Destin's Hold (The Alliance #5)(58)

Especially if he got that ring! There had been another discovery on Dises V that had captured his attention besides the ore. A find that very few knew about. A tiny deposit of red crystals and a mummified body had been discovered in one of the mines. The crystals had fascinated Prymorus. The power locked within the blood red stones had been incredible. That power, if he could harness it, would give him a decided edge over his fellow Waxian warlords, and the Drethulans. He had been furious when both the crystals and the mummy had vanished.

Deep down, he suspected that damn Kassisan Dakar, or perhaps even Badrick, was somehow involved in the disappearance. Ikera’s comment earlier this morning about a ring possessing a blood red stone, possibly made from the same crystals found in the mine on Dises V, gave him hope that he might find the key to the missing energy crystals and the secrets to the unusual mummy.



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Destin jumped out of the transport and jogged over to where he saw Cutter waiting. Tim, Mason, and Trig followed him. Cutter’s face was grim. Destin nodded in greeting, matching Cutter’s pace when he turned on his heel and began walking across to a land transport.

“How are they?” Destin asked, sliding into the front next to Cutter.

Cutter briefly glanced at him before focusing on activating the transport and pulling away from the landing pad. “They will heal,” he replied in an abrupt tone.

“How could there be an attack here – on the base?” Destin demanded, his knuckles almost white from his grip on the side of the transport. “There used to be better security.”

“A section of the shield was rerouted and the fencing was cut near the Councilor’s living quarters. We are assessing who had access to the power grid to do that. This was done from the inside,” Cutter stated, turning onto a long road that lead to the main buildings. “I accept responsibility. Councilor Ikera stated she only needed to gather a few things from the residence that had been assigned to her. Both she and the human female insisted they would be safe since they were on the base and would not be long. Another issue required my attention. I thought they had already returned to the tower,” he added in a low tone.

“What do you know?” Destin asked, glancing at the dark buildings they passed.

“There were three intruders, all Waxians,” Cutter stated. “It was obvious they were not expecting to encounter the resistance they did. Remind me never to upset the human female, Beth. In fact, I have learned it is better to never upset any of them,” he muttered, releasing the steering long enough to absently rub at his right hand as if remembering something.

“What did Beth do?” Trig asked, leaning forward.

Cutter briefly glanced over his shoulder at Trig’s tight face. “She killed two of them,” he said, slowing the transport to a stop in front of the medical building. “Patch is with both females at this time.”

Destin slid out of the transport and strode to the front door. A warrior standing near the entrance opened the door for the group. He paused inside, unsure of which way he should go. Cutter nodded for them to follow him through the doors and down a long corridor to the left.

“Councilor Ikera said she found a surveillance device in a lighting fixture. They realized they were in danger and were leaving when they were attacked. From the little Councilor Ikera related, they had been sent to bring her to a Waxian called General Achler. I assume she was referring to Prymorus Achler,” Cutter explained.

“Prymorus!” Trig hissed, slowing to a stop in the corridor.

“You know who that is?” Destin asked, turning to face Trig.

Trig grimly nodded. “Yes, he was on Dises V. He’s the one that attacked the medical compound and kidnapped Taylor Sampson, Saber’s Amate,” he explained.

“That’s where I heard the name before,” Destin muttered with a frown.

“Destin, do you mind telling us what the fuck is going on?” Tim asked, resting his hands on his hips.

Destin closed his eyes and ran a hand over them before dropping it and looking back at Tim and Mason. He had started to explain before Trig had gone ballistic earlier today – or was it yesterday? Hell, he was so out of sync with his days at the moment he wasn’t sure which was which.

“I’ll explain if you like, Destin,” Cutter said. “I know you would like to check on the women.”

“I want to see Bethany,” Trig stated, the muscle in his jaw working.

Cutter looked startled for a moment before he nodded. “We’ll be in the break room down the hall and on the left,” he said.

“Sounds good,” Destin replied. “Which rooms are women in?”

“Third on the right. Beth is in the one straight across from it,” Cutter replied.

Destin turned and headed down the hallway. He stopped, torn by what he should do and what he wanted to do. He wanted to see Sula first, but knew once he was with her, he wouldn’t be able to leave. He paused, watching as Trig opened the door and stepped into the room. Beth was chatting with the Trivator healer.

“Patch,” Destin murmured, glancing from the man to Beth. “Hey, Beth.”

“Hi Destin,” Beth greeted with a tired grin. “I got shot by an alien. Grandma is going to have a fit.”

“Yeah, I know. I didn’t even think to tell Mary about this,” Destin admitted, stepping into the room.