“Lena,” he whispered. “I will be whatever you need.”
“I know. Didn't I just say so?” She winked at him.
“Fuck,” Liria growled. “All right. Fine. I understand. Go with him. I'll do what I can for you.”
“Thank you, Liria.” Lena touched the screen. “I love you. Tell Mom and Dad I love them too, but I've got to do this.”
“I know you do. I saw how you were without him. I just had to try one last time to bring you home. I'll miss you, Sis.”
“Hopefully, we won't be parted for long.”
Liria nodded. “Aim me at your man.”
Lena chuckled and turned the vidco so that Liria could see Vor.
Vor steadied their flight and then met Liria's stern stare. “Hello, Chief Drask.”
“I'm not a chief or a Drask anymore,” Lena said. “I gave up my career for my destru and took his name when we married. I helped him recover from what your people did to him. So, believe me when I say, I know what it is to suffer for love.”
Vor nodded. “I'm sorry for what happened to your man. But he seems to have come through it better than he was before.”
“That's right.” She grinned viciously. “Thaxvarien is powerful enough to blast a hole in the ground, straight to your city. Which leads me to my threat. You will suffer to be with Lena, of that I'm certain. But if you make my sister suffer, Nethren, I will find you, and I will tear the metal from your flesh before beating you with it.”
Vor laughed.
Liria narrowed her eyes at him. “I can follow through on that threat, Vor.”
“Oh, I know you can.” Vor grinned. “What you don't seem to know is how much I love your sister. I would sooner cut my arm off myself and hand it to you than see her suffer.” He sobered to say, “I vow to you that she will be safe under my protection. I will look after Lena until I can reunite her with you and the rest of her family.”
“See that you do. Lena?”
Lena turned the vidco her way. “Liria, that went a little too far.”
“Just far enough. Now, take care of yourself, Lena. If he abuses you, you run for the surface, okay? You vid me, and I'll meet you at the barrier with my pulsers.”
“Liria, stop worrying. I'm going to be fine. He just saved my life.”
“I know. It's the only thing keeping me from going after you.” Liria grimaced. “Good luck.”
“I don't need luck. I'm following my destiny.”
Chapter Fifty-One
Lena
The ward was up around Fortress 6 when they returned. Vor landed them over a mile away from the fortress, behind some boulders—the only cover in the bleak desert landscape. They left the erial and walked to the hidden escape tunnel. Vor assured Lena that the new tunnel he dug to get to the surface bisected the escape tunnel several yards before the ward. Indeed, they had only gone twenty feet into the tunnel before they came to Vor's machine and the new tunnel.
Vor went straight to the machine. It had a long tube attached to it, leading back into the tunnel. Vor typed something into the control panel on top of the machine and then removed the tube. After he motioned to his men, they picked up the machine and turned it around to face the tunnel. Then he took the end of the tube and affixed it to the front of the machine.
“All of you go first, but be wary of the tube,” Vor said. I'll bring up the rear with the digger.”
“Yes, Commander.” Greis waved the other soldiers into the tunnel ahead of him and then crawled in.
Lena chewed at her lip as she watched them.
“It's stable.” Vor laid his hand on her back. “I wouldn't send you through if it wasn't.”
“I know. I'm just worried that some Paradefense soldiers will find the tunnel and come after us.”
