The ship’s propulsion detonates, and the husk fragments. The portal light fades, and I bank for DIA, who lingers at a distance from other ships. Remaining Nebulous vessels retreat.Mesannok’smarker lights switch from blue-white to green, and it makes me smile.
I switch on coms to the Talhuskin homeworld and fire up my Inferno so when they see me, they get the full visual of my fury.
The screen ahead of me lights up with five Talhuskins on a bridge of one of their other ships.
“What is this?” one demands.
I grin, making sure they can catch my pointed teeth. “I am Jorusk of Drathis. I have overcome your poisoned ice. Now, I have taken your ship.” I glance at the placard on the dash. “Vyno. I have darkened the lives of its crew. I killed Bakka, your Denarsoan contact, three years ago. And I killed Prince Kalihtanis for his betrayal of our allies, the Amphirans, Thorians, and Mindor.Enaenev afara. Justice served.
“You’re next. Hurt my family again, or my friends, and I’ll be sure you never see me coming.”
I end the call and climb through the ship, drop the ramp, spread my wings, and soar across the stars toward DIA and my mate, who carries our first hatchling.
DIA lowers her ramp. The sealscreen glows just inside. I set down on the ramp and walk inside to the human female with metal wings who waits for me.
The moment the ramp whistles shut, the sealscreen pops. Brynna rushes to me and throws her arms around my neck, tears rolling down her face.
“Thank the stars,” she says before kissing me.
I wrap my arms around her waist and pick her up. “Bryn… Are you okay?”
“I am now.”
“How did you get onMesannok?”
She sets a hand on her chest, showing me the personal portal clipped into her armor. “Thanks for that.”
“I hate to interrupt,” DIA says. “But we should really assist the Orillium in casualty collection before we lose too many more.”
I take Bryn by the hand and lead her up front, encouraging her into the pilot’s seat. “You and DIA guide us in. I will collect the pods.”
She catches my arm as I turn to leave and pulls me down to her for one more breathless kiss. “I love you.”
Brynna turns her attention to the skies, and I can’t help but take a moment to just admire her in her armor, flying my native ship, fighting for my kind despite what we look like and how pissy we can be from time to time.
“I love you, too.”
She smiles back at me. “Go. I’ve got this. DIA and I are becoming good friends.”
I’ve come a long way from feeling like a lone demon wandering aimlessly from battle to battle. Then a dark angel walked into my life, and everything changed.
Guess I’ll have to thank Eluni for that damned arrestor. She is totally going to gloat.
But it has already been worth it.
25: Brynna
It takes two days to gather the Nebs from their ships and get them in cells onMesannok, but we’re learning a lot about them already. Zariah has been teaching us the language. Her adopted son, Caddok, is helping.
Mindorans and Thorians do not have the fleet strength we do, but they are serving as solid patrols and security guards.
Aura has regular meetings insideGravionto keep everyone updated on the uniting of our forces and the progress of the Nebulous Empire’s position. No surprise, none of the Nebs in cells want to talk. But they all seem shocked that there are ones like young Caddok who side with us. Our hope is that seeing his happiness with his Lazariot-human siblings will inspire a change in them.
Jorusk and I wait with Mother Cinuska and several other members of the Drathious Command for Aura to finish his briefing. My sexy mate keeps me against him with an arm around my waist.
“He will not like that we have to leave,” Cinuska says. “We are able to infiltrate Neb shields like Amphirans. That will mean being without another major weapon.”
“He will work with what he has,” Fieri says as he enters ahead of Aura and holds the door for him, which makes Aura roll his eyes.
