Chapter 21

MARISSA’S HEART SANK as she watched Firbin leave.

He was the explosive’s expert and the charges needed to be set. The building was cleared and she understood the necessity of destroying the structure. That didn’t lessen her concern. What if there were still survivors out there that would stop him? She’d drive herself crazy if she worried about everything that could go wrong.

Firbin would sense her panic.

She heaved a sigh and forced herself to turn away.

Neither Niail nor Thero were concerned about Firbin. They knew his capabilities better than she. She’d already witnessed his skill at Nellis. There was no reason for her to doubt him now. He was good at explosives. He would be able to handle anything that came his way.

“You have to let me loose.” Jack’s voice was a hoarse whisper.

Marissa shook her head. “I promised. It is best that you don’t stop them. They know what they’re doing.”

“How can you agree to this?” Jack’s mouth was a tight grimace as he struggled with his bindings. “The sister I grew up with would never have done anything like this.”

“Two days ago I would have agreed with you.” Marissa put a hand on his arm. “You can’t know how terrifying it is to be held by those creatures. They are evil.”

“That doesn’t mean you throw away everything you’ve believed in your whole life.” Jack shook his head. “These guys are tearing away the very fabric of our country by destroying this base.”

“This structure has nothing to do with our country,” Marissa said. “This is run by a group that knows no international boundaries. They do not care about us, or our government. Their goal is to destroy all humanity.”

Jack shook his head. “I will never believe that unless I see it with my own eyes.”

“Is this the proof you need?” Thero picked up the laptop he was working on and showed the screen to Jack. “You can see the chain of command for these plans doesn’t include any of your government officials.”

Jack frowned. “That’s impossible.”

“Not if you understand how the Albireons operate.” Niail handed Thero a small memory stick. “Download everything onto this. I don’t trust this connection enough to have you send it to the others. After you’re finished destroy everything.”

“Right.” Thero turned away and started to copy the material.

“I hope you understand that we are not randomly targeting your country. The Albireon threat is world-wide.” Niail cradled his assault rifle as he stood in front of Jack. “We are doing what your governments are unable to do. We are not alone in this fight either. There are humans who are helping us.”

“You look human enough to me.” Jack’s voice was low with sarcasm.

“True.” Niail tilted his head. “Will you promise not to interfere if I release you?”

Jack clenched his jaw and then nodded.

Niail cut the bindings that held her brother. Marissa hugged him. He gave her a quick squeeze and then pulled away. He rubbed his wrists and then picked up a rifle. Marissa held her breath for a second and waited to see what he would do. She had never known him to go back on his word and she was certain he wouldn’t now.

Niail raised an eyebrow and then threw a magazine of ammunition at him. “In case you need it.”

Jack pocketed the clip. “Why don’t I take Marissa out of here? It’s not safe.”

“She is my responsibility.” Niail motioned Marissa to join him. “I will die before I let any harm come to her. A Hunter protects women and children always, but a brother’s mate must be guarded at all costs.”

Marissa saw a muscle tighten in Jack’s jaw, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he walked over to some of the dead guards and started to rummage through their pockets. He pulled out papers and threw a number of their ammo belts over his shoulder.

“None of these guys are regular military.” Jack walked back to them with the papers.

“I told you that they weren’t connected with your government.”

“They could be a secret operation.” Jack shrugged. “It’s been known to happen.”

“They were working for themselves.” Niail’s voice was definite. “They thought that their lives would be saved when the Albireons destroyed the planet, but they were wrong. The Albireons never leave any survivors of a species that they are gene harvesting.”

Jack glanced around the room. “Is that what they were doing here?”

“No.” Thero snapped the laptop shut. “This was a munitions plant. Somehow they discovered an Ancient’s Staff hidden on this planet and used that to build the others.”

“This is what those reports say?” Niail started to move the rest of the computers and electronic equipment into the center of the room.

“Yes.” Thero placed the memory stick into his inner pocket. “They had five in total. We have found two. That means there are three others on the planet that could be a potential threat to all of humanity.”

“Ardal has completed the Dulce mission. He did not encounter an Ancient’s Staff there. I will give him the exact number that are missing.” Niail continued to place the electronics in the center of the room. “Firbin is almost finished setting his charges. It is time for us to take cover.”

Jack frowned. “How do you know that?”

“Don’t ask.” Marissa pulled her brother along with her. When they reached the outdoors she followed Niail toward a rock outcrop. “They are very gifted and dedicated. It is better that we listen.”

“This isn’t right, sis.” Jack lowered his voice. “When they aren’t looking, I’m hauling you out of here.”

Marissa stopped moving. “I’m staying.”

“You don’t know anything about these guys,” Jack hissed.

“I know they have protected me.” Marissa crossed her arms. “Firbin is important to me. We are connected.”

“You’re not buying that crazy line?”

“It’s true.” Marissa jutted out her chin. “I don’t care if you believe it or not. I know deep within that I am connected to Firbin just as he is to me.”

“That sounds like some nutty stuff out of a romance movie.” Jack’s voice was filled with disdain. “This is real life.”

“Yes it is.” Marissa fought back the wave of sadness that filled her. “I’ve been kidnapped, and drugged by my boss, restrained by aliens, and rescued by Hunters who were in the middle of a battle. I’ve seen death and destruction all around and somehow I’ve walked away unscathed because of Firbin and his fellow warriors. Just when I thought I was safe, I found out that my boss arranged to have me framed for the murder of one of my fellow workers and when I went to my family for help, my brother made plans to turn me in.”

“You know it wasn’t like that.” Jack’s voice was full of exasperation.

“It was exactly like that.” Marissa straightened her shoulders. “You have to trust me. I’m your sister and I’ve never lied to you before.”

Marissa held her breath as she waited for his reply. She didn’t want to have to choose between Firbin and Jack, but she would if necessary. Jack squinted his eyes and looked out over the horizon. She could almost see the wheels turning inside his head while he weighed his options.

With a quick jerk of his head he turned back to her. “Alright. I’ll stop asking questions and go along. When this is done, I want answers.”

Marissa grinned and grabbed him in a hug. “Agreed.”

They followed Niail and Thero behind the outcropping. The sun was setting low in the sky and soon they would be in complete darkness. An uneasiness raced across Marissa, fleeting, yet enough to be worrisome.

“Shouldn’t Firbin be out by now?”

Niail was positioning himself at the side of the outcrop with his rifle. It was a few feet off the ground and he steadied his weapon in a groove in the rock. He pulled a scope out and attached it to the rifle. He then trained his weapon at the building.

“Something’s wrong.” Marissa’s voice was a low whisper. She knew it deep inside.

Firbin’s voice feathered through her mind. “I’ll be with you always.”

“He’s in trouble.”

“He’s met with some resistance.” Thero’s voice was matter of fact. “He will be out shortly.”

“Resistance?” Marissa’s voice rose as anxiety settled into the pit of her stomach. “I thought the building was clear.”

“We were mistaken.” Niail flexed his shoulder and looked through his scope. “Firbin will handle it.”

“No.” Marissa’s voice was barely a squeak, but before she could move, Thero clasped her close to him.

She struggled to escape, but he held firm. Every nerve in her body screamed to go to Firbin. It was as if she were already there beside him and could see the danger he was facing. Staying here was worse than facing the danger in the building.

“He needs to focus.” Thero’s hold was gentle, yet firm. “Do not let him sense your fear.”

“Can’t you help him?”

“It would be crazy to go back inside now.” Jack’s voice penetrated her fear.

She watched as Jack set up his rifle on the opposite side of where Niail was positioned. Thero continued to hold her in place. She couldn’t bear not knowing what was happening. She looked up at Thero.

“What’s wrong?”

Thero hesitated a second before he answered. “He’s decided to detonate the building.”

“While he’s inside?” Marissa’s voice rose in horror.

Thero nodded. “It is a sound strategy and will allow us to escape.”

Marissa pulled at Thero’s hold. “I have to go to him.”

“No.”

A loud explosion ripped through the air. A blast of heated air blew out from the building and debris and fire rained down upon the ground. Thero pushed her against the rock and used his body as a shield until the debris had stopped falling.

When he released her, the area where the building had been was now a charred and burning pile of twisted metal and boards. Her eyes scanned the area in vain. Firbin was nowhere in sight. She clasped her mouth and fought back a scream. She knew if she started to grieve, she’d never stop.

She’d finally found a man worthy of her love and now he was dead.

How could she bear to go on living?

Then she heard Firbin’s voice in her mind.

“We are one.”