Page 69 of Marc
I blew out a breath. I needed to focus on the landing, not this man who was driving me crazy.
I zeroed in on a grassy area beside the base. It was encircled by trees, but there was just enough room for me to land the Talon there.
I’d stay on the ground with the bird, while Hunter Squad went to get the threader. I’d keep the Talon’s security system operational until the guys returned.
God, I hoped they’d be okay in the base. I always worried about them, but now, after being with Marc…
They’re good at their job, Colbie. The best at what they do.
“Okay, we’re coming in to land.” I circled the quadcopter over the tight clearing. There were no signs of any monsters, thankfully.
I adjusted the controls, then started lowering the aircraft.
Trees brushed the side of the Talon. The maintenance mechanics would be pissed. They treated every scratch as an insult, and I was on thin ice after crashing one of their babies.
“Okay, we’re nearly down. I think?—”
Bang.
The entire Talon shuddered, and a shadow fell over me.
Gasping, I grabbed the controls to steady the quadcopter.
Through the cockpit windshield, my gaze locked on the burning red eyes of the giant wolf monster. It had leaped onto the Talon.
Its nose pressed to the cockpit glass, then it opened its jaws and it roared.
I fought to keep the Talon steady and not crash sideways into the trees. Shouting and cursing from Hunter Squad filled the copter. A massive paw slammed down on the Talon’s body, and I watched the metal bend and depress.
“Fuck!” Marc yelled. “We need to get it off.”
“I can land us. Hold on.” The controls shuddered under my hands.
Ignoring the monster, I fought hard to keep control of the aircraft. I gritted my teeth.
“You’ve got this, dove.”
Using every ounce of my concentration and skill, I descended the last few meters. The monster roared again and the quadcopter wobbled, brushing the trees.
“Youaren’tdamaging my Talon,” I gritted out.
The skids hit the ground.
The monster’s next roar gave me a perfect, close-up view of the wolf’s enormous fangs.
“Well done.” Marc gripped my shoulder.
“I’m not done yet.No onehurts my Talon.” I flipped open a cover on the console and pressed the button.
It activated the security system that Maxim had installed.
Electricity skated over the Talon’s outer surface. The voltage hit the monster, and its large body shuddered.
I smiled. “Don’t like that, do you?”
The monster slid off the Talon. I saw it land on the grass, moving weakly.
“We’ll take it from here, Colbie,” Jameson said.
