“Hang on.”
Finally, a familiar face.
Princess Inanna approached the duo.
He growled when the man put his arms around her. That male had no right to touch Adapa’s woman!
Before he ripped the guy’s arm out of his socket, she continued. “I think Azazel is about to tell us.”
Azazel?
“Well,” Azazel said in that same strange language, tugging his earlobe.
Oh no. When the guy did that with a sheepish grin, he was about to confess something. Usually something he was uncomfortable to confess.
“I was desperate to get us to Adapa before the Akurns destroyed Earth.” He shrugged with his hands wide in supplication. “I never planned on taking us to the future.”
Arakiba’s eyebrows flew up.
“The future? What nonsense are you talking about?” Asmodel growled. “That wall of water is almost upon us…”
“How many years have passed, brother?” Abalim’s quiet tone was firm. “Fill us in on the current danger.”
An earthquake rumbled and everybody stumbled, their arms pinwheeling. It only lasted a few seconds, but it was enough for the metallic frame of theZikiato groan under the stress.
“We’ll talk about the passing years later, my brothers,” Adapa commanded with his fists clenched. “Our immediate danger is an out-of-control Akurn ship headed for the middle of the planet.”
Abalim’s frown deepened. “Do you have any way of showing us this vessel?”
“I have it on screen here.” A man with an unusual shade of russet-red hair and beard declared. He headed to the bank of monitors displaying the massive spaceship racing toward Earth. “We don’t have a way to stop it.”
Adapa glanced at each one of them. The psychic information he sent them lasted only a second. The plan was for them to combine their immense psychic powers to halt the ship before it hit the atmosphere.
Since Arakiba had the strongest telekinetic ability, he’d be the one to grab the ship. He nodded at the others.
Adapa turned to the tall, white-haired man and nodded. “Everybody stand back. My brothers and I will take care of this.”
Without a word, Arakiba joined his mind with his brothers’. They created their own circle with eyes closed, their heads tilted back, and open palms at their sides. Even without his physical sight, the bright light they created blazed between them, a violent whirlwind of iridescent energy ribbons that centered on their small group. He ignored his long blond hair whipping around his face and body. Keeping his eyes closed, he felt the sizzling force of the storm pushing into him, making his back bow.
The sensation of his body flying apart allowed him to join with the very fabric of the universe, making it easy to find the out-of-control ship. He reached out, whipping his translucent hand into a grip to capture the ship before he solidified again.
Abruptly, the psychic energies stopped. He was once again whole.
Opening his eyes with a mischievous smirk, he couldn’t resist opening his clenched hand and raising it so everyone could see. In the center of his palm was the metallic spaceship, no bigger than a child’s toy. “Is this what you’re looking for?”
Earth 7,000 years ago - Akurn scientific mining colony
“Now here is the youngest of the group.”
Arakiba glared at the Akurn who was introducing him and his brothers to the visiting princess. Thoth’s smug smile made him clench his hands into fists.
“This is Arakiba, and a more likable young man you’ll never meet.” The shorter man reached over and patted Arakiba on the shoulder. “He’s polite, well-spoken, and rarely gives anyone any trouble.” He gripped the shoulder harder. “And a hard worker! Even with these puny muscles!”
Yeah. He’d show theshep-sinhow puny his muscles were when he ripped the bastard’s face off with one swipe. Arakiba forced himself to keep his false image intact. The image made him look like a small and underdeveloped child. Even though he was the youngest, his bulk overshadowed the build of his brothers. Not that he worked hard to keep it that way.
“Good man, good man.”
The annoying ass had the temerity to laugh at him. Good thing the jerk turned his attention to Arakiba’s eldest brother, Adapa. If he had to suffer one more minute of Thoth’s attention, no telling what he’d do.
