Vaelix appeared in front of us, materialized from a corridor intersection like smoke. "Finally, I've been looking for you since the ship was first attacked. We need to get her to the lockdown location."
His silver eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that stole my breath. Seven days of careful distance, of me avoiding the astrolabe, of unspoken apologies hanging between us, and now here he was, looking at me like I was the only thing that mattered in the universe. My traitorous body responded with a rush of heat that had nothing to do with the sparking electrical systems around us.
"She is being stubborn," Kaedren said.
"I was not. I just wanted to know what was happening," I protested.
"Kira," Lyrin said as he moved close and took both of my hands. His touch was gentle, so different from Kaedren's raw strength or Vaelix's electric intensity. The healer's hands, long-fingered and careful, and the way he looked at me made me forget how to breathe properly. "May we get you to safety?"
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
Kaedren and Vaelix stepped in front of me as Lyrin moved behind me. We took off at a brisk jog, moving through the corridors silently. Sporadic blaster fire echoed off the walls, and with it came the sharp scent of ozone and something burning. Every time we heard it, we would stop and take cover.
We reached a four-way intersection and pushed up against the wall. I was sandwiched between Kaedren's broad back and Lyrin's chest, acutely aware of both of them breathing, the heat radiating from theirbodies. Kaedren opened a hidden panel and pulled out three blast rifles, giving one to Vaelix and Lyrin while keeping one for himself.
"No gun for me?" I asked.
"Do you know how to use a gun?" Kaedren asked, looking back at me over his shoulder.
"I get the general idea. Pointy end toward the bad guy."
Lyrin's chest vibrated against my back as he chuckled softly, his breath warm against my ear. "With all respect, if your shooting is as good as your bandage wrapping, it might be better if we handle this."
That was very hurtful. But also true.
"Fine, guess I'll just sit here and try not to get kidnapped."
Kaedren held up three fingers and slowly counted down. His muscles tensed, coiled, and ready. I could feel the anticipation rolling off all three of them—warriors preparing for violence with the casual ease of long practice. As he hit one, a large man flew around the corner and smashed into Kaedren. The man stumbled and looked up. It was Torvyn.
"We really need better internal tracking devices," he said.
Even in crisis, even with his dark hair disheveled and a cut above one eye bleeding blue, Torvyn looked every inch the captain. Commanding. Dangerous. The kind of man who made you want to either fight him or—
I shut that thought down immediately.
"Where are the pirates?" Kaedren asked.
Blaster fire smashed into the wall in front of us as we all dove back. Lyrin wrapped himself around me, shielding my body with his as debris rained down. His heart hammered against my shoulder blade, and his arms caged me against him.
"Behind me," Torvyn said.
He got to his feet and jumped back into the hallway, screaming, and firing his blaster at the same time. Kaedren and Vaelix followed him and returned fire. They disappeared behind the wall as they movedforward, and I watched them fight with a sick fascination. Kaedren was all brutal efficiency, using his four arms to fire and reload in a devastating rhythm. Vaelix moved like water, fluid and precise, every shot calculated. Torvyn was the storm, pressing forward with relentless aggression.
I started to follow, but Lyrin put a hand on my arm.
"Let's give them a moment to take care of the threat."
That was a reasonable request, even if watching Lyrin's fingers wrap around my wrist made reasonable thought difficult.
A few moments later, Lyrin stepped out from behind the wall, then gestured for me to follow. Only Vaelix was there now, and dead pirates surrounded him—three bodies in dark armor, species I didn't recognize. He was leaning over one, going through its jacket. He pulled out a data tablet and read it, his expression darkening.
"Somebody has put a bounty on you, Kira," he said, looking up at me. "A substantial one."
"It must be massive to attack a Zorathi Reach vessel head-on," Lyrin said.
Torvyn and Kaedren called out as they walked down the hallway toward us. Both were splattered with blue blood—not their own, I hoped. Something primal and utterly inappropriate heated my blood at the sight of them, battle-worn and victorious.
"The pirates have been escorted off the ship," Torvyn said, his voice rough.
