He looked down. “Please, Janie Belle? I need to see him.”
The soft tone had her nodding, and the sweet nickname had her wanting to make him happy. “Okay. But I need help to get him out.”
Zane nodded. “Stand behind me.”
She stood, mentally opening a door on the other side of the forest, then held her breath. A teenager soon walked into the meadow. Well, kind of a teenager. He had pasty white skin, purple eyes, and black hair with pointy red tips opposite of the other Kurjans she’d dreamed about. “Wow.”
He flashed sharp teeth in a smile. “You must be Janet.” The breeze lifted his thick hair when he bowed. “I’m Kalin.”
She knew that was his name. So this is what the Kurjan people looked like up close. She wondered who cut his hair.
Zane gave a low rumble. “Your people shot at her?”
Kalin gave a heavy sigh. “A miscommunication, I believe.” Sharp green flecks swirled through his deep eyes. “I’ll deal with the person who gave the orders.” His gaze traveled over Zane’s form. “I’ve sensed you.”
“I’ve sensed you, too.”
The Kurjan sniffed the air, his gaze sharpening. “You know one of us will kill the other, right?”
Zane gave a short nod. “Yes.”
Janie stepped out from behind Zane. “Why? I mean, why does anybody have to die?”
Zane grasped her good arm and tugged her behind him again.
Kalin laughed, the low rumbling sound making birds take flight high above in a big flapping of wings. “Oh Janie. It’s going to be so difficult waiting until you’re of age.” He shifted his gaze to Zane. “I don’t suppose you and I could meet up before then?”
Zane cocked his head to the side. “Name the time and place.”
Janie took in the two boys. Kalin was obviously older, but Zane nearly stood head to head with him. An oiliness skirted around the Kurjan—they’d never be friends. She sighed. “We could fix things. The three of us.” Every window into the future that opened up in her head had different endings. They could make this right.
Kalin made a fist and covered it with his other hand, sending a smacking sound across the distance. “I think we may have different ideas of what fixing this would mean, Janie.” His tone was matter of fact, almost like a grown-up’s.
Next to her, Zane’s body began to vibrate. “I want to kill you, but Janie’s right. We could end the war. So many people are going to die. Is there any part of you that would like to do the right thing?”
Kalin lifted his pale face to the dreamlike sun. “In the real world, I can’t feel this. No sun. I won’t give up the chance to walk outside in daylight.”
Zane shook his head. “You wouldn’t have to. We could find a peace that would allow you to continue research to combat the sun.”
“You know about our research?” Surprise made Kalin’s voice rise to a higher tone.
“I know more about you than I’d ever want.” Zane widened his stance like a cowboy in a movie. “We could end this right now.”
Swirling purple eyes glinted for a moment as Kalin glanced at Janie. “What about her? Our oracles have declared that one day she’ll align with my people.” He took a step toward Zane, his gaze slashing to the younger boy. “Is peace worth your people losing her? To save the world? Are you willing to make that sacrifice?”
“No.” Zane took his own step forward.
Janie peered around Zane’s much larger back. What was the creepy boy talking about?
“Does she even know what you are?” Odd red glints began to spark through the weird colors in Kalin’s eyes.
Zane made a low growling noise that reminded her of Talen. “No. Neither do you.”
Kalin hissed out a breath. “Don’t I? Well. If the choice were actually hers, who do you think she’d pick? I mean, who’s the biggest monster here?”
A sharp breeze shot through the meadow, making Janie shiver.
Zane shook his head. “The choice has been made. It’s time for you to leave.”
What the heck were they talking about? Janie shut her eyes and concentrated to push the wind away. Silence settled again and birds began to chirp.
A flash of teeth in Kalin’s too pale face provided warning. “If I refuse?”
Zane tensed and dropped into a fighting stance.
Janie grabbed his arm, digging her feet into soft grass. “Now isn’t the time, Zane.” She wasn’t sure about the rules in the dream world. Could somebody get hurt? Maybe.
Kalin threw back his head and laughed a chuckle much too deep for a teenage boy. “True. Now isn’t the time.” He began to back toward the tree line. “I may drop by a time or two to check in.” He winked.
Zane tugged her fingers off his arm to hold her hand. “I hope you’ll come looking for me soon.”
Kalin gave a salute like a soldier on television. “You can count on it.” Then he was gone.
Zane turned and tugged her down to the ground until they both sat with their knees almost touching. “Teach me how to open and shut that door, Janie.”
“No.” Zane would open it without her to fight Kalin. She just knew it. “What did he mean?”
Zane shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Yes you do. What are you, Zane?”
Dimples flashed when he smiled. “I’m your best friend, Janie. I thought you already knew that.”
“That’s not what Kalin meant.” She studied her friend, his handsome face and pretty green eyes. “What are you?”
Zane took her hands in his. “I’m just me, Janie. He was probably talking about the future, about the fighter I’m to become. It probably won’t be nice.” A shadow crossed Zane’s young face and Janie shivered. “Now please tell me how to control that door. I need to know.”
She sighed. “All right.” Besides, she’d seen the future in her head. The fight didn’t occur in a dream. Unfortunately.
Chapter 10
Emma’s mind clicked plans into order as she followed Dage through the residence facility, passing wing upon wing set up for family, friends, and soldiers. First she’d review the new data and then begin experimenting with the isolated virus. She needed to cure Cara before heading home. Or rather, before finding a new home—though pure male temptation with a superb ass strode in front of her.
The sun nearly blinded her as the door slid open and they walked into the warm day. She blinked against the dazzling light, wishing for sunglasses and the ability to control her libido. “I guess summer has arrived.”
Dage slowed his steps on the new concrete and took her hand. “The lab is only a few yards from the residence facility, though I wanted it underground in our main headquarters, which is up in the mountains to the north of here.”
“Underground?” She took in the surrounding trees, summer full and quiet in the nonexistent breeze, following him on the new path. His hand surrounded hers with warmth and a tempting offer of safety.
“Yes. But Kane insisted on special return air vents, so ...”
That made sense. They might end up working with some fairly interesting chemicals, so being underground wouldn’t work. “Yeah, he’s right.”
Dage slowed. “Ah, I’d like you to wear my cuff, love. I’ll give it to you tonight.” He turned suddenly and she walked smack into his chest.
Heat roared in her ears. Desire slid through her veins. Only the most stubborn of souls could’ve stepped back. Good thing she was Irish.
He mirrored her retreating step, and one broad hand slid to the small of her back to tug her farther into male hardness.
She had to tilt her head back, way back, to meet his gaze. “What’s this? Your new approach to gaining my cooperation?”