Page 83 of Legend

The pilots ran off in one direction, and I looked toward the stairs.

“Shall we?” The deep, rumbling voice from behind me sent a shiver down my back.

I didn’t need to turn to know it was Vyk as warmth suffused my body and heated roiled in my core. I reached for his hand,and it enveloped mine as he gave it a gentle squeeze. “Let’s do it.”

Noora and Reina gave me knowing smiles as they stepped aside for us to pass. Then the sirens began to wail.

Chapter

Sixty-Four

Vyk

Idid not release Fiona’s hand as we raced up the stairs, but I did slow my pace to adjust for her smaller stride. Even so, we raced down the hallway and burst through the open door of Admiral Zoran’s office.

Tivek barely glanced up as he bent over the broad desk next to Zoran. The admiral did not look up, although he addressed me before Fiona and I had crossed the long room.

“Tell me what you know, Commander.”

“Not enough,” I said. “The human successfully blocked our communications, but it is my fault that I was distracted and did not notice the gap in transmissions. He must have disabled my communication settings when he broke into my office, or he deleted warning messages.”

“Or both,” Fiona said in a low voice that dripped with rage.

“I should have connected the dots sooner and known that there was a swarm coming. I did read reports of the Kronock reporting colonies being devoured. I should have known.”

Fiona squeezed my hand fiercely. “It is easy to think that now, but you had no way to know.”

She might be right, but that did not make me feel better. I was the security chief. I should have seen the signs.

“You are not the only one who was too focused on the envoy’s visit to note the change in communications.” Zoran glanced up, flitted his gaze to my hand holding Fiona’s, and then returned his attention to the tablet on his desk. “I suspect that was the captain’s plan.”

Fiona cleared her throat. “I am also to blame. I might have been the reason he requested the assignment and withheld important information.”

Zoran grunted. “There is not one to blame but the human who betrayed our alliance.” He curled a fist on the desk. “I assume he has been handled?”

“He is unconscious in our dungeons,” I said, even though a part of me wished that he had regained consciousness when I had imprisoned him. I would have enjoyed an Inferno Force-style interrogation.

Zoran waved a hand in the air. “As you can hear, our long-range, proximity sirens have been triggered, but we have not pinpointed the location of the enemy.”

“Does this swarm have stealth technology?” I asked, my heart stuttering at the thought.

“No, but from what I understand, the swarm is not a typical fleet of ships either. That could be making it hard for our sensors.”

Tivek cleared his throat. “Incoming transmission from High Command, Admiral.”

Zoran straightened as a life-sized, holographic figure flickered to life beside me.

I pivoted to look at the Drexian with dark, shaggy hair and a sash crossing his dark uniform. I knew High Commander Dorn, but not from his position on High Command. I knew him from his illustrious time as an Inferno Force Commander. I released Fiona’s hand so I could thump a fist across my chest just like Zoran and Tivek.

Dorn acknowledged our salutes with one in return, even though as High Commander, he owed us no such honor. But Dorn was not your typical member of the High Command. Yes, he came from a prestigious clan, but he had always preferred life on a gritty Inferno Force battleship on the outskirts of the galaxy, and he had always respected the service and honor of his fellow Drexians.

“I regret that we must see each other this way,” he began, “but I am grateful to finally reach you.”

The admiral nodded. “We have just become aware of our jammed communications and of a traitor in our midst.” He added quickly. “This time a human, not a Drexian.”

Dorn frowned and scraped a hand down his scruffy cheeks. “The envoy from Earth?”

Zoran made a sound in the back of his throat that was his version of a yes.