The First Starfighter by Grace Goodwin (lightweight ebook reader txt) 📕

I’d been believed because I’d been good at my job. Good at pretending to be a double agent. To the Dark Fleet, I was one of them. That alone always made my gut churn since I was supposedly betraying my people. I’d been able to come and go as I pleased, feeding them intel, eating with them. Celebrating successful attacks, laughing at the deaths of Velerions like my brother.

Now, with the delivery of a Starfighter, they probably loved me. My loyalty would be considered a sure thing. I’d inadvertently gone and given Queen Raya the prize. The first Starfighter from a new planet, trained with a new system. A system she wasn’t supposed to know about.

But somehow she knew. General Surano had specifically mentioned Earth as they had dragged Jamie, kicking and fighting, away to a holding cell.

Not only had I given them a Starfighter, but the other half of a bonded pair. If nothing else, I’d proven how ruthless and uncaring I was because she was also my bondmate.

“That surprise attack at Gamma 4 the other day didn’t go unnoticed,” Trax said, sitting back in his chair and crossing his arms. “It didn’t go as she wanted. Raya lost three Scythe fighters and a shuttle full of laser cannons that day. She was not happy.”

“Especially when word came through that the destruction had been caused by one Starfighter pair. A new Starfighter,” Nave added.

“Fuck.” I’d gotten used to seeing Trax and Nave in their gray Dark Fleet uniforms. I’d changed into a matching one. I hated it, the material made my skin crawl, but there was no other option.

Especially now. To keep Jamie alive, I had to pretend to be the traitor instead of finding the real one.

“I can’t help that she’s so skilled,” I snapped. My mind spun to more than just flying. She was incredible in our bed as well, satisfying me with her touch, her cries of pleasure. My thoughts had me gritting my teeth.

Naked beneath me, she’d been pure. Sweet. Innocent. Untainted by the Dark Fleet.

Now she sat in a cell somewhere on the lower levels of this rock. Alone. Waiting to die.

“Word of the mysterious Starfighter’s skill spread quickly through Syrax and across the Dark Fleet.” Nave leaned forward, hands on his knees. “Raya wanted answers, so she went hunting.”

“That’s why she had an armada waiting to ambush us at Vion Hex Port?” I asked.

“She didn’t know the new Starfighter from Earth was bonded to you. But if Jamie hadn’t been so good fighting those Scythe fighters at Gamma 4, she’d never have taken the queen’s notice,” Trax advised.

I set my hands on my hips. “If she wasn’t that good, those Scythe would have finished us both and wiped out the base.”

Nave shrugged. “She was too good. She stood out. And now, captured, your bondmate is the ultimate prize. A weapon to be used against the very people that made her as skilled as she is.”

“Jamie would never attack Velerion.”

“You sure about that?” Trax asked.

I nodded grimly. “I’m sure. But now Queen Raya knows of the Starfighter Training Academy, that we are recruiting Starfighters from other worlds to replenish the ranks. Training them on their home worlds. She knows all of it.”

“You had no choice,” Nave said. Trax nodded in agreement. They were a brawny pair, both raised in the southern hemisphere. While Nave was fair, Trax was dark, hair and skin.

I ran a hand over my face, sighed.

Nave continued. “It was either fall into your undercover role and hand Jamie over to buy yourself some time or be blown to pieces.”

I tried to take deep breaths and push through my anger and frustration. I had to save Jamie, but how? I had to get her off this hellish asteroid base and get back to Arturri. “I can’t imagine what she thinks of me. She was so fucking trusting.”

“That is what a pair bond is,” Trax said, although he wasn’t bonded to anyone. “Two halves, one whole.”

“She gave herself to me, trusted me in all ways. And then I gave her to Queen Raya. The ultimate betrayal. Not only will Jamie die, she’ll die thinking I used her.”

“Stop talking with your cock and start using your head. There are three of us. Nave and I are getting nowhere trying to uncover the traitor. I hate that he’s so fucking good.” Trax paced in the small space as Nave and I watched. He was right. I wasn’t thinking clearly, couldn’t where Jamie was concerned.

“I am to have dinner with the queen and General Surano,” I grumbled. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to get any of the food down.

“Fuck. She invited you to her table? That’s a first.” Nave sounded shocked.

“Let’s hope she does not invite me to her private quarters after dinner.” I shuddered at the rumors we’d all heard about the queen’s appetite for dispensing pain while she took her pleasure. Fine if that’s what one was into, but I was not. I wanted no female’s hands on me but Jamie’s. End of discussion.

“I’m sure Raya wants to gloat about having Jamie in a holding cell. Maybe you can find out what she’s planning? Maybe we can break your bondmate out of here and get you two off this rock?” Trax stopped pacing to look at me. “Whatever it takes. Jamie’s not dying and neither are you.”

“You should be proud of her. Fuck, I’m proud of her, and we have yet to meet. She refuses to roll over for the queen.” Nave slowly shook his head. He stood and set his hand over where the crest would be if he were in his Velerion uniform.

“She is a true Starfighter,” said Trax.

I agreed. My pride in her ran deep. She’d been put to the ultimate decision, choosing between death or giving over everything that would destroy not just Velerion and Earth, but a long line of planets that the queen