Read Online Mauled by Destiny [Tales of the Citadel 17] by Viola Grace - Free Book Online Page A

the way.” She crossed her arms and scowled at the man.
    Rhanos came up behind her and wrapped his furry arms around her. He tugged her away.
    “ If you want to give this man medical attention, that is your business. There is another one wounded in a similar manner in the upper hall. I tried not to kill them, but as they were trying to kill me at the time, it became a matter of instinct.
    Have a nice day.” She let Rhanos pull her away.
    She pressed the com button at her neck. “We are coming back in. Are you ready?”
    “It will be fired up and ready to go by the time you arrive.”
    “Good. Running silent.” She disconnected the com and shifted. She opened the doors of the abbey, and she and Rhanos bolted down the hill and back to the shuttle.
    The stretching of her legs was extra sweet because she knew that the shuttle would cause her to be inactive.
    As they approached, the hatch opened and allowed them inside, sealing after they entered, and the shuttle rumbled into the air.
    They shifted back into their other forms, and Priina was about to remove her armour when Argen’s voice came through her com. “Don’t strip down. We have another call. Grab a snack and hold on tight.”
    Priina looked to Rhanos and shrugged. They grabbed ration bars and settled together, reading up on their next assignment. Escaped prisoners stole a shuttle and landed it on a developing world. Priina and Rhanos needed to get in, grab the men and get out before the society was damaged by the violence of the newcomers.
    Priina grinned, “What could be difficult about that?”
    * * * *
    Twelve hours after landing, the six men were crammed into the back of the shuttle, cross-tied, and a few wore Lyran scratches. Priina had to keep a grip on Rhanos, because he was interested in ripping out the throat of one of the escapees.
    An Alliance warship intercepted them and took the prisoners over, returning them to their high-security facility.
    Argen smiled and piloted them to Udell Base.
    “Your clothing is being forwarded to Udell, and from there, it will be forwarded to Lowel. The new base is almost ready.”
    Priina was crestfallen. She had hoped that she would be able to run across Balen again. “That’s fine, I suppose.”
    “It will be fine, Priina. Everything will work out.” Rhanos lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it.
    “I know. I will just have to look forward to assignments like no one else does.” She chuckled and leaned her head against him.
    He smiled and held her hand as they were taken to their new home. When they arrived, there was surprising news.
    Guardian, the Base Commander of Udell, grinned, “The grounds at Lowel are completed.
    Your rooms are ready in the primary unit and the connecting umbilicus is ready to the green space.” Priina perked up. “Green space?”
    “Of course. We need an oxygen farm, and there was no better way to do it than to simply build a giant garden. It’s twenty miles wide and forty miles across, the entire structure is domed in.” He was smiling, and Priina knew that her excitement was visible in her features.
    “How do we get there? Another shuttle ride?” Rhanos was restraining her with his arms around her waist.
    “No. We have a direct means to transfer from one world to the next. I will show you.” Guardian walked them to the pod and smiled.
    “Starborn and Comet are there and will show you around. The pod will have you to Lowel in a few minutes.”
    “And there is really a place to run?” Priina knew her voice sounded plaintive, but she couldn’t control it.
    Guardian nodded. “There really is. The other Citadel Lowel members will be moving over slowly, but for now, it will be you two and those touched by the stars.”
    Priina settled in the pod, and Rhanos sat next to her. It sealed and ejected them into space. There was a quiet moment then a whoosh, and they were gliding into place next to another pod.
    “That was amazing.” Rhanos shook his head.
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