Kyele's brow dipped into a frown and he couldn't hide the doubt in his voice. "Sooner?"

"I'd sooner die then give into Jutak slime." The man leaped to his feet, hands forming claws as he headed directly toward Kyele.

Kyele whipped the sniper laser from his back and shot him dead center. An alarm blared overhead. Not bothering to give the body a second look, he rushed back through the room and toward the balcony to retrieve the Ambassador's daughter.

Suravi whined at his approach, curling into a tight ball with legs bent to her chest, tail flickering about. Kyele crouched beside her and thumbed back the loose black curls escaping her braid. "It's me. Time to go."

"Open eyes?" she asked, coming to her haunches.

"Yes." After her bright eyes confirmed his identity, he picked her up.

"You didn't leave anything for us to do?" Markus complained, coming up the winding stairs and meeting Kyele as he came back through.

Kyele shrugged, careful of the girl in his arms. He angled his body to keep the dead guards from her view as he made his way down. "There is always disposal if you feel the need to do something."

Creed snorted. "I vote we leave the trash to be picked up by their own."

The other men grunted and took up position around Kyele, weapons out as they all made their way back to the shuttle.

Suravi chose that moment to pop her head up. Fear darkened her gaze as she took in the armed men in masks surrounding her. Kyele waited for her cries. Instead, she faced him and rubbed her small hand on his cloth-covered jaw. "I want to be a Jutak when I grow up."

Though she couldn't see it, Kyele smiled in response. There weren't any female Jutak warriors. "It is a good goal."

"I have something happy to announce." Faye's statement dispelled the dark mood. Bouncing on her knees, she picked up Lissi's daughter, Aya, and said, "Torkel and I are expecting."

Sylvie released Joni to run and drag Faye to her feet. "Me too. But I was going to wait because I haven't told Arak yet."

Joni winced from the volume of Faye's scream and shook her head when the two held hands and danced in a circle, arms swinging.

Lissi turned to Joni. "They are happy, right?"

Laughter bubbled up, pushing back the bite of jealousy. "Yes. We can call that the universal sign of happiness."

Lissi got to her feet and joined the women, hugging Sylvie first. "Congratulations on your gift." She embraced Faye longer, swaying for a moment. "I am beyond happy you are in my brother's life."

Sylvie skipped back to Joni's side. Brushing the leaves from her skirt, Joni came to her feet and held up her hand for a high five. "Way to get your animal love on."

Flushing, Sylvie ignored her hand to lean in and squeeze Joni tight. "I want you to be this happy one day."

Joni wasn't sure that was in the cards, but she wouldn't spoil the moment. "I think we need to plan a baby shower. Wait, since Arak doesn't know about impending fatherhood, does Torkel?"

They all looked to Faye, who hunched a shoulder and slid her hands into the pockets of her white wide-legged pants. "He knows, but I think he's scared to death, so I've been trying not to say anything until he processes it."

Lissi nodded wisely. "Smart decision and the longer you delay the longer you can escape maman's coddling."

Faye winced, and they all shared another bout of laughter. Lissi and Torkel's maman was a force to be reckoned and adored her children.

"Guess birth control and Enotian don't go together." Joni winked.

Sylvie's cheeks pinkened. "Arak's muata lasted a really long time."

They glanced at Faye whose lips curved in a secretive smile. "Torkel wants children."

"Papan's back! Is he training?" Boid's excited question broke into their talk of all things baby.

Joni shielded her eyes to follow where the little boy pointed. One after another, men dropped from swinging ropes in the trees onto the lawn of the Jutak property. The blood chilled in her veins. She counted six before adrenaline kicked in. "Hurry! Get inside!"

This was her fault. She'd turned off the perimeter security.

Boid took off running. "Papan!"

"Noooo!" Lissi jumped into action and chased her oldest.

Sparing the necessary seconds, Joni ran toward the doorway and keyed her code in for the alarms. Crouched over, men raced in their direction with weapons cradled in their arms. To the right of her, Faye's face paled and she stood frozen. Sylvie didn't have the same problem and dodged across the blanket strewn grass, knocking over food and drink as she grabbed Aya to her.

The little girl screamed, arms reaching for her mother. "Maman!"

Faye snapped out of it but it was too late. A figure in dark clothing, wearing a colored mask of some sort grabbed for her. Joni withdrew her two Marenian knives from her thigh sheaths and sprinted into action. She used the moves the Jutaks taught her, kicking and punching.

It became obvious the attackers didn't expect resistance. Sylvie held the struggling Aya close as she tried to inch her way back toward the Jutak building. Feet separated them from the safety of the secure walls and windows.

Pulse pounding, Joni struck out at the man nearest her, hearing the sickening squish of flesh as her knife dug deep. She pulled back her arm and slashed again. He cursed, rough hands grappling to take the weapon from her.

Boid's scream joined his sister's cry. Joni glanced around to see one of the men tackle Lissi from behind. With an anger fueled shove, Joni broke away from her now dead assailant and pushed for maximum speed to reach Lissi.

Joni smiled grimly as the delicate beauty gave her attacker all she had but he managed to loop an arm about her waist and began dragging her away. Lissi's legs pinwheeled in an attempt to get to her son.

Boid cowered on the ground, his gray eyes stark in his face, blond hair standing on end as he realized these men were not his papan nor the Jutaks who lived here. Joni reached them and stepped in front of the boy to protect him. She brandished both knives and assumed a fighting stance as she faced off with the one holding Lissi. "Doesn't look like she wants to go."

Each of the six invaders wore painted masks with exaggerated features, leaving the hair in the back exposed but the brown waves didn't help any. Joni wished she could see his face as her mind automatically began cataloging any clues to share with the Jutaks when they returned. She had to believe they'd get out of this. Anything less would weaken her.

"You think you can fight me?" The snarled question held a hint of humor.

Perfect. Asshole mentality worked for her. Joni pursed her lips in an innocent moue and hiked a helpless little old me shoulder. The strap on one side of her green dress slipped off, catching on the curve of her breast.

His gaze dropped predictably. Joni toed her foot in the dirt, drawing attention to her slim legs with the deceptive muscled calves and the strappy tan sandals.

"Maybe we don't have to fight." She added a girlish giggle, inwardly cringing. "If...if you wanted to do something else I'm open."

He released Lissi with a firm shove toward the ground and eyed Joni. "Hmm. A willing prisoner is better than one who fights."

Lissi's hands clawed at the grass as she got to her feet, fear glinting in her blue eyes. "Joni, don't go with him."

Dirt sprayed the ground as he fired. Joni jumped, staring at the dark hole beside Lissi's knee.

"Shut up!" The intruder shifted his aim to Lissi. He pointed at Joni with his other hand. "You! Come closer, drop your weapons."

Not wanting to anger him, she eased closer but didn't release the knives. "Lissi, take Boid and go. This doesn't concern you."

A slight hesitation and then realizing the futility of protesting, Lissi darted around Joni and grabbed her sniffling son on the run.

"Maman!" Boid's body shook hard enough his tiny teeth chattered.

Joni split her attention as long as she dared to make sure Lissi reached the door of the facility. Faye shouted and Joni risked a glance behind her. Sylvie must have found the laser Joni forgot she'd brought out in the picnic basket. Blasts sounded as her friend fired at several of the encroaching men.

Joni jerked back around to confront the one who'd chased Lissi. "Leave them alone. Please."

The man snorted. "We should probably not take such an important Chosen anyway."

Joni stilled. Had they come here specifically for one of the women? They'd have to get passed her if they tried. Joni had no intentions of being a prisoner ever again and no way she'd let the others endure a similar fate.

"Which one of the Jutaks do you belong to, fiery one?"

Joni's fingers tightened on the handles of her knives as she sucked on her bottom lip and winked at him. He grunted and adjusted himself without the slightest sign of shame. Around them the sound of Sylvie doing her best to hold off their attackers filled Joni's ears. Alarms blared loudly in the background. She needed to do something fast before everything went to hell in more ways than a basket.

"I don't belong to any of them." She licked her lips for good measure and slightly arched her back, displaying her breasts for his gaze. Thank God for the low cut of her dress. "Sometimes..." Joni paused to eye his crotch before raising her gaze. "Sometimes a girl needs a little wild and rough in her life."

He chuckled. "I'll give you wild where we're taking you."

Shortening the small space between them, he pulled Joni into a rough embrace. Not allowing fear to gain a hold, Joni drove both blades upward almost retching as they tore through his mid-section.

He groaned deep in his throat, his weapon falling to the ground as she pulled her arms back, keeping the grip on the knives. Joni turned without waiting to see his body fall. Lissi stood in the doorway of the building with Boid by her side. Sylvie waved her laser back and forth at the last two thugs approaching her, though her gaze kept shooting to wailing Aya by her feet. This part was tricky as the men didn't look as if they'd be easily put off. Their angry mutters wafted to Joni's ears as she quickened her pace in their direction.

"We only need to take one of you," the one on the right spoke to Sylvie.

Sylvie's hand holding the laser trembled. Bastard. No one got away with scaring her friend. Sylvie wasn't as outwardly strong as Joni but she had a core of steel. Without each other as support both of them would have broken under the Marenians enslavement. Instead, they'd survived.

"Drop the weapon or we kill the child behind you, then the pretty blonde hovering in the doorway. One by one your friends will all die and we'll still take you." The one on the left ended his threat with a dark laugh.

Fear leeched the color from Sylvie's face. Joni crept closer, she could see the worry and panic as Sylvie's blue eyes clouded with indecision.

'Don't worry, girlie. I'm on this.'

The masks the men wore crinkled as they exchanged glances. They were about to make their move. The barrel of a weapon angled downward toward sweet, crying Aya. An icy chill traveled down Joni's spine.

"Very well, the child first."

Lissi screamed out in denial. "Nooo! Please!"

Chapter 8.

Ambassador Ilamon and his wife escorted Kyele and his team to a private room where excited servants offered them drinks and food, which they each refused. Suravi was obviously a favorite and the Ambassador wiped away tears as he patted Kyele on the back.

"The people of Trin are very thankful for the help of the Jutaks. The potential of peace between us and the Bexe will be the first of its kind because of your aid this day."

Kyele pushed back his hooded mask, the cooler air sifting through his sweat-dampened hair. "We were doing our job. You should increase your security until the truce is in effect."

Brushing at his thick silver-streaked mane, the ambassador agreed instantly, his leonine smile huge in his blue striped face. "Of course. We will request armed assistance."

Duna Ilamon, the ambassador's wife, came forward, her yellow ankle length skirt sweeping along the floor. Her nut brown skin matched Suravi's perfectly. She clasped Kyele's forearm and peered at him with sincerity blazing from her startling blue eyes. "If there is anything we can ever do for you, please don't hesitate. Suravi is our only." Her voice broke and her tail whipped up in agitation. "We can have no more children so you must understand how relieved we are to have her back."

The effusive thanks sent a flush up Kyele's neck. He preferred to be in the background and this was the reason why. Jaron did better at these face-to-face interactions. Even Faruk curse his soul, had handled people better than he did.

"Again, we do not need thanks."

A protest started on Duna's lips when the alert went off. Kyele pressed a finger to the black disc in his ear to silence it and noticed Savi, Stefin, Markus and Creed mirroring his action with a puzzled frown. Unease slivered through Kyele, increasing his desire to leave immediately.

He broke away from the Ambassador's wife to squat beside Suravi. "You will be alright now."

She looped her arms around her father's legs but smiled at Kyele. He noted no shadows in her eyes from her harrowing experience. "Evidi'shuu." Thank you.

"Evidi'shaa." You are much welcome. He rose to his feet smoothly, ignoring the smirks from his team as they rushed back to the waiting shuttle.

"You are good with children, Kyele." The others joined in laughing at Savi's quip.

Kyele stared, gaze going cold and unflinching. The grin fell from Savi's lips as he hurriedly fastened his safety harness. The typical reaction amused Kyele.

As soon as he settled in his own seat, he unsheathed his knife and began rolling the blade between his fingers with unerring accuracy and contacted Jaron. His pleasure at a successful mission was short lived as he placed the Team Leader on speaker.

"Team Two report to Enotia immediately regardless of mission status. Repeat return to Enotia." Nothing could hide the terror in Jaron's voice.

"Jaron, Team Two on route. Status of emergency?"

The gazes of the others burned brightly as they waited, their ribbing of one another cut off abruptly.

"The facility was attacked."

Kyele stilled. He thought of sparkling gold eyes and hair like fire. Gone? Not possible. Torkel's security measures had security measures. No way anyone could breach their home. But what if someone had? What if they'd taken away the only female Kyele cared for? He forced the next word through stiff lips. "Casualties?"

Savi leaned forward. Creed and Stefin sat with hands knotted in their laps. Markus pounded the overhead panel, denting the metal with his fist.

"I do not know." Kyele drew in a sharp breath, legs braced apart as Jaron continued. "The perimeter alarms were turned off an hour ago."

"By who?" Anger snapped through Kyele's tone. Those alarms were to be on at all times.

"Joni's code was used."

Lancing pain pierced his middle. Kyele lowered his head, ramming the fingers of one hand through his hair and stared at the floor to conceal his unguarded expression. Had she disarmed them voluntarily or under duress?

"The secondary alarm to the rear door signaled ten minutes ago. Joni again. Team Three is dark. We can't recall them. I'm heading back with Team One but you're closer."