Page 224 of Star Bringer
“Except for the fact that we’re still wanted,” Max tells him dryly.
“And we never did figure out who’s trying to kill us,” Rain adds. “We should probably do that before we go too wild.”
“I already know,” Merrick says.
“Oh, yeah?” Ian tosses him a questioning look as he fiddles with his HUD, which appears to be stuck in the lowered position. “By all means, fill us in.”
“That call I got, right before we went to free Milla—it was from a contact of mine back on Serati. I reached out to him a few days ago for some information, and he finally came through.”
“Serati?” Rain says, sounding shocked. “Why am I certain I’m not going to like what you’ve got to say?”
“Because it’s the Sisterhood that’s been trying to kill us. And by us, I mean you and Kali.”
“Me?” I can’t help feeling a little outraged. “What did I ever do to them?”
And then I remember. Much like everything else in my life to date, it’s not what I’ve done. It’s what my mother’s done. Good thing I’m ready to start changing that, because so far, she’s done a pretty crappy job with my life.
“They want to kill us both,” Rain says slowly, like the answer is just starting to dawn on her. I lean forward, interested in what she has to say and if it’s the same idea percolating in my head now.
“If they kill Kali, the high priestess will be reborn. But the optics of that won’t work if I’m still alive.” She looks at Merrick. “So they have to kill us both, and that will start everything over again. And they think they’ll finally get their Star Bringer.”
“Except they’ve already got her,” Merrick says, and he’s grinning at me just like a proud cousin would.
“I wouldn’t go that far as to say they have me. I’m still not sure I know how to use that thing,” I tell him.
“Pretty sure the heptosphere just proved you wrong,” Ian replies.
And I can’t help remembering what it felt like to touch it, to feel the warmth and power of it pulsing against my palms. Maybe they’re right. Too bad I don’t have a clue what I’m supposed to do about it.
“I hate to be the harbinger of doom,” Max says, “but it occurs to me that we’ve got another problem.”
“No you don’t,” Milla teases him. “You do love your problems.”
“Well, with no Gage and no Beckett…” He trails off and waits for it.
“Well, shit,” Ian grumbles from where he is now banging on the console of the captain’s chair to no avail. He stops abruptly and turns to look at me with an odd glint in his eye.
“Why are you looking at me?” I ask. And then it dawns on me. “No way. I’m not ready. Beckett didn’t really teach me that much. I just sort of listened in while she taught Rain. Maybe she—”
“No way,” Rain interrupts with a knowing grin. “I just got shot. No flying for me. Besides, I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to be the new mechanic.”
“Can you actually fix things?” Ian asks, sounding skeptical.
“Well, I know better than to just bang on them, so I feel like I’m already a step ahead of you.” As if to prove it, she reaches over with her good arm and tightens something under his console. Seconds later, his HUD rises smoothly.
“Point made,” Max says.
“Thanks,” Ian tells her, then grins at me. “I’m the captain, and the captain’s orders are to get your butt in that pilot’s chair.”
I’ll admit I’ve never been so nervous in my life…but also a little excited as I do as he asks and slide into Beckett’s chair.
Once there, I take a moment and press my hand to the yellow hair tie Beckett left wrapped around the armrest. Then I lean forward and press theStarlight’s ignition.
The ship comes to life around us, and I grin. “Where to, Captain?”
“Anywhere but this fucking asteroid,” Ian answers.
“Yes, sir,” I tease, trying to concentrate on him instead of the weird feeling inside me that seems to be getting stronger. Surely it will ease once we’re away from this evil place.
