Born of Ice

Instead, his father had seen him as he entered the room. Omari’s first instinct had been to run away and hide like he’d tried to do when his mother had been killed. But as he met his father’s gaze, he knew he couldn’t.

Omari shook his head as those memories burned. “My dad was on the floor, coughing up blood. His skin was already turning blue.” Tears gathered in his eyes as he looked at Alix. “He was dying. I knew it. Even though my grandfather is one of the best surgeons in the universe, I didn’t think he could save him. But when I looked into my dad’s eyes, I saw a raw fire ignite.” A single tear slid down his cheek and he brushed it away. “He reached out for me and I took his hand. His grip was so weak that I thought he was going to say good-bye to me . . .”

Even so, his father had pulled him close enough so that he could whisper in his ear. “Don’t worry, kid. I won’t leave you alone.”

It’d been the same promise his father had made to him when he’d saved him from The League.

“He fought his way back from the brink of death to keep me safe. To keep the promise that he’d made to me. And I knew then that he’d never abandon me. Not even death would keep him away. My father might be a lot of things, but he’s not a liar or a coward.”

She couldn’t agree more, and the fact that he hadn’t killed her for her pact with Merjack made him a true hero.

And there was no way she was going to allow him to be hurt.

She hoped.



Alix froze when she saw Devyn meeting them at the door to de-ship. This wasn’t the man who made jokes with Sway or who loved his son.

This was the captain she’d glimpsed on her arrival. Cold-blooded and lethal.

He handed her a chip of files he’d fabricated.

Her throat went dry as his hand lingered on hers. This was his life she held . . .

“As we planned.”

She nodded.

Devyn watched as she left. He exchanged a nod with Nero before he pulled his blaster out and shot Omari where he stood. Devyn quickly caught him before he hit the ground.

Sway gaped. “No, you didn’t.”

Devyn handed his son to Nero. “Get him out of here.”

“He’s going to be pissed at both of us.”

“I know. But I can’t take the chance. He can’t control his powers when he’s emotionally compromised and I’m not going to chance him giving himself brain damage to help me.”

“All right. I’ll keep him occupied.” He flashed himself out with Omari in his arms.

Sway shook his head. “Damn. You planning to shoot me next?”

Devyn holstered his blaster. “Depends. You going to piss me off?”

“Not intentionally.”

“Then I might let you stay conscious.”

Vik cocked his head as he tried to compute everything that was happening. “So what is this plan that you have?”

“You’ll see.”



Alix shook all over as she went to meet Whelms.

Devyn’s half-brother. What could make someone turn on their family so viciously? Especially on someone as decent as Devyn.

He deserves a father like I got stuck with. That would teach him to appreciate a father who loved him.

As promised, he was waiting for her in a small café where he sat checking email on a small handheld device. His features turned to stone as he saw her approach.

Steeling her spine, she moved to stand at his table and noticed that he didn’t invite her to sit.

Because you’re not good enough.

“You have evidence for me?”

She held out the chip.

He looked at it suspiciously before he took it from her hand and plugged it into his portable. And still he left her standing.

Disgusted on every level, she saw the smug satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. “Is it everything you need?”

He turned his device off. “Is this real or fabricated?”

“Fabricated. He’s actually not breaking any laws. His ship is licensed through his father’s company and he runs freight for him.”

Your father’s company that keeps you fed, too, you sleaze.

“I told you, that doesn’t matter to Merjack.”

“I would think it should matter to you.”

He grimaced at her. “To me? Why?”

Because you’re his brother. Not that they favored each other overmuch. The only thing she could see that was similar was the deadly gleam in their eyes. Other than that . . .

Paden was a loser asshole.

“Isn’t part of your job to upkeep the laws? I would think framing an innocent man would go against your grain.”

His eyes turned brittle. “Don’t lecture me on the law or my duties, slave. After all, I’m not the one who framed him. You are.”

“Because you gave me no choice.”

He raked her with a sneer. “Whatever lie lets you sleep at night, little girl.” He tucked his portable into his pocket. “And now your services are no longer needed.”

“What about my family?”

“That’s up to Merjack.” He stood up and jerked his chin in her direction as he addressed the table of men next to his. “Arrest this vagrant.”

Alix gaped at his order as the men stood to carry it out. “What?”

“You’re a runaway slave. We’re taking you in.”