Lost Star by Hawke, Morgan (digital book reader .TXT) 📕

The larger man shrugged and continued progressing through the brush, his boots making an incredible amount of crunching noises. “We bring the brat back with us.”

The smaller man snorted. “It’d be easier to just bring the head back. Accidents can happen, you know.”

The larger man shook his head. “I heard he plans to tap that brain. I don’t know about you, but I really don’t want that kid to have a memory of me shooting him.” He nodded significantly. “Not when he prefers that kid alive.” The two mercenaries stepped among the taller rocks and out of sight.

Aubrey clenched his jaw. He could only be Moribund. The man he had never seen; the man who had forced him to kill so many people. Heat seared the back of his skull. A memory flashed. A long shard of steel sinking into a uniformed body… Hot red liquid spilling over his hands… The smell of raw meat… Something in his chest vibrated and rumbled.

Seht looked down at him and raised a brow. “You’re growling.”

“Huh?” Aubrey’s thoughts stilled. He blinked up at Seht, shocked.

“I’m…growling?”

Seht eased up off Aubrey, rising into a squat. He slid his bolt rifle off his shoulder and into his hands. His fanged smile was chilling. “You were saying something about not being a beast?”

“Shut up!” That’s when he realized that was also baring his fangs. He sat up cautiously and felt his cheeks heat furiously. Crap.

Seht waved at Aubrey. “This way.” Moving quietly, they strode across the clearing and downhill into deep brush.

78

Morgan Hawke

Chapter Thirteen

Seht stopped cold among the standing stones at the edge of a broad clearing.

Damn.

Only a step behind him, Aubrey stared at the wavering air that marked Seht’s hidden ship just on the other side of the clearing.

Seht grabbed the front of Aubrey’s suit and hauled Aubrey behind a large rock.

Held fast in Seht’s grip, Aubrey teetered off balance. “What the—”

Seht dropped into a crouch, pulling Aubrey down with him. “We are not alone.”

A flurry of whizzing pops echoed between the tall rocks from more than one direction accompanied by shouts in several languages.

Aubrey sucked in a sharp breath. It sounded like a lot of men, with a lot of guns.

Just how many people were hunting him?

Seht peeked past the edge of a jagged stone. “I do not think they have seen us.”

Aubrey knelt up and strained to look past Seht’s shoulder. “Then who are they shooting at?”

“Stay down.” Seht pushed Aubrey back. “From the voices, it appears that my cousin grew impatient and came for me.”

“Oh…” Aubrey scraped a hand through his hair. “So, how are we supposed to get past this?”

“We go around it.” Seht looked over at Aubrey. “Are you good for a fast run?”

Aubrey snorted. He wasn’t even winded. He grinned. “Just try to leave me behind.”

Seht raised a brow at him. “You’re showing teeth.”

Aubrey’s grin dissolved into a scowl. “Well, excuse me for smiling.”

Seht rolled his eyes. “You can smile; just avoid baring your teeth while you do it.”

Interstellar Service & Discipline: Lost Star

79

Aubrey had to work to suppress a growl. Of all the stupid things to bitch about…

“Can we worry about that later, when people aren’t shooting for us?”

“Stubborn brat!” Seht bared his teeth and released a low growl. “I am definitely beating you at my first opportunity.” He bolted back the way they had come, zigzagging between the rocks.

Aubrey lunged after him. What in Bleeding Fate was his problem?

The run through the rocks and brush was a howling mess of gunshots, violent shouts, and moving shadows caused by flashes of too-bright light from muzzle fire.

And blood. The smell of wet copper and raw meat was overpowering. It was also arousing. He was getting hard, and hungry.

Aubrey nearly tripped. What the hell? What kind of freak got turned on from blood? Never mind that, how the hell was he supposed to run with a hard-on? His trousers tightened, and his steps faltered. Shit. He grabbed himself to set his dick a bit more comfortably and nearly lost sight of Seht in the process.

Seht stopped and looked back at Aubrey, frowning.

Aubrey hurried to catch up.

A red flower bloomed on Seht’s left upper thigh and dripped. As though in slow motion, Seht’s eyes widened, and his lips parted. He turned sharply to the side, slamming back against a standing stone, and collapsed.

Shock blazed at the back of Aubrey’s skull. “Seht!” He didn’t think, he threw out his hands and leaped, putting every ounce of power into his legs. He landed practically on top of Seht, very nearly falling on him, and dragged him behind a rock.

Seht gasped on the ground. “No need to shout. It is merely a bolt.” He lifted a hand.

“Move back.”

“‘ Merely a bolt,’ he says.” Aubrey moved back and crouched down, unsure of what to do.

“This is not my first bolt wound.” Seht sat up and scowled, baring his teeth. He took a breath and grabbed the leg of his suit. “I doubt it will be my last.” He dug his long nails into the tear and ripped the fabric, exposing the bullet hole. “At least it is not in a vital area.” He grabbed at his sleeve and wrenched. The fabric ripped from the shoulder and came free.

Aubrey blinked. He couldn’t have done that. He sighed. Oh yeah… Seht was mechanically augmented, where he wasn’t.

A whisper of pain throbbed in Aubrey’s leg. He winced. Apparently, words weren’t the only things transferred through the telepathic link in the collar. He felt something else. A freezing-hot searing between his eyes that raised the hair on the back of his neck. Aubrey blinked. Anger, he was feeling anger. Seht was furious.

“Idiots.” Seht wrapped the sleeve around his left leg, and a growl rumbled from him. “We would have made it.” He knotted the sleeve with sharp jerks. “But, oh no, Syrhus 80

Morgan Hawke

just had to come down and stir this