"Good pointers," he allowed. "You get one warning, Ash. If any member of your team goes off the reservation, they all die."

"They won't, Jonny," she said. She turned away and started towards her team.

"Ash," he called.

She faced him once more.

Jonny reached into his cargo pocket and withdrew a knife. He tossed it to her.

"I have a few already," she said, puzzled.

"This one is special," he replied. "This one killed Czerno."

Her eyes lifted to his, and he saw her surprise.

"It's for luck," he said awkwardly. "Return it to me when this is over."

She accepted it, her features glowing once again.

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"We know Brandon's there. We'll get him out," he added.

"Thanks." Her expression softened. "Try not to get killed."

Jonny watched her walk away, fighting the urge to say more. It wasn't the right time for him to show weakness of any sort, and emotions were weakness when he needed his head clear. Knowing she was going out unprepared to face Valon's vamps, he didn't think he'd be able to concentrate on his own objective for the night.

He motioned Charles over to him.

"Everyone ready?" he asked.

"Yes, ikir," Charles replied.

Jonny handed him a Taser. "When you get there, lure her away from her team and drop her. Your team's objective is now to find Brandon and get him and those fucking Guardians out of our business. Once they have Brandon and Ashley both, they leave or they die."

Charles met his gaze, surprised.

"You were right, Charles. I can't live with sending her out knowing we're going to get fucked up," he said. "She needs to make it out of this alive."

Charles accepted the Taser. "I understand, ikir."

"Do you think me weak for putting the lives of two Naturals above ours?" Jonny's gaze followed Ashley's movement through the vamps to her team.

"Never, ikir. But I think you underestimate her."

"I really don't care right now. As long as she survives."

"You're stronger than Valon. You have nothing to fear."

"There's always something to fear when you care too much about someone else," Jonny replied, troubled. "Remember - keep all the teams on their assigned locations and missions. When they're done, they come straight back here. Someone needs to survive this."

"Will not you share your location even with me?"

"No," Jonny said firmly. "This is my battle. I'll face it alone."

"May I speak openly?"

Jonny glanced at Charles. "Go."

"You need to survive this, ikir," his second said. "Your vision for the vamps, the ability for us to live alongside humans in peace, is worth fighting for."




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