“Then why is it so important, so dangerous, that someone wants you dead?” I thought of the assassins the other night and my grip practically strangled the controls. We’d avoided danger, so far. But taking the three females out into the city, exposing them to the world, made me edgy.
“I don’t know.”
I clenched my teeth to keep from snapping at my mate, demanding she answer me.
“We don’t, Leo,” Faith added.
“How do you know where it is? It’s not like there are places to hide something around the building. It is all open, with guards.”
“Our mother told us where to find it.”
“Your mother. On Earth.” This was hard to believe.
“Yes,” Trinity added.
The road we were on went directly to the citadel. The silver building could be seen in the distance before us, the glowing spire a beacon. We were a hundred feet from the guards, not close enough to raise an alarm, but being such a late hour and without anything to do, their attention was on our vehicle.
My frustration grew and I ran my hand through my hair. I wanted to wake up Prime Nial, force him to tell me more. It would be easier than prying the answer from these three stubborn females. Surely, they could handle the most ruthless of interrogators.
“Mate,” I growled, and not in a sexy way. “Where?” I couldn’t ask more. It sounded ridiculous. Where did your Earth mother tell you a secret package was hidden at the heavily guarded and fortified citadel on far-off Alera?
“Inside.”
A bark of laughter erupted and I stopped the vehicle in the middle of the street. There was nowhere else to go.
“Is your mother trying to get you killed?”
Trinity frowned, crossed her arms over her chest. She no longer wore the Earth garments, but an Aleran outfit I'd created using the S-Gen machine in my quarters. She didn’t look like she’d come from Earth any longer. She’d blend in perfectly on Alera, which was exactly what I wanted. To blend in so the assassins wouldn’t have such an easy target.
“Of course not.”
“Are you sure she doesn’t want you dead? Because there’s no way you can get into the citadel with the protection the ancients left behind. They created an energy field surrounding the inner sanctum. No one but their descendants, those of royal blood, can pass without being destroyed. Instant death, mate. I’ve seen it happen twice, right after the queen disappeared. Two of her less-blooded, greedy cousins tried to get inside. They wanted the throne, the power for themselves.”
“What happened?” Faith asked.
“Cellular disintegration. A heat so hot it’s cold. An explosion so fierce it doesn’t need oxygen. The body explodes, but implodes. Dust.” It had been years since anyone not of royal blood had tried to enter the citadel, and even then, it had only been those who wished to end their life, not ascend to the throne. “The clerics guard it night and day to stop others from attempting to end their own lives.”
“Jesus, the citadel is a suicide mecca?” Destiny flopped backward in the back seat and put the weapon she’d been cleaning on her lap. “Didn’t see that one coming. That really sucks.”
Trinity didn’t blanch, didn’t even flinch at what would happen to her if she attempted to cross the energy field. “We must go to the citadel, Leo.”
“Tell me why?”
“I can’t. I made a vow to my mother, to my sisters. I can’t tell you, but I’ll be back. I promise. I’ll find you.”
Find me? “What are you talking about?” I stared into sad eyes, eyes filled with regret and cold dread filled me even before I felt the hard end of a blaster pressed to the back of my neck.
“You’re getting out here, Leo,” Destiny said.
I stilled, looked to Trinity.
“We’re going in. That’s our mission. That’s why we’re here.” She held my stare for a moment, and I knew true terror. She was serious. Dead serious.
“Are you insane?” I asked, my heartbeat quickening. “You can’t go in there. You’ll die!”
She shook her head. “We won’t. Trust me.”
“You will, though,” Faith said. “You’re a nice guy. We like you in one piece. Especially Trinity. And I think she likes one piece in particular.”