Ignoring the pain in my calf, I kept going. The door wasn’t far.
I straightened and ran, taking a huge leap to get there faster. TheEndeavordipped again, and the ship went one way while I went the other.
Terrified, I flailed and dropped the wand, trying to grab back on to the ship with both hands. I pitched forward, stretching my arms and fingers out.
I missed the hull and somersaulted. My feet didn’t even hit as I came back around. My attempted dive sent me into a weightless spin, and I spiraled out into space, rotating again and again.
Dark. Claw. Ship. Phaser beam. Up was down, down was up. I was out of control. Petrified. Momentum carried me away, every dizzying head-over-heels inch rolling out like a mile paved in solid fear.
I screamed for Jax. Jax screamed for me back. He’d fall apart if I died. There was no one to keep him together, not when he wouldn’t really let himself have anyone else.
A hard jolt wrenched my waist and snapped me to a harsh stop.
“Fuck!” I yelled.
“What?” everyone yelled back.
I sucked air through my teeth, pain ringing inside me like a slap. I blinked, trying to focus. Pain and panic were making it hard to see. I frantically tried to locate the hunters again.
There!On my left.
“Might need new stitches, Fi.”
“Just get in here!” she cried, sounding like she wanted to tear me apart, not stitch me up.
My sweat-pricked gaze found and followed the line of the tether home to theEndeavor, and I swung my arms forward and grabbed on. Hand over hand, I began reeling myself in.
The hunters zipped around and let off a series of shots again, nearly severing the line. If it had been any thicker, they would have had it, but without anything technological for their instruments to lock on to, the tether was a damn hard target.
My heart beat like a drum in an empty cavern as I pulled myself in. Double-crossing asshole, I-will-eviscerate-him-if-I-ever-see-him-again Shade had definitely convinced his buddies that a capture was better than a kill. So much more profitable. Either that, or they couldn’t shoot for shit, but bounty hunters weren’t known for their incompetence.
I finally hit metal tiles with enough force that it would have hurt without the bulk of the space suit to cushion me. Grabbing on to the hull with both hands and the help of my magnetized boots, I scuttled toward the open door again. I would get to that starboard air lock. I had to.
Another hard jolt stopped me, making me gasp and curl in on my injury.For fuck’s sake!The actual gunshot wound hadn’t hurt half as much as the rest of this did.
The hunters swooped down next to me, the claw reaching out. I sprang forward but couldn’t move. Something was holding me back.
I twisted and yanked on the rope. “Jax! I’m stuck!” The tether was caught.
“I’m coming for you!” he yelled.
“No! Stay inside!” He could never suit up fast enough. Either I got inside on my own, or…
The claw twisted toward me, opening like a terrible flower. My eyes widened behind my mask—no way was that thing catching me.
I swiped at the latch on my belt, fumbling the mechanism because of my thick gloves. I tried again, shaking from the fear and adrenaline pouring through my blood.
Come on… Come on…
The tether detached, freeing me. I pulled hard on two of the big screws holding down the armored plates and shot along the outside of the ship. The claw hit right below me, smacking my heel so hard my foot went numb.
“I’m loose! Don’t move. I’m coming in.” I aimed for the opening, going as fast as I could. I’d never spacewalked without the tether before. It was as terrifying as I’d always imagined.
“Tess. Partner. Holy Sky Mother.”
Poor Jaxon. He’d lost hair the last time I scared him this much.
I propelled myself toward the starboard door, using more hands than legs, my arms straining and my shoulders aching. Phaser shots chased me, getting closer and closer. The hunters weren’t aiming for the lost tether anymore. Dead was plenty good enough again.
