Page 28 of A World Enough

She knew the layout of these transport ships. They had an equipment locker at the back for weapons, environmental suits, and the like. If they could get to that gear, they had a chance.

The two Drazani guards were engaging in pre-launch routines. The engines were on and covered the sound of their feet, scurrying to the back.

“Hurry up, idiots,” one soldier said, showing impatience with the clean up happening in the hangar. “We have a schedule to meet.”

Camber opened the locker door, and they both went in.

Brogan and Camber had been in the small, tight locker for fifteen minutes before the transport got off the ground.

“What was that stuff you shot at the wall?” Brogan asked.

“A sticky compound that causes small explosions. It’s been really helpful to me in the past.”

Brogan gave her a half smile and shook her head. “That really is a bag of tricks you have, isn’t it?”

Camber had a self-satisfied look and smile on her face, and it really annoyed Brogan. “Just part of the Map Keeper’s tools.”

“Of course.” Brogan rolled her eyes.

Why was it that she had found this woman’s scent intoxicating, whose touch burned her neck and cheek? A woman who also kept her under lock and key.

Brogan thought she really had been alone too long. She clearly ached for some no-strings fun, but at the moment that didn’t seem likely.

“Brogan, I need you to listen with those big wolf ears and tell me when the base gives the transport clearance to leave and we’re above the atmosphere.”

Brogan tried to stretch out her long limbs.

“And would you stop trying to push me out of the locker. Why do you have to be so tall, anyway?”

Brogan leaned into her and whispered, “Because I’m a dominant wolf, sister of the Irish Alpha, big and strong enough to protect my pack and mate.”

She could see Camber’s cheeks go pink. Feeling a little hot, Map Keeper? Brogan thought.

Camber brought her fingers to her lips and shushed her. Brogan sighed.

She felt the ship lift off. It was an unnerving feeling. She didn’t even particularly like flying in planes, and here she was lifting off and heading to the upper atmosphere and beyond.

Her little niece Orla would have loved this. She was obsessed with space and aliens, but the aliens she read about and watched on YouTube were the greys—short, grey skinned, with big black eyes.

She had yet to meet one like that here—just Drazani guards, which were grey skinned but big and chunky, built like rhinos. And an infuriating Map Keeper.

After a few minutes she heard over the comms, “You’re cleared to leave, transport five.”

“Thank you, base.”

Brogan nodded to Camber.

Camber took one gun from the locker and handed it to her, but Brogan didn’t need a gun.

She signalled to Camber to follow her.

“Wait—” Camber couldn’t even finish her whisper.

Hell’s wolf, Camber shouted inside her head.

She watched as Brogan opened the door slowly and crept her way up behind one of the soldiers and, in a flash, twisted and broke his neck.

“Stop,” the other soldier shouted and tried to get his weapon, but Brogan was much too quick for him.