The Impossible Alliance

“Why?”

“Because he’d had me fly halfway around the world to rehash some wild Rebelian legend about the Gem of Power.”

“The Gem of—”

“Power.” She nodded. “I know. As wacky as it sounds, it’s true. It has to do with some ancient regional story about a jewel that was supposed to give one man the power to rule the world. Can you believe it? Karl Weiss was a contender for the Nobel prize in physics three years ago, and he’s wasting my time on some pile of hokey drivel. I was pissed as hell and I told him so.” Poor, driven, didn’t-get-out-much, Karl.

Maybe that’s why they’d hit it off.

“You’re sure it’s hokey?”

She blinked. Surely Jared wasn’t referring to Karl’s tale? She studied his face in the moonlight.

Good Lord, he was.

“What did you say your degree was in?”

“I didn’t.”

She waited.

“Well?”

“I dropped out before high school. Eighth grade. I have a GED.” Shame burned through her as he stepped away and turned to busy himself with tucking the spare ammo magazines into the side pockets on the rucksack. Except for the prosthetic chest, the remnants of her disguise followed his gear into the main pouch.

He pulled the flap down and tugged it tight.

Way to go, Alex. Open mouth, insert foot. Chew.

He stood.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why?” He shrugged. “I’m not.”

She opened her mouth, but his gaze cut her off. A gaze that unfortunately, despite the two feet of forest between them, she could see quite clearly. Steel wasn’t gray, it was amber.

Dark, cool amber.

He swung the ruck onto his shoulders, then grabbed the machine gun and prosthetic, effectively ending the conversation as he turned to take the lead position through the sparse but shadowy forest undergrowth. Maybe he was right. Maybe it was best to let it drop. At least for the moment.

She turned to follow him. Alex took exactly five steps—and stiffened.

Either Jared’s hearing was as good as hers or his instincts were better, because he swung around. “What is it? Are you still feeling dizzy—”

She held up her hand.

He fell silent. Unfortunately the forest didn’t. The sounds were faint, but they were definitely there. Snarling, yapping. Yelping. She definitely heard it. Heard them. An entire pack of them.

Dogs. Worse, she could make out the faint bellows of their handlers as well. Adrenaline surged through her. “Run!” She lurched forward and grabbed Jared’s arm, managing to drag his massive body a good eight feet before he jerked the both of them to a halt. “Move, dammit! I hear bloodhounds.”

And they were racing toward them.