Zayn didn’t say anything, but his jaw was tight. He stared into the red mists like he could see something they couldn’t. TheInfinitasshook a little, and he tapped the command console with an experienced hand.
“Where do all these thieves and assassins live?” She sensed Dathan come up beside her. She felt like she had an internal radar for his presence.
“There’s a proto-world near the center of the nebula. It’s called Lucifa.” He moved closer to the window, his lean body silhouetted by red. “Souk is home to the white and gray markets. Lucifa is a black-market world. You can buy every kind of illegal weapon, stolen goods, slaves.”
“It’s notorious for its slave market.” Zayn’s frown was vicious. “They deal in trade labor for the mining and manufacturing worlds. But they’re famed for their women. They say you can buy the most beautiful women in the galaxy.”
“All kidnapped off deep space transports and outer rim worlds taken by surprise when the nebula engulfs them,” Dathan added.
Eos pressed a hand to her stomach. She could imagine having everything in your life torn away in an instant, but to lose your freedom in the most unthinkable way… She swallowed. “So we avoid Lucifa.”
“Yeah.” Dathan scraped a hand through his hair. “But the entire nebula is filled with ships of all sizes, shapes, and agendas. Piloted by crews we really don’t want to run into.”
She slumped into one of the seats in two neat rows behind the pilot’s seat. She’d known this trip would be nothing like the Institute’s well-funded digs. But she’d been so focused on Star’s End, she hadn’t truly thought about all the risks.
Had her mother thought them through before she’d left her daughter to head off on a dangerous mission?
An alarm on the command console went off. Zayn swore. “Hang on.”
TheInfinitaspulled into a sharp turn and shuddered. As the boosters ignited, Eos nearly slid off her seat.
Dathan leaned over. “Strap in.” He clipped her straps in, his hard gaze hitting hers.
What she saw there made her shiver.
He sat in the seat beside her. Nik strapped into a seat behind them.
“Z?” Dathan said.
“Ship off the starboard side. Big motherfucker.” He tapped furiously on the screen, like a pianist, his expression the most serious she’d seen on his face. “Gonna try and outrun them.”
Dathan leaned forward. “Can you identify them?”
“Not yet.”
Another tight turn pushed Eos hard into her seat. She clutched the armrests. Zayn threw the ship into a sharp dive, and her stomach jumped into her throat. She must have made a noise, because Dathan’s hand clamped over hers. His fingers tangled with hers and his solid grip steadied her.
“Can you fire on them?” Eos asked.
Zayn shook his head. “No.”
Dathan looked grim. “Zayn doesn’t fire on other ships.”
She gaped at him. An ex-fighter pilot who wouldn’t fire his weapons? “Even when we’re in trouble?—”
“Never.” Zayn’s voice was unyielding.
“Wouldn’t matter anyway,” Niklas said. “We’re outgunned.”
“What about a cloaking device?” Eos said.
Zayn shook his head. “Won’t work in the nebula.”
The cockpit windows filled with the huge bulbous shape of a ship. Fear was like sharp claws sinking into Eos’ belly. It was heavily armored, large laser cannons mounted on the sides.
“Shit.” Dathan’s fingers flexed on hers. “See the insignia on the tail?”
She searched the hull. Saw an image painted on the back end of the ship. A person kneeling maybe? “Yes.”
