Destiny's Blood by Marie Bilodeau (superbooks4u txt) 📕

“If we’re going to go down,” Cailan said as he sat straighter, his shoulders strong and squared, “then let’s go down like true Mirialers.”

“I’m not a Mirialer!” Lang complained as he locked his chair back down.

Cailan ignored him. “Ardin, Avienne...” He hesitated and his voice softened. “If you’d like to get off the ship now, please do. I could never hold that against you, or think less of you.”

Avienne sighed. Now he offers. Ardin turned around and locked eyes with her. She grinned and shrugged. “Ask me again after this.”

Cailan turned and cocked an eyebrow at her, a smile creeping into his eyes. He turned back and looked at Ardin, who nodded to him.

“Crazy kids. I’d have gone,” Lang muttered. A ship exploded outside the view port, and he whistled low.

“Avienne, advise them that we’re coming. Ardin, bring us to Victory’s side and protect her wounded flank. Lang, keep an eye on all the other ships.”

“Is that all?” the navigator mumbled, and emptied a small metal flask.

The ship heaved forward, the lights flickered once, and the great beast warmed and gained in speed.

Avienne concentrated on the incoming government ships. Cailan rubbed his hand on the arm of his chair and whispered, “Just one more battle, Lady. Just one more victory and then you can rest.”

CHAPTER 25

Deep within the decks of the Destiny, past the door where Travan had lost his life, a floor panel lifted, pushed up by two pairs of gloved hands.

“I don’t like this,” Romero whispered as he pulled Seela up. “We should stay together and double our chance of success.”

Seela brought her hand to the side of his face, so human except for its orange eyes, and she fought the urge to reach for his hands and rip his gloves off. There would be time for that later.

“It’s the best way. I’ll find the girl, you tear down the Destiny’s engines. Then the colonel can have his day and we can maybe take a vacation.” She smiled up at him, running her fingers down his face and his chest until the orange eyes closed.

She could still see the protest in them when they reopened seconds later. “And don’t worry about me. The Berganda will protect me. She needs me.”

Romero still looked sceptical. “She seemed loyal to her friend.”

Seela gave a short laugh. “She saved me from that smuggler in the flower shop, remember? And besides, if there’s one thing you must know about Berganda, it’s that the survival of our race is imperial in my kin’s minds.” She paused and winked at him. “And I, dear Romero, represent the only chance for the Berganda to survive. And she knows it.”

i

Layela struggled to find the surface again, struggled to breathe fresh air. A part of her knew that it was nowhere to be found, but she craved it so wildly that her lungs hurt.

She was drowning, and had been drowning forever. All she needed was to gulp one breath of fresh air, and another, and maybe she could win this battle. Her lungs were closing, weight heavy on them, and still she could not gasp. She wanted to scream in fury, but the next breath was too precious to waste on a frivolous scream.

“Layela,” she heard her name called out. Warmth exploded through her body and the weight lifted from her lungs, ever so slowly. Soon she could breathe fully again. It was stale air, but she didn’t care.

She breathed slowly, not gulping air greedily as her body begged her to do. She counted her breaths until she reached ten, and then she felt strong enough to speak.

“Bloody Yoma.” The words immediately reconnected her with her surroundings and made her feel better. She opened her eyes. Josmere was throwing a syringe away.

“Your sister does indeed like to use efficient drugs,” the Berganda said casually. She locked eyes with Layela, only their light discoloration betraying her relief.

“She was on the ship, Josmere. The bloody ship that blew up the Meltor.”

Josmere nodded and drew a deep breath as she smiled. “Now we know why you stopped Avienne from firing on that ship.”

Layela swallowed hard and slowly sat up, taking deep breaths as the world spun around her. Once the dizziness had passed, she spoke again. “It’s still two hundred innocent lives stolen, Josmere. And for what?”

Josmere gave her a crooked smile. “For the chance for others to live. Isn’t that always the way?”

Layela eyed her friend suspiciously. “Since when are you a philosopher?”

Josmere gave a short laugh before a look of horror crossed her face. “Blood and bones. We’ve got company. Stay here, Layl,” the Berganda leapt to her feet, only to yelp and collapse against the wall.

“You’re wounded!” Layela exclaimed. She made her way towards her, slowly at first, testing her recently drugged body’s willingness to move.

“It’s not that bad,” Josmere said, sidestepping awkwardly. “I’m healing it, I just need some time. Take this, just in case.” She handed Layela one of the guns and holsters.

“Josmere!” Layela clenched her teeth and fought down the anger that quickened her pulse.

“Stay here. I’ll be right back.” The Berganda exited the room, much faster than Layela would have thought possible with her wound.

Seconds later, the blaring horns of the ship’s alarm rang three times and the lights dimmed. Layela tumbled as the ship lurched sideways. Weapons-fire collided with the ship’s weakened hull, the sounds pounding the walls around her.

“Josmere.” Layela imagined her wounded friend losing her footing in the unsteady corridors, unable to rise again.

She stood, clutching the wall as the ship rocked again. Barely any dizziness struck her and Layela allowed herself a slight grin. Her sister had drugged her, yes, but in true Yoma fashion, she had done the most harm in the least harmful manner. Her body was recovering quickly enough that she could follow Josmere.

She had to. Any danger Josmere now faced, she faced for her.

i

Josmere bit back a cry of pain as the ship shook again and her wounded leg struck the corner of a