Cyprian turned to see Riley had followed them outside.
“Riley go back in the warehouse, where it’s safe,” he insisted.
“I don’t think so. I told you, I’m not your slave. So, don’t think you can order me around,” Riley snapped at him. “Besides, you and I are the only ones who know what we’re dealing with.”
No, you are my mate, Cyprian wanted to growl, but this wasn’t the place.
“You are so damn stubborn,” Cyprian snarled, stepping into Riley’s personal space.
She didn’t flinch. Instead Riley stood straight and defiant, toe to toe with him.
“Riley!”
Sudden shouts and screams cut Cyprian off. They’d sounded the alarm too late. The attack was already under way. Stigand, Sundara’s brother, shoved through the row of trees with several guests in tow.
“There are snipers out there. I couldn’t see where they were coming from,” Stigand yelled over the chaos.
“Get these people into the warehouse, away from the windows,” Cyprian hollered back.
“Watch for flying orbs that blend into the surroundings.”
Stigand nodded to Riley, then ushered the panicked guests toward the building.
“Since you refuse to listen, stick by my side, and keep your head down,” Cyprian instructed Riley.
“Yes, master,” she retorted with a snarky smile.
“When this is over,” Cyprian started to say.
Riley gave him an exacerbated sigh as she looked to the sky, then pushed through the crowd streaming past them.
“You didn’t answer our questions,” Cyprian growled as he shoved Feroze ahead.
“I don’t know where the Jurou Biljana landed,” Feroze whined.
“Then tell us what you do know,” Riley snapped.
The trio entered the courtyard and were greeted by absolute mayhem. Two regents already lay dead on the ground, while others that hadn’t fled were cowering behind overturned tables.
“What in Kali’s name does Kagan think he’s doing?” Cyprian rumbled.
The Daimio was working his way around the perimeter, attempting to usher the regents and their families to safety. A flash of light speared through the air. Kagan dropped and rolled, narrowly missing the blast that sent cobblestone and dirt spraying.
“There,” Riley hollered as she pointed in the air.
Cyprian caught sight of the bird before it morphed and disappeared among the trees. Riley grabbed Cyprian’s bandolier and yanked him to the side, as another flash split the air. Cyprian felt the heat of the blast that nearly took off his head. Thanks to Riley, it shattered the planter behind him instead.
“Son of a metcor,” Cyprian growled.
“You put Cyprian on the hit list,” Riley snarled, as she punched Feroze in the face, making his busted nose start bleeding again.
Cyprian cast Riley a brief grateful smile. He should’ve known that Kagan’s top warriors would also be targets. His eyes widened in shock when Riley tore off part of her skirt. He watched in rapt attention as a swath of creamy thigh was revealed.
“Riley, this is not the time,” he said incredulously. Of all the inopportune moments for her to succumb to the conjugo bite.
“Oh please.” Riley rolled her eyes. “Put this on your head, and cover your face.”
She handed Cyprian the fabric, as they crouched near the destroyed planter. Cyprian took the section of her skirt feeling like a fool. The feeling quickly fled as Cyprian stared at Riley, while wrapping the fabric around his head. She wasn’t unaffected by all that was going on around them. Her hair was in disarray, sticking to her sweaty forehead. There were smears of dirt on her face and clothes. But Riley had her wits about her. Cyprian had seen warriors who weren’t as collected in the heat of battle.
Stunning.
“What’s the plan?” Riley asked, snapping Cyprian back to reality.
“I need to get control of the Anzac Guard.” As their general, they looked to Cyprian for their orders. “But first we need to reach Kagan, and knock some sense into him. Then we figure out a way to stop these things. If I remember right, they have a range of a thousand square hectares,” Cyprian spoke out loud as they moved around the perimeter of the courtyard.
“Cover your head,” Riley said to the regent they passed, who was trying to reach the warehouse.
Two Toufik from the plantation were helping the regent evacuate his family. The hairy people had noticed they weren’t targets, and were doing their best to get others out of the courtyard. Of course, that didn’t mean they couldn’t get caught in the cross fire.
“Wouldn’t the reptiles want to be close enough to see their handiwork?” Riley asked.