More growling answered me. Meanwhile, Lucas pulled on the clothes from the dead Ranti. I handed him back his pack, and then we helped Cody drag both the snoring Dragon and the Ranti into the building, stashing their bodies in an empty room.
“Ben says the explosions lured a bunch of guards out of the compound,” Maddy reported.
“In here, quick, and cloose the door,” Logan said. “Someone’s cooming.”
We hustled into the room, and Cody pulled it shut. A moment later, heavy footsteps stomped by, heading for the rear entrance.
He opened it again and peered out. “Okay. With any luck, they’ll assume the missing guards joined those out front. Maddy, you ready?”
She nodded.
“Let’s go.”
Lucas led the way. He became valuable before we’d gotten halfway to the stairwell that would take us to the lower level. We rounded a corner and ran right into a Dragon guard. He almost ignored Lucas and started to walk right by, but then stopped, his face contorting into a frown as he turned toward us. With resignation, I noticed him inhale.
“I don’t know you.” The Dragon shifter narrowed his eyes.
My heart stuttered to a halt, but Lucas’s voice was low and gravelly as he replied, “Just started. Gotta say, pretty easy deal.”
The Dragon snorted. “Yeah, it’s easy until it isn’t. Put a foot wrong, and Xumi will haul you down to that dungeon of hers. No one comes back from there.”
My gut twisted.
“Thanks for the tip,” Lucas said easily. “I’ll watch my step.”
The Dragon continued to frown as he turned away. I breathed a sigh of relief as he vanished around the corner.
Cody exhaled.
Lucas was awesome,Matt assessed.
He was, I had to agree. We followed him down the long hall and around another corner. There was a guard at the top of the stairs. Another Dragon. Without waiting for direction, Lucas jogged straight up to him.
“Didn’t you hear the explosion?” he said. “They need you out front.”
The Dragon glanced toward the hall leading to the front entrance, unsure.
“I’ll stay here,” Lucas offered. “They need wings.”
The big shifter nodded and trotted off.
“Well done, Lucas,” Cody praised, holding the door open for the rest of us. “Tell Aria to move in.”
Lucas nodded, and his eyes flashed as he summoned Aria and our Dragon-assault squad. Then he led us down the stairs.
There’s usually a guard at the bottom. A Ranti today, I think. Mean bastard.
I reached to touch Lucas’s arm. “The bottom guard is a Ranti.”
Lucas nodded. Cody moved up behind him, his eyes alight. The Ranti was watching for us. His gaze fastened on Lucas, and his heavy brows rose as his eyes searched beyond him. I guessed we hadn’t been as quiet as we could have been.
He frowned at Lucas. “Who are you?”
“Just started,” Lucas said. But I could tell the Ranti wasn’t buying it, and Lucas knew it too. He took a step toward the doorway. The guard moved to block him.
Which gave Cody room to slip in behind...
16
