Born of Ice

Panic flickered in her eyes, but she caught herself. “Why?”


“Someone reported us for illegal activity.”

The officer turned on her. “Who are you and what do you do here?”

Devyn glared at the man and his sharp tone. “She’s my engineer.”

“She got papers?”

Alix pulled her ID out and handed it to him.

The captain barely glanced at it before he returned it to her and went back to scanning the manifest.

Devyn winked at her. It’s okay, he mouthed to her behind the officer’s back.

No sooner had he done that than six of the enforcers came running back to their captain.

“Sir, we have a problem.”

The captain looked absolutely hopeful—like he could already imagine the promotion that would come from busting them. “You found something?”

“Yes, sir. Hyshian Senator Claria Trinaloew is on board and she’s . . . she’s really angry, sir.”

“Angry is a mild term for what I feel right now.”

Alix turned to see what had to be one of the most beautiful women to have ever lived. Tall, slender and regal, Claria had dark, smooth skin that was flawless. Her dark eyes scanned the men and women in front of her as if she were already savoring their punishment.

The senator cast a chilling, malevolent glare at the enforcers. “I have finite time with my husband and here you and your people dare to interrupt it with this kind of asinine bullshit? How dare you. I want you off this ship immediately. And for those of you incapable of understanding that word, it means now.”

They literally ran off the ship.

Except for the enforcer captain. He stood there, trembling. “Forgive us, ma’am. We had no idea you were on board. We were told—”

“I don’t want to hear it. Go before I recall my guards and have you up on charges.”

He practically left a vapor trail behind him.

Devyn shut down the logs before he turned and smiled at her. “Thanks, Claire.”

She gave him a peeved grimace. “Why can’t you guys do something safe and sane for once like run bunnies or slippers or something?”

“It wouldn’t be any fun.”

She rolled her eyes. “I can’t believe I let Sway travel with you. I must be insane.”

“Yeah, but you love me.”

“Not today I don’t. You better watch your back, Kell. I might not be here the next time they want to search you.” She looked at Alix and her gaze narrowed. “You must be the new engineer.”

Alix hesitated as an absolute chill went down her spine. She sensed that Sway’s wife didn’t think much of her . . .

Did Claria know she was a slave?

“I am.”

The senator cocked her head as she swept her gaze slowly over Alix’s body in a less than complimentary way. With that one look, she made Alix feel less than nothing. “What ship were you on before this one?”

You worthless worm who is unfit to breathe the same air I do . . . Claria didn’t say the words per se, but her tone conveyed them loud and clear.

Devyn growled. “Claria—”

She held her hand up to silence Devyn in an imperious gesture. “Don’t take that tone with me, Kell.”

Devyn went ramrod stiff and an air came over him that was truly frightening. “I’m not your bitch, Claire. You don’t ever talk to me like that.” He cut a sideways look at Alix. “She’s a member of my crew. You have an issue with her, you take it up with me.”

Out of nowhere, Sway appeared. Before Alix could blink, he was between Devyn and Claria. He grabbed Devyn by his shirt and shoved him back. “You don’t take that tone with my wife.”

Devyn broke out of the hold and returned Sway’s shove with one of his own. “You want to start some shit, boy? Let’s go outside.”

“Oh, good. I’m just in time for another round of Grand Testosterone Overdose. Ooooh, Alix, Claire . . . anyone got popcorn? Or maybe I should get Taryn? Then we could insult his manhood and watch him pop a gasket, too.” Zarina’s humor succeeded in breaking the tension as the men stepped away from each other.

Devyn turned that hostile stare toward Zarina. “What are you doing here?”

“I love you, too, Pookie Bear.” She held a bag up. “Alix forgot this.”

Claria watched them closely before she turned her attention back to Devyn. “I still want to know something about her, Devyn. And considering the fact that your son is on board this vessel, you should, too.”

So that was what was going on . . .

Claria was suspicious of her. Great. Just great. That was all she needed. Not that the woman shouldn’t be suspicious, since she was here to ruin them.