Page 67 of Alien Devil's Temptation
I looked at Carys, sleeping, vulnerable. She’d be unconscious for hours. But the crew needed me. The mission wasn’t over.
I kissed her forehead. “I’ll be back,” I whispered, though I knew she couldn’t hear.
I left her in Flinx’s care and headed for the briefing room.
Rylos, Varrick, and Kallum stood over the main holo-table. The four Regalia were linked, bathing the room in an eerie light.
“We have a problem,” Varrick said as I entered. “The four keys combined. They don’t give a location for the fifth.”
“What do you mean?” I moved to stand beside him.
“It’s not coordinates.” Kallum pointed to the display. It wasn’t a map.
It was a name.
“An old associate of the Sovereign,” Rylos said, his voice grim. “Someone who went dark years ago. A hermit.”
Kallum’s face went tight. “I know that name. He’s dead. But he had an apprentice. No one knew what happened to her.”
Rylos looked at the crew. “Then that’s our next target. Find the apprentice. Find the final key.”
I just wantedto be left alone.
A small farm. A quiet moon. No more running.
Then he showed up. A towering Vinduthi warrior carrying trouble like a second skin.
His enemies found me before I could make him leave.
Now my peaceful life is burning down around me,
and the only way out might be trusting the enemy who brought the fire.
