Born of Ice

He just hoped their wounded ship didn’t disintegrate on impact.






CHAPTER 12


Omari pointed to the monitor in front of Devyn’s face. Not that he hadn’t already seen it, but the boy was rightfully concerned. “They’re falling in behind us.”

“I know.” He’d have to be blind to miss the number that was so massive it looked like a blob moving toward them.

Devyn glanced up at the intercom. “Vik? Any more shields you can give the rear?”

“Generator is dead and gone.”

“They’re firing,” Nero’s voice was calm, but the underlying panic was hard to miss.

Devyn cursed as he banked and the rear engine sputtered, then failed. The ship shuddered around them.

The League commander hailed them again. “This is your last chance, Kell. Surrender your crew or lose them.”

Devyn looked around at the faces that were dependent on him for their freedom and, more importantly, their lives. He was the only hope they had.

She turned sixteen in jail . . .

He looked at Omari and made his decision.

Devyn kicked the thrusters with everything they had. The ship lurched forward and tilted. But that motion finally propelled them into the planet’s gravitational pull. He let out a relieved breath.

No matter what, they couldn’t be taken. None of them.

The League ships diverted immediately. Their battle starships were too big to land and the fighters were space-class three, which meant they didn’t have the coating they needed to land. Any attempt to enter the atmosphere would have them breaking up.

The Talia, though . . .

She was a tough lady. But at the moment, she was limping and wounded. Even though she was designed to land anywhere, he wasn’t sure she’d make it in her current condition.

Devyn opened the channel to let Sway and Vik know what was coming. “Batten down. It’s going to be a rough landing.”

Sway buzzed him back. “Dev, are you trying to say we’re about to crash?”

“Yeah, we’re crashing.”

Sway had one last surly comeback to that. “Asshole.”

Shaking his head, Devyn prepared himself as best he could. The atmospheric friction against the hull made it feel like they were traveling through steel. Without the dampeners, the sound was excruciating.

Sparks flew from the damaged circuits as Manashe whined in response to the sound. Nero fastened himself in.

Was that a precaution, or did he know something they didn’t?

With no time to think about that, Devyn did the best he could with what he had. But by the time they broke through into the planet’s normal atmosphere, he could barely steer.

“Let’s try for someplace soft,” Omari suggested.

Devyn snorted. “How about I try to avoid the mountains?”

“Even better idea.”

But there was no way to avoid slamming into the trees. Everything seemed to slow down as they popped, spun and tumbled through them until Devyn lost all sense of orientation. Right now, they could be flying upside down for all he knew.

Finally they landed with a harsh jolt in the middle of the woods.

Devyn cursed as his body’s full pain hit him. The wound in his side tore even more, but he knew he didn’t have time to worry about it. He looked to Omari. “How you doing, kid?”

“Not dead yet.”

He nodded. “Nero?”

His tone was dry and sarcastic. “You haven’t helped the migraine.”

Manashe barked.

“That helped even less.”

Devyn ignored him. “Vik?”

Silence answered him.

Devyn’s heart stopped as raw panic set in. Had the mecha been hurt in the crash?

Or worse . . . killed?

“Vik!”

Again nothing.

Nero looked up from where he was cradling his head in his hands. “Communications might be out.”

Maybe.

“Sway?” Devyn tried.

And again there was no answer. Without waiting on the others, Devyn bolted from his chair and ignored the protest of his body.

Please don’t be dead. His mind tortured him with images of what he might find.

He went to check on Alix and Sway first. His heart pounded as fear took hold of him.

Damn, when had the ship gotten so big? It seemed like it was growing while he ran.

Finally, he found them in the infirmary right where he’d left them. Alix was strapped down on her table, but Sway . . .

He was on the floor a few feet away. And he wasn’t moving at all. Not even a twitch.

Terror consumed him as he ran to him. He pulled him over to see the gaping wound in the center of his chest.

No!

Devyn’s entire body shook as he saw the extent of the damage done to Sway. There were contusions on his head and arms. A severe gash above his eye, and he was covered in blood.

Sway coughed as he stared at him. “I slipped.”

Devyn wanted to curse him for his condition, but it wasn’t Sway’s fault.

It was his.

He’d done this to his best friend, and from the looks of it, Sway wasn’t going to survive. “You never could walk in a straight line, you lumbering asshole.”

Sway laughed, then grimaced and groaned. “I’m dying, aren’t I?”