Read Online Crystals Three Chosen Mates by Suzanne Graham - Free Book Online

brain cells. She grabbed for the wall, but Bella stepped in and wrapped an arm around Crystal.
    “Come on. We have to go,” Bella urged. “The Council will enjoy making an example out of a member of the military. Fisher doesn’t have much time.”
    Crystal choked back the nausea and accepted Bella’s assistance of a steady arm. Together, they rushed through mostly deserted hallways. Then, finally, after bolting through nearly the entire length of the sector, they ended their nightmarish race at the door to a personal pod.
    “Who lives here?”
    “My mates and I,” Bella said.
    “Will they be able to help Fisher?”
    “They might be able to get him free, but I can’t promise. If they do get him out, we’ll have to find somewhere out of the way to keep him off of the Council’s radar for a while. Maybe even get him on a flight headed back to Fourth Quadrant.”
    “Fisher won’t run away from this fight now that it’s been made personal for him.” He didn’t think Crystal really knew him, but her instincts told her differently. She’d seen how he’d reacted to the Council Guards’ abuse of the people. “I know someone who can help us while he recovers.”
    They entered Bella’s pod to find two large black military officers in the first room, apparently in the middle of a heated debate.
    “Thank the stars,” exclaimed the younger one, a First Lieutenant according to the silver bar insignia on his collar. “We thought you’d gotten caught up in the raid in the cafeteria.” He swept Bella off the floor into an all-encompassing embrace.
    “Wex, put me down,” Bella ordered. “I need you and Dete to help my friend. Where’s Novi?”
    “Checking the informational pipeline,” Major Dete answered, casting a questioning glance at Crystal’s military uniform.
    Obviously, “informational pipeline” was code for something they weren’t willing to discuss in front of her. From the looks of this situation, Crystal figured Bella’s mates were pretty deeply involved with the opposition. But were they working undercover for the Council or truly supporters of the Pro-Freedom Movement?
    At this point, Crystal wasn’t even sure anymore where she stood on the issue. After the horrendous use of force by the Guards, she could no longer support the Council, but her military blood ran deep. How could she turn her back on her family heritage?
    She looked to Bella’s mates. How did they manage to reconcile their military backgrounds with their involvement with the OAS if they were genuine proponents?
    “What do you need us to do?” the Major asked Bella.
    “Corporal Fisher has been arrested by the Guard as he was helping me to escape the raid.”
    “Shiitake, you were there!” the First Lieutenant exploded.
    “Hush, Wex. We’ll deal with that later,” Major Dete commanded. “Bella, you need me to get Fisher out?”
    “Yes.”
    He looked at Crystal. “You work in the kitchen, right?”
    “Yes, sir.” She nodded, glancing sideways at the bathing room as her stomach tossed around, and hoped she wasn’t going to have to bolt to the toilet.
    “Brief me on the sitch, and I’ll figure out a plan, but we have to do it en route. The Council will be making an immediate unanimous judgment on everyone they arrested.”
    “Oh, hellitude.” Crystal gagged and ran into the bathing room, using her elbow to tap the wall panel to activate the sliding door behind her.
    “Is she always so weak-stomached?” She heard the First Lieutenant ask before the door shut.
    Stars, what the hellitude was wrong with her? She didn’t have time to be sick. Fisher’s life was at stake, and even though they hadn’t been getting along that great lately, she certainly didn’t want him dead.
    She retched again.
    Oh, hidden stars of the universe, she had to pull herself together. She forced herself to take slow, deep breaths and splashed cold water on her face. Quickly, she dried off and returned to the first room.
    “I’m ready.