Hotbloods 6: Allies

A moment later, Commander Mahlo nodded to us, her officers cutting the transmission. As soon as it had ended, I took a deep breath, praying our message didn’t end up causing more panic than intended. I knew how humans could be, looting and stockpiling, and trampling the weak to get their hands on what they wanted. There was nothing like the end of the world to show humanity’s true colors.

Then again, I also knew that most people would just assume it was a hoax, ignoring me entirely… until they saw the shield, that is. I had a feeling that would be the gamechanger, the moment they realized I hadn’t been talking a load of garbage or simply hijacking the airwaves for my own amusement. As soon as that barrier went up, there would be no feasible way of explaining its appearance. Soon enough, they would all have to start believing in aliens.

“Good job,” Commander Mahlo commended me, coming over to shake my hand. “Let’s hope the message gets through to them.”

“My thoughts exactly,” I muttered, looking to Navan for comfort.

He smiled, slipping his hands around my waist and gazing down into my eyes. “Technically, your last name is Idrax now. I mean, if you don’t mind the baggage that comes with that name. I wouldn’t blame you if you did.”

Seeing his shy expression, I couldn’t help mustering a grin. “I love anything that belongs to you,” I whispered, leaning up to kiss him tenderly. “I’m happy to be an Idrax.”

As I melted into his kiss, his lips moving slowly against mine, kissing away the nerves of the broadcast, I couldn’t help wishing that Jean and Roger were here. I wanted to tell them, face-to-face, that I’d been lucky enough to marry the love of my life. Hell, I even wanted to tell Sasha and George—my birthparents—that I wasn’t a Fenton or an Ingram anymore. I was an Idrax now, and I wanted, more than anything, for them to share in my happiness. Finally, I had a name that nobody could take away from me or fight over. Riley Idrax was going nowhere.

Now that the message was out, we were free to start on the final leg of our journey. With Navan and Bashrik at my side, and Commander Mahlo following us back out into the lunar landscape, we made our way toward the ship that Stone was hanging off, his hands fiddling with something inside a control panel. Undoubtedly, he wasn’t used to having a ship that actually worked the way it was supposed to, prompting him to run a full check on the diagnostics.

“We headin’ out, are we?” he called as we approached, dropping down into the thick layer of dust.

“Can’t put it off forever,” Bashrik murmured, his voice distant. I hadn’t watched much of his farewell with Angie, wanting to give them a private moment, but I could see he was cut up about it. Truthfully, I felt bad about it. I mean, I got to undertake this part of the mission with Navan by my side, but he would have to listen to what was happening with the shield-bearers from afar.

“Ally-up, lads!” Stone whooped, dusting off his pants and striding up the gangway into the waiting Fed ship. Bashrik followed shortly afterward, with Navan pausing at the foot of the gangway, giving me a moment alone with Commander Mahlo. A small cluster of Fed soldiers were moving toward us, coming out of the Lunar HQ entrance. There were four merevins and four lycans, but no promised Rexombra. I looked around, wondering if the sleek assassin was prowling around the ship, but it looked like we weren’t getting one after all.

“Commander Mahlo, I thought we were supposed to have a Rexombra on the ship with us.”

She nodded. “There was some confusion in the planning stages. It was the merevins’ job to inform your friend, Alfa, that he was to join you, but they apparently thought we were telling him. As such, you have no Rexombra on your team, per se. However, he has joined the rest of the Rexombran faction, who have already set off to take up their positions. They will assist in the airstrike, once you have entered the rebel base.”

“And your teams and the merevin squadrons?”

“They will assist on your instruction; we have our comms linked to yours. As soon as you’re ready and have scoped out the clearest targets, we will fire down on the rebel base and take out anyone who tries to run,” Commander Mahlo replied, her words comforting me. I would’ve preferred to have a Rexombra on the ground with us, to sneak up on guards and get us in, but we’d have to make do with what we had.

“I’ll try to share as much information with you as possible as soon as I can,” I said.

“Please, do ensure that the ship remains in stealth mode on your arrival outside the rebel base. This ship has been fitted with newly devised technology that will render you invisible to any sensors the rebels might possess,” she explained. “They don’t seem to have much in the way of detection, aside from the barrier, but the fact that they are stockpiling resources would suggest they’re becoming antsy about their future security.”

“With Bashrik at the helm, we’re in the safest hands possible.”

“Very well, then I can detain you no longer,” she said, with a reluctant sigh. “The truth is, everyone will be looking to you. It is not an easy thing, to bear that kind of responsibility on such young shoulders. However, I know you’re capable of enduring its weight.”

“I’m nothing but a mouthpiece, Commander Mahlo. This is all of us, not just me, and I’ve got the best team anyone could wish for.”

She smiled, looking shy for a moment. “I would not normally say this, but… may the Wolf Mother, in all her glory, go with you.”

“Thank you. I hope I see you on the other side of all this.”

She offered out her hand, and the two of us shook on it like old acquaintances. “You too, Miss Ingram.”

I smiled. “Actually, it’s Idrax now. Riley Idrax.”

“My mistake, Mrs. Idrax.”





Chapter Forty-Two





With Bashrik in the pilot’s seat, despite the protestations of the eight Feds who’d come aboard with us, we set off for Siberia. On the navigation monitor, I could see the red dots that signaled the rest of the Fed fleet—all those who hadn’t gone to lie in wait for the queens’ approaching vessels. Another series of flashing lights had joined them.

“Who are the blue lights?” I asked Bashrik.

“The Rexombran fleet,” he said brusquely.

“At least we’re not alone, eh?” I said brightly, trying to lighten the mood, but only Stone offered a smile. “Can you patch us in to the Earth news networks? New York City, if possible?” I pointed the position out on the map. Bashrik’s hands danced across the controls, bringing up a series of news broadcasts on the screens that surrounded the cockpit walls.

The news anchors looked perplexed, banners running across the bottom of each screen, hailing an alien invasion. Some of the news stories were asking if it was an elaborate hoax, while others were wondering if this was some sort of unsanctioned government action—a made-up event so the governments could implement martial law, perhaps, or a weapons test gone wrong, resulting in an unbelievable cover-up. In the streets, people were running, the cameras showing scenes of smashed up windowfronts and empty shelves in the grocery stores. Meanwhile, looters wearing scarves around their faces and baseball caps pulled low were charging into buildings, stealing whatever they could get their hands on, not caring that the cameras were rolling.

Still, most of the roads and streets looked empty, aside from the looters, giving me some hope that my words had been taken to heart. The majority of people looked like they were staying inside, the way I’d told them to. I really hoped they stayed there until all of this was over.

“Maybe we should turn that off,” Navan suggested gently, putting his arm around me.

“In a minute. I want to see what’s going on,” I protested, holding his hand and gazing down at his ring—the one that matched my wedding band. “Promise me, no matter what happens, that you’ll keep yourself safe. I don’t want you doing something stupid, getting yourself killed in the process.”