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The door behind them slid open and both of them turned around. Six Altorian males dressed in black-on-black uniforms walked into the room. Most looked rather uncertain. Two immediately took up a militant stance, hands clasped behind their backs.
Draven approached the untidy line, openly assessing them. “How many of you can manifest Altorian fire?”
Four of the six raised their hands. Were all of them sources or could some controllers manifest fire without being bonded with a source? She had been so focused on learning about her abilities that she’d never asked about un-bonded males.
“Center your minds and get ready to fight. There is a damn good chance this is a trap,” he warned them.
“Then why continue with the mission?” one of the trainees asked.
Draven silenced him with a disapproving look. “Should we tuck tail and run every time the enemy shows up to a fight? This shipyard cannot be allowed to open. But the Torretians desperately need new ships. They know we will attack and they will protect their property. So, what is the solution?”
“We prepare to fight,” the same trainee amended.
“Exactly.” Draven motioned one of the trainees forward. He had raised his hand when asked if he could manifest fire, but he was not the one who spoke out of turn. Rather than speaking with him in front of the others, Draven led him over to where Noratu and Flora stood.
“I do not know why you are restraining your abilities, but I need an honest answer. If we are attacked, which is likely, will you use the full scope of your power to protect my mate?”
His shoulders squared and he lifted his chin. “Of course, sir. I would never allow anyone to harm a female.”
Draven’s gaze narrowed thoughtfully then he nodded and motioned toward Flora. “This is Lady Flora. Flora, this is Cylex. His one and only responsibility is to keep you safe while Noratu and I are distracted.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Cylex.”
He dipped his head respectfully. “It is an honor, Lady Flora.” With shaggy black hair and vivid blue eyes, he had a rakish charm that Flora found interesting.
Draven spoke with each of the trainees in turn, making sure they knew what was expected of them. None were armed with conventional weapons so how were they going to protect anyone against a Torretian attack? The question made her smile. The same way triads blew up targets without being anywhere near them. These males could likely manipulate magic as well, perhaps better than she could. The only advantage she had over them was the experience and fully developed power of her mates.
Knowing things would need to move fast as soon as they emerged from hyperspace, Draven and Noratu took up positions on either side of her. Triads were ambush predators. They sneaked up on their targets, attacked fast and furiously, and then disappeared, often before anyone realized that they had been there.
All three of the ships carrying triads flashed into view at exactly the same time. As Draven feared, Torretian fighters were waiting, anticipating the attack.
“We have to move fast,” Draven snarled. “Take out the target, so Tov can get us out of here!”
Flora opened her mind, going nearly limp between her males. Noratu’s arm tightened around her back and Draven’s fingers squeezed her neck. She drew energy up through her body, accessing Noratu’s deep well. Draven guided the flow, forcing it out through the middle of her chest. She screamed as the searing flood arched toward the shipyard.
Similar streams flowed out of the other two ships, but the Torretian fighters were nearly upon them.
Flora glanced at the fighters and felt her concentration slip. Draven carefully, but firmly pulled her back into the meld.
Increase the intensity of the flow. Finish it!
Draven’s order was for Noratu, but Flora braced for the deluge of mystic energy. She dilated the conduit, opening her being as wide as she knew how. Draven surrounded her, reinforcing her efforts while he kept her from being consumed by the intensity. Energy gushed from her so bright that it hurt her eyes.
The shipyard burst apart, rocking the ship with the force of the explosion. Before the bridge crew could gain control and jump to hyperspace, the fighters reached them. Blasts of energy knocked the ship this way and that. The trainees attacked, some throwing fireballs, others manifesting streams of energy. The ship’s weapons echoed the mystic attacks while the shipyard burned.
Flora braced her hands on her knees, panting harshly. All three Altorian ships were being swarmed by Torretian fighters. The Altorian weapons were more powerful, but the fighters could shoot faster, and there were a hell of a lot more of them. The trainees continued to pelt the fighters with mystic energy, but they just kept coming.
Gradually, the Altorian ships worked their way toward each other. They positioned themselves in a circle. They were protecting each other’s backs, Flora realized.
She had barely caught her breath and was preparing to join the trainees when a blast from one of the fighters knocked one of the Altorian ships out of control. It spun, then dipped, then spun some more.
“Shit,” Draven cried out. “They must have hit navigation.”
The fighter’s next shot ignited something inside the ship. Flames leapt from the hole in the hull, quickly spreading in all directions. Flora’s alarmed gasp was echoed by the trainees. They focused on the fighter, bombarding the vessel with new intensity.
“We have to put out that fire!” Draven ordered. His tone was sharp with concern. “If it reaches their weapons systems, that ship will explode.”
Flora was exhausted, but it didn’t matter. She centered her being and opened her mind, accessing her Torretian energy. Her mates steadied her, encouraged her, until the water began to flow. Her personal store was exhausted quickly and she felt a moment of panic. The fire wasn’t out. She had barely managed to slow down the spread.
