Born of Ice

“Alix,” Devyn said. “Put your head down and take a deep breath.”


He didn’t look at her, but from the tone of his voice she could just imagine the gleam in his eyes. Quickly, she duplicated Sway’s position.

Devyn’s hands flew over the control panel, making adjustments to the ship’s settings. “Vik? You ready?”

A dry, arrogant tone came through the ship’s intercom. “Your stupidity is what I live for, Captain. Shall I make calculations on the usual?”

“If you want to live, yes.”

“Done. Releasing safeties in three . . . two . . . one.”

Devyn took control from the computer as all electronic controls and safeguards were dropped and the ship switched to complete manual control.

Ah, God, we’re going to die . . .

Nothing would keep them from slamming into something or banking too hard or . . .

Don’t think about it.

Through a miracle of his piloting abilities, the ship dropped straight down at the same instant The League opened fire on them. Alix’s stomach lurched straight up. The ship’s gravity field switched off automatically, and the unexpected weightlessness hit her like an asteroid.

She gripped her legs, her body rigid in expectation.

Fighters moved in to shoot and cut them off. Devyn banked as two shots impacted against their side. A battle cruiser launched its tractor net. Devyn hit the retrockets, allowing it to shoot past their prow, narrowly missing them.

Two more ships moved in.

Devyn plunged them straight down, spinning the ship to avoid the blasts aimed at them.

Then, just as she thought she’d definitely be sick, they stopped descending. They drifted for half a heartbeat before Devyn fired the rear engines. The sudden force lurched her back against the seat with an impact she was certain would leave a long bruise down her spine.

Shots fired all around them, some hitting the ship dead-on. Luckily, the shields held and all it did was cause them to rock and spin.

Within a minute, they hit a natural hyperspace opening and were slung out of the sector.

Alix held her breath until she was sure their pursuers hadn’t followed them in. She checked the gauges, which confirmed her relief. It appeared they were safe.

“Everyone all right?” Devyn asked as he flipped the gravity back on.

Sway growled irritably as he unwrapped himself. “I think I just gave birth. Damn. And I’m the one who flunked the pilot’s test?”

Vik let out his own noise of agitation. “If you really want to get him into trouble, capture one of his stunts and email it to his mother. She’d have his ass in traction over it.”

Devyn shook his head. “Any more bitching from the geriatric crew? What a bunch of old women. Should I hire another crewmate to change your bed diapers while I’m at it? Next time I’ll let The League have you.” He clicked the sublight panel on. “Vik, I’m relinquishing control back to you.”

“It’s what I live for. By the way, ye organic life forms aren’t the only ones who’ve soiled themselves. Can I have a minute to attend my needs, Captain Asshole?”

Devyn let out a sound of supreme disgust. “You would think one of you could say, ‘Great flying, Captain. Thanks for saving our worthless asses.’ ”

His words amused her, but she couldn’t quite bring a smile to her shaking lips. He was right, though. That was some of the best flying she’d ever seen.

Sway wiped an arm across his sweat-covered brow. “One day, someone’s going to make the markings on this ship, and then we’re going to be absolutely screwed.”

Devyn shrugged off the warning. “They might, but there’s never been a League prober born who could outmaneuver a Dagan and you know it.”

Alix looked up at the mention of the Dagan surname. Everyone in the shipping or running business knew of the infamous family of smugglers. Their exploits were legendary, especially Caillen Dagan. That man had been a god among smugglers and had vanished mysteriously in the prime of his career.

And Devyn’s relation to them was something extremely important Merjack had failed to tell her during his briefing. Anyone related to that family was indeed someone to be reckoned with.

Sway scoffed. “Your aunt and uncle would be proud of you, no doubt. But your mother would have your head if she ever saw you do what you do.”

Devyn swung his chair around to face Alix. “Any complaints you want to add to his?”

Startled by his sudden attention to her, she focused her gaze on his dangerous brown eyes. She wasn’t used to men who joked about life and death, and the things in between.

Her father and his crew had possessed no sense of humor whatsoever.

A strange surge of emotion filled her, but she couldn’t quite name the sensation. She shook her head. “No complaints, Captain, but as soon as my legs can walk again, I think I need to lie down.”

Sway shook his head. “See, Dev, you’ve already crippled our new engineer. Good job, dumbass.”