Born of Ice

“Which changes nothing.” Devyn’s tone was sharp.

Omari held his hands up in surrender. “I agree, Dad. I was just explaining to the woman why we don’t look anything alike and why you would have been younger than me when I was born. It doesn’t mean I don’t love you ’cause you know I do.” Then he groused under his breath. “Make one snotty comment in anger when you’re twelve years old going through puberty and getting grounded, and you pay for it for the rest of your life. Parents ain’t got no sense of humor.”

Devyn’s jaw ticced. “Not about that, I don’t. Ever.” He pulled Omari back into a hug that made the teenager bristle even though he hugged Devyn back while he blushed profusely.

Alix met Vik’s gaze and froze. The way he stared at her . . . it was like he knew something.

Omari pulled back and called the dog to him. “Let me put Manny away and I’ll see you guys at the restaurant.”

Devyn gave him a stern look. “Vik—”

“Watch the embryo. Got it.”

Omari rolled his eyes. “Not ten, Dad.”

“Yeah, I know. I’d feel better if you were. Watch him, Vik.”

Vik moved stiffly, like an old-fashioned robot. “Watch . . . child. Watch . . . child. Does . . . not . . . com . . . pute.”

“Don’t make me shoot you, asshole. I’d hate to have to call my dad in for repairs.”

“Yeah, and it would hurt.”

Laughing, Omari headed for the Talia with Vik following after him.

They made their way out of the bay and into the long main corridor that ran in a circle around the space station.

Like most stations, shops lined both sides of the corridor. They passed a number of people and aliens, their arms filled with a variety of goods. Others milled about or chatted on their links as they walked past.

Devyn stopped outside a door painted with an encircled freighter—the universal sign of a runner’s or smuggler’s haven. Alix released his arm, no longer quite so comfortable close to him. Not to mention the clientele would probably be rough and if he needed to fight, she didn’t want to be in his way.

Sway opened the door and led them into the dark room as Vik and Omari rejoined them. Loud voices and music mingled in the air, making her ears throb. She’d never cared for these types of places. Too many years of pulling her drunken father out of them while he cursed her for it had left her with bitter memories she wished she could erase.

Banishing the thought, she followed behind Devyn as they made their way through the pub to one of the tables in the back.

She slowed as she saw where they were headed. There were three of the deadliest-looking men she’d ever seen gathered around a large round table.

At first glance, one of them had an almost baby face. Portly and tall, he was dressed in black and had a pair of opaque shades covering his eyes. It would be easy for most people to dismiss him as the least harmful of the group.

But that would be stupid and most likely fatal. There was an unmistakable aura of bloodthirst that surrounded him, and it was one she knew well.

The man next to him was absolutely stunning. He had dark blond hair and several days’ growth of whiskers on his cheeks. His pewter eyes missed nothing. Dressed in dark brown, he kept one hand on his blaster even though he was leaned back in his chair, looking deceptively at ease.

And as her gaze went to the third one, her breath caught. Lethal and feral were the only words to describe him. He wore his jet-black hair short and had one arm slung over the back of his chair while he drank Tondarion Fire straight out of the bottle.

She could feel the burn of the potent whisky that was so strong, it was banned on most planets.

He sat with a grimace while he listened to some story the baby-faced man was telling him. But when he saw Devyn, his features relaxed and a slow smile spread across his face, making him even more dazzling.

Wow . . . he gave Devyn a good run for his money.

“Aridos,” he greeted, using the Ritadarion word for brother. “Good to see you again.” He rose to his feet and held his hand out to Devyn.

Devyn took it and hugged him close. “You’re looking surly as ever.”

The blond man scoffed as he crossed his arms across his chest. “He is surly as ever.” He glanced over at Sway. “You sure I can’t bribe you to trade jobs with me?”

Sway laughed. “You say that only ’cause you don’t fly with Captain Hothead. If you did, you’d know better. Trust me. He’s a bigger PITA than Taryn.”

“Yeah, right. You keep saying that ’cause you don’t want me to replace you.”

Sway stepped back and, in an arrogant gesture, spread his arms out. “You could never replace me, Sphinx.”

“Yeah,” Devyn said, laughing. “Thank the gods there’s only one Sway. Can you imagine if there was another one?”

They all laughed.

Devyn held a seat out for her. Amazed at the gesture, Alix sat down across from the darkly handsome stranger, who eyed her curiously.