“Twenty beasts who couldn’t touch you, dumbass.”
“I doun’t trust the rocks.”
“If the ‘rocks’ didn’t work, you’d be dead,” a fourth voice said smoothly. Authoritatively.
Why did they sound so familiar? Calm yet hostile. Deadly yet approachable. So pristine it was filthy. My gut twisted in slow, painful recognition.
The man continued, “Now, for the love of the gods, shut your oafish trap before I have Kithri do it for you. It’s bad enough hearing your incessant waste of bullets. I’d like a moment of peace between the bouts of cowardice gunfire.”
Patton Gable. Why would the leader of E.A.R.T.H. stoop so low as to trek up a mountain of beasts, unforgiving elements, and bloodshed? It seemed beneath him to be hands-on kidnapping a goddess. Yet, here he was.
“Building a road here will be tough,” a nasally voice reflected. “It’ll have to wait until next summer. And will take at least a year.”
A low growl rumbled in my chest.Thatwas why he was here? He didn’t see this as an abduction, but as opening day for his next fortune. A new factory.
Dr. Gable sounded bored as he continued, “Kithri, I need you to set up a building site so we can get started immediately. Without a road, I figure we need task forces of… let’s say twenty men to start. Most of them should be transporting materials up and down the mountain. Stick to Quadmos and Lychans. I want a steady supply to keep progress moving. As much as each person can carry.”
“Yes, sir,” Kithri replied.
The nasally voice cut back in. “You won’t be able to make any progress in the winter. The blizzards are deadly out here!”
I could hear the annoyance bubbling under the unbothered façade of Gable’s tone. “Instruct the builders to prioritize shelter first and foremost. Start with a roof at least double the field’s diameter so we can progress through the winters. And a road. We can’t simply waste half of every year.”
“Even if you make roads, they’ll be snowed over for half the year, sir. Long-distance operations will have to shut down at the very least. You can’t do away with the elements of Cyciciah!” the logistics-fixated male objected.
“Consult scientists, engineers, build a fucking tunnel. I don’t care what you do. We willnotbe shutting down every winter! Figure it out!” Gable’s composure finally snapped. “Kithri?!”
“Yes, sir.”
“Relocate several squad leads from other facilities to establish new teams here. For each one lost, I want five new people hired to fill their vacancy. We don’t need any lapses in productivity or security. Keep the successful ones, dispose of the others. No dead weight is to be tolerated in any department. Am I clear?”
“Crystal, sir.”
“Permission to speak?” A new voice cut in.
“You’re already speaking. What do you need?” The Thornian leader was clearly straining to keep his voice neutral, political.
“We are picking up increasing magnetic signal. I suspect we are within a mile of the field.”
Blood pounded in my ears. I’d been so consumed in my horror that I hadn’t noticed the voices hadpassed me. They were closer to the field than I was now. Standing between me and my mate.
Thunderous rage pumped through my veins, my fingers were dug into the ground deeply enough that my palms were flat against the dirt. The root I’d been using to steady myself splintered and crumbled within my grip. I’d be doing the sameto these people shortly. Gouging. Crushing. Destroying. No prisoners kept.
Without time left to waste, I approached the squadron from behind. There wasat leastfifty of them.I could only hope their inflated numbers made them cocky.
Their leaders would be towards the front or middle, and surrounded by the biggest muscle. Gods forbid Patton Gable need to defendhimselffrom anything. The rear of this group would be weaker—less skilled. If I was careful, I could pick off several from the back before anyone even noticed I was there.
I waited for the first straggler. They didn’t have to fall far behind, just enough that they were out of the group’s periphery. I’d always been proud of my stealth while working for G.P.O.
It was only a matter of moments before I saw my first opportunity—a fearful Thornian who tripped over their feet when a snap sounded in the distant woods. Afraid there was another shadowy wild beast on the prowl? They should be.
I launched silently behind them. Their lips barely had an opportunity to part in surprise before I clamped my palm over their mouth. Their horns made for convenient handles as I gripped tight and snapped their neck. The body went limp and I quietly lowered them to the ground. Good to know I still had that light, covert touch. I'd be needing it to chip away at their numbers.
I was already turning on my heels, about to retreat and wait for my next opportunity, when there was another pop of gunfire. I jerked my head toward the sound.
Up the slope, one of the larger beasts was charging. Its dark cloud trailed behind it as strange black limbs stretched forward in its stride. Claws bared. Maw open. Roaring. It wasn’tyet heeding the crystals they touted. Even knowing that the charms should work, it’d be easy to panic. And panic they did.
Once the first shot rang out, the rest joined in. Attempting to pulverize the creature. Cowards.
