No.I mentally shove back at those images that I can't afford to surrender to. I stack sandbags to dull their effect inside my head. But my heartbeat still races wildly, the mad drumming in my chest so loud that my ears ache.
"Man down. Backup requested." I mutter protocol words into our comms, words that are so rote and mechanical that there'sno feeling behind them, which is utterly ironic considering the number of emotions serrating my innards right now.
A shadow moves off to my right, and I square up.
Two quick shots and the figure falls, but I can't be certain I took him out. I waver between going over to the Noth and staying with Ridge. Ultimately, I decide to stay put because he's too damn vulnerable.
I glance quickly down again, and pretty boy’s chiseled face is still expressionless. My jaw clicks as I force myself to look down at his chest to see if blood is puddling. It's not. I’m far from a medic, but I know enough to be aware that’s a good sign.
Relief gusts from my lungs.
"Incoming." Kylian's voice is full of savage glee as scuffling sounds come from the hallway just past the door to this room.
My shoulders tense, and I raise my gun, going through my weapon checks automatically, taking a ready stance. Even though my heartbeat is so thick that I can feel it compressing my throat, I stare down the barrel.
Kylian and a Noth soldier nosedive into view, their fight having devolved into a wrestling match with knives. The other man pins Kylian down.
I take a single step forward, on alert, but not high alert, since this is one of Kylian's favorite ways to fight. In fact, he lets out a manic chuckle when the other guy gets in a good swipe and slices a line across his shoulder.
"Oh. Point to you. My turn." My fellow alpha wraps his legs around the other man’s waist and clicks his heels together, and the custom knives in the toes spring out.
With a wild buck, he shifts their positions and rolls until he's on top. Then he kicks the other fucker in the nuts.
The wheezing shriek of agony is one I've heard many times before, never without a grim sense of satisfaction.
Kylian kicks the man again and again, swiping aside the soldier’s arms when he tries to reach down and cover himself.
The puddle of blood between the downed man's legs grows larger.
"I'm going to punch holes in you until I can fit this whole boot inside your belly," Kylian sing-songs.
The Noth has assumed a fetal position, a wailing whimper issuing from him.
Kylian unsheathes another knife.
I aim and then ring the Noth in the head.
Kylian whirls, brown eyes blazing with fire. "What the fuck?"
"Man. Down. It's not playtime, idiot." I gesture toward Ridge.
Sometimes, when the bloodlust takes over, Kylian forgets where he's at.
His anger morphs into concern, his features smoothing as he shoves his knife back into its spot and lifts his gun.
"I've got you covered." He starts to take over scanning exits as he moves close to shield us.
Nodding in thanks, I holster my weapons and bend to lift Ridge, who is heavy as fuck. If I didn't know better, I'd say he's beenbulking up lately—probably trying to put on muscle to impress Brylee.
Thinking about our mate makes my stomach dip.
"You scented her?" I ask Kylian.
He shakes his head.
As I lurch forward with Ridge propped up on my side, I feel the wet spot on his chest. He's bleeding.
A litany of worries starts to build a list inside my ear, whispering every negative possibility. My cheeks grow hot as we move to the doorway.
