Kire tapped his comband. “She’s okay, Jon.”
Jonarel’s deep baritone came over the speakers. “Are you sure?”
Apparently Jonarel and Kire had been in communication while she’d been lost in her own thoughts. “I’m fine, Jonarel.” Although she didn’t expect him to believe her, either.
A grumbled “hmm” confirmed her suspicions.
Enough of this. Time to focus on the task at hand. “What’s our engine status?”
“The energy drain on the system and the damage to the shields will take two hours to correct. I will need to shut down the interstellar drive during that time. We will need to wait before making our next jump.” He sounded apologetic, which was rare for him.
“You got us safely through the battle. Thank you for that. Keep me posted.” She turned to Kelly. “How long until we reach the rendezvous point?”
Kelly glanced at her console. “About twenty minutes.”
“Star, assist Jonarel in engineering. Run diagnostics to see if anything else needs to be attended to before our next jump. Celia, I want a weapons check and status report.” She pivoted to Kire, who was still kneeling beside her. “Prepare a message for Siginal letting him know our situation and the change of plan. Send it as soon as we come out of the jump.”
She sincerely hoped the Nightingale would be waiting for them when they arrived.
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
WHEN THE STARHAWKE appeared at the rendezvous point, Cade let out a sigh of relief. Until that moment he hadn’t been absolutely certain that they’d made it out safely. And he desperately needed them to be okay. For more reasons than he could count.
The comm pinged with an incoming video feed. He’d never been so grateful to see Aurora’s face, even with her forehead lined with tension.
Relief showed in her eyes. “Good to see you, Cade.”
“You too. Glad you’re in one piece.”
“We’re a little banged up but functional. How about you?”
“We’re running on backup systems. Main power was completely drained by the jump. We’re essentially dead in the water.”
Aurora frowned. “We can’t stay here long.” She stood, her stance indicating she’d shifted into problem solving mode. “We can transfer everyone to the Starhawke, but what about the Nightingale? I know we’d talked about leaving her in orbit somewhere, but that won’t work now. We can’t come back here.”
Guaranteed the enemy would be waiting for them if they did. Cade’s throat tightened as he gazed around the small bridge. It was crazy, but he’d grown attached to the old girl over the past two months. He’d expected to pilot her back to Earth when their mission was completed. Maybe even talk the Admiral into making her part of a museum exhibit. She’d earned it.
But without power, that was no longer an option. The same conclusion showed on the faces of his team. “We’ll transfer everything of value and then set her on an intercept course with the star. She has enough juice left in her for that.”
He appreciated the look of understanding in Aurora’s eyes. “Then let’s get to work.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
THREE HOURS LATER, Justin stood at the wide windows of the Starhawke’s observation lounge and watched as the brilliance of the nearby star’s corona swallowed the Nightingale’s silhouette. A haunting melody played over the ship’s speakers, the theme somewhere between a lullaby and a lament.
He sighed. “She was a good ship.”
Cade nodded. “That she was.”
The mood in the room was quite different from the last time he and Cade had been here. It was hard to believe only three months had passed. If felt like a lifetime.
He shifted his gaze to Raaveen, Sparw, Maanee and Zelle, who stood to his right. Three months ago, he hadn’t even known they existed. How quickly everything had changed.
He and Cade were the only ones from their unit in the lounge with the Suulh. Gonzo and Reynolds had joined Cardiff, Emoto and Kelly on the bridge, keeping watch for incoming ships until they received the all clear for the interstellar jump. Bella was with Clarek and his kin in engineering, finishing up the repairs.
The Suulh who had sustained injuries during the battle were down in the med bay with Williams, Paaw, and Dr. Forrest, while the rest of the refugees huddled around Captain Hawke at the center of the observation lounge.
The battle had taken a heavy emotional toll on everyone. Many of the Suulh had reverted to the timid behavior they’d exhibited on Gaia, rather than the more outgoing, relaxed attitude they’d had on Burrow. Even Raaveen, Paaw and Sparw had lost some of their spark. It pained him to see the worry lines back on their faces.
Raaveen turned from the window and met his gaze. Concern shadowed her dark eyes, but hope shone, too. She might be down, but she wasn’t out. Not by a long shot. She gave his arm a gentle squeeze before she and the others joined the group on the floor.
He couldn’t see the swirl of energy surrounding them, but after watching Raaveen, Paaw and Sparw with the Meer, he recognized the signs. He hoped it was producing the calming and healing effect they needed. Having Captain Hawke in their midst certainly seemed to help.
Justin glanced at Cade, whose gaze was also focused on the Starhawke’s captain. In fact, he seemed oblivious to everyone else in the room. No small feat considering the number of bodies surrounding her.
He and Cade had been friends for eight years, and in all that time, he’d never seen him react to a woman the way he did with Aurora Hawke. Not that he blamed him. She was compassionate, intelligent, and a damned good leader. And while Justin preferred brunettes, Cade definitely had a thing for blondes. Come to think of it, most of the women Cade had hooked up with over the years had resembled Captain Hawke in coloring and build.
Now Justin understood why. The flame had never died. Cade’s expression revealed more than he probably realized.
He couldn’t do anything to help the Suulh at the moment, but maybe he could help his friend. “The captain’s a pretty amazing woman,” he murmured.
Cade glanced at him. “Yes, she is.”
He kept his voice low. “And you’re in love with her.”
That got Cade’s attention. He frowned, his lips forming a denial. But he didn’t say it. Instead, he motioned for Justin to follow him as he headed for the multi-colored doors that led to the corridor beyond.
The doors closed silently behind them. “You know, sometimes you’re too damn perceptive for your own good.”
Justin smiled. “Oh, come on. It’s one of my best traits.”
“Not right now, it isn’t.”
Cade’s defensiveness made Justin’s point. “Someone needed to say it. Face facts. You’re in love with her.”
“How do you—”
He lifted a hand to keep Cade from interrupting. “And there’s a good chance she’s in love with you, too.”
Cade folded his arms over his chest. The irritation in his expression had been replaced with something that looked like hope. “Oh?”
“Sure. She acts differently around you. I think she really understands what’s happening in your head. And that’s no easy task.”
Cade grunted.
Justin mirrored his pose. “So what’s the problem? Why aren’t you doing anything about it?”
“You mean aside from the fact that once this mission is over I’ll have no excuse to see her again?”
“Maybe you should consider a career change.”
“Yeah, right.”
“I’m serious.”
Cade’s eyes narrowed. “Are you after my job?”
“Nope.”
Cade lifted his eyebrows.
Justin held his hands up, palms out. “Oh, I’d take it in a heartbeat if there was an opening, but that’s not the point. Have you given any thought to the future? As long as you’re a part of the Elite Unit, your options are limited.”
“So are yours.”
“Sure. But I’m not the one with a tantalizing alternative
. Think about it. She has her own ship.” He ticked the items off on his fingers. “She’s smart and nice to look at, and she’s about to become the de facto ruler of an entire planet. She could use a man of your talents by her side.”
Cade glanced at the closed doors. “Even if she wanted that, which I seriously doubt, there’s still a problem.”
“Which is?”
“Clarek hates my guts.”
Ah. Justin had forgotten about the Starhawke’s chief engineer.
“So what did you do to piss him off?” Every conflict had a point of origin. Maybe this one just needed to be brought out into the open.
“Nothing directly.”
Justin had trouble believing that, especially after observing the two men on Gaia. They were like flint and tinder. His expression must have conveyed his skepticism.
“It’s true,” Cade insisted. “He hates me because he wants Aurora for himself.”
Ouch. That would be a tough problem to overcome. “And how does she feel about that?”
Cade sighed. “I don’t know. While we were on Gaia, I thought they might be together.” His gaze strayed to the doors again. “But now I’m not so sure. On Burrow she seemed uncomfortable around him, almost like she was avoiding him. I can’t believe they have anything going on. At least not right now.”
“And if she made it clear she wanted to be with you, would Clarek accept that and back off?”
“He didn’t ten years ago. I don’t see any reason to believe anything has changed.”
And the Kraed would make a formidable adversary. “Then I guess you’ll have to decide if a relationship with Captain Hawke is worth fighting for.”
The look in Cade’s eyes indicated he thought it might be. For his friend’s sake, he hoped Aurora Hawke felt the same way.
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
THE HOUR of healing time with the Suulh should have helped Aurora feel better. Instead, it had tapped the depth of her fears and left her quaking from the effort of keeping everything together. Her body vibrated like a tightly wound spring, one that could snap at any moment, taking out everything in its path. She needed to find an outlet before that happened.
An intense workout might help, allowing her to let off steam in a controlled environment. And now that they’d made their interstellar jump, she could ask Celia to join her in the training center.
As she exited the observation lounge, she nearly ran into Cade, who stood just outside the door. Had he been waiting for her?
His gaze swept over her, reading her like a book. “I’m not going to ask if you’re okay.”
She made a face. “That obvious, huh?” She tried to sound casual and failed.
He studied her. “Let’s just say you look like you could use some exercise.”
An astute observation. “You know me well.”
He smiled softly. “I know how I’d feel in your position.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Want a sparring partner?”
Her body responded with an enthusiastic yes, but she gave herself a moment to consider. After all, she hadn’t sparred with Cade since the Academy. And that had been an excuse to get their hands on each other, not a real match. But to be honest, it would probably be a lot more fun than facing off with Celia, who was all business on the mat. And she could certainly use a little fun right now. “Let’s go.”
They took the cargo lift down two decks and then continued on to the double doors that led into the training center.
As the doors closed silently behind them, Aurora stopped at the edge of the mat and slipped off her boots. “How do you want to do this?”
Cade grinned as he pulled off his boots. “Any way you want.”
She rolled her eyes, but the beginnings of a smile tugged on her lips. “Just remember I’m not a novice anymore. I spar with Celia on a regular basis. I might knock you on your butt.”
He winked at her. “Fine with me.”
Oh, yeah. This was exactly what she needed.
Her tunic and pant combination was a little more restrictive than the sleeveless top and leggings she usually wore for this kind of thing, but Cade was in the same boat. His clothes were meant for space travel, not wrestling. He’d slipped off his jacket, revealing the dark green tunic he wore underneath. It shifted deliciously over his muscles and she drank in the sight of him, an oasis in the desert. When she lifted her gaze to his eyes, she saw laughter there.
“Like what you see?”
Busted. “Just looking for weak points.” She backed onto the mat and he followed her.
“Good luck with that.” His gaze traveled over her body with a laziness that had nothing to do with finding weaknesses.
Her core temperature began to rise. “Like what you see?” she bantered back.
“Always have.”
The comment surprised her, as did the attack he followed it up with. Before she could blink, she found herself on the mat, pinned beneath his bulk.
“Focus, Hawke,” he teased, kissing the tip of her nose before bouncing nimbly to his feet.
She narrowed her eyes. So that’s how it was going to be. She popped back up, then dropped into a crouch, keeping her gaze on his. “Try that again, Ellis,” she taunted.
The corners of his mouth lifted. “Oh, don’t worry. I will.”
This time she saw the attack coming, and sidestepped before he could get her off balance. She countered with a kick that connected solidly with his torso. It was like hitting a brick wall, but he staggered, his mouth open in an “O” of surprise.
“You kicked me!”
She snorted. “And?”
A grin spread across his face, which turned into a belly laugh. His eyes sparkled as he gazed at her. “Oh, you are so going to pay for that.”
“Promises. Promises.” She followed the words with an attack of her own, but his reflexes were much quicker than she’d imagined. He was able to catch hold of her arm and pull it behind her, bringing her back flush with his body. The tantalizing warmth of his skin surrounded her, especially where his hands gripped her arm and wrapped around her torso.
His breath brushed the curve of her ear as he bent his head. “Sweetheart, with you, that is very much a promise.”
Every nerve ending went on red alert at the huskiness in his tone, and she swallowed. The need for the sparring match evaporated as her body got completely on board with shifting to a less adversarial encounter. But her brain clamored for a modicum of self-preservation. Would she regret it? More to the point, did she care?
Turning her head, she brought their faces millimeters apart. She gazed into the green eyes that had haunted her dreams for ten years. Fire burned there, searing her. If her arms had been free, she would have fanned herself.
A voice from across the room broke the spell. “Watch your back.”
Aurora’s head whipped around. Celia stood just inside the doorway, her expression neutral but her gaze analyzing the situation and coming to the obvious conclusion.
Cade released Aurora immediately, stepping back. “Aurora was helping me test out a new grip.”
Aurora cleared her throat. “Yes. It’s…uh…very effective.” She had a terrible feeling she was blushing, something Cade’s crooked smile confirmed.
“So I saw.” Celia moved to the edge of the mat. “Star told me you were down here. She didn’t mention you had company,” she added, her gaze flicking to Cade.
Aurora shifted into command mode. “Is there a problem?”
“No. I just thought you might be in the mood for a challenge.” She leveled a look at Cade. “Seems I was right.”
Aurora caught the double meaning. Judging from his reaction, so did Cade. He quirked a brow in her direction.
There was no way she could focus on sparring with Celia when her body was hot for Cade. And now that she wasn’t in full contact with his very desirable self, she really needed to think about what she was doing. Maybe Celia had unwittingly done her a favor.
“I’m really not up to sparring with you rig
ht now. But Cade would probably enjoy it.”
Cade glanced at her, a question in his eyes.
She didn’t know how to respond, but apparently she didn’t have to. As he held her gaze and the heat reignited, a small smile touched his lips.
Celia wasn’t smiling. She looked like she was on the hunt. “How about it, Ellis? You want to show me what they teach the members of the Elite Unit?”
His cocky grin brimmed with confidence. “I’m game.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
CADE WASN’T ABOUT to pass up an opportunity to show off the depth of his skills in front of Aurora. Besides, watching him spar with Cardiff might nurture those flares of heat they’d been generating on the mat.
“Just so you know,” Aurora said as he faced Cardiff, “you might be out of your league. Celia went toe to toe with Jonarel’s father and won.”
Really? He looked at Cardiff with new respect.
She stepped back to give him room but the movement wasn’t as casual as it seemed. She was already assessing him, looking for any signs that would indicate a weakness of strength, flexibility, or balance. He knew that because he was doing the same thing. He sure as hell hoped her conclusion was as tough to face as his—he might have finally met his match.
They circled the mat several times, each watching for an opening and not seeing it. He was beginning to wonder if this would go on indefinitely when she dropped into a crouch so quickly his eyes barely tracked the movement. But his body felt the result as her left leg swung in a low arc that connected with his knees, knocking him off balance.
He rolled forward, ducking under the follow-up kick that would have connected with his sternum if he’d tried to stay on his feet. He took the opportunity to grab her leg in both hands, but before he could pull her off balance she lunged forward, creating a bend to her knee that allowed her to kick out again. This time she made contact with his chest, and he grunted as he absorbed the blow. She snapped her leg out of his hands and was back in position before he drew his next breath. Man, she was fast. And stronger than he would have imagined. The first point was hers.
The Chains of Freedom (Starhawke Rising Book 2) Page 20