“Have you heard a word I've said?” Kelly asked, exasperated. But there was a twinkle in her eye. “It's never wise to bait a pregnant woman.” Paige blushed. “Sorry. I'm trying not to think about Evan. And my mind wandered—”
“To the gorgeous Hale and that giant Robbie.” Kelly leaned forward. “You know, I think Robbie's hot. Don't tell Ace or Zack. But those muscles of his, whooee. You are one lucky girl.”
Paige laughed, almost embarrassed to feel happy when she knew Evan might be in trouble. “I know. I just hope all this luck holds out. I've just met my uncle. I don't want to lose him.”
Kelly patted her hand, the gesture curiously soothing. “You won't. The guys won't let it happen. And neither will the rest of us.” She smiled, pleased at their solidarity, when she smelled them. A lot of them, and they were coming closer. “Kelly, you need to do exactly as I say,” she ordered in a low voice. “I'm going to walk with you to the elevator, quietly. Then I want you to find Ace and hole up in one of the labs downstairs.”
Kelly's eyes widened, but she remained silent and nodded.
“Quickly.” Not thinking about it, Paige began growing. She'd taken to wearing elastic pants and large, stretchy shirts. But she hadn't thought about her undergarments. On the go, she sliced through her bra and ripped under her pants at her underwear. Both garments fell off as she expanded. To her surprise, fangs pushed past her gums, telling her to beware a very real threat.
They reached the elevator. Kelly punched in a code and the door opened. “Come with me.”
“No. Don't worry. I know how to handle these guys. I'm not in any danger. But you are.”
Kelly gaped at whatever she saw over Paige's shoulder. “Mutants,” she hissed.
“Paige, please.”
Paige reached inside and punched a button. “Go.” The door closed. She turned around and stared at half a dozen mutants. Just as twisted as the last bunch she'd seen, and they stirred as much pity. She released her pheromones and drew them closer.
“Why are you all here?” she asked, hoping against hope that she wasn't the reason.
Chapter Fourteen
Robbie, Hale, and Caitlyn raced back toward the house. They ran into Zack and Roane on the way.
“Nothing,” Roane said. “Doc's not outside. He's got to be—” Sabrina screamed, and Derrick roared.
They rushed into the house, changing along the way. Clothing ripped and pulled, shoes and socks stretched and popped, leaving a trail of tattered garments along the grass.
Once inside, Hale and Robbie headed after Paige's scent. Hale's beast felt anxious.
He knew the enemy had found them. What he didn't understand was, why now? And what had Robbie meant about Kohl needing a new head scientist?
He scented the enemy before they found Paige at the end of the hallway in front of the elevator. Between them and her raged a bloody battle. Rogue Circs fought mutants while Paige fought to steer clear. As he pushed his way into the fray, Hale saw one of the rogues take some damage while protecting…Paige? It didn't make any sense, but he didn't care. He had to reach his mate.
Robbie helped him clear a path. As he moved, opponents starting dropping like flies, grabbing their heads in pain. Hale didn't know how much Robbie could do, but he hastened his efforts and reached Paige with a few minor scratches. The rogue nearest her nodded at him, his light gray eyes almost white against his darker, changed skin.
Then, oddly enough, the rogue disappeared. The mutants around them continued to press closer but screeched when something slashed at them.
Not sure what the hell was going on, Hale grabbed on to Paige. “Get your ass in that elevator.” He turned to kick at one of the mutants that clawed at his leg in an attempt to reach her.
“No.” She leaned closer to be heard past the noise. “Kelly's down there. If I open the elevator, they might get by me. I won't chance it.”
“Fuck.” Hale turned and roared as two mutants tackled him. “Where the hell are they all coming from?”
“Half of them are fighting with each other in the bedrooms. Then they spill into the hallway,” said a voice out of nowhere. The odd rogue reappeared over Hale and dragged one of the mutants off him. As they fought, Paige pulled at the other mutant.
“Get back!” Hale tried to bring his opponent with him away from Paige, but the scent of cherries captivated him and those closest around them. Everyone around Paige slowed down, focusing hungrily on her.
“I told you not to do that,” the rogue by them growled. “It's not helping.”
“But Hale—” Paige said.
“Is fine.” Hale yanked the rogue back, relieved when Paige retracted that scent.
Holy hell, but she packed a punch. “If you have to, beat them back. But don't attract them to you!”
Robbie fought through a mass of bodies toward them, tossing Circs and mutants back into the rooms they spilled out of. “Hawkins. What the hell are you doing here?” The rogue next to Hale answered back, “Kohl ordered us to capture your doc.
Dunn took off with him and ordered the rest of us here to put an end to Circe's Recruits. Against Kohl's orders.”
Robbie grinned, his teeth wickedly sharp. “Dissension in the ranks. I like it.” Paige growled low in her throat and swiped her nails across a rogue's jugular when he pushed past Hawkins. Hale wanted to help her, but he had his hands full trying to stay upright amid the bodies piling up.
“This is ridiculous. Paige, come on.” He shielded her as they made their way to Robbie. They were forced to step over groaning bodies, the hallway overflowing with the enemy. A stabbing pain hit him in the side, but he ignored it and pulled Paige with him, thrusting her at Robbie. “Take her out of here.”
“What the fuck?” Roane roared beyond them and started to charge into the shrinking corridor.
“No, stay back,” Robbie said as he caged Paige between him and Hale. He continued to backstep toward Roane and the others now with him. “Take Paige out of here.”
“Dammit.” Roane grabbed her and quickly pulled her behind him. “She's good.
You two, get out of there.”
Hale looked over his shoulder, relieved that one of his mates was out of harm's way. His beast nudged Robbie to also move in her direction.
“I know you did not just try to push me back there.” Robbie punched a mutant in the face, cracking its jaw. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I don't know.” Hale felt dizzy but shook it off. “Look. They're just about done.” Only two more mutants were actively fighting. The rest littered the floor, along with a few rogue Circs. Three of the rogues remained standing, using stunners and lethal fangs and claws to dispose of the mutants still struggling.
Hale couldn't believe how many bodies fit in the hallway. It was like a living, or dying, carpet. The sight made him queasy.
Robbie swore and tucked Hale under his arm. “You're injured, you idiot.”
“I'm fine.” Circs healed with amazing speed. Even if he had been wounded, he'd soon be on the mend. Too bad his body hadn't gotten the memo.
“Roane, playboy's bleeding all over the place.”
“New venom in the mutants' claws. You'll need to see to that.” Hawkins joined them, breathing hard. He was covered with blood, both his and the darker stuff that leaked from the mutants. But as Hale watched, his body healed itself. “We're immune.”
“Great. Just when we need Doc. And he's where?” Zack said from over Roane's shoulder.
“Can we get out of this stinking hallway?” Hale tried to push away from Robbie, feeling like a pussy for not standing on his own two feet. But Robbie wouldn't let him go. He glared, and his mate glared back.