Chapter 17
Killian
“I’m reading one Dragnell bio signature inside the house with you, Killian.
Be careful!” Callum whispered. He didn’t need to whisper, but the mood had gotten hold of him.
I wasn’t surprised, Callum was secretly a sensitive soul and a total romantic.
That’s why I knew he wouldn’t rat me out for going off-script for my Tally.
“Data from that primitive camera has been streamed to the ship,” the male added.
“I don’t know why you wanted me to do that.
We shouldn’t be interfering in human politics, but it’s done.
And will continue to stream until that camera dies.
” That was good, that safeguarded Daria’s mission, regardless of whether we got out of there or not.
It would be our bargaining chip if the enemy managed to capture us.
The presence of the Dragnell bio sig gave me a bad feeling, and I was ready for anything as I watched Daria’s confrontation with her father unfold.
I didn’t say a word, didn’t interfere, because I knew my darling Daria could perfectly take care of herself.
Staying back also meant I had time to observe this male.
He wasn’t very tall, but neither was Daria.
His physique was easily visible beneath the white shirt he wore, and it was obvious he kept himself in shape.
Like his daughter, he was no easy target.
They shared the same eyes, a soft brown.
On Daria, I loved them. They were kind and warm, and I could see the vulnerability she tried to hide.
This male had nothing but coldness going on beneath the surface, a predator stared from that gaze that waited to pounce, to kill.
When the male started to move from his desk, I moved accordingly, my plan already mapped out.
First, I blocked his exit, just in case he was going to try to leave through the door.
He turned for the books instead so I flicked one of the handy gadgets on my belt on with a brush of my fingers.
It activated the climbing capabilities in my shoes, and with a quick leap, I found myself pressed against the ceiling.
My hand located the laser pistol and when that door swung open and the Dragnell burst through, I was ready. The alien invader roared with rage, leaping for my mate without looking up. Everyone seemed to have forgotten about me in the chaos that erupted.
Daria did her best to back away from the reaching claws, but she was just as busy trying to catch the monster on her body camera.
Brave female, she had no sense of self-preservation beyond fulfilling her quest. She would do anything to save her people from the forming of the UAR.
It was a good thing I was there, I’d take care of that bastard: nobody hurt a Terafin’s mate.
My laser fire hit the Dragnell center mass, a double tap I’d executed plenty of times before.
The male gave a last growl as he began to topple over, and Daria darted nimbly out of the way.
He landed with a thud, and a deep silence followed that lasted several eternal seconds.
Daria’s father stared at his downed ally, Daria stared at the pile of fur and claws with horror, and then they both looked at me.
With a flick of my wrist, I dropped from the ceiling and landed on quiet feet.
Then I held out my hand to Daria, “Coming, Tally? I think it’s about time we leave.
” I eyed the dead Dragnell, then glared at the General, who was so greedy, so selfish, that he wanted power more than he wanted to protect his daughter.
I wanted to kill that bastard for what he’d put Daria through, and I made sure he could see that in my eyes.
He flinched back, growing pale: message received. I dared him silently to make a move, to give me a reason, but he stayed firmly rooted to the spot and didn’t make any threatening moves. When Daria put her small hand in mine, a sense of victory washed through me. She trusted me, not her sire.
“This way,” my mate said, and she guided me to the passage that the Dragnell had arrived through.
I was not certain that was our best exit, though Callum had confirmed that enemy forces had surrounded the house.
There was still a special forces Dragnell unit, they could be waiting on the other side.
I’d rather take my chances with the humans.
The sound of the front door bursting open spurred us both into action, we ducked behind the bookshelf. From the corner of my eye, I saw movement, and I reacted on instinct. My body twisted around Daria, protecting her, and my hand went up, finger squeezing around the trigger of my laser pistol.
Pain blazed through my shoulder when her father raised his own gun and fired.
His shot went wide, wide enough at least, mine hit him in the center of his forehead.
I spun Daria, not allowing her to see as we leaped down into the narrow passage, that seemed to be a theme for us.
“Is he dead?” she asked quietly, unruffled by our quick pace or the darkness that surrounded us.
“Yes,” I answered, unable to lie to her. She didn’t respond, but I sensed she was resigned, not sad.