Free Winter's Warrior: Mark of the Monarch (Winter's Saga 4) by Karen Luellen Page B

almost seemed to bubble before they turned a wet, sickly black like hot tar.  The black shadow grew beyond the laws of physics.  It seemed to be taking on a shape of its own…separate of Williams.  But as the evil doctor moved his arms out to his side, Meg saw the shadow stretch dragon-like wings . 
    A demon shadow?
    Creed’s strong hand reached out and grabbed Meg’s.  “The grenades, where are they?”  He whispered with a controlled calm that forced Meg’s attention. 
    Did he see what I just saw?
    She reached to her waistband and pulled out the two metal, lumpy spheres. 
    “On the count of three, we throw these.  You throw right, blocking the soldiers’ path toward the admin building.  I’ll throw left, aiming for Williams and Miro.    We both run to your mom.   I’ll collect her, and you provide cover fire.  Then we get the hell out of here.”
    “How?” Meg was trying to control her panic, drawing her strength from Creed’s courage.
    “Send Alik an empath message.  Tell him to stop the van at the gate.  Can you do that?”
    “I think I can,”
    “No time to stop now, they’re about to take her away.  Ready?” 
    Together Creed and Meg carefully moved to a standing position, still hidden in the shadow of the building and nodded a silent countdown, yanked out the safety clips and threw their grenades.
    They arched perfectly, the moonlight glinting off the olive green metal. 
    Meg closed her eyes and forced herself to focus on Alik , mentally screaming down the silver connection she knew tied her to her brother, insisting he stop the van and wait for them. 
     

Chapter 12   Eight Minutes-ish
     
    “What’s wrong?”  Farrow had moved to sit in the front passenger seat next to Alik while they waited for their signal when she noticed a strange expression take over Alik’s face.  The baby had settled back into a deep sleep and was drooling on Farrow’s strong shoulder.  His fist was still holding a lock of Meg’s dark hair.  The little boy had moved his hand to hold it close to his face, as though breathing her scent was his soothing tonic.
    Alik had been quiet and on-edge, but now he looked as though he w as trying to hear something from far away, his eyes wide and ear cocked.
    “Alik?” Evan’s voice came from the back of the van.  He was holding the metal box in his hands, fingers trying not to feel twitchy as the d etonation button was right at his fingertips.
    “After we detonate, we need to drive to the front gate and wait there.” Alik’s voice sounded whispered and dreamlike.
    “What?  Why?  Creed told us to go back to the hotel.” Farrow tried to stay calm, as the baby seemed to sense her sudden change in emotions by stirring in her arms.  She couldn’t help it, though.  The idea of staying one second longer near Williams, his deadly metas or his secret Monarchs made her heart race and her muscles knot. 
    “Meg,” Alik said softly.  “She’s telling me to stay there and wait for her.”
    Just then they heard what sounded like one enormous explosion.  All their heads whipped around to follow the sound and saw a burst of light.
    “That’s the signal.  Detonation in three, two, one!” Evan flipped the safety cover up and pressed the switch.  The grenades’ explosion sounded like a sneeze compared to Evan’s explosives designed to demolish an entire three -story building and the basement below. 
    Thunderous explosions one right after the other blended into a deafening roar.  The cement walls of the hospital seemed to melt off the metal frame like a surreal Salvador Dali painting.  White dust burst violently into the air causing a malevolent plume of gases and debris. 
    “Drive, Alik!” Evan called, as the thick dust cloud exploded and burst toward their van.  Alik stepped on the gas pedal and glanced in the rearview mirror just in time to see the first of a series of jarring explosions coming from what used to be the third