by Lisa Lace
“Once we’re undetectable, I’m going to reprogram their alarm system. It’s supposed to trigger as soon as a spaceship enters the atmosphere. We’ll have about an hour to do everything before their software comes back online. If we’re not out of there in time, we’ll be sitting ducks for the defenses in orbit around the planet. They’re configured to fire missiles at any unknown spacecraft.�
“I wasn’t planning on staying there anyway.� I tapped my fingers on my outer thigh as I walked back and forth on the tiny ship.
“Sit down and put your belt on, Allex.� Anders motioned to the chair. “You never know when we’re going to run into trouble.�
Even though I didn’t want to sit still, I knew they were doing me a favor. I plopped down in the second gunner seat next to Avren and buckled the belts in an X across my chest. The ship wasn’t designed to run with every seat full. It was going to be crowded in here once we had Priya onboard.
Gwen turned in her seat so she could see Avren and me in the back and Anders beside her. “We’ll disrupt their alarm system, fly into the atmosphere, and wait. Once they start transferring Priya from the holding station into the shuttle for transport to the prison, we’ll dart in there, grab her, and get the hell out of there.�
“Right.� Anders nodded his head. “At that point, we turn on the hyperdrive and bounce all over the galaxy to throw them off our trail.�
I was impressed at how well Anders and Gwen worked together. My heart clenched as I wondered if Priya and I would ever have what they had.
“Where are we taking you?� They both looked at me expectantly.
“I don’t know.� My mind was blank. All I had thought about was getting Priya back.
“Are you guys going to hide somewhere? I assume we’re not going back to the mothership to tell Father and have a real wedding.�
I grimaced. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea. Let’s go to a place where the law can’t find us and Father won’t either.�
“What about Susohn?� Avren suggested in a quiet voice. “It’s a large planet with a decent population. You could disappear in one of the cities, and no one would ever know.�
“You could stay in the place with the university. What’s it called again?� Gwen frowned as she tried to remember.
“D’veeran,� Anders said. Ayrie had attended university on Susohn earlier, and we had all visited him before. Avren had completed some doctorate work too.
“That’s perfect, you guys. I was thinking about Susohn before when Priya and I were trying to figure out where we could go. It must have slipped my mind.�
Gwen nodded sympathetically.
“If you need help, I’m sure the king would give you a hand in an emergency.� Anders wasn’t explicitly saying someone might come to grab Priya again. The king was an acquaintance of ours.
Avren nodded. “Find some lawyers while you’re there. Maybe they can beat the stowaway charges.�
“I don’t think that’s going to happen.� I didn’t have any hope. “The only way out is if Father drops the charges himself. That’s about as likely as Priya growing wings.�
Avren looked at me with compassion. “Have you tried talking to him?�
“I barely know him.�
“He’s still your father, Allex. You said you were going to try and forgive him.�
“That was before he took Priya from me.�
Avren started to raise his voice. “You didn’t tell him she was your bond mate. It might have changed everything for him.�
“What if you asked Arnon to talk to him for you? Maybe he could convince Father to drop the charges,� Anders suggested.
I perked up at the thought. If anyone was capable of changing Father’s mind, it would be my oldest brother. “Yes, that might actually work.� I turned so I could see the red planet grow larger in the view screen. Before Arnon could help me, though, I would have to do something. My heart sank a little at the thought. “I would have to tell Arnon I bonded with Priya already.�
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We have to get her off Grayndelle first. We can worry about the rest later.� Gwen touched my arm. “I don’t think Priya wants you to make all the decisions for her. She probably wants to determine her own future.�
My father had somehow managed to keep going after my mother died. I felt a pang of sympathy for him. How could he continue living his life, let alone take on the responsibility of saving our people?
I had a flash of insight. His pain was driving him to make things better for everyone else. I was still hoping to get Priya back, and I felt terrible. The pain would be worse if I had no hope of ever seeing her again.
For one moment, I completely understood my father. I no longer saw him as a cold, somewhat cruel and distant man. I knew how he felt when my mother died. It must have been hell.
I wasn’t ready to forgive him for hurting us, but I thought I understood why he did it.
Anders looked up after a few minutes. “We intercepted an announcement. Their alarm system is experiencing unexpected difficulties due to atmospheric disturbances.� He grinned.
Gwen slowed down the ship and circled the space station in a wide pattern, entering into the atmosphere from the concealed side of the planet. “Anders, have you located Priya?�
“I’ve found her. We have a lock.� He brought up her position onto the screen.
“This place is hot.� Gwen wiped some sweat off her forehead.
The heat made the bump on my head ache, and I wished our flight was over already. I wanted to hold Priya in my arms again.
Avren felt the need to begin a lecture on the planet. “It’s so young that it hasn’t begun to solidify into rock yet. The entire surface is molten lava. Land’s cheap here. Several mining companies have moved their refineries to Grayndelle, and it’s a perfect environment for prisons. The two industries have built inertron platforms in strategic locations to let people live here.�
“What’s inertron?� Gwen lifted an eyebrow.
“It’s an artificial element that is indestructible after processing. Lava won’t touch it. I researched the planet on the way over here looking for useful information.�
“Avren, you don’t have to prove anything to us.�
Gwen interrupted me. “There it is.�
Our ship approached an inertron platform with a small building on it. I could sense Priya was inside. I felt a desperate energy fill my body and I wanted to start moving right away.
Anders took his hands off the controls. “I’m holding our position. When we see them transfer Priya, we’ll move in. All we can do is wait.�
“All we’ve been doing is waiting.� My muscles were becoming tense at the thought of having to sit still any longer. “I don’t think I can stand it.�
Anders glanced back at me. “You’re going to have to be patient. It shouldn’t be much longer. Let me check and see when the shuttle is scheduled to pick her up.�
I bounced my leg restlessly beside Avren until he gave me an annoyed look, which I ignored. I was close to her, and every second away from her felt like too long. I needed her in a way I didn’t think Avren could understand.
As far as I knew, he had never been head over heels in love with a girl. There was one girl he dated for a while in college, but it ended abruptly. I suppose if I were in his shoes and saw me acting like a lovesick fool, I might be annoyed too, but I co
uldn’t help it. We were close to ending the nightmare, but I was still deathly afraid for her.
“Found it. The exchange is scheduled for…â€� Anders glanced at his screen and frowned. “Something’s wrong.â€�
Gwen leaned over and looked for herself. “That’s not good.� She glanced back at me apprehensively.
“Let me out of here.� I fumbled with my seatbelt.
Avren put out his hand and stopped me from unbuckling. “There’s a backup system which automatically takes over whenever the central alarm system goes offline.�
“Of course there is.� Gwen frowned at Anders. From the guilty look on his face, he felt like he should have covered all the possibilities.
Anders cut to the chase. “There’s a force field around the recovery platform. We can’t get through without the access codes.�
“Do we have those lying around?� I finally found my voice.
Anders met my eyes. “We’ll need to generate them.�
“Can our computers work fast enough for us to grab her?�
He shrugged before turning his chair back to the console. A determined look passed over his face.
Gwen was frantically tapping at her computer. After a few minutes, she looked up at me and shook her head. “We don’t have enough processing power, Allex. If Anders can’t get the codes, we’re not going to be able to grab Priya. We’ll have to come up with something else. The shuttle is approaching.� She pointed at her screen.
I swore in my native language, spitting out every dirty word I could imagine. Avren turned his head in my direction, giving me a reproachful look. He rarely used foul language.
I desisted, holding my face in my hands. I wished I could calm down. I wasn’t going to be useful to anyone if I was a basket case. “Is the problem that a starship can’t get through the force field?�
Gwen was the only one who turned to look at me. Anders was completely immersed in his computer. “What do you mean?� She looked confused.
“How does the force field work? Is a person small enough to pass?�
She turned back to her computer and pulled up a diagram. “There are little bridges for emergencies. Nobody’s going for pleasure walks on them.�
“So?� I impatiently jiggled my leg as I waited for Gwen to reach a conclusion.
“The field is coded for ships. How could a person reach the platform without a ship on a planet covered with lava?� She gave me a meaningful look.
“You’re thinking like a human.� I grinned. “What if a person had wings?�
Chapter Sixteen
ALLEX
Gwen grinned and turned to face her computer. “I’ll get you as close as I can before you’re on your own.�
“Wait, Allex. Do you know how dangerous it is to fly in these conditions?� Avren reached out and grabbed my arm. “The heat will create updrafts and erratic currents. You’re going to have a hard time controlling your flight path.�
I shrugged, unbuckling and pulling off my shirt. “Do I have a choice? I have to try. Priya is the only thing that matters to me.�
Avren looked like he didn’t understand.
“Without her, I’ll be like Father.� A glimmer of empathy dawned in his eyes. He decided to try another tactic. “Anders, are you going to let him go through with this?�
Anders didn’t answer him.
Avren raised his voice. “Are you listening to me?�
Gwen decided to take matters into her own hands and shoved an elbow into Anders’ ribs. “You’re fine with him flying down by himself and getting Priya?�
Anders looked up. He had a blank expression on his face. Anders had been entirely concentrating on a task and hadn’t been listening to any of us.
“What?� His brain slowly caught up to his ears. “No, that doesn’t sound like a good idea. Allex, are you planning to fly down there yourself?�
“It gives Priya the best chance. You won’t be able to get the codes in time. I’ll fly down, pick her up, and get back to the ship.�
He looked at me like I was out of my mind. “Do you know how hard it will be to fly in these conditions?� He looked at the surface of the planet.
“Avren just told me I was flying to my doom.�
“Allex, you shouldn’t do it.�
I wasn’t going to let them tell me what to do again. “Think about this. If Gwen was down there, would you sit around and wait for me to get the codes?�
Anders’ eyes flicked across to his fiancée, but he didn’t answer.
I stood up and deployed my wings without thinking about it. The pain was excruciating, but I wouldn’t have been able to pull them out if I’d thought about it too much. Anticipating the pain could paralyze me.
I could have used the changing room. Even though everyone would have heard me in agony, they wouldn’t have seen me. But I had been thinking about Priya, not keeping up appearances.
Once I could see and hear again, and the pain wasn’t consuming my thoughts, I took a deep breath and looked around. The three of them were staring at me, transfixed. Their faces were white and aghast. Avren looked like he was about to vomit.
They hadn’t seen me take out my wings since the infection. I was usually careful about doing it in private because I didn’t want to make a scene.
Avren’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Is it always so bad, Allex?�
I looked back and forth between them. “It’s difficult for everyone. Don’t worry about it…�
“It’s never been like that for me.� Avren’s eyes filled with anguish. “I had no idea it was so bad.�
I shrugged. “There are some things I can’t change, so I don’t worry about them. I survive every single time. It will be okay, Avren.� I put a hand on his shoulder. He looked shaken.
“I wonder if I could do something about it.�
I frowned. “What are you talking about?�
“Never mind.� Avren looked like he was thinking about something, but he wasn’t ready to share it yet. “You should focus on getting Priya. And be careful.�
I nodded. “I’ve got it under control.� I nodded at Gwen, and she opened the hatch on the floor.
“The guards have gone in already. They should be out any minute.� She took a deep breath.
I gave my wings a quick pump to work out the stiffness. Some rough flying was in front of me, and I wanted to be ready.
“Have a safe flight, brother.� Anders looked like he was afraid he would never see me again.
“I’ll be right back.� I hoped I would be.
I jumped before I lost my nerve.
Chapter Seventeen
PRIYA
I was dozing on the cot when the sound of the door opening startled me out of my uneasy slumber. I opened my eyes to see two guards lurking outside the entrance.
I sat up quickly. The manacles clinked as I wiped away the sweat, which was my only companion on this planet. One guard entered the room, keeping a gun trained on me. The other waited outside the door.
“It’s time for you to move. We’re taking you to your permanent destination.�
“How long am I going to be there?� I knew I shouldn’t ask, but I couldn’t help myself. I scrambled up as gracefully as I could, considering my hands were shackled.
“Do you know what the word permanent means, human?� The guard looked like he was
enjoying my dismay. I felt rage rising inside me.
Nothing happening to me was my fault. I wasn’t going to take what the guards dished out to me. I had to try and escape, even if it could mean more punishment. At least I would have tried. The best time to make a break for it would be when they moved me from the holding cell to the shuttle.
The guard waved the gun at me, motioning for me to walk through the doorway. He followed behind me. I was sandwiched between the two until we arrived outside and they moved to my sides.
It was hotter outside than in my room. The buildings probably had heat shielding. I wiped another drop of sweat, the heavy metal cuffs clanking on my wrists, and got an idea as we made our way to the shuttle. The guard who had spoken to me moved inside first, disappearing toward the Captain’s cabin.
My chance came when the other guard looked off into the distance as if she heard something. I didn’t know what she had spotted, but I wasn’t going to let an opportunity pass.
I lifted my arms and swung as hard as I could, hitting her in the head with the heavy metal cuffs. She dropped like a stone. I took off running, hoping the other guard wouldn’t notice my disappearance. Even a small head start could be critical.
I tore across the platform, looking around wildly for somewhere to go. As I approached the edge, I heard shouting rise behind me. I didn’t turn around or stop running. I had spotted something I hoped would be my salvation.
The platform was a solid block of smooth metal and dropped off in front of me. It wasn’t melting even though it sat in the middle of a pool of hot lava. I could see another platform below me. As I looked across the molten rock, a series of small platforms made a path across the lava to a larger platform in the distance.
Unfortunately, there were no bridges between the platforms. They had retracted when we were landing. I didn’t care. I thought I could jump the distance. I hesitated only for a moment before leaping over the railing and crashing to the ground.
