Born of Ice

“Not on my watch.”


Devyn looked up as Nero joined them. With raw determination gleaming in his eyes, Nero knelt on the floor and placed his hand over Sway’s chest. It was obvious how much pain the action cost Nero, but he didn’t say anything while he healed him. He merely winced.

Amazed, Devyn gaped as Sway’s color returned to normal. Nero’s, on the other hand . . .

He looked like he was about ready to barf.

Nero let go of Sway and leaned back.

“Are you okay?”

Nero slowly shook his head. “Headache, worse. I really don’t feel good.”

“You really don’t look good.”

And sure enough, he hurled.

Devyn started to check on him, but Nero held his hand up for him not to approach. “Go to Alix. I don’t need a mother.”

“Maybe not, but you look like you need a doctor.”

Nero flipped him off. “I just need to recharge. There’s not a damn thing you can do to help me right now.”

Holding his hands up in surrender, Devyn went to check on Alix, who was still unconscious from her minor surgery. Her pale hair was spread out, making her look like a vulnerable angel as he unstrapped her from the table.

He took a moment to lay his fingers to her warm cheek, grateful that she was alive and unhurt.

Alix blinked open her eyes to find Devyn standing over her with a stern frown. She scowled herself in response to it as her head throbbed and she remembered his removing her chip. Was it done already?

She looked around to see the room in ruins. Boxes were scattered throughout the room from where they had fallen out of cabinets that were now dented and hanging open. Glass had shattered and medicine bottles were strewn everywhere.

More than that, they were at a strange tilt. “What happened?”

“We crashed.”

No kidding. She’d already deduced that much. “Where?”

“Not real sure. Didn’t have time to pull up anything more than the fact that it can sustain our life forms without life support.”

That was definitely important, but it wasn’t the only thing to know. “So we’re walking into death?”

“Gods, I hope not. I don’t have on the right boots for it. These are only good for a mild ass-whipping.”

Alix was unamused by his attempt at humor. She hurt too much and their situation was far too dire.

Omari popped his head in the door. “The League is sending in scouts for us. We need to get out of here . . . ten minutes ago.”

Devyn nodded. Taking Alix’s hand, he led her to Vik’s station on the upper bridge to find the mecha pinned down by debris and wreckage. He skirted around it, trying to find Vik’s seat. Something much easier said than done.

Alix helped him dig around until he found Vik on his back, still strapped to his chair. The mecha seemed to have lost some of his fluids, but otherwise he didn’t look to be in too bad of a shape. Especially given the fact that a large crossbeam had come free and was now draped over him.

“Vik? You all right?”

He opened his eyes to pin a glare on Devyn that would have shriveled a lesser man. “Not really. And for the record, I hate your father for giving me human emotions and sensitivities. I liked it better when I couldn’t feel pain.”

“Believe me, I know the feeling.” He, Sway and Nero moved the beam while Alix unstrapped him from the chair and pulled him out from under the wreckage.

As soon as he was free, Vik glared at Devyn. “Whoever gave you your pilot’s license should be shot.”

“Thanks, V. Love you, too.”

“Then why did you almost get me killed? No offense, but I’d rather you hate me, since you seem to abuse your enemies a lot less than you do your friends.”

Alix had to stifle a laugh at his surly tone.

Nero stepped forward. “No offense, people, we’re on a time crunch. We gotta go.”

Devyn nodded before he led them through the smoldering ship, which could ignite at any moment. But getting off was going to be a problem.

The crash had pushed the door in, jamming it.

Devyn let out an irritated sigh as he stepped back from trying to shoulder it open. “Anyone got a can opener?”

Nero gave him a droll stare. “You guys aren’t going to be happy until you fry out my brain, are you?”

Omari moved forward. “Let me do it.”

Nero rolled his eyes. “You’re an embryo.”

But Omari refused to back down. “I can do this.”

“Omari—”

“I got it, Dad. Trust me.”

Devyn looked skeptical.

Sway passed a deadpan stare to Alix. “Where have you seen that face recently?”

“I’m pretty sure it was when Devyn’s father said the same thing to him.”

“Yeah, scary, isn’t it?”

Shaking his head, Devyn backed off. “Fine. Get a headache, too. What do I care?”

Nero moved to stand behind Omari so that he could coach him. “Close your eyes and concentrate. See the door and what you want it to do. Breathe slowly, and if it starts to feel like your brain is melting, stop. Because it is.”