Phoenix stopped at the edge of Ocarona-a village at the very edge of Erskin land and turned to the women. His face was a mask of detachment that startled Sky, but she hid the reaction and kept her own features schooled.
“From now until we grow closer to the Bludrun capital, we will travel by shadow.” Rana gasped and Phoenix glanced at her before returning his heavy gaze to Sky. “I have never taken more than one passenger with me, but I believe our combined power will enhance my abilities. If it does not work, you will have to either wait at the village or return back to the hut.”
“Why didn’t you tell us before we left? Is that how you traveled to get our belongings?” Rana demanded, her voice squeaking.
Phoenix nodded. “Would you have refused to go?” He replied.
“Yes. No. I don’t know. I haven’t had a chance to think about it,” Rana stumbled over her words, but calmed herself. Her lip lifted in a sneer when she spoke again. “Will it be dangerous to those who aren’t blessed by an ancient race of powerful beings?”
“No. I have transferred many injured people this way, and there were no side effects.”
“Oh.” Rana blushed and stared at the ground as if the decaying needles that littered the woodland floor were the most interesting thing in the galaxy.
Sky sighed. There was much the three of them would have to learn if they were to be a cohesive team.
“We will try this. Tell us what to do,” Sky announced as she wrapped an arm around Rana in comfort.
“Do you feel that rush of power when we touch?” Phoenix asked.
“Yes.” Sky’s skin tingled as she wondered if the waves of power filled his body with the same throb of longing.
“I’m going to hold on to both of you. When you feel the power, don’t fight it. Let it fill you, and I’ll do the same.”
“How do you know this will work?” Rana asked, her hands trembling at her sides.
“I don’t, but it’s a solid theory.”
“I agree,” Sky added. “We have exchanged power in small doses, but if they fully combine, he should be able to tap into mine for a boost.”
Phoenix reached out both hands and waited for the women to come to him. Sky grasped his hand instantly, the surge of power sending a delightful shiver down her spine before it pooled in her stomach. It pulsed throughout her body in a rhythmic movement that verged on hedonic. Phoenix struggled, eyes closed, with the salacious outpouring of her power. His eyes flew open and met hers with a burning intensity that she felt all the way down to her core.
A cool hand slid into Sky’s, and she jerked her gaze toward Rana. She shared a knowing smile with Sky before lifting her chin in false bravado. Rana’s hand convulsed in Sky’s, giving away her true emotions.
“Ready?” Phoenix whispered.
Both women nodded, and then the world melted away to darkness. Sky gasped as the smoky shadows curled around her vision, muting the landscape as it rushed by. Her body cooled although both suns were in the sky. Time felt inconsequential in the dark, and before she could entertain another thought, light blinded her.
“Whoa,” Rana panted. “That was surreal.”
Sky rubbed her eyes, clearing her vision of the water that gathered after the bright assault. “Where are we?”
“Just outside Bludhaven,” Phoenix answered softly. “We’re near the field the Bludrun clan uses as a landing pad.”
“You were able to take us the entire way. Just like that.” Sky checked the suns. They hadn’t moved since she taken Phoenix’s hand, and Sky marveled at the power Phoenix possessed.
“It was easier with our shared power.” Phoenix covertly adjusted his pants, but he noticed Sky watching and turned away flustered.
Sky turned to Rana with wide, questioning eyes. Rana wiggled her eyebrows and shifted her cybernetic eyes to Phoenix and it all clicked—Phoenix felt the same attraction for her that she felt for him. The idea simultaneously confused and filled her with self-consciousness. Sky lifted her cowl to hide the embarrassment blooming in her cheeks. The cover also allowed the privacy to give herself a small smile of satisfaction.
Since her painful past experiences, Sky had never entertained the thought of being close to another man. Sky could see desire in others—Jo and Raiden had been especially obvious—but Sky never felt passion herself. She hadn’t experienced the intense magnetism she read about on the CyNet rom-dramas.
But with Phoenix, she felt it all.
“What now?” Rana asked. The smug tone in her voice pulled Sky out of her reflections.
“We—” A mechanical roar echoed through the trees. All three looked up as a small shuttle adjusted its thrusters to prepare for landing. The landing gear whined over the sound of the engines.
Sky and Rana’s eyes met. Sky knew her gaze burned with restrained fury, but worried disappointment pinched Rana’s delicate face, tempering Sky’s anger.
“What?” Phoenix asked, perplexed.
“That ship,” Sky growled. “It’s Elitian.”
Fifteen
Phoenix’s eyebrows rose comically high on his forehead before they lowered in thought. He trained his gaze back on the ship while Sky turned to Rana.
“Are you okay?”
“No,” Rana choked. She wrapped her delicate hand around her long neck before lifting it to her mouth. The other hand joined its mate before a gurgling sob escaped. Sky pulled Rana into a smothering hug.
The reaction confused Sky. Rana knew of her government’s support of the rejuvenation and medical corporations. She had been a willing transplant recipient of stolen body parts, and even though the surgeries were unsuccessful, Rana continued to live in that environment with no qualms over the vile practices. Sky resolved to talk with her friend later.
Surprisingly, Rana didn’t cry, but she clung to Sky, desperately pulling at Sky’s jacket. Sky held her friend until she pulled away. Other than a slight sparkle of unshed tears decorating the corners of her eyes and a pink indention across her cheek from the seam in Sky’s jacket, Rana was almost stoic as a small contingent of soldiers marched down the ramp of the shuttle.
They were too far for Sky to identify the man who followed the soldiers. Although she knew Rana could see perfectly, Sky didn’t want to disturb her anymore with questions. She was about to ask Phoenix if they could move closer when he pulled a peculiar item from his pack.
Phoenix slid the piece over his ear and wrapped a green-tinted lens over his eye. Once in place, the device melded with the curves of Phoenix’s face. Sky had never seen tech like that before. The design was foreign, but at the same time it resonated with her. Her mark pulsed when Phoenix pressed a finger to a small panel behind his ear.
This was Ancient technology.
“I’m going to record what I see and hear so you can watch it when we return,” Phoenix whispered. “But I will convey what is said now.”
“Okay,” Sky agreed. “You can also explain later how you have Ancient tech in your pack.”
Phoenix grunted in reply.
Rana said nothing for a while and Sky tilted her head to look at her friend. Rana’s brows dipped and drew together as her mechanical eyes whirred.
“Rana, what is it?”
“It’s Eltanin,” Rana answered. “He’s here.”
“Oh.” Sky was unsure how to react. Of course Rana would feel animosity toward the man who orchestrated her kidnapping and attempted murder.
But did she feel the same about the injustices happening on Kore? The second most powerful man in the system was involved in clandestine deals involving the capture of Sky’s people. It really was no different than what Rana’s government did to the elderly in the system. Except this involved subterfuge.
“Beast has arrived,” Phoenix declared.
Both women perked at his announcement.
“They are greeting each other. Beast’s men are leading a group of people onto the Elitian vessel. The Elitian is asking for an increase of tribute and for him to include a contingent
of warriors to serve as mercenaries. This angers Beast. Beast wants to know why he must endanger his men when the Elitians have the loyalty from the Drachen, Vagh, and Iku syndicates. The Elitian is evading the question. Beast is demanding more medical tech in return, and he’s asking for more weapons. The Elitian is agreeing to Beast’s terms…”
“Is that it?” Sky asked. Why would Eltanin himself come all this way for a simple trade? Dealing with the clans must be classified, but top government officials wouldn’t traverse the system for something the Elitians would consider trivial. They had plenty of stock for their wife auctions and corporations’ experiments. Although the mention of mercenaries was troubling. Sky would have to send Jo this intelligence.
“No.” Phoenix grumbled. “The Elitian just asked Beast what he would accept as trade for information on our shield tech.”
“What?” Sky whisper screamed.
“Yes, he claims to want to adapt the tech to their ships.”
“That may be the case, but they could reverse engineer and learn how to find our villages. This is unacceptable.”
“He’s leaving,” Rana announced, her voice flat.
“Yes, Beast just told his general—” Phoenix snickered.
“What?”
“His general is Thorne. The man you saved at your family’s burial ground. I find this amusing.”
“Yes, it’s hilarious that I beat the shit out of Beast’s general, but what did Beast tell Thorne?” Sky resisted the urge to roll her eyes at Phoenix, a childish compulsion she hadn’t felt since before the priests took her.
“Right. Beast told his general to collect his guard and double their efforts. Eltanin is returning in six cycles.”
Phoenix’s shadow walked them directly to his hideaway. As soon as they landed on solid ground, Rana excused herself and stepped inside Phoenix’s home. Sky watched her friend disappear behind the leather hide doubling as the front door.
“Is she okay?” Phoenix asks.
“I’m not sure.” Sky walked away from the house toward an arbor made of juvenile trees that had been bent together and tied with leather straps. Underneath rested a bench carved from ers wood next to a fire pit that had blackened with repeated use. “She is reacting strangely to this news. On one hand, I’m not surprised because that Elitian, Eltanin, was responsible for her kidnapping and attempted murder. On the other, she shouldn’t be shocked that her people are kidnapping mine. It’s what they do.”
“Maybe her time with you, both on the ship and here on Kore, has altered her perspective.”
Phoenix sat down on the bench and patted the space next to him. Sky stared at the cramped space, weighing her desire to keep her distance from Phoenix against the urge to press her body against his.
She compromised with herself. Sky sat on the very edge of the bench, leaving a sliver of space between them. Phoenix chuckled at Sky’s obvious avoidance maneuver. Sky ignored the way his throaty laugh made her heart flutter and her core ache in a way she had never felt before.
“You may be right, but I don’t think it’s that simple. Rana’s heart still holds tight to her culture. It’s all she has ever known,” Sky replied, proud of how steady her voice sounded when the rest of her was vibrating mush.
“You should speak with her when she calms down.”
“I will.”
Phoenix shifted, causing his leg to brush against Sky’s. Both stilled as the energy flowed between them, less intense than before but pleasant all the same.
“Do you ever wonder what your life would be like if you hadn’t been taken?” Phoenix asked, his voice dipped low.
“I did for many cycles after my escape, but I saw it was useless to think on things that cannot be changed.” Sky tilted her head and studied Phoenix’s profile. The light of the setting suns filtered through the tied branches above, throwing patterns across his bronze skin. He was beautiful in the way that would make artists desire him as their muse. Sky wanted to explore the strong lines of his features with her fingers. With her lips. She released a slow, steadying breath. “Do you?”
“I did as well.” Phoenix smiled warmly. “I have become thankful for my suffering because of the mark and the ability to truly protect and serve my people. Now, I have someone who can relate.”
Phoenix turned toward Sky with his last statement. She returned his smile with one of her own.
“I, too, am sometimes thankful for my gift, but the cost of my mark was terrible. I would not repeat history for all the power in the universe.”
“Yes, your loss was truly great. I am sorry about Sage. When I discovered his monument, I wept for your loss and for a warrior’s life cut much too short. That is why I tended his memorial. He deserved it. You deserve it.”
Tears pricked at Sky’s eyes. Her shadow man was the one who had honored her son’s resting place. Her heart filled with gratitude and something akin to affection that had nothing to do with her overwhelming attraction to this man.
“Thank you,” Sky whispered.
“It is my honor.”
“I wish there was some way to reciprocate,” Sky sniffed. She breathed deeply to keep her tears in check. When the stinging in her eyes abated, she continued. “I entrust with you a debt.”
“I could never—”
“I know,” Sky interrupted him.
“You honor me. I will cherish this gift and will redeem it only after great consideration.”
Sky stared at the shifting colors of light as the suns dipped lower on the horizon and fiddled with her UAB distractedly. There was something between the two of them. She could feel it grow and shift as they discovered more about each other. Whatever it was, it had the potential to become something big. Something life changing.
She saw Phoenix move out of the corner of her eye. In his hand was the strange head gear he had used to record Beast and Eltanin’s meeting. He was folding and unfolding the eyepiece absentmindedly.
“What is that? I have never seen tech like it before,” Sky asked.
“I call it an ocular scanner, although I don’t know if that’s anywhere near its true name. I found this in the temple outside of Onira. It, along with a few smaller items, was buried underneath the rubble in a chest that had miraculously withstood time and weather decay. It took me many tries to figure out its purpose, but once I discovered how to turn on the device, the rest fell into place. I have searched, but haven’t found another like it.”
“What exactly does it do?” Sky reached out her hand in silent request. Phoenix placed the device in her palm. It was lighter than expected and strangely warm despite the evening chill.
“It magnifies your vision and hearing up to a thousand times. There are different observation settings, some I haven’t tried, but I use the night and heat optical settings regularly. The microphone can pick up sound from kilometers away, and the internal storage is massive. I haven’t been able to fill it yet.”
“Impressive. Can you transfer the files to a UAB or upload them to CyNet?” Sky handed the device back to him.
“Yes.”
“Will you copy the files to my UAB so I can send them to my captain? I have a feeling that the Common Citizen’s Insurgence would appreciate this information.”
“Sure.” Phoenix pressed a button on the side of the device and reached out a hand, silently asking for Sky’s wrist. She placed her hand in his and the skivna pulsed between them. Sky lifted her gaze to Phoenix. He was focused intently on the device, the skin between his brows wrinkled in concentration. Sky wanted to smooth the creases.
“I’m finished,” Phoenix announced. He held her hand a moment longer, his thumb gently caressing the skin between her hand and UAB. She felt him stare, but didn’t meet his gaze. A breath later, he laid Sky’s hand on her thigh and turned to study the darkening sky.
Silence enveloped them, and Sky began to relax. She wondered if this connection with Phoenix was only a superficial reaction or if it was something deeper. She was sure it was the latter. T
hey were two people recognizing the gritty core of the other’s soul and accepting it. Completely. Without reservation. This reaction was exhilarating, even if the sentiment was tinged with a bit of fear and a healthy dose of anxiety.
Sixteen
Sky paced outside the Hub in Erswood. She needed to feel like she was doing something productive, but since discovering Beast and Eltanin’s conspiracy, all Sky had done was wait.
Phoenix looked almost bored as he leaned against one of the door posts, his gaze following her as she whirled and stomped in the other direction.
“Does marching about help with your stress?” Phoenix asked.
“It gives me something to do,” Sky answered without stopping. “We came here to summon a meeting with the high elders, and they’re keeping us waiting. It’s infuriating.”
“They’re doing it on purpose,” Rana stated. Sky paused in mid-stride to look at her friend. Rana wore one of her fancy dresses that she had picked up on Lycus before she was ousted by the GCA and they had to abandon their excursion. The deep-blue gown was beaded with pearlescent crystals that complemented her creamy skin in a way that made her look as if she were queen of Polas, the ice planet on the very edge of the binary system.
“Why?” Sky shook her head and resumed pacing, but with less energy. “I expressed the urgency of the issue in my message. Why keep us waiting when we have news that affects all the clans?”
“Because they don’t trust you,” Rana answered. “Except for a few, the elders don’t want you to be involved with any of their business. They hope you will give up and leave.”
Sky snorted. She would not yield without a fight. Not when the entire system was at stake. Her gaze lifted to the cameras watching their group. Sky wondered if her frantic pacing lent credence to Rana’s theory. They might be sitting at the council’s table watching her and having a good laugh.
As We Rise: Savage (As We Rise Saga Book 2) Page 9
