Born of Ice (The League #3)(27)
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon

“I know.” He’d have to be blind to miss the number that was so massive it looked like a blob moving toward them.

Devyn glanced up at the intercom. “Vik? Any more shields you can give the rear?”

“Generator is dead and gone.”

“They’re firing,” Nero’s voice was calm, but the underlying panic was hard to miss.

Devyn cursed as he banked and the rear engine sputtered, then failed. The ship shuddered around them.

The League commander hailed them again. “This is your last chance, Kell. Surrender your crew or lose them.”

Devyn looked around at the faces that were dependent on him for their freedom and, more importantly, their lives. He was the only hope they had.

She turned sixteen in jail…

He looked at Omari and made his decision.

Devyn kicked the thrusters with everything they had. The ship lurched forward and tilted. But that motion finally propelled them into the planet’s gravitational pull. He let out a relieved breath.

No matter what, they couldn’t be taken. None of them.

The League ships diverted immediately. Their battle starships were too big to land and the fighters were space-class three, which meant they didn’t have the coating they needed to land. Any attempt to enter the atmosphere would have them breaking up.

The Talia, though …

She was a tough lady. But at the moment, she was limping and wounded. Even though she was designed to land anywhere, he wasn’t sure she’d make it in her current condition.

Devyn opened the channel to let Sway and Vik know what was coming. “Batten down. It’s going to be a rough landing.”

Sway buzzed him back. “Dev, are you trying to say we’re about to crash?”

“Yeah, we’re crashing.”

Sway had one last surly comeback to that. “Asshole.”

Shaking his head, Devyn prepared himself as best he could. The atmospheric friction against the hull made it feel like they were traveling through steel. Without the dampeners, the sound was excruciating.

Sparks flew from the damaged circuits as Manashe whined in response to the sound. Nero fastened himself in.

Was that a precaution, or did he know something they didn’t?

With no time to think about that, Devyn did the best he could with what he had. But by the time they broke through into the planet’s normal atmosphere, he could barely steer.

“Let’s try for someplace soft,” Omari suggested.

Devyn snorted. “How about I try to avoid the mountains?”

“Even better idea.”

But there was no way to avoid slamming into the trees. Everything seemed to slow down as they popped, spun and tumbled through them until Devyn lost all sense of orientation. Right now, they could be flying upside down for all he knew.

Finally they landed with a harsh jolt in the middle of the woods.

Devyn cursed as his body’s full pain hit him. The wound in his side tore even more, but he knew he didn’t have time to worry about it. He looked to Omari. “How you doing, kid?”

“Not dead yet.”

He nodded. “Nero?”

His tone was dry and sarcastic. “You haven’t helped the migraine.”

Manashe barked.

“That helped even less.”

Devyn ignored him. “Vik?”

Silence answered him.

Devyn’s heart stopped as raw panic set in. Had the mecha been hurt in the crash?

Or worse… killed?

“Vik!”

Again nothing.

Nero looked up from where he was cradling his head in his hands. “Communications might be out.”

Maybe.

“Sway?” Devyn tried.

And again there was no answer. Without waiting on the others, Devyn bolted from his chair and ignored the protest of his body.

Please don’t be dead. His mind tortured him with images of what he might find.

He went to check on Alix and Sway first. His heart pounded as fear took hold of him.

Damn, when had the ship gotten so big? It seemed like it was growing while he ran.

Finally, he found them in the infirmary right where he’d left them. Alix was strapped down on her table, but Sway…

He was on the floor a few feet away. And he wasn’t moving at all. Not even a twitch.

Terror consumed him as he ran to him. He pulled him over to see the gaping wound in the center of his chest.

No!

Devyn’s entire body shook as he saw the extent of the damage done to Sway. There were contusions on his head and arms. A severe gash above his eye, and he was covered in blood.

Sway coughed as he stared at him. “I slipped.”

Devyn wanted to curse him for his condition, but it wasn’t Sway’s fault.

It was his.

He’d done this to his best friend, and from the looks of it, Sway wasn’t going to survive. “You never could walk in a straight line, you lumbering ass**le.”

Sway laughed, then grimaced and groaned. “I’m dying, aren’t I?”

“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 aIready?

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.”

“No melting brain. Got it.” Omari closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

The metal in the door started creaking almost instantly. Alix could see the muscles working in Omari’s face and arms as he physically strained to do his mental magic.

Vik pointed to the device in his ear that must have been allowing him to still monitor their enemies’ communication. They’re almost here, he mouthed to Devyn.

Nero cursed, then threw his arm out and blasted the door with his own telekinesis. The door went flying as blood started pouring from Nero’s nose.

He wiped at it angrily.

Alix was worried about him. “You all right?”

He tilted his head back to slow some of the flow. “Yeah. What’s a little brain damage, anyway? Not like anyone would notice.”

Omari glared indignantly at him. “I could have done it without your help, you know.”

“Yeah, but we’re about to have company.”

Devyn grabbed Omari by the arm and shoved him through the door. As soon as they were outside, they could hear the sound of approaching engines. Vik had been right—The League operatives were practically on top of them.

Omari paled. “We are so screwed.”

Sway chucked him on the arm. “Only if they catch us.”

His gut twisting, Devyn looked at Vik as he weighed their options. But at this point, it was like choosing between a slow, agonizing death and a slower agonizing death. “Can you still pick them up?”

“They’re being told to bring you and Alix in alive. The rest of us are expendable.”

Omari gaped. “I don’t feel expendable.”

Devyn ignored his outburst. “Well, then, if it’s a fight they want … Sway, you and Vik take Alix and Omari toward the town that’s supposed to be five ticks north of here. We’ll rendezvous at whatever landing bay they have.”

Alix didn’t like the sound of that. She knew he had something planned, and knowing Devyn, it would be scary. “What about you and Nero?”

“Don’t worry about us.”

Yeah, right. The man was insane and Nero wasn’t much better. So Alix stood her ground. “I don’t think we should split up.”

The look on his face was hard and sincere. “I’m a trained soldier, Alix, and Nero is a survivalist. Believe me, they won’t be able to touch us. But I need you guys out of harm’s way, otherwise we won’t stand a chance.” He leaned down to whisper in her ear words that sent a shiver over her. “Please, for my sanity, get to safety. I damn near lost Sway today. Don’t make me lose you, too.”

Alix pulled him close and kissed him. It wasn’t until she stepped back from his kiss that she looked down and saw something red on her hand from when she’d touched his side.

Blood.

Devyn’s. Her heart lurched, but before she could ask about it, a streak of color sizzled past her cheek. So close she could feel the heat of it.