“That’s not for you to decide,” Nera said. “It’s theirs. It’s always been theirs.”
“Look, last chance, Niklas. Join me. Forget your…involvement with Darc. Take your rightful role at the Institute. A man of your dedication and intellect could go so far. You deserve so much more than being a treasure hunter.”
Nera raised her brows.
Niklas stepped closer to her, that infinite blue gaze meeting her own. “I love you.”
God. Her throat tightened. “Not going to toss me over for the Institute and a smart, fresh bitch of an astro-archeologist?”
“I’d have you by my side any day.” He flicked at her hair. “Ready?”
She nodded. As they turned away from each other, he was drawing his laser pistol, and she yanked her sword from its scabbard.
“Get them,” Avril yelled.
Her agents moved forward.
Nera dived, rolled, and came up in the middle of the group. She slashed out, cutting two Tase prods in half, before attacking the security agent that jumped at her.
She rolled the man beneath her and slammed a fist into his face. He flopped down on the ground. She turned her head and saw Niklas firing at Avril. The astro-archeologist ducked behind some rocks.
Rumin were fighting against some agents. Nera yelled at those closest to her. “Aim for their weapons.” She gestured and pointed.
A few warriors nodded and followed her instructions.
Nera reached to her belt and pulled out three throwing stars. She threw them with practiced precision, and even over the commotion, heard the agents she’d targeted cry out. She saw laser fire coming and dropped, sliding along the ground. She bent backward, circling her sword and came up, slicing into an agent’s arm. The woman screamed, dropping her pistol and clutching her bleeding wrist.
Nera spun and saw three more agents converging on her. Out of the smoke, a figure appeared before her. The Sapa. The woman held a spear tipped in poison and looked verycomfortable holding the weapon. She caught Nera’s gaze and nodded.
Together, they attacked.
The agents went down, and Nera turned, searching for Niklas. She spotted him, the ground littered with agents clutching laser burns. He was still trying to get Avril. She was firing back with her own pistol from her cover in the rocks. Nera wrinkled her nose. The woman wasn’t a bad shot.
Then, as she watched, she saw a stocky figure in the smoke. Sneaking up behind Niklas.
Gunn.
“Niklas!” She didn’t remember moving. She sprinted, not thinking, not planning.
Just then, laser fire hit Niklas’ shoulder. He jerked and dropped his weapon.
Nera tossed her last grenade, a smoke one, in Avril’s direction. It exploded, filling the air with more smoke.
Gunn raised an arm, a large thermo knife in his hand.
Niklas spun. “Should have known you were working with Avril all this time.”
“Yep. She’s paying me a juicy little bonus to keep you distracted and to kill you.” Gunn sneered. “I’m going to enjoy shoving this in your gut, Phoenix.”
“Come on, Gunn. This has been a long time coming.”
The men rushed at each other.
Nera reached them and skidded to a stop. God, Niklas was injured, and Gunn, for all his failings, was strong.
The men twisted and turned, trying to overpower each other. Gunn’s knife was still held above their heads, Niklas’ hand wrapped around his wrist.
Nera raised her sword, searching for an opening where she could safely take down the stocky treasure hunter.
