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“We have a situation and I’ll need all of you to come with me back to Militia HQ.”
Owen leaned back in his camp chair. He had a long scar angled just below his left cheekbone, a cut that would have happened before his ascension to Second Earth. “You’re the leader of the Warriors of the Blood, so what do you need us for?”
“Because I’ve been relieved of my duties.”
“What the fuck?” Owen scowled.
Joshua gestured with a flip of his hand. He’d taken off his leather wrist guards, exposing the heavy tattoos that ran up both forearms almost to the elbow, a combination of black flames and birds in flight. “What the hell was Thorne thinking to remove you?”
“This didn’t come from Thorne. It came from Endelle.”
All three men fell silent and stared at him for a long moment.
“That doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Alex said. “I thought she liked you. Hell, everyone likes you.” Alex rubbed his right shoulder where a wide burn scar wrinkled his skin.
“She needs me to head up a black ops team.” At the mention of anything that would involve stealth and reconnaissance work, the tension ramped up, giving the air the sharp tang of testosterone. He definitely had their attention.
He went on to explain some basic things about Duncan waking up from the trance, what Duncan had learned over the past two weeks in Yolanthe’s presence, who the bad guys were shaping up to be and finally a few details about Endelle’s vision.
“Duncan will be on the team as well and I want you three to join up, although ‘joining’ isn’t exactly the right word. Let’s just say, you have new orders.”
Luken had thought he’d be battling all three men, instead he understood the sudden glitter in each eye.
“We’re ready, boss,” Owen said.
“Good, because you’ll be leaving with me in about ten minutes. So pack up and meet me back here. I have a Jeep waiting. Oh, and there’s one more thing, just to be clear: we’re going to Third.”
~ ~ ~
Rachel’s coffee had grown cold while she waited. She hoped like hell Duncan would somehow find a way to sever Yolanthe’s trance and wake up like he did last time. But she really didn’t like sitting around at all. She was a doer and always had been. Although, it might help if she had a little more information.
Turning to Endelle, she asked, “This is a mind-link, right, this thing Duncan has with Yolanthe?”
Endelle nodded. “A very powerful link.”
“I know you once had one with Thorne but how did Thorne break it?”
“He didn’t. I created the link so I was the only one who could destroy it.” She got a faraway look in her eye as though remembering. “We battled here in the palace in the largest rotunda. I was in flight at one point.” She rubbed her forehead as though trying to erase the memories. “
I knew the link had to end. The breh-hedden had struck and Thorne needed to be free.”
“It about killed you, didn’t it?”
“Yeah, in a weird way. I’d held this belief that as long as Thorne and I had that link, Second Earth and I would be okay.” She shook her head and laughed. “It was completely irrational, I know, but I think the delusion kept me sane.”
“It’s been harder for you without him.”
She looked suddenly weary. “Yes, until Braulio showed up, which is one reason I’m so angry he’s gone.”
Rachel had never heard Endelle share so many intimate details of her life. Of course only an impending disaster, like the imminent subjugation of Second Earth, could have brought Rachel this close to a woman who held completely opposing values.
“Do you know Yolanthe at all?”
“No, but she’s a woman I’m coming fast to despise.” Her glance took in Duncan again. “Shit, he’s been out for at least two hours now, just lying on there on my couch.”
“More like three and this sitting around is really chapping my hide.” She glanced at Endelle once more. “And you, with all your power, can’t break this mind-link?”
“Nope, not even with all my glorious fucking power, I can’t do a thing for Duncan.”
