Coldbloods (Hotbloods #2)

But even if I did somehow contact the Fed, then what? I’d tell them about what I’d seen, and trust that their main priority would be rescuing Navan and not just attacking and destroying the base? What were the odds of that?

I stopped pacing, nodding to myself. If I rescued Navan, together we could probably fight our way onto the ship, if it hadn’t been seized by the coldbloods by then, and get an urgent message to the Fed via the ship’s comm device. But the whole coldblood base was on high alert now—I would need at least one weapon to stand any chance of getting to him.

Sitting back down on the flat rock, I took a deep breath. Really, it didn’t matter what the most logical or safest option was; I couldn’t just leave Navan in that bunker without trying to rescue him. Now was my best chance. Even if I somehow found an alternative way of reaching the Fed, the coldbloods could have sent Navan somewhere else or badly hurt him. I had to try to reach him myself one more time.

And this time I could try stealing a weapon while I passed through the camp. It might not even be hard—all I’d have to do was stash it in my invisibility suit. That way I could at least defend myself and Navan, when the time came. Plus, I had the advantage of invisibility, and I doubted the coldbloods were expecting me to walk right back into their midst right after escaping. What kind of idiot would do that?

Me, apparently.

I tamped down the feelings of doubt threatening to paralyze me, and rose to my feet. I was desperately low on options, and this was the only course of action my brain could settle on.

I steadied myself against the rock wall, though it didn’t help much. My head was throbbing; my belly was rumbling. After all that had happened, I felt like I might throw up, burst into tears, or both. But I didn’t have time for that. Not now.

Outside, it was growing dark. The setting, grayish sun was visible on the horizon. By the time I reached the base, it would be night. I hoped that would somehow work to my advantage as I pressed the button on my suit.

As I neared the base, I tried not to think. Instead, I focused on the steps my feet were taking. One after another, then another, then another. As soon as one harried thought would emerge, I would return my focus to my advancing feet.

Right now, I didn’t have to figure out exactly how I was going to complete this impossible task—I just had to focus on the next step my foot took.

This time, I didn’t pass by our ship. Instead, I headed for a part of the invisibility shield that was safely away from it, out of earshot. Although the shifters hadn’t caught me earlier, I didn’t want to take any chances.

When I reached what seemed to be the invisibility shield, I paused. Sucking in a deep breath, I steeled my nerves. I held out a hand, and the air shimmered, the huge protective dome appearing.

I’m coming for you, Navan. I conjured up the image of his handsome, smiling face in my mind and focused on it as I took my first step through the shield.

But before I could lay my second step down on the ground, a sharp female voice pierced the cold evening air.

“Who’s there?” a female coldblood called, and as I gazed in her direction, I realized she was looking straight at me. She was a terrifyingly burly creature, with thick brown eyebrows and snarling, downturned lips.

“Shifter, you know it is forbidden to camouflage yourself when at the base,” she continued when I didn’t answer. “Especially now that we have a red alert about an intruder.”

I looked left, then right. The whole invisibility shield was bordered by coldbloods standing in wait. If I wanted to get by, I’d have to sneak by this coldblood now.

As quietly as I could, I set my foot down on the ground.

“I mean it, shifter,” she snapped, jutting out a mechanical-looking spear. “Take another step and just see if I don’t impale you.”

I froze. Another desperate look left and right found the situation as impossible as the last time I had looked. If I wanted to get by, I had to make it past coldbloods who were already primed for my possible arrival.

Offering a small mental prayer to the universe, I surged forward. I heard a whizzing sound behind me, and ducked just in time. The spear slammed into the ground ahead of me with an electrical fizzle.

I froze, staring at the spear for a few seconds, expecting the coldblood who had thrown it to immediately come chasing after it to retrieve it. When she didn’t, I cast a glance over my shoulder, and saw her distracted with throwing another spear in a different direction.

It seemed like one of my prayers, at least, had been answered. I now had a weapon. I had no idea how to use it, or if it was even safe for a human to wield, but… I glanced from the now-blocked invisibility shield to the direction of the coldblood guards, then crouched down and gingerly poked at the spear.

As soon as my finger touched its metal surface, I realized that was a mistake. A shock of electricity passed through me, and I cursed, realizing my whole body was suddenly visible. In a panic, I jammed the button of the invisibility suit, but it only made a light hissing noise. The spear had messed up the suit.

Keeping down low against the ground, I prayed the coldblood guards were still distracted. My eyes frantically returned to the damned weapon, and I knew I had to make a last-minute change of plan.

I poked at the electrical spear again, and when no electrical surge passed through me this time, I grabbed it, and immediately crawled as fast as I could back through the invisibility shield. I had to get away from those coldbloods now that I no longer had an invisibility suit to protect me.

I’d have to try to board the ship again—facing the shifters instead. At least I had a weapon now… though I was without my invisibility suit, so I wasn’t sure if those two advantages canceled each other out.

Whatever the case, I stood a better chance against a handful of shifters than a camp of coldbloods and shifters.

As I neared the ship, its smooth surface looked almost eerie in the fading light, but all was silent. Maybe the shifters had torn through it to their satisfaction and left. Hopefully they hadn’t wrecked the comm technology in the process. That would be a blow I wouldn’t survive.

I shuddered, a chill running down my spine at the thought.

There was only one way to find out.

I peered through the door, cautiously turning my head left, then right. To my relief and surprise, everything inside looked untouched. Navan’s bag was missing, along with the weapons we’d had inside the belly of the ship, but there was no sign of the shifters.

And the control panel was right in front of me. All I had to do was flick that green switch, and I could transmit a message to the Fed.

Excitement welled in me as my hand descended for the switch, but when my fingers were a split second from touching it, something slammed into my head.

Ear-splitting cries filled my ears as four shifters materialized within the small chamber. They leapt out from the walls, un-camouflaging themselves as they flung their bodies toward me.