Page 103 of Green Ravens

“What are you proposing?” Mirage asked from his partner’s shadow.

“That the Blacks and the Browns join us. We know now that we shouldn’t be fightingagainstyou. You’re more than worthy adversaries. It took the OmegaandLion to distract you enough for us to get Zelmir.”

“In which we were almost killed,” Mirage snarled.

Chief Aiken Oakley

Valor

Valor cringed.

From what Lion had told them, they’d been close to killing the Browns for their treachery.

“That wasn’t the intention. We risked everything to protect him,” Zorion challenged.

Valor stalked through the dense bushes, muscles coiled, his razor claws flexed and ready. Zorion had his longbow strapped across his back, but he knew he wouldn’t need it.

“If you choose to blindly follow the director’s orders, Zelmir will end up captive…again. They want the formulas in his head for the thermonuclear device he can build. We destroyed the first one made in an attempt to keep it out of the wrong country’s hands. Meaningeverycountry.”

“If it’s destroyed, then Zelmir Benton is safe.”

Valor stared hard. He couldn’t figure out if Grace was incapable of speaking or if Mirage always did the talking for both of them.

“No, he’s not. Countries have enlisted their most dangerous mercenaries to capture him again. And just like the Ravens’ attempt, Zelmir will be starved and tortured until he makes another one. A weapon that’s worth billions.”

“Fuck,” Grace rumbled in a deep baritone.

So he does speak.

“The organization has manipulated us. We are pawns in a game where the rules benefit only them. It’s no longer about missions of justice. You’re being sent to take innocent lives for the director’s greed.”

They were silent for a long time as Zorion seemed to let that devastating intel sink in for the Browns.

“We can no longer turn a blind eye.Together, we can expose them and set things right.”

Grace nodded to Mirage.

“We will stand with you,” Mirage agreed. “But if you cross us…you do it at your own peril.”

Valor let out a low growl.

He didn’t like the way that threat sounded. It was time for them to go. He still didn’t trust the Browns. They’d met, as Jo had asked, and now they were done.

He motioned for Zorion to send Jo’s final message then they’d leave the same way they’d come.

Suddenly and without a trace.

Meeting adjourned.

He watched Zorion snatch another arrow from behind his back, then pulled the folded note Jo had written from his front pocket and attached it to the tip.

He heard him nock it and pull the string taut, the idler wheel turning to give enough power for the arrow to penetrate the tree trunk behind Grace’s head.

Zorion fired—then it happened, a shift in the atmosphere.

A presence he nor Zorion sensed until it was too late.

Valor gaped at the figure standing cloaked in the edges of the moonlight.

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