They hurried into another hallway, this one leading even farther down into the earth.
Zane paused and looked behind them. “I don’t hear anybody. Do you?”
A boulder crashed down, shattering into pieces. One cut into Janie’s neck. “No,” she said, shoving the door closed. “There are several tunnels into headquarters. Let’s go.”
Zane grabbed her hand and pushed her behind him. “These are steeper. Stay behind me, so if you trip, you’ll hit me and not fall.”
She loped into a run behind him, fully trusting he’d catch her if necessary. Even weakened, even dying, Zane Kyllwood wouldn’t let anything happen to her or their baby.
The air chilled as they descended.
A wisp echoed around them. “Missiles,” Zane muttered.
Relief propelled Janie faster. “That’s good. Somebody’s in the main control room firing back. That’s really good.”
An impact rocked the earth, and the lights wavered.
“That’s not good.” Zane glanced over his shoulder. “You okay?”
“Yes. Two more doors, and we’ll be in the inner headquarters. It’s safer there.” She tried to nod while keeping a hand on the cut in her neck.
His eyes widened. “How bad?”
“Just a scratch. Go.”
He turned and continued running, reaching yet another fire door. “Code?”
She punched it in and followed Zane into the eastern part of the underground headquarters. A gun cocked.
They both stilled, and Zane backed her against the stone wall, covering her.
She peered around him at several demon soldiers, all in combat gear. A gaping hole in the wall showed the Pacific lapping peacefully against the rocks.
The soldier in front pointed his gun at Zane’s chest and fired three times.
Zane flew back against Janie, and her head knocked on the stone. “No,” she cried out, reaching for him.
He slid to the ground, silent.
The demon smiled, flashing sharp fangs. “Suri will be pleased.”
Janie tried to bend and administer CPR, but a demon hauled her away from her mate. She fought with everything she had, but the soldier easily pulled her toward the opening.
She frantically glanced around for an escape, just as several more demons jogged up with Kalin between them. They’d bound his hands behind his back, and a myriad of bruises marred his pale face. He’d lost weight during his captivity, but his eyes remained clear and his body ready for battle.
Apparently the Kurjan had put up quite a fight.
He reached them, his gaze dropping to her stomach. Then he focused on the motionless Zane, and the oddest look of regret flashed through his eyes.
Kalin’s broad shoulders straightened, and he focused on her. “Stop fighting them. You’ll hurt your child.”
Tears streamed down her face, and she tried again to free herself from the soldier. He shoved her through the opening, and she stumbled on the rocks, barely keeping on her feet.
She flipped around and shot a hard punch to the demon’s trachea before finishing up with a kick to the groin.
He reared back and punched her in the face. Pain exploded along her jawline, sparks flew behind her eyes, and she dropped into blackness.
Janie awoke, her head cushioned somewhat on a hard thigh. She blinked. An ache pounded in her jaw.
