jumpsuits. It reminded her of Dr. Yang. It was the one time the woman had given in to what she had referred to as frivolity. Then her spare pair of boots, and she headed out at a trot. Rico was on the bridge, chatting with Dylan. Milo was nowhere in sight, and her bad feeling intensified until it was a solid lump in her throat.
Rico glanced across as she entered and frowned.
She took a step closer. “Where’s Milo?”
Rico shrugged. “He’s just gone to see what’s happening outside. Why don’t you get to work on those nukes? Keep yourself busy. We’ll be heading out in a couple of hours.”
“You’re lying.”
He frowned. “Now why would you say that?”
“Because your lips are moving.”
Dylan snorted a laugh. “Ha, she’s got your number.”
She swung around to face him. “Where is he?”
“He’s gone to kill Kinross.”
“Why the hell did you have to tell her that?” Rico snapped.
“Because she deserves to know the truth.”
The lump expanded until it choked off her air. Why would he have done this? Why leave her behind? She was gasping for breath. The world spinning. Dylan grabbed her by the shoulders and gave her a shake. “Get a grip,” he said. “Milo knows what he’s doing. If anyone can get to Kinross, he can. And Milo is not so easy to kill. Don’t give up on him yet.”
“I’m not giving up on him at all,” she snarled. “I’m going to get him.”
“Mierda,” Rico muttered. “Now look what you’ve done. You can’t go and get him. You’re a liability. And he’s better off alone.”
“No, he isn’t. He’s better off with me.”
She whirled around and ran off the bridge. She needed to think this through. In some ways, she knew Rico was right. If she didn’t do this properly then she was a liability and would likely get Milo killed. And Kinross would win, and he’d take her heart, and no way was that happening. Her heart belonged to Milo.
So how to do this?
In the storage area with the nukes, she paced the room a few times, but her gaze kept being drawn back to the warheads. She came to stand over the crates, then pried open the top one and stared down at the weapon. There was a detonator in a little pocket at the side of the crate, and she took it out and studied it for a minute. The bombs could be remote detonated. And if one went off, then it would set off the rest and the planet would be decimated.
Could she do that?
She realized in that moment that humanity as a whole didn’t matter. It was the individuals who mattered. She wasn’t ready to die for the nameless masses. But she was ready to die for Milo.
Not only that, but she was ready to kill for him.
She just hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
Rico and Dylan appeared in the doorway just as she finished prepping the detonator.
“Is that what I think it is?” Dylan asked.
She nodded.
“Is that a good idea?”
“Probably not. But I can’t come up with a better one. Hopefully, I won’t have to use it.”
“Kinross will never believe you would do it.”
She smiled. “He will believe it. And you know why? Because Kinross knows exactly what I’m capable of. After all, we’re the same person.”
“That is scary as hell,” Dylan said. “And seriously badass. You’re giving me a hard-on.”
She let out a laugh.
“We brought you some presents.” Dylan handed her a couple of pistols and holsters, and she strapped them around her waist. Then Rico stripped off his long leather coat and gave it to her. She shrugged into it. It reached the ground but hid the weapons and it had lots of pockets. She slid the detonator into the inside pocket, then looked around the room.
She found the small pile of grenades and slipped a couple into the side pockets and then she was ready.
Rico stepped up close. He had a comm unit in his hand; she held out her wrist and he slipped it on. “We’re heading out now,” he said. “I for one want to be off planet just in case the whole place goes up. We’ll stay in orbit for another two hours, comm us if you get him out and we’ll meet you at the rendezvous point.”
“Understood.” She reached up on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Thanks for looking after Milo all these years.” Then she turned to Dylan. He kissed her on the mouth. “And thank you for…everything.” She shrugged. “And good luck.”
“Hey, we’ll see you soon.”
She hoped so, but for all her bravado she couldn’t see it happening. And she doubted very much that she would set off a nuclear explosion. Only if she had no choice…and probably not even then. But at least Milo wouldn’t die alone.
She gave them one last nod and headed out.
Time to save the warlock she loved.
Or die trying.
Chapter Forty-Four
“‘Without reflecting that this is the only moment in which you can study character,’” said the count; “on the steps of the scaffold death tears off the mask that has been worn through life, and the real visage is disclosed.”
—Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo
Milo was heading for Camelot. Hopefully, there would be a boat to take him across the water, otherwise he’d be swimming. But as he came out of the forest, his eyes were drawn toward a huge crowd congregated around the new church.
Thousands of them thronged the area, their voices raised in anger.
He moved closer. There were a number of the green-clad soldiers, all armed, but they seemed at a loss about what to do against so many. No one took any notice of him as he weaved his way through the crowd.
Aaron Sekongo stood at the front above the crowd in some sort of makeshift pulpit. He’d lost his captain’s uniform and was dressed in the long black robes of a priest. Asshole. He raised his arms. “I am Aaron Sekongo, High Priest of the Church of Everlasting Life. Please be silent. This is a house of God. Your questions will all be answered in good time. Have faith in the Lord.”
The words were met with a loud roar of disapproval.
Milo stopped beside an elderly man wearing a crew uniform with a blue shirt. He couldn’t remember what that meant. “What’s happening?” Milo asked.
“Some guy called Kinross is going to come along and tell us that. Apparently, he’s our leader. What I want to know is who elected him? Not me. I’ve never heard of him.”
At that moment, an armored vehicle drove out of the water and headed their way. It was fully dark now and the lights cut a swath through the crowd. They parted sullenly before it, and it pulled up beside the makeshift pulpit. The top opened and Kinross appeared, with Silas at his back.
Kinross did not look well. His skin was a sickly yellow and he leaned against the handrail. Milo studied him closely, looking for similarities to Destiny. They were obvious when you knew what to look for. The shape and color of his eyes, the strong chin, the straight nose. A wave of hatred washed through him. The man was pure evil. He had to die. It wasn’t revenge, though. It was justice and keeping Destiny safe.
He eased his weapon from the holster at his waist but then went still. A whole troop of guards moved to surround the vehicle, their weapons pointed into the crowd. Milo would have one shot only and then he had no doubt he would be taken down. He looked around, searching for a way to improve the odds.
Kinross too
k a shaky step forward. He rubbed at his left shoulder and a spasm crossed his face. He was a dying man. It was clear in every small movement he made. His heart was giving out. Not at some vague point in the future. But now.
Milo eased the weapon back into his holster. He didn’t have to do this after all. Clearly, for once, God was on his side and would do the job for him. At the thought, a wave of pure happiness washed through him. This wasn’t the end. He could go back and fly away with Destiny and they could have a life together.
Kinross was talking now, but he didn’t listen to the words. They didn’t matter.
The crowd didn’t like them, though; they were greeted by an angry murmur. Things were not going Kinross’s way. The rabble were revolting. Milo grinned.
Then the skin of his back prickled and he turned slowly.
The crowd had parted, and she stood there. Dressed in a yellow jumpsuit, boots, and a long black leather coat. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen and for a moment he melted. Then he gritted his teeth. This was not supposed to happen. She was supposed to be safe, leaving the planet with Rico and Dylan and having a wonderful life. And he’d been just about to join her.
Instead she was here. Panic grabbed him and tightened around his throat. “What the hell are you doing here?”
She smiled. “I’ve come to save you. I choose you over humanity.”
He melted again. She’d come for him. He came first. That’s what she was telling him. His euphoria lasted for all of one second, then the panic was back. They were the center of attention. The spotlight found them, settled on Destiny.
Kinross screamed over the loudspeaker. “Get that woman!”
Nobody moved.
Except the guards. They pushed their way through the crowd.
Fuck.
His mind scrambled for a way out.
Destiny reached into her pocket and tossed him a grenade. He caught it as she pulled out one of her own. Except it wasn’t a grenade. It was a small, square box. The crowd had gone silent as if innately sensing danger. They backed away from the two of them, leaving them standing alone in a circle of light.
