Turning back to him, Mara said, Your odds go up if youre not alone, but you cant risk two Wraith pilots on this mission. Jur gets to safety first. She flies herself out of here and I give you backup.
Shell pilot the Arcadia . He couldnt keep the disbelief out of his voice.
And I help get us to the Black Wraith. Mara held his stare coolly, almost defiantly.
He felt gut-punched. Shed made it abundantly clear on many occasions that shed suffer no one but herself to take the Arcadia s controls. The ship meant everything to her, weighted with her sense of freedom and self. She hadnt even allowed him to pilot the ship through the dangers of Ildens Lash or the energy storm. Now, she was poised to hand off control of the Arcadia to someone she had met just minutes ago. Someone she didnt like very much.
To help him.
He relied on other members of the squad. They watched each others backs, trusted each other.
But that was part of being in Black Wraith Squad. Unquestioning loyalty to one another. Mara owed him nothingless than nothing, actually. But the enormity of what she proposed stole his breath and made his heart pump as if hed run a dozen geomiles.
Now wasnt the time to wonder at it, or her. If they survived this mission, then, and only then,
could he sit down with a bottle of Deianeiran whiskey and figure out what it all meant.
Any way I can talk you out of this? The route to the hangar was a dangerous one. He wasnt even certain that hed make it, not without taking some hits. The thought of Mara being hurt, or worse, felt like ice in his veins.
Not a damn chance. The likelihood of your getting to the Black Wraith is much better if you arent alone. She raised a brow. You do want the mission to be a success, dont you? Think of the consequences if it fails.
Fuck. She knew his weakness and exploited it ruthlessly. Hed admire her for it, if he didnt want to throttle her. And, unfortunately, what she proposed made sense. The possibility of reaching the Black Wraith went up if he had additional eyes and firepower. He just wished it wasnt her providing them.
There wasnt a choice. He nodded. Something like happiness flared briefly in her eyes before she hid it behind cool detachment.
Quickly, Mara explained the security code to get into and operate the ship. Mara also advised Celene on how to navigate the energy storm using the spectral resonance filter.
That sounds fun. Celene grinned, then winced from the bruising on her face.
It is. Mara drew a breath. Take good care of her.
I will, Celene answered, solemn now, understanding right away the attachment Mara felt toward her ship. Take good care of him.
I will. The gravity in Maras voice heated Kell more than a plasma burst.
Next round at the officers club is on me, Celene said to him.
Lieutenants arent allowed in the officers club. Senior officers only.
In my case, theyll make an exception. She glanced toward Mara. Youve got some good firepower in your corner, Commander. With that, she sprinted toward the gate, blending in with the fleeing crowd.
He watched Maras expression as she stared after Celene, the slight tension in the corners of her mouth that betrayed how much it cost her to let anyone fly the Arcadia . He wanted to reach for her, but knew that if he did, hed lose his concentration. So he kept his hands to himself, and when she looked back at him, signaling her readiness, he was ready too.
Reconnaissance first, he said. Then we move.
Agreed.
They both peered around the corner of the weapons containment structure. Four mercs guarded the alley that led to the hangar. They crouched behind storage crates, ready to take on whoever was stupid or brave enough to charge the alley. An intersection lay beyond this, full of unknown variables, such as more hired guns or something more dangerous. After the intersection, the next building on the left was the hangar. To reach the hangar meant passing through that gauntlet. A cheerful stroll through the hydrogarden it wasnt.
We need to flush those mercs out, he said.
Mara glanced toward the grenades hanging from his belt, and grinned. Got a few
ideas about that.
Incredibly, he felt himself smile in response. Yes, the fight ahead was dangerous and dirty, but he couldnt think of another person he wanted beside him or watching his back. Only her.
Screw it. He leaned close and kissed her, hard. She responded at once, meeting his fierce hunger with her own, and it was like a taste of forbidden nectar, fleeting and sweet.
Then, all too soon, it was time to jump into the conflagration.
At his nod, Mara lobbed grenades. She had a good throwing arm and tossed them right behind mercs staked out in the alley. Explosions shook the alley. One merc went down with a scream. The others managed to avoid the blasts, but in order to do that, they jumped out from behind their cover into the open.
Kell went to work. He dropped the mercs with kill shots to the chest and head. Mara provided additional firepower, finishing off anyone who tried to shoot back.