“We can’t let it evolve to stage three,” Kira told him.
Stage two was already more than they could handle. She shuddered to think how much worse it could get.
“Are you with me?” Kira asked.
It would be really nice if he was.
They nearly hadn’t survived with four of them attacking. Taking the stage two on with only her and Finn would be madness.
She’d do it, but it would really help to have Alexander on their side.
Across the arena, Alexander smoothed Selene’s hair back before placing a kiss on her forehead.
“I will rip that thing apart with my bare hands. It dies—or I do.”
The ki manifestation the stage two was playing with winked out.
“I can hear you whispering amongst yourself. You may attack if you wish, but it will be you who dies. Not me.”
The stage two’s hand dropped as it turned to stride toward Raider and the rest of the initiates—including Joule and Devon.
Damn it. The creature was targeting them again.
Why, when everything she knew about its kind said it should be fixated on those who posed the greatest threat?
Raider twisted to study the initiates before pointing at Tinsley. “You. Come here.”
Her step forward was hesitant.
Raider bared his teeth at her. “Get your ass over here if you want to live.”
That got her moving.
Tinsley dropped to her knees next to Raider. He took her hand, pressing it against the wad of cloth he was using to staunch Devon’s bleeding.
“Push as hard as you can,” Raider ordered before rising to his feet.
Tinsley’s gaze followed him even as she did as he told her. “What are you going to do?”
The look on Raider’s face was that of a man staring down his end and standing firm anyway. “What I have to.”
Kira made a gesture toward Alexander and Finn that said, “Get ready.”
Raider glanced at Joule. “Close it up. Nobody gets through.”
The leader Kira knew Joule would one day be warred with the sacrifices he’d have to make along the way. Defeat showed on Joule’s face as his chin dropped, his hands already lifting to flow through the symbols needed to create his most powerful shield.
“No! Wait!” Elena started forward.
Too late as Joule’s shield rose, enclosing him and the rest in a transparent dome.
“Sperm donor,” Elena said in a small voice.
Raider reached for her cheek, the shield blocking his touch. “I love you, kid. More than the moon and stars and everything in between. Don’t forget that.”
Raider reached for the weapon Blue had made for him.
Elena shoved at the wall, her expression panicked as the stage two loped toward Raider. “No! Joule, let me through!”
