Page 74 of The Brightest Night

“Must be some kind of protocol,” Gabe said. “In response to whatever is happening out there.”

“Well, I don’t like it,” Naxon replied. “Romax is out there. He could be in danger.”

“Why did he leave?” Gabe asked.

“I don’t know,” Naxon said.

I tried the door just to be sure, just to have something to do to distract myself from the blaring alarm that made it hard to think. “What time is it?”

“Just before dawn,” Gabe said.

“How do you know that?” Naxon asked.

“Internal clock.”

Naxon paced, his body wound tight with tension, and my stomach tied itself into intricate knots. Surely if I was so important to these people, they would have sent someone to get us or at least tell us what was going on.

Long minutes passed, the alarm becoming background noise. Then silence.

Absolute deathly silence.

We exchanged glances.

“It’s over,” Kai said. “Whatever it is.”

Gabe stepped toward the exit, and the doors opened, admitting two large males wearing black goggles and black fitted uniforms, wielding guns in metallic hands.

How could augmented be here?

They flanked the door, weapons trained on us.

Gabe and Naxon moved to flank me while Kai stepped in front of me, his canine frame vibrating with lethal intent.

“Kai. Don’t.”

I had no doubt they’d shoot him down if he attacked.

“Stand down!” A man strode in dressed in the same uniform as the other two, the lower half of his face obscured by a black mask. His crimson hair was slicked back, and his tawny gaze was trained on me.

Drax? I opened my mouth to say something, but he shook his head slightly, warning lighting up his eyes. I clamped my mouth shut.

“By order of Divinos, all personnel in the complex are under arrest,” he said. “You will come with me.”

Romax appeared in the doorway, but his focus was on Drax. “The female is the one he’s looking for.”

Drax nodded. “Noted.”

“Romax?” Naxon shook his head. “What did you do?”

Romax fixed a cool gaze on Naxon. “What I was sent into the north to do. Find the Primus complex and shut down the wards so Divinos can bring these fugitives to justice. Nova is simply a bonus.”

“You…you betrayed us?” Naxon lunged, and the magimech trained their weapons on him.

I grabbed his arm. “Don’t.”

Drax nodded at his guards. “Escort them to my ship.” He gave me a pointed look. “Make sure they remain there until I arrive.”

The guards ushered us into the corridor, and Romax made to follow.