Page 19 of Stealing the Star Stone
“He can go to hell for all I care,” she snapped.
“He’s my passenger.We don’t get paid—”
“I know.You can deal with him without me.And you can forget about me escorting him anywhere ever again.”So much for best laid plans.
She hung up and faced Newman.
“Do you need medical attention?”he asked, gesturing to her torn coat and blue-stained fingers.
She blinked at the color inking her skin.It didn’t hurt or tingle anymore, so she supposed that was a good thing.She’d say it followed the lines of her veins, but no, some twirled, others curled, almost in a floral pattern.It could be toxic, slowly killing her, but with exhaustion pummeling her, she’d care about it later.
“I’m well,” she managed, fisting and opening her hands.If she wasn’t in shock, she’d almost believe the blue was spreading toward her palm and wrist.
“You ready, miss?”he asked, his brown eyes kind…like Captain’s.And Seth’s.
“Yes.”She trailed him along cells packed to the max, faces peering at her through the white shimmering force fields.Close enough and they could shave the hair off her arms.More than that and she’d lose a limb.A decent deterrent.
Newman touched a panel, pressed his thumb to it, and the shimmer vanished, making her realize it had hummed.
Without his instruction, she stepped into the cell, the scent of fresh mint in the air.Well, at least they sterilized.And after what she’d been through, the bench carved into the wall would suit for a quick nap.
But an hour later, she lay there, staring at the cool, unfeeling lights.No solution came to mind, and every time she replayed the scene, anger bubbled up like a well of lava.
If she ever got out, Thorne would pay.
Chapter Six
Tarnis’ Messis Station
Terra Lux VIP Bar
Betrayal hurts.
Day One.
Elicouldn’tforgetthepain in Nova’s eyes.The sight of it had been like a blaster shot to the heart.Maybe getting arrested with her might have strengthened their relationship, but he needed to be free to somehow convince Orien the artefact’s destruction was a good thing.After all, the xeno-archeologist had been correct in saying nothing had happened until she’d touched it.
So far, Eli had become his benefactor with a decent donation.That was a start.But the hour was late.The Terra Lux’s clientele had thinned and yet, Vex and he nursed another bottle of brandy.He drank on predetermined days—to uphold his playboy image.Tonight, he’d bribed the server to water his down, but it couldn’t be too diluted.Brandy was all about the rich gold color, and his resembled piss.He’d outright switched to water an hour ago.
Orien slumped in the couch, sorrow in his posture.“Broken, lost my life’s work,” he chanted.“All gone.”
“Is it?”Eli asked, then frowned at the slur in his voice.“After all, you wanted a reaction, right?”
Orien glowered.“I can’t study shattered glass.I’m damn furious station-sec took that cursed woman.Did you see her hand?”
Despite the discussions being about this…event, not once had Orien mentioned the blue ink spreading to Eli’s palm.He curled his fingers into a fist and shoved it into his pants pocket where he’d kept it for most of the night.
“With the star stone gone, Icouldanalyze the effects on her,” Orien mumbled.“Will get my lawyers to secure her freedom on one condition.”A wicked smile lit the man’s dark eyes.“And if she somehow escapes, nowhere will be safe for her.”He met Eli’s gaze.“Your saw it go down, right?”
Eli smothered a wince.“Can’t you find another with additional funding?”He drank from the water bottle, hoping to clear the persistent furriness from his tongue.
Orien shook his head.“Everything in the universe can be bought, except this.We found it by sheer chance.”
Stole it, no doubt, and as Eli got to know Orien, his instincts told him the man would kill anyone or anything that might stop him from stealing relics.Who knew how many natives had paid the price.
“I shouldn’t have agreed to put the stone on display.The Galactic Scientific Journal begged me to share my remarkable find with the known universe.And look what happened?”He threw back his brandy.“I should sue them, too.”
“Where did you stumble upon it, if I may ask?”Eli leaned back on the couch, grateful for the padding.Exhaustion had drained his energy, but he didn’t see this night ending soon.
