Kalin slammed both hands into Zane’s ears.
Excruciating pain hacked through Zane’s head, and his ear communicator dropped to the floor. His neck still bled, the wound to his gut remained open, and now his brain began to swell. Dots danced across his eyes.
He turned toward the window as the faintest sunlight tried to pierce the deep.
It was past time to teleport the bastard away from safety. Digging deeper than Zane had believed possible, he manacled Kalin in a bear hug, turned, and sucked the universe up through his feet.
Nothing.
They didn’t move.
Damn it.
Kalin bellowed and hit him in the gut. Pain exploded inside Zane’s stomach. Zane held on with everything he had. He couldn’t transport. He shook his head and drew on every ounce of strength he had left. Turning them, he powered into the heavy window.
Kalin bellowed and shoved against him, his head impacting the window first. Glass shattered, crashing in, and freezing water poured into the room. Zane kept his hold and forced his enemy through the opening, fighting both the Kurjan and the rushing water.
The chill stole his breath but cleared his mind.
He kicked hard, shooting them up to the churning surface. As they broke free, Kalin let out an ear-piercing shriek when the sun hit him. The weak rays poked through thick clouds, yet Kalin’s skin sizzled across his face.
Zane coughed out sea water and waved toward a hovering helicopter. Then he grabbed Kalin’s vest and punched the Kurjan in the jaw. Twice. Kalin slumped unconscious.
A head popped up next to Zane, and Talen spit out bloody water while reaching for the unmoving Kurjan. “You still bleeding?”
“Yes.” Zane helped Talen to support Kalin as the helicopter dropped ropes down. They quickly tied knots around Kalin, and soldiers above lifted the leader into the copter. Minutes later, Talen and Zane climbed up.
Wind battered the vehicle, shoving Zane into his seat.
The pilot flew over a battlefield littered with bodies, their blood seeping into the rocks. He landed quickly, and Dage Kayrs leaped inside, his silver gaze taking in the Kurjan trussed up on the floor.
“Sam and Nick?” Zane asked.
“Injured but healing and en route home,” Dage returned. “Everyone has lifted off except one helicopter. We’ve taken care of the Kurjans and didn’t run into any mates. Dayne and his mate aren’t here, so we’ll have to deal with him another day.” Dage tapped his ear communicator. “Salt the earth and burn it down. Then return home.”
The helicopter swung toward the south.
Zane closed his eyes, concentrating on healing his wounds.
“You can fight,” Talen said.
Zane let his head drop forward to release the tension in his neck. His new father-in-law sounded somewhat impressed, but only a bone-tiredness swamped Zane. “Yeah. I can fight,” he said wearily.
Talen sighed and clapped him on the back in a fatherly gesture. “I know, kid. Believe me, I know.”
“My dad was a good guy. You would’ve liked him,” Zane said. Now where in the hell had that come from?
Talen exhaled, the sound somehow reassuring. “I’ve researched the vampire side of your family ever since you and Janie started meeting in dream worlds. Your father was a great man, a phenomenal soldier, and I think we would’ve been friends had we met,” he said, his hand still on Zane’s shoulder.
“Yes.” In that moment, in a helicopter racing through the sky to transport the biggest threat known to Zane’s mate, to the only woman he’d ever love, he felt the weight on his shoulders spread to those around him.
He didn’t have to do this alone.
Chapter 25
Janie pushed her front door open with a sore hip and slid inside to stop short. The scent of male permeated her senses, and a slow flush shivered across her skin. “What’s wrong with your neck?”
Zane sprawled in a chair near the fireplace, a bag of ice held to his jugular. “Just a paper cut.” Wet hair curled over his collar, while fresh bruises marred his face. Despite his relaxed pose, he still appeared as if he might decide to lunge at any second. After his shower, he’d dressed in worn jeans and a T-shirt depicting a cat falling off a roof.
