Kyele's Passion: A World Beyond Book 4 by Michelle Howard Page A

Kyele couldn’t turn it down once he knew Torkel had more than likely worked hard behind the scenes to secure the spot on his behalf.
    “It’s pretty simple.” Kyele met the gaze of each of the males kneeling in a semi-circle around him. “We move in quiet. No weapon fire if possible.”
    Kyele checked the time. Less than thirty before their shuttle would return to take them away. They were on Ruandin to rescue the Ambassador of Trin’s daughter. The war between Bexe and Trin had been going on for nearly a year but both countries were close to coming to an agreement for a cease fire.
    Revolutionaries from Bexe had snatched the little girl right from her bedroom in the Ambassador’s secure residence three days ago. The kidnappers hoped to influence his decision in the upcoming election by holding Suravi Ilamon hostage.
    Kyele pointed upward to the barely visible balcony. Jaron’s intel confirmed it as the room the captors assigned little Suravi. “I’m going in that way to make the grab.”
    “Where do you want me?” Creed asked, his blue eyes narrowed beneath the hooded mask they all wore.
    “You’re covering the front door. Markus, Stefin and Savi will secure the perimeter.”
    They all nodded and faded back into the underbrush, the darkness aiding their efforts. Kyele tapped the comm in his ear and activated his mic for one last sound check. “Ready on three?”
    “Ready.” Markus and Savi’s voice.
    “Affirmative.” Stefin’s response.
    Creed’s trademark tap came across the line. Kyele rose to his feet and slid his sniper laser over his shoulder in the custom holster. He wasn’t as good a shot as Faruk but he didn’t often miss his target. The decision to not use weapons if possible was a last minute change. Kyele didn’t want to scare the child more than necessary. He focused on his inborn gifts and assumed his other form, reaching the thin ledge of the balcony moments later.
    A quick twist and the cheap lock on the glass door snapped between his fingers. He dropped low as he entered.
    “H-hello?”
    Kyele froze as soon as he crossed the threshold.
    “Is anyone there?” the tiny voice asked and a side light flickered on.
    Kyele rose from his crouch and came face to face with Suravi who knelt at the bottom of the bed. Her nut brown skin blanched at the sight of him. Someone had twisted her midnight colored mane into a single braid that lay over the shoulder of the blue sleep gown she wore. Thin blue stripes bisected her face denoting her lineage.
    “Jutak warrior. Don’t be afraid,” Kyele whispered for fear she’d cry out.
    He assessed her condition to determine if she was well enough for travel. Then taking him by surprise, Suravi flung back the covers of the narrow bed and shot toward him with a high pitched squeal. Only his quick reflexes had him catching her slight weight in his arms before she tumbled to the floor.
    “Did my pita send you?”
    Keeping his voice low, Kyele cradled her in his arms and glanced around the room decorated for a girl’s comfort. “Yes, and we need to leave right now.”
    He didn’t have Arak’s shifter senses but his gut warned him that they needed to go.
    Suravi’s brown eyes sparkled as she looped her thin arms around his neck. Her relieved smile reminded him of another brave woman in the face of her rescue. “I’ll be so quiet the bad men won’t hear me.”
    “Too late.”
    Kyele didn’t hesitate. He palmed one of his knives from his thigh, flinging it in the direction of the voice in the doorway. The shaft buried itself in the intruder’s throat and he hit the floor with a thud a second later.
    Suravi didn’t cry out but she tucked her face close to Kyele’s neck and her entire body trembled.
    “Fuck.” He propped her hip on one arm and tapped his comm. “Coming out with the Ambassador’s daughter.”
    “You shouldn’t use bad words.” Suravi’s mumble overlapped the acknowledgement of his team.
    The need to hurry prodded at him. He