Toni chuckled. “Ah, what a good little thief you are. Here, let me try.” She held out her hand.
Tharion handed it to her, the bulbous end first.
“All you gotta do is press this here and ka-boom! There she blows.” He backed up with his palms raised. “But be careful—damn trigger is touchy as all get out.”
Toni raised the weapon away from them and clicked where Tharion pointed. A lightning burst of fire fractured part of the wall into shimmering shards.
“Yeah, now that’s what I’m talking about.” She grinned, patting the barrel. “You and me, baby, we’re gonna save the universe.” She glanced at Azazel with a mischievous grin. “Who knew my mom was right when she made me take all those target lessons when I moved out on my own in LA? Damn, what a great movie this would make!”
Chapter Seven
Azazeldidn’tlikethis.He should never have let Toni come with him to the most-guarded place on a hostile ship filled with psychic bullies. He glanced at her beside him. As she clutched the space weapon Tharion had given her, her luscious lips pressed into a thoughtful frown.
But, by the gods, there was no denying she looked like she belonged there, apparently relaxed about the whole thing. While his admiration for her grew, something nagged in the back of his mind. His intuition screamed that nothing about this felt right. Getting to the Dimensional Rift was easier than it should have been.
His inner beast rolled in rising agitation, as if in agreement.
JR14’s sharp legs scratched the base of his neck as his wings came out and fluttered before disappearing back under his exoskeleton. Even the bot acted nervous.
Taking shallow breaths, he concentrated on the faint hum of theNyrlith'ssystems throbbing under his booted feet.
A dim, violet glow from overhead strips cast eerie reflections off the crystalline walls.
Toni pressed close to him, her gloved fingers steady against the edge of the weapon she carried.
“Maybe we shouldn’t have split up like we did,” Azazel muttered, his voice a bare whisper. Guilt burned like acid in his throat.
Toni’s response was soft but firm. “Not that he gave us much of a choice. I’m sure once we cut off this stupid rift thing, we’ll go and get Vaeloryx and the others out. Don’t worry, Az, we’ve got this.”
Azazel preened at the nickname she’d given him. Sneaking another peek at her, he caught the resolve hardening her features.Now, that was all kinds of sexy.His inner beast purred.Damn thing was acting like a domesticated house kitten with her around.With concentration, he released the tension pinching his neck. Toni’s confidence steadied him. He nodded and turned toward the passage ahead.
The Dimensional Rift Epicenter was three levels below the rebel hideout. Once they severed the Krystalii’s psychic network, it should throw Baelon’s forces into chaos. Even with the Elites distracted by the Nexus Core being down, it’d be ridiculous to think none of them would be encountered.
JR14 shifted, scanning ahead with his infrared sensors.
“Attention: two Elites headed this way,” the droid announced in a low voice next to his ear. “My analysis confirms they carry electro-lances and plasma shields.”
And that’s what he got for thinking of them.Azazel gestured to back up against the smooth wall with fractured crystal panels. He swallowed hard. The guards’ silhouettes loomed through the mist seeping from a ruptured coolant line above them.
“What do you think we should do?” Toni clutched the smooth end of her weapon and aimed it at the ceiling.
“I’m afraid since there’s no place to hide, we’ve got no choice but to engage. Get ready.” He whispered, pitching his voice just loud enough for Toni to hear, and stepped forward, palm raised. Since they’d brought the psychic hotspot down, it was time to use his natural powers. The air around his fingers crackled.
The nearest guard faltered as invisible pressure seized him. The second lunged, his lance streaking blue lightning through the mist.
Toni fired, her shot hitting the lance and knocking it aside. She pivoted, sidestepping a slash aimed at her midsection, and brought her pole up in one smooth motion. Another shot.
The guard splintered into clear crystal dust.
Azazel crushed the first under his telekinetic grip, shards of crystal cracking apart.
The corridor fell silent.
“You okay back there,kalu?”
“Affirmative. Proceed,” replied JR14.
“Good! Let’s go before there’s more.” He glanced at Toni, then sprinted forward with her close behind.
