Fangs of Fate (Untish #1)

Chapter 63

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

TATE

We had split up into two teams. Vala and Jared took the west side of the compound, while Aether and I took the east side. We were to circle around the buildings and place the charges. Apparently, Jared was a computer science and security team member, or CSST, and he planned to secure their data prior to the detonation.

“You ready for this?” Aether’s question had so many layers.

Was I ready to blow up those vile things? Absolutely. Was I ready for this life-altering path? I wasn’t sure, but I nodded anyways.

Aether led the way behind a building, the one we had approached before, and set several charges. Spacing them apart in eight-foot increments. My grip on the shoulder bag I carried tightened. I was, essentially, dead weight. The packhorse.

I took a steadying breath. I hated that I allowed myself this role, but at the same time, I wasn’t sure I wanted a bigger one. Coward, that’s what I was. My vision became a bit hazy, and I shook my head. I was sick, that much I knew.

“Is it common for there to be prolonged heat strokes when going through the changing?” I whispered as Aether placed another charge.

“It is, but not too hot.” He turned and placed the back of his hand to my forehead. The electricity from the contact was startling. He pursed his lips. “Normal, a bit on the high end, but I’ve seen worse. Let me know if you have any trouble with basic motor skills, that would be indicative of something?—”

Footsteps sounded ahead, instinctually I backed close to the building and flattened myself against it. Aether did the same, blocking my view. The steps sounded numerous, at least half a dozen. Good news was they were getting quieter. They were moving away.

“Vala, Jared, come in,” Aether whispered into his com.

“Here,” Vala responded, her voice a bit more strained than normal.

“Movement outside eastern building. Squad of eight from my count. Anax at front. All guara.”

“Copy. Finished with the first two buildings, heading for the server at the third,” Jared responded.

“Stay alert.” Aether then stepped forward and reached the front of the building. He poked his head around the corner of the metal side and then motioned for me to stay put. Like a damn guard dog. I approached the edge and rested my head against the rusty side. Cool. Calming almost. Or perhaps that was Aether. This whole place felt off, not just physically, but on a magic level; I intuitively knew something was wrong. Not that I understood how I knew that. I was essentially an uneducated buffoon when it came to magic. Thank you, mother, Fletch, and the Glenn. I bit down on my lip.

The breeze around me picked up, cooling and tickling, catching my senses. Aether. I should be upset that he was, once again, manipulating me, and yet, I was grateful for the cool air. If he started messing with my emotions though, that would be another story. Claws out.

I could hear the growls and grunts from within the warehouse. This was a different building than the one we climbed on a couple of afternoons ago. That one was just up ahead, next on our list. My skin was literally crawling. My breaths began to become shallow. They would not get me, not this time. I palmed my blade; I’d be damned if a seething tried to catch me off guard.

“Charges placed. Time to head to the next building. We’ll be exposed for about twenty seconds, you ready?” Aether looked at the blade, his eyes filling with emotion. Was that pride?

“Ready.” I nodded.

“Jared, do we have control of video, are we good to go?”

“Can’t hack it from here. Tried. But I do have a scrambler enacted. In ten I’ll activate it. They’ll know something’s up but won’t be able to see anything but static.”

“In ten,” Aether confirmed.

In eight seconds, I’d be running. In seven seconds, my whole world would change. They’d know we were here. There was a very good chance we’d have to fight. In five seconds, my head had better clear, or I could very well die. In three seconds, I’d force myself further into this inconvertible course.

“Now,” Aether spoke and then took off in a sprint. I followed him, envious of his long strides and speed. I was fast, getting faster with each day thanks to what I assumed was the changing, but not nearly as fast as Aether. He was practically jogging while I was sprinting and huffing, barely keeping up.

The edge of the next building was just a few feet ahead. My feet sunk into the mud with each step, but I kept going ignoring the sounds I was making. At last, we reached the building and ducked behind it, secure in its coverage.

“Good. Catch your breath,” Aether commanded as he began placing charges. Not even winded. The eerie feeling in the air deepened. It felt wrong, like my magic was pulling and recoiling at the same time.

The energy around me calmed, pressed against me like a weighted blanket. Comfort. I gritted my teeth. Aether was really beginning to get on my nerves.

I took a few steps forward, following him, but my breaths were ragged. I gripped my black backpack straps and bent over, trying to just get clear focus. I was seeing stars, and my temperature was barely tolerable. I wanted to take my boots off, get rid of the pack, and just strip.

“Ok, let’s move.” Aether surveyed the ground and then continued down the side of the worn building. He placed charge after charge, looking at me after each one to ensure I was still there. I placed my hands on the side of the building, the coolness was a welcome relief.

“Almost done here. Three more buildings to go. Status?” Aether spoke into the com. I hated how sexy his voice sounded coming so close to me, as if in me. I logically knew he was ten feet away, but the nearness of his voice and the husky tone had my toes curling in my boots. I was definitely delusional.

“At the server now. Just need a minute or less and then I’m set,” Jared said.

“Good. I’m setting the charges on the last exterior building now. Aether, are you going to be able to hit the central one or do we need to?” Vala’s voice came through. It sounded winded, at least I wasn’t the only one feeling the impacts from this cardio workout.

“I can, tentatively.” Aether looked to me, question in his eyes.

“We can do it,” I spoke more confidently than I felt, I hope like hell it didn’t show.

“Copy.” Vala’s voice paused. “Aether, we have encountered a few patrols which have been taken care of. But this place is swarming with them. If you can’t reach the central box, we can try, but we may need to cut?—”

“We’ll reach it.”

“OK, it’s just you know you can’t shift, right?”

“Over and out.” Aether placed another charge and all voices ceased.

Can’t shift? What the hell?

“What does she mean, ‘you can’t shift’?” I asked, heart pounding as I watched Aether attach the last several charges.

“Alright, almost time to head to the central building. You ready?” he asked, ignoring my question.

“Aether.”

He locked eyes with me. Neither of us spoke, we just stared at each other, chests heaving. The energy coursing around me doubled, matching my heart rate.

“I’ve expended an enormous amount of energy and haven’t taken the proper steps to restore my levels. I will once we’re back.”

“Proper steps?” Why was everything a code?

“Let it go.”

“No. I’m not going to walk into the center of this complex with you when you can’t shift and save our asses if those things get loose. Not unless you tell me why. ” I placed a sweaty hand on my hip, these leathers were insufferable. I could barely breathe, every movement felt restricted. I hated leather almost as much as secrets.

“I need to feed or siphon an enormous amount of energy, magic if you will, and neither can happen here.”

“Why the fuck not?” I huffed. He’d fed me .

“Because I need pure Untish blood and it’s a personal thing. This ground here has been contaminated and it’s not rich enough for me to draw from, it would require being close to the heart of Untish to restore my levels without feeding. It’s a balance, everything in nature is. Just, trust me, OK?”

“Trust you.” I gave him a dead look.

“I’ve kept you alive, haven’t I? Besides, I like to think I’m lethal even in this form.” He winked at me.

I clenched my jaw.

“Tate?” The pleading in his eyes was my undoing.

I’ve got you.

“Fine. Let’s go.”

His lips tilted in a sad smile before he nodded and placed the last charge. Once Jared was done, we’d make the biggest dash yet: into the heart of the enemy.