Born of Ice

“I realize that . . . now.”


She patted him lightly on the arm. “You know, there are times when ‘You a fool’ just doesn’t cover it.”

“Thanks, Rina.”

“No problem. So, you gonna let me travel with you now?”

“Hell no.”

She poked out her lip in a becoming pout that never failed to bend her brothers or father to her whims. “C’mon, Dev, be the sweetie I know you can be. I’d be a great addition to your crew.”

Luckily, he was immune to her pitiful look. “Hell. No,” he repeated more forcefully. “Your father would kill me, and mine would probably help.”

She sighed. “You suck.”

The door opened.

Sway came through it, but there was no sign of Claria. His face a mixture of anger and agony, he glared at them. “That didn’t go well.”

Zarina arched her brows as he stopped by her side. “What happened?”

“I’m not a woman, Reen.”

She passed a confused look between the two of them. “What does that mean?”

He didn’t respond as he pushed past her.

She looked at Devyn.

“Give him enough time to find some Tondarion Fire and take a few shots of it. Then ask him that question. Until he’s loaded, he’s not about to share his feelings with anyone.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m so glad I’m not a man.” She handed him the bag she’d brought for Alix. “Speaking of, let me go find my brother and drive him to a bottle, too. Maybe then he’ll loosen the knot in his butt and be human again.” She kissed Devyn’s cheek. “Stay safe.”

“You, too. And whatever you do, don’t poison Taryn. We’d all miss him if he were dead.” He saw her to the door before he went to find Alix.



Alix looked at herself in the mirror, wanting to die. She’d scrubbed all the makeup off and it still didn’t help.

You’re ugly and pathetic . . .

Why couldn’t she get her father’s voice out of her head? You’re just a worthless slave. Not fit to be with your betters.

Sometimes she could forget that, but all it took was one look from someone like Claria and she felt just as puny as when her father stepped on her.

A knock sounded on her door.

Shaking her hair loose from the knot she’d put it in to keep it out of her face while she washed, she crossed the floor and opened it.

Devyn froze when he saw Alix. Her face was pink as if she’d scrubbed it raw. But it was the hurt in her eyes that brought an ache to his chest. He’d never seen anyone look more miserable.

She drew a ragged breath. “I was just about to run the checks, Captain. Sorry I kept you waiting.”

He caught her before she stepped past him and pulled her to a stop. She locked her eyes on the floor.

Cupping her chin, he made her meet his gaze. “Are you all right?”

Alix swallowed as she saw the sincere caring in his eyes. No one other than her mother and sister had ever cared about how anything made her feel. She didn’t know why, but it touched her. “I’m always all right.”

“Claria didn’t mean to hurt you. She’s just over-protective when it comes to Sway.”

The thing was, this apology should have been coming from Claria, not him. But then, the senator would never deign to apologize to someone as low as she was.

“It’s fine.” She tried to move past him, but again he blocked her way.

When he didn’t speak, she arched a brow. “Is there something else?”

“No one can make you feel low unless you allow them to. You’re not stupid, Alix.” He brushed his hand lightly across her cheek. “And you’re very beautiful. I just thought you should know that.” Dropping his hand, he handed her the bag she’d forgotten.

Without another word, he turned and left her there.

Alix stared after him as her heart pounded. She didn’t know why he’d told her that, but it cheered her immensely.

If only things were different . . .

He’s too good a man for you to betray.

But what choice did she have? They would kill her sister and mother if she didn’t.

Sighing, she glanced down at the bag and noticed a small notecard. She fished it out, expecting it to be from Zarina.

It wasn’t.



Tick-tock. Don’t be stupid.

Remember, I’m watching you.

~PW



Anger burned through her that Whelms would be so stupid as to put that where Devyn or someone else might have seen it. But more than that was the fear of how he’d gotten the note inside her bag . . .

Could he see her right now?

Of course not.

If she could only convince herself of that. But for all she knew, he could have tapped into the ship’s feed . . .

No, if he’d done that, he’d be able to get the evidence he needed without her.

And still her panic mounted.

Terrified, she tore up the note and made sure to drop it in the garbage chute on her way to her post.

She had two days to their next stop. Two days to find the evidence to convict Devyn Kell or Inspector Whelms would kill her.





CHAPTER 7