Night Unbound (38 page)

“You see that, asshole?” the vamp crowed. “Can
you
do that? I don't think so. Like I said . . . you're obsolete.”

“Oh yeah?” the human retorted furiously. “Well, let's see you do that during the day!”

The furious vampire yanked the soldier forward and sank his fangs into the man's neck.

Vampire and human soldiers alike raced forward, some to break it up, some to incite more violence.

I think we've seen all we need to see,
Seth said.
Can you teleport to David's place?

Not without changing forms first.

Seth fluttered down and landed beside him. Brushing a wing across Zach's back, he teleported them to David's front lawn.

Relief rushed through Zach as he retook his usual form, instantly teleporting on the leather pants he had left in the forest several miles away when he and Seth had initially shifted. The burning pain in his shoulder began to fade. The bleeding, at last, slowed as the wound began to close. As long as he had to focus the bulk of his energy on maintaining another form, there wasn't enough left over to heal injuries, which was best not done until he was in his natural form anyway.

He sighed. Much better.

Also clothed, Seth motioned to the front door. “Shall we?”

Nodding, Zach followed him inside.

 

 

Tension thrummed through Lisette while she waited in David's living room for Seth and Zach to return.

Richart crossed to her and looped his arm around her shoulders.

She looked up at him.

“So,” he said.

She arched a brow. “So?”

The room darkened and fell away as a familiar weightlessness engulfed her and she found herself teleported to the quiet room Étienne and Krysta had claimed as their own. Étienne lounged in a chair, waiting for them.

Lisette glared up at Richart. “You know I hate it when you do that.” If she wanted him to teleport her somewhere, she'd tell him.

“We wanted to speak with you privately,” he responded with a shrug.

“About what?”

The twins shared a look.

“How
are
you?” Richart asked at length.

“I'm fine,” she said, puzzled. “Why?”

Étienne rose. “You're hiding something from us. You've been shielding your thoughts for weeks.”

Lisette took a moment to ensure her mental barriers were well in place. “If you want to know what I'm hiding from you,” she said, “ask Richart. He and Jenna both got an eyeful.”

Étienne laughed. “I heard about that. Made me glad I can't teleport.”

Richart grumbled something.

“So, what are you hiding?” Étienne repeated.

“That's it,” she said. “That's what I'm hiding.” And technically it wasn't a lie. Yes, she hid all of the things she'd learned about Seth recently. But she also hid her intimate relationship with Zach, because it was none of their business.

And
because she had been raised in a time when such things were not discussed. Ever. They were kept private, a sentiment that had remained with her.

“If I opened my thoughts to you,” she told Étienne, “you would be flooded with details of my relationship with Zach that I wish to keep private. You don't need to know all about our lovemaking.”

Étienne grimaced and looked at his twin. “I can see why you asked Jenna to poke out your eyes. I don't even want to
think
about it, let alone see it.”

Lisette rolled her eyes. “Then stop trying to read my thoughts. Your relationship with Krysta is almost as new as mine is with Zach. How often do you think about making love with her?”

“Constantly.”

“Then there is your answer.”

Again the twins shared a look.

Lisette sighed. “Just say it.”

“Does he treat you well, Lisette?” Richart asked, his face grave.

She smiled, affection replacing exasperation. “Very well,” she assured him. They just wanted to make sure history wouldn't repeat itself. “I love him. He makes me happy. And he would do anything to keep me safe. Zach would never hurt me the way Philippe did.”

The two smiled, mirror images of each other, though she had never had difficulty telling them apart.

“That's all we wanted to hear,” Étienne said.

“Then can we go back upstairs now?”

“Of course.”

 

 

Zach followed Seth inside and closed the door behind them with a thought. David's house was still crammed full of Immortal Guardians and their Seconds.

Lisette and her brothers emerged from the darkened hallway on the opposite side of the living room. As soon as she saw him, Lisette raced forward. “What happened? Are you okay?”

Grimacing, Zach clutched his bloody shoulder.

Concern flooded her pretty face. Taking his uninjured arm, Lisette draped it across her shoulders and wrapped an arm around his waist. Had he been younger, he likely would have
needed
to lean on her. He had, after all, lost quite a bit of blood. As it was, however, he just reveled in her form pressed against his own.

He issued a faint moan.

“Come on,” Lisette said. “Let's get you to bed.”

Hell yes!

Seth cast him a reproving look.

Zach grinned at him over her head.

Rolling his eyes, Seth turned toward the dining room. But not before Zach saw him smile.

Zach let Lisette guide him a few steps toward the hallway, then noticed her brothers standing there, arms crossed over their chests, brows drawn down into V's. Sighing, he stopped. “It's all right, sweetheart. The wound is healing now that I've resumed my natural form. All I need is a wet cloth to wash away the blood.”

She studied him for a moment, then nodded and stepped away. “Okay.” Taking his hand, she followed the other immortals and Seconds who trailed after Seth into the dining room.

Admiring her profile, Zach saw her lips twitch. “What?”

She sent him a sly smile. “I knew you were faking. I just wanted to get you into bed.”

Zach laughed.

As did those who had overheard her.

Releasing his hand, she detoured into the kitchen to fetch a warm, wet towel, then returned to him as everyone took his or her seat at the table.

Zach was pleased to see Ami sitting beside Marcus, their baby in her arms.

“So,” Marcus said, “what did you see?”

Seth leaned back in his chair and swiftly filled them in.

Roland scowled. “Is this place going to implode? If the vampire mercenaries are attacking the human mercenaries . . .”

“No,” Seth said, and Zach agreed. “Despite what I'm sure are other outbursts like the ones we saw, the higher-ups are managing to maintain enough control and order to continue to pursue their goal.”

“Then we'll still strike?” Aidan asked, and damned if he didn't sound excited at the prospect.

“Yes, as soon as Chris has finished gathering his information and coordinating his Special Ops teams.”

Chris rose. “I'll get started now.”

Lisette tugged on the modified suit network employees had delivered to David's home the previous night. Her face twisted in a grimace. She had disliked it before. Now she hated it.

It fit like a diving suit. Tight, but stretchy enough to allow freedom of movement. The rubber had a rough, automobile tire–like texture. A bit smoother on the inside. But it still chafed.

Tug. Tug. Pull.

Was it thicker than before? It felt thicker than before.

Tug. Pull. She glanced at Zach and saw amusement twinkling in his dark brown eyes. “Laugh, and I'll kick your ass,” she warned.

His straight white teeth flashed in a smile as he tucked throwing knives in the bandolier wrapped around his hips.

“Lucky bastard,” she grumbled.

He
did
laugh then. He, Seth, and David (who, though not as old, could withstand several hours of sun exposure) were the only immortals who didn't have to don the special suits to fight today. The rest of them were stuck in this uncomfortable crap for however long the battle lasted.

The sound of Zach's laughter nevertheless lightened her mood. “Just get over here and zip me up,” she ordered with a smile and drew her long braid forward.

All she wore beneath was a bra and panties.

Circling around behind her, Zach drew a finger down her back, from her neck to the base of her spine.

A shiver rippled through her.

“How do you like the changes?” he asked as he drew the zipper up, careful not to scrape her skin.

“It feels bulkier,” she complained.

When he walked around to stand in front of her, concern darkened his features. “Will it inhibit your movement?”

She rolled her shoulders, swiveled from side to side, raised and lowered her arms, did knee lifts, turned her head above the high collar. The Kevlar, or whatever the armor guys had added to protect them from tranquilizer darts, felt peculiar. “I don't know. Try me.”

His wings tucked away, Zach swung at her with preternatural speed.

Lisette blocked the hit with her forearm and threw a punch of her own.

A flurry of hits and kicks ensued, all blocked.

“Halt,” she called out.

Zach stilled, eyes glowing.

She grinned and shook her head. “You are so strange.”

“Why?” he asked.

“You're turned on, aren't you?”

“Yes,” he said, exhibiting no embarrassment, then shrugged. “Much like your brother, I admire strong women. Or rather I admire the strong woman standing before me. I don't really notice others.”

“And now
I'm
turned on,” she said dryly. A dozen supermodels could stand naked in front of Zach, and Lisette honestly didn't think he would pay them any attention.

Smiling, he leaned down to kiss her.

Her heart beat faster at the touch of his lips.

“You seem good in the suit,” he murmured. “And I'll feel better knowing you'll have some protection from the darts.”

“Me too,” she admitted.

“I won't let you out of my sight, Lisette,” he vowed.

“You aren't invincible, Zach,” she said, leaning into him. “Don't lose your head, and I mean literally lose it, because you're distracted by whatever is going on with me. I need you.”

“Don't worry about me. I'll be fine,” he promised.

The assurance didn't dispel her fear.

Ten minutes,
Seth spoke in her head.

Zach pressed his forehead to hers, his glowing golden eyes capturing her own. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she responded.

For some reason, the words sounded like a good-bye.

 

 

“Hoooooooly shit!” Ethan exclaimed.

My sentiments exactly,
Lisette thought as she eyed the army of network Special Ops soldiers.

Chris had chosen the rendezvous point for Immortal Guardians, their Seconds, and the humans he commanded. They met several miles away from the mercenary compound, hidden by dense forest.

“What?” Chris asked as he spread a large map on the hood of one of many Humvees outfitted with a variety of mean-looking weapons.

“You think you have enough men?” Ethan asked, taking in the multitude of rough-hewn soldiers garbed in camouflage.

“This is just half of them,” Chris responded absently. “The other half are already in place, observing the compound's perimeter.”

Lisette looked to Seth. If even one man's presence had been detected, the mercenaries would know they were coming.

Seth must have read her thoughts. “None have been discovered,” he said. “I monitored their approach myself.”

“What the hell is that?” Sheldon asked, pointing at something atop the Humvee.

Chris followed his gaze. “A TOW missile.”

Lisette's eyebrows rose. “And that?” she asked, pointing to a weapon atop another Humvee.

“Flame thrower.”

Bastien stared up at it. “What's its range?”

“It can light up vampires two-hundred-fifty feet away,” Chris said. “But, since it'll also light up immortals, we plan to use them primarily on the gate and on the grounds away from the main structures.”

The automatic weapons mounted to the tops of the other vehicles, Lisette recognized from past clashes with mercenaries.

“Now,” Chris said, pointing to an area on the map, “these are the training fields that will be active. Live ammo is used on the target ranges, so you'll face a lot of firepower there. The gates will be heavily guarded. Patrols walk the fence. There will be a changing of the guard in half an hour, so the soldiers on duty now will be tired and likely not as vigilant. Surveillance cameras are mounted on the fences here, here, and here, near the main structures and training fields. But they're sparse on the rest of the grounds. These red circles indicate where you'll find them.

“Once more, you'll find an ass-load of vampires in this building. The human mercenaries who work the night shift will be sleeping here in the building next to it. This over here is the armory. Anyone you let go in there will come out packing major weaponry. There's only the one door, and a hell of a lot of them are going to want to use it, so I suggest you park a couple of immortals in front of it.”

“I'll do it,” Yuri volunteered.

“Me too,” Stanislav said.

Seth nodded his approval.

“Try not to blow up the building, guys,” Chris said. “We could use the stuff that's in there.”

Stanislav sighed. “You're forever spoiling our fun, Reordon.”

Lisette smiled.

“The helos will have to be guarded. We don't want a repeat of what happened last time.”

All eyes went to Krysta, who blushed a bright red. “I said I was sorry,” she mumbled.

Grinning, Étienne wrapped an arm around her.

“That goes for the planes, too,” Chris said. “We can't let
anyone
out, by land or by air.”

“Richart, Jenna,” Seth spoke, “you keep the planes and helicopters on the ground.”

They nodded.

“Étienne, Krysta, and Sean, clear out the hangars,” he continued.

More nods.

“Roland and Sarah, take out the vampires.”

Chris shook his head. “That building is a hell of a lot bigger than the barracks Donald and Nelson housed their men in. I recommend you have two or three more immortals accompany them.”

Aidan raised a hand and smiled. “Can I do it?”

Lisette thought it a little freaky that he seemed so entertained by all of this.

Seth nodded. “Aidan will do. He can teleport and is very powerful.”

“Okay,” Chris agreed.

Marcus stepped forward. “I can take the building that houses the humans.”

Chris shook his head. “No need. My guys can handle that. We'll also take out the humans on the grounds and those who remain on the training field. Lisette, if you'd like to give us a hand—”

“Lisette will be with me,” Zach interrupted, his tone brooking no argument.

Chris raised his eyebrows. “And where will
you
be?”

“With Seth and David, killing everything that moves in the main building and torturing whomever I have to, to uncover the names of the immortals who betrayed us.”

Silence.

Chris looked to Seth.

Seth shrugged. “I'm good with that. Marcus, why don't you join us in the main building? Edward, I want you, Bastien, Melanie, and Ethan to help Chris and his men clear out the training fields.”

The five nodded.

“As for the main building,” Chris said, pointing to it, “at first glance, it appears to be a flashy meet and greet. Lots of marble and granite. Nice foyer according to their Web site. But we couldn't get a clear infrared satellite image of what's inside, and a lot of bodies shuffle in and out of that place every day, so I think it's safe to say it's their hub. Their planning, experimenting, communications, and meetings likely all take place there.”

“Not for long,” David murmured.

Chris smiled. “On my mark, all cell phone reception will be disrupted and the landlines cut, but sat phones will still function, so keep your ears open and prevent
any
calls from going out. The electricity will also be cut, but there are backup generators here, here, here, and here. Seth, you and Zach have seen the place firsthand and can teleport pretty much anywhere on the compound, so I need one of you to use these”—he held up a cluster of grenades—“to take out the generators as soon as I make the call.”

Zach crossed his arms over his chest. “I'm not leaving Lisette.”

Seth took the grenades. “I'll do it.”

“Walkies will still work,” Chris said, “so some of the mercenaries will have limited communication capability. But I've already identified the channel they use, so we'll know their every move and will swiftly locate and dispatch them. Seconds,” Chris ordered, “park your asses behind the nearest bulletproof structure and guard your immortals. Shoot anyone with a tranquilizer gun. If your immortal is tranqed, use your walkie to call it in and cover them until we can get them out of harm's way.”

“Should that happen,” Richart said, “I can teleport the immortal to David's place.”

“Good. The rest of the injured, mortal and immortal, should be taken to network headquarters. Our emergency medical team is standing by.” Chris raked them all with a glance. “Any questions?”

Silence.

He nodded. “Seth, let me know when you and the other immortals are in place, ready to strike, and I'll make the call.” He turned to his men. “Helmets on.”

The network soldiers all donned helmets with chinstraps.

Seth eyed the immortals and arched a brow. “Well?”

Every movement broadcasting either reluctance or belligerence, the immortals dutifully donned the last piece of their protective suit: a head covering that resembled a ski mask and covered everything but their eyes. Even their mouths were covered, except for small breathing holes.

“Go ahead,” Chris said. “Get it out of your system.”

Grumbles and complaints erupted.

“I hate this thing.”

“Feels like I'm suffocating.”

“Is this damned thing thicker than it was before?”

“Yes, it is,” Chris said as he rolled up his map. “Now suck it up and get moving.”

Lisette smiled. Only Chris Reordon could get away with talking to immortals like that.

She raised her mask and started to pull it down over her hair.

Zach stopped her. Turning her toward him, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her as if there were no tomorrow.

Lisette clung to him until someone jostled them walking past.

Zach raised his head.

Reaching up, she pressed a hand to his stubbled cheek. “I'll be all right,” she told him again.

Nodding, he stepped back and watched silently as she drew the dark mask down over her face.

 

 

A peculiar feeling overcame Zach as he stood with the immortals and their Seconds in the shadows of the forest. Unseen by the guards, he and the others had an excellent view of the front gate.

As Zach studied the grounds beyond, his stomach felt odd. Not nausea. Something else. And tightness gripped his chest, his heart beating more rapidly than it should.

It's nerves,
Seth spoke in his head.

Zach frowned.
I'm nervous? That's what this is?
He tried to recall if he had ever been nervous in the past and couldn't.

You're afraid for Lisette. Roland is the same way before every battle. He becomes even surlier than usual because he's terrified Sarah will be harmed.

Zach glanced at the antisocial immortal, but couldn't tell whether or not the scowl that often darkened his features had deepened.

Just breathe through it and stay sharp,
Seth advised.

Zach took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Lisette glanced up at him.

Seth was right. Zach
did
fear for her.

Okay, everyone,
Seth told them mentally,
Chris is making the call.
. . .

Weapons slid silently from sheaths.

Seth vanished.

Wonk! Wonk! Wonk!

An alarm began to blare. The soldiers at the gate jumped and gripped their weapons tighter as they tried to look in every direction at once.

Boom!

Flames and debris seemed to fly from four different locations at once as Seth teleported from generator to generator with lightning speed and tossed the grenades. The alarm ceased. Mercenaries ran helter-skelter about the compound, trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

Zach saw two grenades skip across the ground toward the gate.

One of the guards caught the movement and looked down as the object came to rest at his feet. “Ah, shi—”