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

sunfire missiles, and three-barrel turrets armed with sixteens.” He regarded Orin gravely. “Because that’s what Saxony is carrying. Tell me the truth, kid—how many of those salvos can you eat before you collapse? How many blasts from those cannons?”

Orin swallowed visibly. “As many as he’s got.” He glared down at Nathaniel, moving close. Come on, he thought. Do your thing, you stupid flower!

“Tonight, you’re going to learn why MABAS training is so important, and I don’t envy the tears you’ll be shedding over it,” said Nathaniel. “Before we begin, I want both of you to know if there was any other way, we’d have been fighting on the same side.”

“It’s not too late to join us,” said Casey.

“Yes, it is,” said Nathaniel, and he stood next to Orin.

Admiral Schurke stepped into view from beyond the walls of an abandoned apartment building. Lean and tall, he wore his dress gray uniform, and guttering lamplight exaggerated the depths of his sunken cheeks. It glinted from the scar tissue crossing his forehead. “Your tech asset is to be commended, Officer Cartwright. Triangulating your position proved very difficult.” With a slight smile, he pointed to the nearby lampposts. “But CCTV proved to be most effective. Good heavens! Constable Knox, what brings you here?”

“Just doing my job,” said Nathaniel.

“I certainly hope so,” said Schurke. “Mr. Webb, you’ve already summoned your flames. Did someone upset you? I certainly hope it wasn’t the constable. I specifically asked him not to do that.”

“Stay right there,” said Casey. She put away her phone and retrieved a set of manacles. “Put your hands behind your neck and get down on your knees. Do it now.”

Orin balled his fists, and cosmic fire crept up his arms to his shoulders. “They’re going to bury you in a hole so deep you’ll never see the light of day again. I can’t believe I used to look up you.”

“You should never meet your heroes,” said Schurke. “In fact, I’ve found it’s best if you don’t look up to anyone at all.”

“You murdered my parents!” said Orin. Fire roared from his entire body. “Why?”

“Kinetic bombardment is notoriously lethal,” said Schurke. “As to the wherefore, my reasons are twofold. Every true believer finds their strength in surviving devastating circumstances. Ask yourself this—have you ever met someone with an easy life who really believes in anything? I have yet to. The death of your parents was necessary to summon your strength.”

He held his head high. “But truth be told, using them in such a way was an academic matter, because I was always going to kill them. If someone ever cracked the combination that gave birth to you, the galaxy would be crawling with O-class monstrosities. The Milky Way would burn.”

“That doesn’t make sense. If you’re building a secret army of binaries, why kill my mom and dad?” Orin burned hot, driving Casey and Nathaniel away. “Why? Wouldn’t you want more O-classes under your command?”

“You think my goal is conquest?” asked Schurke, and he chuckled. “I assure you it is not. For far too long, people have worshiped at the feet of monsters, but the things I’ve set in motion will make them see what their gods truly are! In that moment of epiphany, the galaxy will rise up as one and cast out the demons they once praised.”

“If your goal is to recruit me, you’re doing a shit job,” said Orin.

“You’ll join me,” said Schurke. “In fact, your sister’s life depends on it.”

“She’s on the other side of the ecliptic, safely out of reach,” said Orin.

Schurke slowly shook his head. “You have no idea how far my reach extends.”

“That’s enough!” said Casey. “Anton Schurke, by the authority bestowed upon me as a deputy of the Interstellar Police Force, you are under arrest for the murders of Iona Madagan; Martin, Brittany and Gabriela Santos; Aurora and Oliver Webb; as well as twelve Falcon soldiers whose remains are still being identified. Furthermore, you will be held as an accessory to the murder of Thuraya Mir.”

“You can’t be serious,” said Schurke.

Casey took a step closer. “You don’t have to say anything, but it may harm your defense if you don’t mention when questioned something which you later rely on in Court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”

“You can’t arrest me,” said Schurke. “I’m protected by the Military Court of Law!” He muttered into his commlink. “Although I invite you to try.”

A moment later, fire surged from an alleyway, and Lafuega emerged. Frostshadow dropped from a lightless disk and stood at her side. Stone cracked like distant thunder, and Meteor Mo landed amidst a shower of ash and embers. His silvered skin gleamed. Taking the form of a massive and heavily armored combat walker, Simicron stomped into position as the group’s vanguard. Kodama took rearguard. Tiny forest spirits outlined his body, fading in and out of visibility as Schurke’s team formed a circle around him.

“Join me,” said Schurke.

“I can’t do that,” said Orin.

“You should give it some thought,” said Frostshadow. “It’s too bad your dad turned out to be a traitor, but you don’t have to be.”

“Agent Nikuya,” said Casey. “Vandalizing a dead man’s good name is about what I expected from you. How’s your uncle these days? Oh, that’s right—he’s still in prison for what he did to your mom. Too bad you couldn’t stop him in time.”

“Don’t you ever talk about my mom!” Frostshadow shrieked, and she pitched a shard of black ice at Casey. “Anata e no noroi!!”

Orin vaporized the shard with a blast of blue fire.

Casey glared at Schurke. “I guess you’re not the one charge.”

“No, they answer to me,” said Schurke, and he glanced sidelong at Frostshadow. “You’ve become a liability. Return to the shuttle at once.”

“But sir!”

“At once,” said Schurke.

Her shoulders sank. “Yes, sir.” Frostshadow turned and disappeared around a street corner. Undetected by Schurke or his team, light flashed, followed instantly by a quiet pop.

Malmoradan tapped his commlink. “Got her,” he whispered.

“We’re moving Frostshadow inside,” said Shona.

Casey smiled ever so