Unbroken Fire by Anne Wheeler

Author:Anne Wheeler [Wheeler, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Anne Wheeler

The flyer descended through the verdant ravine, all but skirting lower-hanging foliage. The pilot must have been having the time of his life with this rough terrain, but Avery wished he would stay a little farther from the canyon walls. Even though they’d slowed—probably so he could react to upsloping terrain quickly enough with a fast course reversal—she didn’t like to rely on a stranger’s decision-making ability. Especially a Haederan’s. She turned from the window and glanced across the flyer, wishing she could telegraph her unease to the pilot.

Her eyes grew wide.

Two Imperial Security Command officers sat on the opposite bench, unarmed, murmuring with each other. Chase, yes, she recognized him immediately, and he was looking at her with his familiar curiosity, but next to him was—

Avery blinked.

Captain Linden?

She couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. The shuttle lifted off Asria into space, taking her farther and farther from the safety of Villiers. Feye was dead back at Alcaris, and her hands shook, cuffed behind her back. It was cold in space, so cold, and she couldn’t stop shivering. Why couldn’t she breathe? Her chest was so tight. Painful. She had to get away, if she could just take a breath. Had to—

Linden cocked his head at her.

“What’s wrong with you?” he asked, curling his lip.

Avery gasped. She shook her head and rubbed her wrists, trying to get the feeling back in her fingers.

But her hands were free. It was Kern sitting across from her, Kern who had spoken. Not Linden, the Imperial Security officer who’d detained her at Alcaris. They were racing through the canyons near Tarragona, on Asria, not in space at all, and while she wasn’t free, she wasn’t destined for Haedera, either.

She repeated the details over and over to herself, but the litany wouldn’t clear the past that wrapped around her, choking her. Blood pounded in her ears while Chase squinted at her, not curious now, but bewildered. And . . . and then alarmed? Before she could object, he’d unlatched himself and moved from Kern’s side to the end seat on her side. She didn’t want him closer, but the simple visual change was enough. Too embarrassed to look at either of them, she focused out the nearest window.

Deep breath.

Hold it.

Breath out.

She repeated the process over and over, wishing she was alone in her humiliation.

Chase broke the silence as her heart slowed. “It’s pretty out there.” It was probably the most complimentary thing he’d ever said about Asria. “I didn’t realize it would be so green.”

Kern grunted in reply. “Pretty if you enjoy being smashed against a limestone wall, sir.” He glanced at Avery, and a smile flashed behind his hardened eyes. “Which I personally would not.”

It’s all right. It’s all right. It’s all right.

They don’t mean to harm you. Not now.

Chase laughed, clearly for her benefit. “I highly doubt he’s going to smash into—”

The flyer lurched into a steep bank, and despite the harness, she clutched the handhold next to her, a Voirian curse on her lips.

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