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She addressed the team and explained the situation. She hated that they had to delay getting to Kiara even one second, but Gammet would stop them before they’d flown a hundred yards in the direction of Veyda’s compound.
Among the wolves, she watched arms tense up and assault rifles shift about as each man strengthened his control of his weapon.
“He won’t be expecting a force. We need to shut him down before we try to rescue Kiara. We’re heading into the Graveyard.”
~ ~ ~
Braden stared hard at Maeve. He could feel the tension and excitement in her and it felt more wolf than witch. Her suggestion they go on the offensive meant something.
He glanced at her and saw that her blue eyes were lit with a familiar, warring light. He’s tried to kill you again, Braden. This warlock needs a lesson. Just remember, he’s powerful.
Braden nodded. I’m going to forge group telepathy.
Go for it.
Braden took a moment to establish the group communication. All the wolves fixed their attention on him. He explained about Gammet, and what they could expect. Let’s go in, guns blazing. Don’t hold back. These are a bunch of bad guys who’ve been doing Veyda’s bidding. Maeve will track him. Remember. If she gives an order, think of it as mine. Now let’s go.
He released Maeve’s hand and rose into the air.
The Landing backed up to the Graveyard so it was a short flight. Within seconds they were levitating above the no-man’s-land that separated all five territories from each other. It was a fitting place to confront the man who’d almost taken his life. Twice.
The Graveyard looked like a torn-up war zone. As many as twenty bodies were hauled away at dawn by Tribunal Squads assigned to the task. Occasionally, bombs went off and carved out even more craters. Ditches filled with cacti, weeds and desert rock made for slow-going on foot or in a four-wheeler. Motorcycles fared better. Small makeshift bridges were the only way through, though they often gave out under the weight of the vehicles.
Levitation helped a helluva lot.
Maeve broke into the group telepathy. He’s not far. Fifty yards at most. To the north.
I see him. Looks like he’s got a bigger crew this time. I’m seeing about a dozen. Fan out.
With precision, the Landing wolves split off in a wide arc four to Maeve’s left, three to Braden’s right.
Braden sharpened his wolf vision. In the distance, he saw them lined up and arrogant. Good. Let them think they had this.
Braden channeled his growing spellcaster and sensed what Gammet had planned. To Maeve, he telepathed, At my command, shoot forty feet straight up.
Got it.
When the team closed within thirty yards, he used a sharp telepathic command. Split. Use evasive maneuvers. Now! Attack.
Maeve rose swiftly into the air at the same time Braden did, just as he’d told her to. The wolves responded by levitating swiftly in opposite directions then by descending from all angles. They fired at the enemy at the same time.
Gammet’s team on the ground returned fire, but Greg’s men never stopped moving.
Braden told Maeve to stay high in the air and to alert him in case Gammet called in reinforcements.
He didn’t wait for her to agree. He knew she’d follow his orders.
He levitated above the battlefield and watched the Landing wolves in action. Greg hadn’t been kidding when he said he’d been running drills with his team. They were a highly disciplined unit. Through the group telepathy, he heard Greg call out one command after another. Each time, one or several of his squad would shift aerial positions or targets.
Gammet’s crew on the ground had obviously relied on their numbers and ferocity to carry the day. There was no discipline to their movements and they were hunkered down behind whatever Graveyard debris they could find. Unless they carried a boatload of ammo, they wouldn’t be able to keep firing off that many rounds and not end up empty handed.
When one of Greg’s wolves dropped in lopsided levitation from the air, Maeve’s voice entered his mind. I’ve got this.
As she flew in the direction of the wounded wolf, he felt her contact her support staff at the Landing. He almost went after her to serve as protection, but he stopped himself.
Instead, he fixed his attention on the warlock.
Maeve, take care of the wolf. I’
