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CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE

TATE

“You may want to wash the sheets?” I couldn’t believe my own ears. “Really, Aether, you had to go there?”

Males were all the same. Maybe I should swear them all off like Shae had.

“He needed to be distracted in order to stop questioning things. We have to go, and as much as I’d rather kick his ass, we don’t have time for that or the headache that would ensue.” Aether guided me down several flights of stairs and into a dimly lit hallway. “Besides, the look on his face, tell me you didn’t enjoy the way his jaw dropped and red spread across his cheeks.” Aether snorted.

“Males,” I muttered.

It was dark out. We’d wasted an entire day on my healing and extracurricular activities. His hand still hadn’t left my back. I liked it and I didn’t at the same time. My body was responding in ways I’d never responded to any male before. I could feel my core heating, aching, wanting. But my head? Nope. My head was clear and told me this was a bad idea, that I didn’t know him, couldn’t trust him. His people got Fletch killed. Even if Fletch had believed in the cause and volunteered, his work with them was what the guara killed him for.

Was I really supposed to just throw caution to the wind to please my increasingly horny self? Not a chance.

“You can move your hand,” I spoke as I shook from his grasp.

“As you wish.” His voice was cool, and I didn’t miss the narrowing of his eyes, or the way glared at every guaraman we passed.

The spot on my back where his hand had rested was suddenly cool, and my body betrayed me by missing his physical touch.

“Just ahead,” he spoke to me as he nodded through a door.

Four guaramen were on the other side. They stopped us before we could continue into the large warehouse full of trucks, rigs, and transports.

“Name and order number,” a young male asked, looking from Aether to me. His eyes sparked as he noted my leathers, and I could see him sniffing. Was he really smelling me?

Aether growled. Actually growled. What was wrong with him?

“Tate Aaralyn and this is Anax Mardi,” I spoke. If Aether was just going to go primal and stare the poor male down, then at least I could expedite this process.

“That’s a pretty name. Dokimos Aaralyn, I see you on the roster as a guest. You’re leaving so soon?” He made a point of eyeing my figure. This male really wasn’t the brightest. Before I could respond, Aether had the arche by his throat and threw him against the wall. The other three guaramen raised their weapons, but Aether had each one dismantled before they could even land a strike.

“I am Anax Mardi. I will not be questioned and Dokimos Aaralyn will be treated with respect,” he spat at them before motioning for me to continue.

This day just kept getting weirder. I adjusted the strap to my rifle, heavy on my back, as we walked past the two guaramen on the other side of the door.

“Would you be a dear and get this to Shae Zinger for me?” I extended a letter toward the male. His eyes widened and I could swear I could see him shaking a bit.

“She asked you a question,” Aether growled from behind me.

“Ye…yess,” the arche stuttered as he reached for the envelope and then pulled his hand back quickly, as if he’d been burned or bitten.

“Thank you,” I chirped as I passed them and walked further into the warehouse.

I knew the guara had resources, but this was pure egotistical. Rows upon rows of transports lined the walls. Smaller rigs were in front with a few trucks here and there. The larger transports were in the back, and there were hundreds of them. There had to be at least enough to transport a large convoy of ten thousand or more.

“Just ahead,” Aether spoke softly to me as he pointed.

I spotted Vala’s frost-tipped hair as she waved at us. That was new. She’d cut her braids off and now sported an adorable pixie cut. Her curls bounced off in every direction, all of which were tinted white at the end. When did she have time for that? Jared stood beside her. Arms crossed. I smirked, those two had grown on me. Even if Jared was insufferable.

“Good, we’re all here. Time to go,” Aether spoke.

“All the gear has been loaded. We are ready. You sure she is?” Jared motioned toward me.

Ok, maybe he hadn’t grown on me that much. I did not appreciate the insinuation.

“She’ll be fine.” Aether nodded. The air around me circulated in a delightful breeze.

I could see his hand reach for me and then pull back. My heart rate increased.

Just breathe.

Sweat began to pool at the back of my neck and lower back. I felt ungodly warm.

“Ready.” I nodded at Vala who raised her brow. A smirk covered her face like somehow she knew just how close Aether and I had gotten.

“Let’s go then,” Jared spoke as he jumped into the small, ten-person transport.

Aether followed taking the driver’s seat with Vala up front in passenger. I climbed into the back and strapped into the five-point harness. I supposed if the thing rolled, I’d be glad to have this even if it felt cumbersome. The transport jolted forward and then pulled out of the garage. No one spoke as we left the outpost behind. A sour taste filled my mouth as I thought of Shae and her grey eyes and fairy-blue hair. What would she think when she got my note? Would she be OK? I closed my eyes. I’d never hated myself like I did right now. I just had to hope she listened to what I said and got the hell out of the guara. My head was pounding.

“So, what’s the plan?” I asked. A moment passed and no one responded. “Come on guys, I think I’ve more than earned enough trust in this regard. How are we going to destroy the warehouse?”

“Blow it up,” Aether answered.

Was he serious? Just blow the damn thing up? Wouldn’t that raise some red flags with the guara?

“What about the innocent guards?”

“Can’t save everyone, Tate.” Vala looked at me with compassion. “Besides, if they’re in the guara working at an off-site warehouse full of monsters, how innocent are they?”

“Not everyone can choose where they get assigned.” Was I really defending guaramen? I began to massage my aching temples, moisture collecting at my fingertips.

“We can only control so much,” Vala spoke softly.

Aether pulled through the gate, and we left the outpost behind. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d never see this place again.