The Black Tide (Outcast 3)

I waited until they’d calmed down, and then said, “I’ll get you to repeat all that because I didn’t even catch half of it.”

Their giggles followed me as I walked across to the autocook to grab a coffee. It appeared almost instantly, and was so hot it steamed. Even so, it didn’t do a lot to chase away the tiredness that still rode me. I punched in an order for a steak and vegetables, and, once I was propped up on a seat, said, “Right, tell me again what happened when I left?”

Jonas and his people reentered the vampires’ cavern, Bear said. There was a big fight and lots of gunfire.

“Did anyone get hurt?”

One of Jonas’s people was killed, two were hurt, Cat said. But most of the opposition died.

“Including the man in charge—the one with the scar under his eye?”

He was injured but died not long after Jonas started interviewing him, Bear said.

“From his injuries?”

No, from a poison capsule, Jonas said. He was very annoyed.

I could imagine. “Are they on their way back?”

Jonas is, along with the injured. The rest remain to guard the facility.

“He surely can’t expect eight or so mercenaries to be able to hold such a vast complex.”

No, Bear said. Nuri gathers a larger force, but Jonas said it is difficult given they cannot yet involve the corps or anyone official.

Because they weren’t sure how far Dream’s evil tentacles reached. “What are they doing about the tunnel borer?”

They shut it down and locked away the men who were controlling it, Cat said. As near as they can figure, it was only fifty or so kilometers outside of Central.

Meaning they’d come close—so damn close—to achieving their goal. And while we were now safe from a tunneled attack, it really didn’t mean anything. If Dream did have a plan B that involved the lights, then everything we’d achieved up until now would be for naught. We needed to uncover how far the tendrils of her evil had spread, and we needed to do it fast if we wanted to save this city.

“Did the soldier mention anything about Central’s lights?”

Jonas never had the chance to ask.

“Damn.” I grabbed my steak

out of the autocook and dug out some cutlery from a nearby drawer. “Was he able to get anything at all from him?”

Little more than his name and rank.

Which was no damn help at all. I concentrated on demolishing my meal and then, once I was done, said, “Bear, I need you to go back to Jonas and tell him Dream was here in the guise of the chancellor, but I don't know if this was a one-off event or if she’s doing it more often. Tell him I wasn’t in a position to act against her, and that I think she suspects who I am.”

If that is so, Bear said, mental tone concerned, it might be best to leave.

“I can’t, because there’s not enough time left to set up a new identity or to get someone else inside.” Besides I knew—better than anyone—just how difficult it could be to track a body shifter. After all, I’d escaped dangerous situations more than a couple of times by altering my form and my scent to that of another.

But the strength and presence of mind required to pull off multiple changes over such a long period of time was finite—even for someone who’d been designed to do just that—and Dream certainly hadn’t been. Sooner or later, she would trip up. We just had to be sure we were near enough to take advantage of it.

And to do that, I had to remain near Charles.

What about me? Cat said, as Bear raced away.

“I need you to keep watch. I have to rest and recover, but I don’t trust that Dream or her people won’t come busting in here again.”

I didn’t actually think she would—not tonight, anyway. She was more likely to have my every move watched instead, but in this particular case, it was better to be safe than sorry.

No one will get near this place, Cat assured me. Not without me seeing them.