Page 63 of Broken

She bit her lip. “I think so.”

Cole said to Gunn, “We’re pinned down in the parking lot by the motor pool.”

“Sending assistance.”

“Wait,” he said, as Ireland glared at him. “Do you have an ETA for Thanatos? Tinkerbell says she and I can seal the wards.”

Gunn’s voice came back. “Can, or might be able to?”

Cole sighed. “Might.”

Gunn said, “Thanatos is on his way. ETA fifteen to twenty minutes.”

Both of them knew that a lot of damage could be done in fifteen minutes. A lot of wolves could die. They were holding back the assault, but if the breach became big enough…

Rex, Gunn’s other lieutenant, came on. “Breach at the Rec Hall perimeter. One combatant wide. Defense is holding.”

Cole said, “We’re going for it. Tell Alpha Squad to cover us—I don’t want those goons to blow up a Hummer in our faces.” He paused. “And if it works here, we’ll need a squad to get us up to the Rec Hall.”

“Roger that. Do what you can.”

Cole told Ireland the revised plan. Then he opened the back of the Hummer to access the equipment locker. Punching in the code, he came out with a semiautomatic rifle, which he slung over his shoulder, and a spare earbud for Ireland.

“Put this in,” he told her. “Try not to let all the voices distract you. But you need to be able to hear what’s going on.”

She did as she was told. He took her hand to lead her into position, and she pulled him back. “Cole,” she said. “You have to open up to the magic. If you hold back, it won’t work.”

Fuck. He checked the battle by the gate again. Two Outlaw Ridge soldiers were down, although they were still moving. The breach was getting wider.

He’d rather face the guns. But all he could do was his best. “Let’s do this,” he said, and tapped his earbud. “Alpha squad! Magic commencing in three… two… one…”

He and Ireland stepped out to where they had a clear shot at the perimeter breach, but were still partly sheltered by the Hummer. She activated her magic, sharing it with him through the bracelet like they’d done so many times before. He stared at the break in the wards, looking at the way the magic was woven together. He could almost see what they needed to do to fix it…

A barrage of bullets hit the Hummer’s armored hide, a scant foot from them. He pulled Ireland back against his chest, turning, and saw one of Alpha Squad take out the shooter.

He kept her in his arms, feeling the connection building between them. She said, “Now!” and pulled on the magic.

He felt the barriers between them open, magic filling the gaps, felt the connection between them that was almost as profound as sex. His hand over hers, they stretched their arms out, palms toward the gate, sending a stream of magic to shore up the wards.

The magic hit the ground at the base of the breach, knocking back a Fae warrior about to step through. It began to push up the sides, weaving a wall connecting both sides of the breach.

The Fae sorcerers fought back, trying to negate their magic. Others shot bullets and missiles their way.

They all went wide. Partly because of Alpha Squad’s defense, and partly, Cole realized, because they wanted Ireland alive.

Without intending it, he was using her as a shield.

Shame and fury swept through him, and with it, the gates of memory cracked open. Battles he’d fought. Horrors he’d seen; horrors he’d perpetrated. Things Special Ops had made him and his squad mates do.

Mutilated bodies. Screaming children. Mothers weeping in despair…

He tried to shove it away, close it off. The stream of magic faltered and sputtered.

Cole! Ireland said inside his head. Give me the power. Take down the barriers!

I’m trying!

Riker’s voice in his head said, Try harder, motherfucker! Are you going to let your packmates die for you because you can’t face who you are? Are you going to let her die?