The Chains of Freedom (Starhawke Rising Book 2) by Audrey Sharpe

Author:Audrey Sharpe
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Ocean Dance Press
Published: 2017-06-06T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

BY THE TIME the Starhawke shuttle touched down in the canyon beside the Nightingale, Cade felt like he was standing in the middle of an anthill.

The graceful, clean lines of the shuttle provided a strong contrast to the sharp angles and worn hull of the dust covered medical freighter. The two ships served as a visual metaphor that reinforced the fact that the Starhawke crew was here to clean up his mess.

Aurora and Mya stepped off first. Cade’s gaze locked with Aurora’s for a brief moment before the Suulh surrounded her. The intensity of his reaction hit him hard. Apparently absence did make the heart grow fonder. Bad news for him.

The rest of the Starhawke crew descended and were swallowed up by the crowd as well. It took more than a minute for Aurora to extricate herself from the press of bodies and head in his direction.

Breathe, Ellis. Years of training kept his body from locking up, but he couldn’t help bracing for a blow. He knew how deeply her words could cut. And she had every reason to blast him into next week.

As she stopped in front of him, worry lines bracketed her eyes and mouth. But the anger he’d expected to see in her green eyes was conspicuously absent. “How are they?”

No hostility or condemnation in her tone, either. Huh. “They’re okay. Drew’s kept in contact with Justin through his comband. The Meer are treating them well.”

Some of the tension eased from her expression. “That’s good to hear. Ever since I got your message, I haven’t been able to get the image of those Setarip cages out of my mind.”

And he’d been the cause of her anxiety. He was lower than a dung beetle. “I’m sorry. This snafu is my fault. I should never have given them permission to leave the camp.” He didn’t expect her to forgive him, but he’d take the blame he so richly deserved. Especially if it helped her feel better.

She gave a subtle shrug. “Things happen.” The slightest hint of a smile touched her lips. “It’s good to see you.”

The comment shocked him so much he stammered his response. “Y-you, too.” This wasn’t the reaction he’d expected. Fury? Yes. Resentment? Sure. But she almost looked happy to be here. That made no sense.

She started to say something else but paused when a shadow fell over them. Clarek.

Cade was no slouch when it came to height, but Jonarel Clarek had him beat, something the Kraed seemed to enjoy putting to advantage whenever the opportunity presented itself.

Cade shifted to the side so that he was out of range of his rival. “Clarek.”

Clarek’s expression remained completely neutral. “Ellis.”

Cade blinked. That was it? A banal greeting? No snide comments? No scathing remarks? This situation presented the Kraed with a perfect opportunity to cut him down to size, and yet Clarek wasn’t taking the bait. In fact, Cade would go so far as to say Clarek had never looked so completely non-confrontational in his life.

What the hell

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