“Brynna… Stop. Come here.”
I get up and slip past him to fume in the back. Aura catches me. He takes me gently by the collar of my suit and moves it aside to inspect the veins of fire in my neck.
“Give me something to do,” I growl at him. “Or I am going to quite possibly start lighting shit on fire.”
Aura laughs once in shock, sniffs the air, and nods. “Eluni, do not lose sight of the ship that’s taken Jorusk. Quinn, on guns.”
She slides into the gunner’s seat and takes out vessels with much greater precision and less wasted ammo.
“Eluni, Call Elix, Blaize, and Fieri. We need Allele, MONA, DIA, and Jorusk’s crew. Shadow mission. ASAP,” he adds.
“On it,” Eluni replies, opening up her coms dashboard.
Aura calls to Quinn. “Only shoot if we’re about to die. Otherwise, I want us in stealth mode. Copy?”
She guides her braids into a larger bun and reties it. “Yes, sir.”
“Sky, if you see anyone drop out of that ship, you encapsulate them. Eyes sharp,” he adds.
“Yes, sir.” Sky nods, gives me a look of concern, then focuses on her screens.
Aura guides me into the back and into a private room, where he opens a slot, exposing a better set of armor. “You and I are going to get Jorusk back. But I have to make something very clear.”
“What’s that?”
“I know you’re pregnant. You need to consider that when you go in after him.”
“That was just hours ago.”
“Doesn’t matter.” Aura sighs. “I can smell it on you, and those veins are brighter with every pulse. Now, climb in. Keep your base armor on.”
Aura helps me into the female Hellion suit. “If your life is at risk, I want you to call it and get out of the line of fire. I will take it because I can.”
“Okay.”
He runs a hand over his face. “Jorusk is going to kill me for leading you into this.”
“Give her the wings!” Eluni calls back.
Aura grabs the cylinder Jorusk reshaped before the battle began, affixes it to something he pulls out of a wall, then hooks a hard, shiny black backpack between my shoulders. It ratchets into my suit, and commands light up in my visor.
Aura grabs two handguns and attaches them to the belt near my hips. Then he grabs a sword and lights it up. It blazes red. “Be careful with this.”
“I’ve hand-cut fields with a sickle. I’ve got it.” I take the blade when he extends it. “Sheath?”
“Between your shoulders.”
I slip it into place and feel it latch while Aura arms himself with a variety of guns and knives.
My visor blinks at the same time as Aura’s with communications from the living ships.
MONA:Tracking Jorusk’s position. Stealth mode engaged. Elix will meet you on board. DIA?
DIA:I am tracking Jorusk’s vitals. He has been poisoned with creosotine. Sidius and Osiris are working on a serum for him. Rykarn is injured, but here. He will remain with me. Vryskas will join the others.
ALLELE:Blaize and Fieri are gearing up now. Approaching your position. We have a tag-along: Cinuska.
When Aura and I exit the armory and rejoin Eluni, I notice a dark ship rise into line with us to our left, piloted by a familiar green face with gold eyes, and it makes me wonder where Zariahis. But then she steps up beside him, and I’m grateful to my friends, who are willing to risk everything for my mate.
