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

Tall, pale shadows glided at the edges of his vision.

The boy’s gaze darted from side to side, then focused on him. “Look at me, pet, only at me.”

He stepped closer, drawn by the voice and the perfume of his skin. Thought surfaced through the burning haze in his mind. He blinked. “Seht?” His knees wobbled, and he reached out toward him.

“Yes.” Seht kept his hand out, and a crooked smile bloomed. “I can’t go to you.

You have to come to me.”

Aubrey’s gaze was drawn to the rag tied around his leg. That’s right, he was shot.

He lurched to Seht and grabbed for his hand. His knees gave out, and he collapsed in a trembling heap at Seht’s feet. He wanted nothing more than to pass out right there.

“Very good.” Seht slid his fingers through Aubrey’s tangled hair. “How do you feel?”

Aubrey snorted and then groaned. “Like total crap.”

Seht frowned at him, his gaze darting about. “Are you wounded?”

Aubrey lifted his arms to look at them and tugged at his ship-suit. Blood was spattered everywhere, and several rents had been torn into his suit, but the sting of cut flesh seemed to be missing. “Doesn’t feel like it.”

Seht released a soft breath and flashed a small smile. “Good.”

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Half a dozen tall, dark shadows eased from behind rocks and brush to become men in decorative black helmets and armor, bearing swords and bolt rifles.

Aubrey stiffened.

“It’s all right.” Seht continued to stroke Aubrey’s hair. “Just stay as you are.”

A man in a deep green cape, his shoulders enveloped in black fur, stepped forward. He pulled the black helmet from his head, releasing a cascade of white hair.

Thousands of green beads gleamed among the tiny braids of his hair. An iridescent black circlet graced his brow above gleaming blue eyes that held the deep green glow of reflected light. “Deshryt Seht.” He crossed his arms and frowned deeply. “You are late.”

Aubrey blinked. Eh?

“Atehf Syrhus.” Seht dropped his gaze and delivered a short bow. “You could have left me. My ship is jump capable.”

Aubrey’s brows rose. This was Seht’s uncle? Cousin? Both?

Syrhus’s gaze shifted to Aubrey, and his brows lifted.

Aubrey pulled his gaze away just in time to avoid a direct stare. He didn’t want this man focusing on him, though he wasn’t sure why.

Syrhus shifted his gaze back to Seht and scowled. “As long as you are in my care, you will be accounted for at all times.”

Seht snorted. “I am so blessed, Syr.” Sarcasm dripped from his words.

Aubrey tilted his head. He called him Syr? Apparently that word was a standard form of address to one’s superior. Suddenly his resistance to the word felt a little…silly.

“And you will count those blessings once we reach the ship, I promise you.”

Syrhus nodded toward Aubrey. “Would you care to explain that?”

Seht lifted his chin. “That is mine.”

Syrhus sighed and scraped a hand through his long, beaded mane. “In the midst of a raid”—he curled his lip, revealing one long fang—“only you would stop to pick up a half-starving stray.”

Stray? Aubrey felt a growl begin to rise. He took a very deep breath to smother it.

Seht’s fingers bit hard into Aubrey’s shoulder. Apparently he wasn’t happy with Syrhus’s words either.

Syrhus’s gaze narrowed and focused, staring hard at Aubrey. He frowned. “Please tell me that that is not the prey Moribund was stalking?”

Aubrey turned sharply away and glared at the ground.

Seht’s nails dug into Aubrey’s shoulder. “It is, Syr.”

Syrhus sighed and wiped a hand down his face. “How many doses?”

Seht’s expression shifted to something like mild disinterest. “On his second, Syr.”

Abruptly, Syrhus turned away to face the other pale shadows and snapped out something in a language Aubrey couldn’t begin to decipher.

84

Morgan Hawke

Aubrey looked up at Seht. “Is there a problem?”

Seht stroked his shoulder, but anger shimmered at the back of his thoughts. “No.”

Syrhus turned back to Seht. “Come.”

Seht stiffened. “My barque…”

“You are going to it. However, you’re in no condition to pilot anything.” Syrhus stared pointedly at the blood sliding down his leg.

Seht bowed briefly. “Yes, Syr.”

Syrhus turned and started walking.

Seht patted Aubrey’s shoulder. “Time to go home.”

Aubrey rose, or rather he tried to. His legs utterly refused to cooperate. Panic slammed into his heart. He looked up at Seht in alarm and watched the boy’s pale face disappear down a long dark tunnel.

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Chapter Fourteen

Aubrey opened his eyes to a low, domed ceiling lit by small dim lights along the curved wall, and the softness of a mattress under him. The bed and the room around it appeared to be round. An echo of pain radiated in his heart. “Another needle? ”

“Yes.” Seht eased down onto his knees and leaned over Aubrey with a soft smile.

His silver mane spilled down one shoulder to drape across Aubrey’s bare chest. He swept his hand through Aubrey’s overlong red hair, and a wave of affection pulsed straight from Seht’s mind to his. “How do you feel?”

Aubrey blinked. How did he feel? For some reason it was hard to tell. He went to lift his hand and found it ridiculously hard to do. He frowned briefly and persevered until he was able to touch Seht’s hand. “I think I’m okay, just tired.” He spotted a white patch behind the rent in the upper thigh of Seht’s ship-suit. “How about you?”

Seht snorted. “I’ll be fully recovered by the time we reach home, as will you.” He grinned. “I have so much to show you.”

Aubrey looked around, but there wasn’t anything to see. They appeared to be sitting in a very small oval room that consisted of silvery curved walls, a mattress, and nothing else. “Where—” His voice came out very hoarse, and it was surprisingly painful. He winced and coughed. “Ow…”

Seht pressed his fingers over Aubrey’s lips. “Don’t try to talk. You’ve damaged your vocal cords.”

Aubrey blinked up at him. “I have?”

Seht shrugged. “Apparently, you like