Free Kierra's Thread (Argadian Heart Trilogy Book 2) by Adrianna Dane Page B

right. You shouldn’t have come when you did. You
could have been damaged.”
    “Can you walk, Bakari?” Devon wanted to know.
    Jarek looked over at him. “One way or the other. I’ve had
enough of a revisit to this dwelling of Haydon.”
    Devon nodded. “Our friend here, Skorda, will get us out of
here. Won’t you, Skorda? You see, he likes life and we’ve come to an agreement
on a few things, haven’t we?”
    Skorda nodded but wouldn’t look at any of them. He fidgeted
and swallowed nervously. Who would have thought that Tribunal Leader Odon would
breed such a coward? She guessed it served him right.
    “This lab needs to be destroyed. Corbin, do you have the
explosives? Let’s get them set and get out of here.” He turned back to Skorda.
“Now tell me about this drug and the program you used on Jarek.”
    Skorda licked his lips. “Wh-what do you want to know?”
    “Don’t be stupid, you white-bellied slitherer. I want to
make sure everything is destroyed. Are there any other copies of the program?
What about the drug?”
    “It was still in the experimental stages. It was contained
here in the lab until my father was satisfied with its effect. This was
supposed to be the final test.” His glance flickered over to Jarek and then
away quickly.
    “All right. Get those charges set and let’s get out of here.
Skorda, you get to come with us.” Devon lifted him roughly from the chair.
    “What do you mean?” he screeched. “I’ve done what you
asked.”
    “We’re not out of here yet. You’re going to make sure we all
get out of here safely. Let’s go.”
    Corbin and Torak strode back into the room a short time
later. “All set,” Corbin said as he tossed the empty backpack onto the desk
after pulling free the detonator. “Once we’re outside the gates, I’ll press the
little red button. This place will go up like a skyfire in midsummer.”
    “Bakari, you going to make it?”
    Jarek rose to his feet, weaved a bit, but managed to remain
standing. Kierra moved next to him and put an arm around his waist to lend
support. Torak went to his other side.
    Kierra looked at Devon. “He’ll make it. Lead the way.”
    Devon pushed Skorda ahead of him toward the tubulator. “You
first, Skorda. Watch what you say and how you say it and you’ll get out of here
with your skin intact. Just remember—we die, you die first.”
    Devon pushed the button and the door slid open. He shoved
Skorda inside. Torak and Kierra moved slowly, assisting Jarek. Eluria and
Corbin followed behind.
    “Beam us up, Eluria.” Kierra saw Eluria roll her eyes at
Devon’s comment and she smiled.
    “He’ll never change.”
    Eluria punched the button. “He’s so addicted to those old
Earth shows. I sometimes don’t know how he stands himself.”
    The door slid closed and they waited impatiently for it to
arrive at the top level.
    Time was short and Kierra now wondered how much of Jarek’s
memories were recovered. He’d said sanctuary was gone forever. If it truly was,
she would create a new one for them. She knew he’d created sanctuary from the
memories of his beloved Serdion. It was his only retreat from the reality of
Odon.
    She’d never been to Serdion when it had been a thriving
planet. She would find a way to give him back what he’d lost one way or the
other.
    And then she also realized something else. Devon and Eluria
had both touched her. That had been something she’d been unable to tolerate in
the years since escaping from the compound. It had only been recently Jarek was
able to touch her without the veil of pain consuming her. She hadn’t tried with
anyone else.
    But today there’d been not even a twinge. Had all that rage
and anger she’d bottled inside been released when she’d finally confronted
Odon? She didn’t know and there was no time to examine the feelings now. Once
they were away and safe again, then she would have time to understand what had
happened.
    For right now she was just grateful Jarek