Rivers of Orion by Dana Kelly (a court of thorns and roses ebook free .TXT) 📕

so beautiful, no matter what shape you take, and especially like this.” Tentatively, she ran her fingertips through Eleski’s hair, grazing her scalp. “Is this okay?”

Eleski closed her eyes and basked in the sensation. “Please… Please do not do that. Amongst my people, sensuous contact with our exocranial fibers is a romantic gesture.”

“Oh,” said Eridani, and she pulled away. “I’m sorry. I mean, I thought… Never mind.”

“I do not condemn you for being unaware,” said Eleski.

Eridani shrugged and smiled awkwardly. “Except I kind of was… you know, aware.”

Eleski’s voice fell quiet. “Captain, what are your feelings for me? Please be clear, because my hopes are quick to soar, although I am suddenly filled with fear.”

“Strong enough to know you shouldn’t be calling me Captain,” whispered Eridani, and she tenderly kissed Eleski’s lips. When she pulled away, she saw effulgent tears streaming from Eleski’s eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to make you cry. Please forget—”

Eleski pulled her close, and they kissed deeply.

“They are tears of joy,” said Eleski, and she beamed. “Eridani.”

◆◆◆

“Captain,” said Brady over the ship’s comm, and Eridani startled awake. Seated in a chair next to Eleski’s bedside, she took a moment to rub her eyes and get her bearings. She leaned forward, stood up, and stretched.

She adjusted her sling and pushed the wall comm. “I’m here. What’s up?”

“You’ve got an incoming hail from Admiral Schurke, marked for your eyes only.”

“Thanks, Brady. Please call Torsha to the bridge.”

“Aye, Captain,” said Brady. “You want the rest of us to clear out, like last time?”

“No, please stay. I’m done hiding.”

Brady paused. “Aye, Captain. I’ll get the word to Torsha.”

Eridani stopped by her quarters long enough to don her uniform, and she soon boarded the command deck.

“What’s going on?” asked Torsha. “I kind of feel underdressed right now.”

“It’s Admiral Schurke,” said Eridani. “Brady, put him through.”

“Aye, Captain,” said Brady. “Putting him through.” Eridani and Torsha sat down at their stations as he sent the call to the main viewscreen.

“Greetings, Eridani Webb,” said Schurke. “You look a little worse for wear than the last time I saw you. As the distressed mother-to-be, you were delightful, but it was your denshies that stole the show.”

“Admiral Schurke,” said Eridani. “Enjoy your freedom while you can, because it won’t last long.”

“That’s part of the reason I’m calling.” He leaned forward, and his leather gloves creaked as he brought his hands together. “I just wanted those damn drives!”

“By the way, we gutted your backup plan. Every camera, every microphone, and every bomb you planted on this ship is gone,” said Eridani. “You’ve got nothing on me, and I’ve got everything on you.”

Fury burned in his eyes. “Foolish child. You could not be more wrong.”

Eridani leaned back in her chair and tapped the armrest. “You’re going away for a long time.”

“I assure you I am not,” he said. His face vanished from the screen, replaced by a satellite view of scattered clouds. Frame by frame, the camera zoomed in until it focused on an island surrounded by a lake. A river flowed into it from the east, emerging from the far side as a coursing waterfall. A grove of yellow aspens ringed the body of water. “Recognize this place?”

“That’s Cavern Lake,” said Torsha. “If you hurt my mom or any of our friends, I’ll hunt you down and gut you!”

“Hurt them? Oh no, I promise you they won’t feel a thing,” said Schurke. “You know, at first I believed it was coincidence that Orin erupted on the same backwater world as my biggest customer. When he delivered Blacktusk to Marble River, it stung, but I found a way to keep the money flowing through Blacktusk’s idiot brother.” The camera zoomed in again, showing Aurora and Oliver as they sat by the lakefront, fishing rods in hand. “But when you slammed that door in my face, I started taking it personally.”

“Taking it personally?” Eridani smashed her fist on the console. “You murdered the woman I loved!”

“Bloodtusk killed Thuraya,” said Schurke. “Not me.”

“Semantics! You gave the order to invade Cavern Lake! Everything that followed is on you.”

He chuckled, a sinister and humorless sound. “You demonstrate sound reasoning. Then by your own standard of accountability, you acknowledge everything that happened on Ruslheimur is your fault.”

“You’re damn right it is!”

“That extraordinary man you destroyed had a name. Not just the Grey Cardinal, but Marcel Rhone.” For only a moment, his voice wavered. “He was dear to me.”

“He was a psychopath,” said Eridani. “I fought for my life, and he lost.”

“Normally I wouldn’t blame you for that, but you keep… making it… personal,” said Schurke. “It’s obvious you care a great deal for your brother. How much do you care for your parents? Or Torsha’s mother, or the entireSantosfamily!”

Eridani stood. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Such a trite sentiment.”

“Fine,” said Eridani. “You want the drives? I’ll send you the drives!”

His leather gloves creaked. “Except I know you already transmitted the data to the Interstellar Police. How sad for them. More innocents to die in your misguided crucible of vengeance.”

“What do you want!” said Eridani.

Schurke chuckled. “I want you to remember this moment.”

“Whatever you’re planning, do not do it,” growled Torsha. “I mean it. I will kill you!”

“Drown in your rage,” said Schurke. “Choke on your empty threats.”

“No,” said Eridani. “Schurke, don’t!” He laughed, and she grabbed her phone to dial her mother.

Aurora answered with a smile and set down her fishing pole. Light glimmered from the lake surface. “Oh, hi Eridani! This is a nice surprise.”

Oliver muttered something in the background.

“Mom, listen to me! You have to get out of there right now!” said Eridani. “Get everyone and get out now!”

“What is going on? Take a deep breath, take a second to calm down and—”

Light flashed, and the call disconnected.

Silently, explosions filled the viewscreen. When the image came back into focus, only a smoking crater remained of the island. Water crashed into newly formed channels, and the aspens burned.

“No!” shrieked Torsha. “Mom!”

“You son-of-a-bitch,” said Eridani, and her phone dropped to the deck.