Read Online Shattered Soul by Angela Verdenius - Free Book Online

on the sideboard. Taking it from her proffered hand, he studied it. Puzzled, he looked at Reya.
    “You’re looking at my mother’s cousins,” Reya stated bluntly. “Ceri and Rani.”
    “But they look to be... frozen?”
    “Aye. They are. Apparently they were caught in a snap-freeze while running from bounty hunters in the Outlaw Sector. This image was taken by the pack leader right before the cave-in. The image has only just come to light. Abra has one of them aboard his ship now.”
    “Her body?” Maverk winced in sympathy. “Ah, lass, I’m so sorry.”
    Reya looked at him steadily. “She’s alive.”
    “What?”
    “Somehow, we don’t know why or how, the ice melted and Ceri is alive.”
    “Ceri?”
    “The blonde. The dark-haired one, Rani, is missing.”
    “She escaped somehow?”
    “Nay. The ice was cut and her body taken. Only Ceri was left there.”
    Maverk scratched his head. “So how did Abra end up with Ceri?”
    “He got the photo image and co-ordinates through another bounty hunter. The original hunter died and left this little legacy.” There was that cutting edge to her cold voice. “But Abra is keeping her drugged since she awoke yesterday for fear she’ll fight them in the ship. He doesn’t want to hurt her... I think.”
    “He wouldn’t be game to. I’d tear him apart personally.” Maverk looked searchingly at her. “Lass, we can leave right now to pick her up.”
    “They’re six weeks away.”
    “I can have us there in four weeks. Sonja fitted a little extra something to our trade ship engines. I know Darvk would let us borrow it.”
    “’Tis no need, I can go with Sabra in the fleet craft.”
    “Reya, this survivor is your relative and a Reeka. That makes her family and friend to we Daamens.” Twining a long, silky lock of her hair around his finger, Maverk tilted her head back so he could rest his forehead against hers. Gazing directly into her eyes, he said softly, “Shanay and I will accompany you on this journey.”
    “Shanay?”
    “Shanay is a warrior and a leader-in-training. ’Tis time she sees some of the other responsibilities, aye?”
    Reya smiled slightly. “Brawn and brains, pretty boy. You never cease to surprise me.”
    His grin was totally wicked. “Wait until our daughter is in bed, then I’ll show you some other surprises.”
    “You are bad.”
    “You have no idea.”
    ~ * ~
    Inner Sanctum of the Outlaw Sector
    Overlord’s Fortress
     
    The warrior paced in the glass-walled box. Now and again she ltim again aunched herself at the walls, only to rebound back. Her eyes glittered with a feral light, and her wild mane of hair half covered her face. Several times she pushed it back over her shoulders impatiently. Finally she ripped a piece of rawhide lacing from her bodice and tied it back.
    From this Fredrico deduced that she wasn’t entirely insane. Sitting on the table, booted feet swinging, he sipped from the mug of hot una and watched her resume pacing.
    “Phemar is coming,” Veknor announced as he entered the chamber.
    Fredrico grunted.
    “He’s planning on breaking through her insanity,” Veknor continued.
    “I don’t think she’s that insane,” Fredrico replied.
    “No?” Veknor raised his brows as she threw herself once again at the glass wall. “She’s not exactly rational, to my way of thinking.”
    Fredrico took another sip of hot una. Oh, the warrior wasn’t rational, there was no doubt about that, but nor was she completely insane. Now and again he saw a flare of something in her eyes, almost recognition, but it was quickly blurred by the orange smoke that slid across her irises.
    At that moment Phemar entered the chamber, the stench of rotting meat permeating him. Veknor took a small step back and breathed a little shallower. Fredrico grinned at him behind the dark mystic’s back.
    Phemar stood in front of the walled box and the Reeka went berserk, snarling and clawing at the glass.
    “I don’t think she likes him.”