Starfire Angels (Starfire Angels: Dark Angel Chronicles Book 1)

by Melanie Nilles

  Of all the damnedest luck. Nina had lied. She didn't have any evidence that Elis was the Dark Angel. For once in a long while, Raea relaxed. The worst was over.

  "Miss Dahlrich?"

  "What?" She blinked and returned her attention to Deputy Sandaman.

  "What happened after you arrived at the hotel?"

  "I ran upstairs..." The rest was truth, except for how Elis broke into the room. So what if they said the lock didn't work?

  Their secret was safe. No one knew about them being aliens that looked like angels. And no one knew about the Starfire. For now, it was safe.

  But the responsibility of bearing that power weighed on her mind after all she had experienced. The entities were right. No one should have that power, unless the Starfire chose. They had chosen her, and she had no intention of letting them fall into the hands of those who would use that power for selfish purposes. She had to learn to use it the right way, and never again to kill.

  Next time the Shirukan came, if they came, she would be ready. She would train with Elis.

  "You shouldn't have pursued him yourself. You should have contacted us immediately, although I'm not sure how you discovered he raped you." Sandaman looked from Elis to her.

  "I remembered, but the memories were fuzzy from the drug."

  "Not enough to press charges without physical evidence," he mumbled while scratching a note on his pad.

  As if she'd give them that. No way was anyone examining her to find out she wasn't human. And she wanted to put it all behind her.

  "But you'll be after him for murder?"

  "Had you contacted us, this might not have happened."

  "Or you would have done nothing, because you have no evidence, as you already stated." Elis pulled her closer and Sandaman gave him a dark look.

  "Playing the protective boyfriend does more harm than good, in any case I've heard or seen. Remember that."

  Point made. Raea hoped Elis took it to heart. No more running off to finish your business. They were on Earth, not Inar'Ahben. Here the rules were different.

  Elis gave the man a curt nod.

  "If I have any other questions, I know where to find you. Thanks for coming back. We'll find this creep."

  Next to her Elis tensed.

  Creep. Creeper. The nickname Chad had started and most of the school knew Elis as, or used to. Because of what he did Saturday, most of the school saw him as a quiet hero, but he hadn't been back yet. Elis had a few surprises when he returned to school. And from his performance tonight fighting Pallin, she had no doubt he was well enough to return, even if still a little sore.

  "Ready?" she asked.

  "What about those tapes you wanted to find?"

  "I overheard some people talking—I'm guessing her crew—and they said they didn't get, like, any ID on Dark Angel. Too blurry or obstructed."

  He squeezed her hand. "Dark Angel is safe."

  For now. Raea led him out to Evelyn's car in the parking lot. Elis winced as he sat down and let out a deep sigh once in his seat.

  She knew it. "You fake it pretty well."

  "What?"

  "Not showing any pain."

  "Good."

  "You're no angel, you know. You're not supernatural or invincible."

  "I know."

  "And you need rest. We both do." And time to heal emotions. All that had happened hurt. She only wanted to forget, but she never would.

  He started the car, a grin crawling out. "I know."

  This game again? She chuckled, glad to forget for a moment. "You know...you're way too agreeable."

  "I know."

  One more. She had to say it, just to see his reaction, and to hear the truth. "I love you."

  He turned to her, his grin stretching wide. He didn't even have to say it. She knew.

  About the Author

  Melanie Nilles grew up on a western North Dakota cattle ranch and farm. Along with her interest in horses, she always had a fascination with science fiction and fantasy. After high school, she graduated from North Dakota State University with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. She currently resides in central North Dakota with her family, which includes her husband and kids, and her cats. Her published works include the STARFIRE ANGELS series and the LEGEND OF THE WHITE DRAGON epic. Besides writing, she also trains and shows her horse. For updates, visit her website at www.melanienilles.com.

  If you liked STARFIRE ANGELS, be sure to check out WHEN ANGELS CRY, now available for Kindle for only $0.99:

  And BROKEN WINGS for only $2.99:

  Exclusive sneak peak from the upcoming BROKEN WINGS:

  Leksel turned, the muscles in his neck tightening like his wings. ["They're onto us. We make this fast and we get out. No questions. No staring. Understand?"] His eyes fixed on her with a momentary shift to Cris.

  Then she was right; the Shirukan were closing in on them. Her heart pounded at the narrow escape. That was close, closer than she thought possible. They had almost been caught. More than ever she wanted to get out of that city and off that world. She would never argue with Dave again if she found her way home.

  How did they know where they were? Unless…["Your computer access alerted them."]

  His expression lightened. ["No. We have current access codes. It was you."]

  ["Me?"] How? Was it her behavior? What had she done?

  ["The Starfire gives off a unique trace radiation. Another scan and they'll know where we're heading. We'll have to hurry,"] Leksel said.

  Cris moved close to her. ["You're thinking like one of us. I must be rubbing off."]

  In his delusional dreams.

  The computer double-beeped and the doors opened.

  ["Let's go."] Leksel led them through another corridor.

  Raea cringed at the number of men and women in uniforms, many of them Shirukan. The glass walls over the walkway gave her a view of towering, rounded city structures, one of them ahead. From the view of clouds below and around them, they strode through a tunnel connected to a small section of the city separate from the large city proper. Through the glass ceiling, she made out a flat area ahead where a large, sleekly curved ship took off straight up. Some of the ships like she had seen in the docking bay they left flew among the clouds outside.

  A grasp on her arm pulled her attention ahead. Cris let go when she hurried to catch up.

  Leksel and Corsa led them into a different docking bay, this one with three tiers on each side and a dozen open doors to the sky around each tier. The smell of fresh air filled her lungs, despite the crowds of plain-clothed people and Shirukan. The smallest ships resembled oversized beetles with windows and small wings.

  Leksel rushed them past several empty, red cross-hair sections on the main deck where there should have been ships. He stopped at a panel on the wall next to one of the shuttles. At his touch, a holographic display lit up before him in a pattern of colors.

  Corsa tapped her shoulder and pointed.

  Raea turned and her heart froze. Oh, hell no.

  ["Uh, oh."] Cris stepped up beside her. He could say that again.

  A large group of Shirukan entered.

  ["Leks,"] Cris said.

  No answer.

  ["Leks, you better see this."]

  ["Crystal fire!"] Something pounded behind them.

  Leksel tapped on the colored keys again, a scowl on his face.

  ["Leksey, we have trouble."] Cris jumped back and grabbed his arm.

  ["Leave me alone!"] Leksel yanked his arm away. ["It's not taking the code."]

  ["Leks. Shirukan?"]

  At that, the big man looked up.

  A large number of Shirukan followed a woman with her dark hair pulled back. Those already in the bay lined up as if for an inspection.

  Corsa pulled Cris forward with her. What was she thinking?

  Raea caught her breath at a sudden jerk on her arm.

  Leksel pulled Raea around the nose of the shuttle pointing out to an open sky. A stiff breeze ble
w in through the open bay door. It would be so easy to fly out, but he held her close to him.

  He put a finger to his lips and peeked around the shuttle. Raea leaned close to see around him. Standing against him felt strange, but she didn't mind any more. Besides, his attention focused on the mass of black-uniformed Shirukan. It wasn't like he did it because he liked her, although that thought lingered in the back of her mind. Corsa should never have suggested it.

  All the Shirukan, and Corsa and Cris, lined up in neat rows on either side of the center, where the woman stood.

  ["We traced the Crystal Keeper to this location minutes ago. She's here now. No one leaves until every person is searched, and I expect—"] She raised her voice. ["Every civilian to cooperate fully. You will be free to leave after you've been scanned."] The woman met the eyes of several of the Shirukan. Her stern face settled into a frown and her eyes lingered on Corsa and Cris before passing over others.

  Next to Raea, Leksel's muscles hardened. If she thought him tense before, Raea was way off. That was nothing to being able to bounce a quarter off him.

  ["Do I make myself clear?"]

  A chorus of voices in unison rose up: ["Yes, sir!"]

  At that, the Shirukan scattered.

  ["Crystal fire!"] Leksel muttered under his breath and straightened at the nose of the shuttle. ["They've locked out the release codes for the shuttles."]

  This couldn't be happening. ["How do we get out of here?"] It couldn't end like this. They were so close!

  ["If we drop, we may not be noticed, then we can fly low to the nearest island."]

  A tingle of excitement passed through her at the thought of flying again and her wings lifted slightly, until her stomach rumbled. Flying on an empty stomach didn't appeal to her, but escaping did, hungry or not.

  ["We're all hungry, and tired."] So, he'd noticed. ["As soon as the others—"]

  [Leks."]

  He spun so fast, he bumped her. She hadn't noticed how close they still stood. Only a couple days and she was comfortable with him, but it felt like a lifetime had passed.

  Cris joined them. Corsa glanced back and crossed to Raea's other side.

  ["Now what?"]

  Leksel glanced at Raea.

  If he wanted her opinion, she couldn't give him any, except to agree with him. She wanted to spread her wings and catch the air. She missed flying. ["Sounds good."]

  His jaw muscles flexed.

  ["What sounds good?"] Cris looked from her to Leksel.

  ["We fly."]

  ["Are you insane?"] Cris's wings lifted slightly.

  ["Maybe,"] Corsa said.

  The sound of voices and footsteps grew louder.

  ["Go!"] Leksel shoved Cris towards the bay door.

  ["You can't bypass the lockout?"]

  ["No. Go!"]

  Cris looked like he wanted to argue again.

  To hell with it. Raea didn't want to wait, or to be caught, and she didn't care what Cris thought. At least Leksel made a decision. She rushed into the open air and plummeted through puffs of clouds, momentary blocks of fog that left her shivering and her heart pounding.

  A sense of freedom rushed through her as the ocean spread out below. Above her, the city loomed enormous. Three shapes fell her direction.

  ["They're onto us!"] Leksel's voice came through clear on her tri-comm. ["Fly, Raea! Here they come."]

  She opened her wings. The sudden parachute effect strained her muscles. A sharp pain twinged in her back, but she couldn't falter.

  Once level, she searched the sky around her. Leksel leveled with her, Cris flew above and opposite. Corsa followed slightly behind and above.

  Behind them, black shapes formed a wedge in the sky.

  ["How are you in a storm?"]

  She didn't like the sound of that. ["Um…I don't know."] What did Leksel have in mind?

  Oh, no. A dark cloud piled up to their left. He had to be joking.

  He angled towards it. Not joking.

  Table of Contents

  Dark Descends

  Miracles and Memories

  The Magic Touch

  Angel Wings

  Double Date

  Starfire Keepers

  Nina Russet

  First Flight

  Dark Suspicions

  Angels Rising

  Cornered

  No Ordinary Goose Chase

  Two of a Kind

  Connections

  Golden Demon

  The Chase

  Hell on Earth

  The Good, the Bad, and the Wounded

  Where Angels Live

  Two Worlds, A Part

  Saturday Revisited

  Fatal Ultimatum

  The Truth