“We won’t. Hold on.”
Tannis only had a second to tighten her grip, and then Callum spread his wings. A waft of cool air shivered across her face as he launched into the sky, and then they were flying. The ground sped by beneath them. All she was conscious of was the flap of those huge wings as Callum powered them back. Soon she spotted the ship beneath them. “Please, please,” she found herself muttering under her breath. They couldn’t be too late. They couldn’t lose Jon. She was trying her hardest not to think about Janey right now, as she would disintegrate from the pain. She was cracking up, and she needed to stay strong. She had failed Janey. She had to save the rest of them. Otherwise, what was the point? What was the point in anything? She might as well have died all those years ago.
Callum lowered them to the ground in front of the ship. The double doors slid open, and Venna stood framed in the doorway. She looked from one of them to the other, a frown forming on her pretty, vapid features.
“Is it all done? What did you find?”
“Shut up, Venna. We’re leaving now.”
“What’s the hurry?”
“The Church has captured El Cazador.”
Venna’s eyes narrowed. “So?”
“So we’re leaving now.”
Venna’s right hand had been behind her. Now she raised it, revealing the pistol she held pointed straight at Tannis. “No, we’re not.”
Chapter Eighteen
“What are you doing?” Callum’s tone was icy, but the laser pistol didn’t waver in Venna’s hand.
As she stared at the pretty blond woman blocking her way, something occurred to Tannis. She turned to Callum. “You said the Church was waiting for the ship at the rendezvous point?”
He nodded.
“And only the three of us and the people on board El Cazador knew where that rendezvous was going to be.”
She saw the moment he understood. His gaze sharpened on Venna. “You gave away the location of the rendezvous site?”
“The Council wanted them dead.”
“Since when have you worked for the Council?”
“Since they pointed out that you’re unstable. Since they offered me a job in the new Council. Since they promised me a chance to go on with my research.”
“Idiot,” he snarled. “How can you go on with your research if the planet is destroyed?”
For the first time her expression wavered. “What are you talking about?”
“That’s the price the Church want for releasing El Cazador. To use the weapon to destroy the planet once and for all. The Council has played you—they knew all along that’s what the Church would demand.”
“That won’t happen if I keep you here.”
Tannis could feel her rage and frustration rising. She took a step forward, and Venna’s finger tightened on the trigger.
“We need to hurry,” Tannis ground out. She glanced at Callum, and he nodded. The movement was almost imperceptible, but she caught it and readied herself. She didn’t know what he planned to do, but she’d be prepared.
Venna gave out a small cry and pain flashed across her features. Tannis lashed out with her right leg. Her foot connected with the pistol and it flew from Venna’s hand. She kicked again, and Venna crashed to the ground. But the effort was too much, and Tannis swayed and fell to her knees. She took a deep breath and crawled to where the other woman was coming up on all fours.
Drawing back her fist, she gathered her failing strength and punched Venna in the face. “That’s for me,” she snarled. She punched her again, heard the crunch of bone, and blood spurted from her nose. “And that’s for my sister.” And for Janey she wanted to add, but thoughts of Janey were too painful. Later, she would have to face them, but first, she needed to save the rest of the crew.
A hand touched her on the shoulder, and she looked up into Callum’s face. “We have to go.” He gripped her arms and picked her up. “What about her?” he nodded in Venna’s direction.
“I want her dead.”
He nodded once. “Then leave her.”
Venna looked up as Callum strode with her up the ramp. “What are you going to do?”
“We’re going to destroy the planet.”
“Take me with you.” Callum ignored her, and she screamed this time. “You can’t leave me here. I was doing my job, my duty. Come back!”
…
Callum could still hear her shrieking as the doors slid shut behind them. His mind was numb. Everything was in pieces. His euphoria of earlier had vanished completely. He strode quickly to the bridge and lowered Tannis into one of the seats, then fastened her harness. She looked awful, her skin a sickly green, her yellow eyes bloodshot.
“Comm El Cazador,” he said. “I’ll ready us for takeoff.”