Black Moon (Alpha Pack #3)(66)

Or at least let him live long enough to take out the Unseelie.

In the conference room, Nick was already waiting at the head of the long table, tense and impatient. Next to him stood General Grant, his mood appearing much the same. Kalen took a seat near the back and watched as the rest filed in, some involved in animated conversations, some quiet. But all talking stopped when Nick began, his tone serious yet laced with unmistakable excitement.

"As most of you have heard by now, the general is here to assist us with the problem of Malik and his Sluagh." Aric and Ryon and a couple of others glanced at Kalen. He ignored them. "More specifically, Grant's units are on standby and are fully prepared to accompany us into battle when we eradicate those vermin from the face of the earth."

"We're going to need that many soldiers?" Ryon asked, a tendril of fear in his voice. "How many Sluagh does that f**ker have coming for us?"

Nick pinned Kalen with his steely gaze. "Kalen might have that answer. How many?"

It was a test. Nick and the general knew the number, but they wanted him to reveal what Malik had told him. First, he tried to strengthen the mental wall between him and the Unseelie, but it was shaky at best.

"Hundreds," he said. The throbbing started in his temples, but he pushed on. "They're amassing in the Shoshone, far from civilization. He ordered m-me to lower the shields on the c-compound and . . ."

The pain got so bad the rest of the words were strangled in his throat. Hanging his head, he breathed through it as someone clapped his back in reassurance.

"Have you lowered them?"

Kalen shook his head. "No. They won't get in here." He'd die first. They heard that without him saying it out loud.

"All right. We'll face that battle soon enough. But I've brought you here for a different reason. General, you want to tell them?"

"I'd be glad to." The older man stood with his hands behind his back. "Your team has been instrumental in locating and destroying several of the so-called research facilities where Malik, aka Evan Kerrigan, has been funding the creation of his super-shifters. With the destruction of the last couple, as well as with the death of Orson Chappell, NewLife Technology's CEO, you all dealt the operation a serious blow."

There was some agreement around the table on that, and some minor celebrating.

Grant went on. "Be that as it may, the main doctor in charge of the research, Dr. Gene Bowman, has eluded capture time and again." The Pack guys sobered. "But my contacts have found Bowman working in what we believe to be the last research facility in existence belonging to this group of scumbags. Destroy this one, and we've got them all."

"Hot damn!"

"Fuckin' A. When do we start?"

The sentiments were unanimous-the team couldn't wait to get the job done. But Grant wasn't finished.

"Of the enemy, take no prisoners. Of the survivors, bring them home. And there's one more thing-my source indicates that one of the survivors is very special." When he paused, no one so much as breathed. "We believe that Phoenix is among the captives."

There was stunned silence-and then an explosion of questions and exclamations. Nix had gone missing at the same time as Micah and the others. Where had Nix been? How did he get there? Grant held up a hand and shook his head.

"Terry and Jonas truly are dead, according to my source. No one has found any information on Ari, but we're hoping Phoenix can fill in the blanks."

When the guys had calmed somewhat, Jax asked, "So where is this last research facility? I'm sure we'd all like to get on with burning it to the ground."

"It's nestled in a picturesque valley in California. It's a midsized building, situated in the countryside, quiet and unassuming like the old church they used before. Seems to be a favorite MO. But watch for traps, as always."

"Any questions?" Nick called over their excited murmuring.

Rowan piped up. "Just one-when do we leave?"

"Wheels up in twenty," Nick said. "So go put on your party dresses."

That earned a few snickers as chairs scraped and boots clomped. Micah stood back as they filed out, clearly bleak at being left behind again. But the poor bastard was simply in no shape to go along. Rowan, his sister, gave him a fierce hug before hurrying after Aric.

Kalen couldn't pass the man by without saying something. "Soon, big guy. Right?"

"Yeah." Without another word, Micah turned and shuffled off. He looked so alone, even though he was surrounded by friends.

Kalen understood exactly how he felt.

* * *

The flight from Wyoming to California was short but turbulent. Very fitting, when Kalen thought about it. By the time they landed the two Hueys a couple of miles from the suspected research facility, he was ready to toss his cookies. A military man he was not. If he could've magically transported the whole bunch of them, he would've.

They scrambled off the copters, and those that preferred to carry checked their weapons. Kalen much preferred to be his own weapon, thank you very much. He didn't care for guns, though he'd use one if he had to.

As they followed Nick through the valley, Kalen tested his mental shield and found it still holding but weak. It seemed the more physical and emotional distance that came between him and Mac, the worse the influence from the Unseelie. Kalen's dark side was slowly overtaking his light, as Sariel called it.