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

and sparks flew. Dipping low, he hooked both shields with his tusks, and he reared up. The barriers flew high in the air, but Orin reached out and used his powers to pull them both back into his hands.

Orin bashed one shield against Blacktusk’s face, shattering the pirate captain’s ivory. Splinters and jewelry scattered on the ground. With the other shield, he swept the melephundan’s robot leg out from under him. As Blacktusk fell sideways, Orin dropped the shields and dashed over to pin his foe.

Blacktusk twisted around, catching Orin with the jagged ends of his broken tusks. Orin winced as they sliced across his arms and chest. His powers prevented him from being impaled, but the flames surrounding his hands burned low, and his muscles started to ache.

Wearing a savage grin, Blacktusk pressed his counterattack. He kicked Orin back. With his head hung low, Blacktusk rolled up to stand, and he reached for Orin with both hands.

Keeping a cool head, Orin watched Blacktusk’s moves. As Blacktusk attempted a grapple, Orin sidestepped back, drawing his opponent’s overreach. Seizing the moment, Orin locked his arms around Blacktusk’s. In an instant, he closed and pinned the melephundan’s elbows. Orin snapped Blacktusk down and twisted his hand around at the wrist. Pulling on Blacktusk’s immobilized arm, Orin curled back and wrapped his legs around the pirate captain’s knees, locking his legs in place.

Blacktusk grunted as he struggled to break free of the hold.

Casey stepped into his field of view. “You got this?” she asked.

“I could use some help,” said Orin, and his blue fire faded completely.

With a sly smile, she nodded, and the last thing Blacktusk saw before losing consciousness was the butt of Casey’s shotgun.

◆◆◆

In the starry expanse, Excrucio’s Starwind rocketed from the battlecruiser’s launch bay. Mike, Torsha, and every member of Falcon’s boarding team lingered in the shuttle’s crowded cargo compartment, but no one said much of anything. Bloodtusk and the rest of Excrucio’s command crew sat bound on the upper deck. The crystal canopy gave them an unfettered view of what was about to happen.

The Starwind closed on Fox Mendes as her launch tubes yawned open. Volleys of guided missiles lit up the darkness, leaving pale serpents in their wake. The hunter-destroyer’s forward turrets unleashed relentless columns of dragon’s fire, breaking apart the pirates’ starfighters amidst silent crescents of amber and orange. The missiles found the dreadnought first, consuming her with hellfire. She broke apart as the next volley devoured the missile cruisers, and the third volley shattered Blacktusk’s frigates.

The final volley crippled Excrucio.

Chapter 15

Recovery

Casey sat within the cockpit of one of the Sunhawks anchored in the Rocksaugh maintenance hangar. The flight crew stood on either side of her, along with a pair of Falcon marines at her back. Izel’s face appeared on the dash display. “Officer Cartwright, I’m Captain Izel Aguirre. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Likewise, Captain Aguirre,” said Casey. “I don’t mean to be rude, but what’s the purpose of this call?”

“I wanted to get a look at the person my marines are speaking so highly of,” said Izel. “I understand you neutralized seven combatants—five before we joined, and two more in the mêlée that followed. Is that correct?”

“What I did was kill five people and knock out two others. I hate the word ‘neutralize,’” said Casey. “Look, I’m not much of a fan of any military, so unless you start talking straight with me, I’m leaving.”

“What do you mean by that?” asked Izel.

“We’re both women of action. Flattery insults us both,” said Casey. “What’s the real reason I’m here?”

Izel she raised a brow appreciatively. “You’re here because you’re the one who downed Blacktusk. His bounty is yours to claim. Unfortunately for me, I was hoping to leverage that bounty in exchange for Orin Webb. As his rescue is why we were sent here in the first place, my mission is at risk of failure unless you can find it within your heart to transfer Orin into our care.”

“You know, I really wish I could help you, but now that Ky’s under arrest for slave trading, I’ll need to reassert my transport claim, and it could be months before MABAS sorts it out.” Casey laughed dryly. “Between you and me, that kid’s been more trouble than he’s worth.”

“Clearly, you haven’t seen how much they’re paying for Blacktusk,” said Izel.

Casey shook her head. “He’s nowhere on the bounty boards. I checked on the way back here, under his real name and all his known aliases. So, if he’s on there at all, whatever they’re paying, it didn’t even reach my minimum filter. Which is pretty low.”

“I guarantee you this reward surpasses your minimum filter.” Izel sent over the details.

“Oh, my,” breathed Casey. “You’re sure that’s not an extra zero?”

“Completely sure.”

Whistling into her hands, Casey grinned for only a moment before doubt filled her expression. “I don’t recognize this payer’s seal. Where did you find this?”

“The Interstellar Police Force doesn’t have access to every bounty board.” Izel leaned forward with a cunning smile. “I’ll tell you what. You give me your word—in writing—that you’re surrendering all claim to Orin’s transport, and I’ll put your name right here on the bounty claim. Someone from Marble Canal will be in touch with instructions on where to deliver Blacktusk in order to claim your reward.”

Casey gasped. “Marble Canal? As in the Marble Canal that handles contracts for the galaxy’s wealthy elite?”

Izel nodded.

“Sweet stars above,” whispered Casey. “I’ve been applying for membership for years!”

“Now you’ll have their attention,” said Izel. “Surely an invitation will follow.”

Casey nodded, barely able to contain herself. “I’ll do it! Thank you, Captain Aguirre. Thank you!”

◆◆◆

Within the confines of Rocksaugh’s primary hangar bay, Falcon corpsmen moved between injured marines and buccaneers. Mike and Torsha dragged a pair of old crates to Orin’s bedroll, taking in the compresses and gauze that covered his arms and chest. Shona sat across from them with a medical armband wrapped around her forearm. It hummed and clicked