Ride the Stars

by Autumn Dawn

  They descended on Trell’s ships like avenging angels.

  More shocking than the number of ships to Jaide was the design of the Draconian fighters. Each one had the same design as the Bat, which flew with them.

  With a curse, Trell cut their connection and brought his ship about. As he did the back half of his vessel separated from the front half, no doubt leaving him swearing the air foul.

  Indignation warred with pride as she saw the fleet of Bats swoop and strike, devastating their unprepared target. So swift was the attack that she couldn’t have helped if she’d wanted to, and it didn’t take long to figure out that these guys had been prepared for this.

  How had that tricky Draconian tracked her?

  Trell’s was the only ship allowed to escape.

  Jaide was elated-until she checked and discovered that Trell’s transmitter had been destroyed in the fight.

  Deflated, Jaide watched as the Draconians docked with their captured prizes, taking prisoners and gathering evidence with experienced efficiency.

  And now what? Trell would be doubly cautious about approaching her now. Was his greed and vanity strong enough to lure him to the Canyon Run?

  Maybe not, but she’d bet good odds that some of his friends would be there.

  She glanced out her window at the Black Tide, knowing instinctively that Skye would never agree to her plan. Worse, he’d planted some sort of bug on her-maybe a nanobot-and he’d know exactly what she was up to if she went directly to Tantalus. She had to hand it to him-the man was sly. Still, it was a very good chance to draw out some of Carthack’s thugs; maybe the best. Besides, she missed racing.

  She played her thumbnail across her bottom lip. It would be tricky, no doubt, and she’d need backup. No problem there-her Draconian friends were sure to be there.

  Her mind made up, she set course for Tantalus.

  The day of the race dawned hot and bright.

  Skye scanned the crowd from the shadows of the upper balconies, looking for and not finding his concealed backup. With a grim smile of satisfaction, he turned his attention to the raceway. Soon the racers, including his unruly wife, would be lining up for the start of the race.

  Trell was registered, but so far had not put in an appearance. He wouldn’t doubt it if the man pulled up at the last minute. He’d want his revenge, and he was crazy enough to seek it here. If not through the race, then by sabotage.

  The announcers came over the loudspeaker, signaling that the race was about to begin.

  His lips curled in a savage smile. Time to move.

  Jaide sat in tense expectation, waiting for the signal to race. Nine others were racing with her, four ships of whom she recognized. The others were strangers to her. No telling what kind of competition they’d be.

  The Canyon Run was one of the most grueling, demanding race courses in all of known space. At least once a year a racer was seriously injured or killed or at the very least their ship sustained costly damage.

  Her hands tensed on the control yoke, remembering the year she’d ended up in a twisted pile of metal thanks to Trell’s sabotage. She’d spent weeks in intensive care as a result, more bones then she cared to count broken. A trickle of cold sweat slithered down her temple. She forced herself to take a deep, controlled breath, and slowly let it out again, regaining her calm. It wasn’t going to happen again. This was the year she’d take back her title. The only one about to suffer humiliation today would be Trell.

  The claxon sounded. With a roar like thunder, the ten sleek ships shot onto the course, heading almost immediately into a wide canyon that gradually narrowed to a tunnel only wide enough for one. Watching ships hovered above the canyon, ready to disqualify anyone who rose above the top.

  Jaide had no intention of straying from her course. Adrenaline flowed through her veins, fueling her high as rough sandstone walls flashed by at dizzying speeds. Her senses heightened by danger, she jerked on the controls, twisting through a side canyon too narrow for a horizontal ship. Although an acceptable option, the twisting arroyo was rarely used, and for good reason. Only two racers had ever survived the attempt to navigate it. One of those pilots was Jaide.

  The other was Trell.

  Two of the racers broke off to follow her through the shortcut. She had no more than a brief glimpse of the silver shadow and his black twin before she was forced to bank sharply, narrowly escaping scraping her hull against the red-streaked stone. In moments they had rejoined the other racers, this time at the head of the line.

  A series of wind-sculpted stone loops and bridges came next, but before she could take the first one the silver ship shot ahead of her, catching her in its turbulent wake. Swearing, she fought for control, cursing as the other ships flashed by her helplessly spinning craft. Long seconds passed.

  “Spit! I’m gona die!” she swore through clenched teeth as a ridge of stone loomed in her view port. Instead, whether through divine intervention or blind luck, she pulled out with a whine of engines, leaving only a streak of shiny metal on the sandstone as a reminder of her close call. Breathing heavily, she rejoined the others, this time almost dead last. Somehow the black ship had lost ground as well. It flew just in front of her.

  Intent on regaining her lead, Jaide tossed caution to wind. It would have been so easy to activate the phasing device, but she was determined to win without it. Granted, it was so new it couldn’t possibly be regulated against, but she didn’t care. She was the equal of any racer here and she didn’t need tricks to prove it. Besides, she was almost certain that lead ship was Trell.

  The race consisted of three loops and it took her all of the first and much sweat for the second, but she clawed her way back to third place. Only the black fighter and Trell stood between her and victory.

  Without warning the ship in fourth fired at her, and only snake-like reflexes kept her from exploding in a ball of flame. Furious, but unable to do anything about it without room to maneuver and unwilling to risk hitting the ship behind Trell, she braced herself and gunned the throttle, leap-frogging over the black ship, putting it between her and danger and in the process nearly getting herself killed on an outcropping of rock.

  The black ship had no compunctions about returning the assassin’s fire. One amazing shot and the rogue ship burned up like a comet hitting atmosphere, showering those who came behind with sparks and debris.

  Free to concentrate on taking Trell, Jaide sent a silent thank you to the pilot of the black ship and gave the Splinter fuel. It didn’t disappoint. In seconds she was past Trell, who immediately started using her as target practice.

  Again the black ship saved her. A red streak of deadly fire flashed from its guns, heading for Trell’s ship with fatal accuracy. It hit home, sending the silver ship spinning away out of the canyon with a scream of fury.

  The race was on.

  Victory sang through her brain as the finish line came into sight. She was going to take it.

  The black ship nosed ahead.

  Jaide gave it everything she had but she just didn’t have the nerve to match the other pilot’s terrifying determination. He was going to win. She’d lost.

  And then, just as they were about to cross the finish line, he pulled up, allowing her to shoot ahead of him and take the race.

  Jaide was furious. How dare he?

  The moment she landed she tore off her safety straps, flinging her helmet to the ground. Blight him! He’d let her win!

  Robbed of her dignity, she exited the Splinter and went in grim search of the blighter. Nobody let her win and got away with it.

  She reached him just as the jerk jumped down from the last rung of his ladder. He’d left his helmet behind and his ebony hair was tied in a queue at the back of his head and she could see the side of his dark glasses, so similar to her own, as he turned his head to scan the crowd.

  Almost as if he’d scented her, he turned. “Hello, wife,” he drawled in that deep, sexy voice. His teeth gleamed in a wicked smile. “Did you mis
s me?”

  Incensed at his insolence and her intense physical reaction to it, she swung at him.

  Easily he caught it, pulling her to him for a fast victor’s kiss. Completely dazed, it shocked her when he tucked her to his body and rolled under his fighter. “What? Not here, you idiot!” she hissed.

  “Stay down!” he shouted, and only then did she realize that Skye was returning fire.

  Protected by his body-mashed flat, in fact-all she could do was watch as the dozen or so men who fired at them were picked off, one by one, by a contingent of Draconian enforcers. It was as she lay there, barely able to breathe, that realization hit her. Skye had saved her life. More than once.

  Jaide didn’t move when he rolled off her. Terrified she’d been hurt, Skye searched her body in vain for laser wounds. She was still breathing. There was no blood. It was when he checked her dilated eyes and noticed her chilled, pale skin that understanding dawned. She was in shock, nothing worse.

  “Jaide?” He tapped her cheek. Her eyes shifted toward him but didn’t really focus. At least she was somewhat alert, if dazed. The smell of scorched metal and hot pavement salted his nose and he peered out from the sheltering shadow of the fighter, searching for danger. Nemesis waved back, signaling the all clear.

  Careful not to bump her head on the fighter’s belly, Skye helped her up. Immediately Chrys joined them, holding his laser rifle at the ready as he scanned the crowd for enemies. “Is she going to be all right?” He’d completely abandoned his cover of notorious smuggler, and his crisp new image reflected it. No longer scruffy and disreputable looking, he still exuded dangerous vibes. The curious crowd parted, making way for the blond enforcer.

  “In time. She’s just a little shocked,” Skye assured him, keeping his own eyes open for snipers. If the traitor they’d discovered didn’t manage to kill them all, it wouldn’t be for lack of trying, but he’d be fried before he let the laser bait take his woman without a fight.

  Skye didn’t think Jaide would even notice when he fished in her pocket and withdrew the lockbox for the Splinter, so he was surprised to find her gripping his wrist as he aimed it at the door. “Relax, heartflame. We’re just going to fly it safely home.” As soon as they entered Chrys left to reclaim Skye’s fighter. They would rendezvous at Domino’s later.

  Jaide fumbled with the harness until her husband slid the straps from her fingers and fastened them for her. So many things were going through her mind, but the first thing she asked was, “Trell? What about Trell? Is he dead?”

  “No,” he answered, glancing at her as he went through the pre-flight check. “I shot him with a tracer. Nemesis and Lore are tracking him now.”

  “What about Quadril? Isn’t he with them?”

  His jaw tightened. “We’ll talk about him later.”

  By the time they reached Domino’s, Jaide had recovered from her shock, but she didn’t object when Skye ushered her past upper level security and immediately sat her down on the couch.

  “Let me get you something hot to drink,” he said, touching the backs of his fingers to her cheek in concern. “You’re chilled.”

  “Great race,” Domino offered dryly from the kitchen bar. “And congratulations on surviving. I didn’t think you’d recover from that spin.”

  “Leave it, brother,” Skye warned, knowing that Domino had a great deal more to say of his sister-by-marriage’s conduct. It was not his place to correct her. Besides, Skye had a great deal of respect for her flying. There were few to match her. Even if he was annoyed with her independent mulishness.

  He brought Jaide a steaming mug of spiced juice and joined her on the couch. “Be careful; it’s hot.”

  “Thank you.” She took the mug and leaned back with a grateful sigh, totally drained. “I could learn to like this.”

  “Try sticking around and you might get more of it,” Domino suggested, sipping his own drink.

  “I might,” she returned sweetly. “But it won’t be because of your nagging.”

  “Enough,” Skye growled, close to losing his temper with both of them. Domino might just be trying to protect his younger brother from further pain, but Skye didn’t need his dubious help. Whatever anger Domino held would just have to be dealt with in another way. “We have other concerns right now. Has Nemesis made any progress?”

  Domino glanced aside at his communications panel. “Still in stealth mode. We won’t hear anything until he’s found Trell’s hidey hole. Too much possibility of being picked up on a scan.”

  “And then what?” Jaide wanted to know. Was it too much to hope that this thing would soon be over? She was getting very tired of these games. The more she played the more she discovered this wasn’t the kind of life she wanted to lead. But what about Skye? What did he want? How would she fit into his life if this was what he wanted to do for the rest of it?

  “And then we go arrest him,” Skye assured her with a smile, brushing his lips across her temple, setting off sparks.

  Distracted, she murmured, “And what about me? Do I stay here?”

  He sighed and rested his forehead against her temple. Ignoring his brother’s aggrieved snort, he said, “Could we have a moment?”

  After Domino was gone he pulled back, watching her carefully. “Are you saying you wish to go? Is that what you want?” Her answer would help him to know what direction to take with her. He suppressed a groan, wearied just by thinking of the argument to ensue when all he longed for was peace. Why couldn’t he have fallen in love with a sweet-natured, biddable woman?

  She was silent a moment. “I don’t think I’d be much help with that kind of thing,” she said slowly. She searched his eyes. “I’m getting rather tired of running around. Lately all I’ve been wanting to do is work on an engine. I think I need to unwind.” Skye’s shoulders slumped in relief, and she laughed.

  “Woman.…” He shook his head at her but hugged her to him in relief. “You don’t know how relieved I am to hear you say that. I thought for sure I’d be forced to tie you to my bed to keep you out of danger.” When she snorted, he sobered. Taking her face in his hands, he gave her a tender kiss. “Tell me you won’t leave me again. Don’t go.”

  Tears pricked her eyes. Pain shimmered in his gaze and she realized just how much she’d hurt him. She touched his face, willing him to see her sincerity. Softly she said in Draconian, “I won’t leave you. I’m not afraid of loving you anymore, and I want to trust. Would you help me do that?”

  “Always,” he swore, moved. His lips brushed hers. “Always.”

  “But what about Quadril?” she asked, breaking away. “You made it sound like there was some kind of problem with him.”

  Though he didn’t move, she felt him distance himself. “Quadril is our traitor.”

  Chapter 10

  She stared at him in disbelief. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. We might never have known if I hadn’t seen him talking to a known agent of Carthak’s.” His jaw tightened. “Unfortunately he saw me and escaped before I could do more than wound him. Had you seen him before I could warn you...."

  Jaide stilled. If Quadril had approached her before Skye got to her, she’d have been dead or worse. Her willfulness had nearly cost them a steep price.

  The guilt worsened as she thought of the way she’d been shot at after the race. She hadn’t even dreamed she was in danger after she landed, not with all those people around them. Had she been shot and the Splinter taken.… Things could have gotten very ugly. “I’m sorry.” It was inadequate, but Skye deserved the words. More than that, he deserved a wife who wouldn’t force him to risk his life to protect her.

  It was time she grew up.

  They shared a quiet lunch with Domino. No one was very interested in talking as they waited to hear something from Nemesis. Finally the com signal sounded.

  Domino practically leapt on it. “Go ahead.”

  “Got him.”

  Jaide relaxed and smiled as Skye hugged her. “It’s about time,” she
said. Maybe now they could relax and seriously consider what to do with the rest of their lives.

  “No sign of Quadril.”

  That dampened the mood a bit. Quadril knew far too much, was a danger to all of them until he was caught. Still, it was the first break in the case against Carthack-if they could get Trell to talk.

  Vasha and Belsi joined them for dinner that evening. Irrepressible and impish, the pair chased gloominess away with their bright chatter.

  “Oh, you should have seen him!” Belsi giggled, gesturing dramatically with her fork. “The new director is absolutely in love with our sister.”

  Vasha blushed and studied her meal with intense interest. “It will pass.”

  Her brothers exchanged looks. “Maybe we should meet him.”

  “Don’t you dare!” She glared at them. “I’m not a little girl anymore, and I know more about how to handle men than you know about being one. I’m tired of you intimidating any man who even smiles at me. I can handle them without your dubious help.”

  “Maybe, but it’s been a long time since we visited you at the set. I do enjoy watching you work,” Domino said casually.

  Belsi snorted. “You just like flirting with the other actresses. Admit it-you’re bored silly every time you come.”

  “Impossible.” Skye beamed gallantly at her. “How could we ever be bored watching our favorite sisters in action?”

  “Your only sisters,” Vasha observed dryly just before she popped a crunchy fritter in her mouth. “Was your brother ever this difficult, Jaide?”

  “Chrys? Are you kidding? He must have been even worse,” Belsi insisted. “I mean, look at the way he hovers around us now.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ll bet Jaide couldn’t get a date for all the boys living in terror of him.”

  Jaide held very still. There were many answers she could give to that, but something held her tongue. Maybe because she knew no one would benefit from the pain and rage in her heart for her brother. Instead, she answered in an admirably even tone, “True, I had no dates.”