Page 105 of Stealing the Star Stone
“You’re going to have to deal with her.”She hitched her thumb at the door where they’d left Cassidy.
His chuckle was cold.“I’ve tried.”
A server brought a fresh pot of tea with a plate of sandwiches.As distractions went, it was perfect.She smiled at the young man, who held the tray for her to help herself.A flurry of movement drew her attention for a second, just before boiling tea landed on her lap.
The pain was sharp, a spreading fire that sent her thoughts reeling.She bit her tongue, tasting the metallic tang of blood.
“Cass,” Eli thundered, jumping to his feet and scooping Nova into his arms.“This’s the last straw—”
“What happened?”Graham asked, running up.
Nova was in agony and having a parent-child chat with the instigator was beyond her level of patience.“In pain,” she screamed.
Eli bolted, rushing her through the doors with Graham and a whining Cassidy chasing him.“Let it be known that I will not be acting opposite Cassidy Collins again.I don’t care who it upsets.It’s her or me.”
A gawking Graham stumbled to a stop.
Cassidy collapsed to the floor with a dramatic sob then wailing like someone had stabbed her.
“Can you walk?”Eli glanced at Nova while carrying her through the front doors of Eastwood Hall.Drones and reporters swarmed them as they made their way along the red carpet.Security formed a protective circle, preventing fans and paparazzi from crushing them, but it wasn’t enough.They slowed to a walk.
Graham appeared out of nowhere, gesturing to a waiting med-hover, a white cross emblazoned on its red side.“I have emergency services.Come with me, Nova.”
Eli hesitated, grimaced, then lowered her feet to the carpet.“I’m so sorry about this.”
“Not your fault,” she gritted out, letting Graham drape an arm around her.He steered her toward the medic, who held the med-hover door open.
The sadness dulling Eli’s green eyes and pulling his sexy mouth down was the last thing she saw as the med-hover flew off.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Artivar Station
In the Med Zone.
I’m no longer alone.
Year of 2202, June
“Wesawitgodown,” Petr said, waltzing into the ward, his uniform misbuttoned.“You’re all over the news, babe.”He punched his fist into a palm.“Thatwoman… I will never watch another of her movies.”
Nova grinned, almost throwing out her arms for a hug.Damn drugs, making me loopy.She pulled the hospital gown close, just in case.
Captain was on his heels.Sharon trailed him, her chin down like she’d prefer to be anywhere but here.
“It’s so good to see you,” Marco said, resting his hand on her toes tenting the bed’s blankets.“I was so worried when Lord Orien whisked you and Eli away.Graham was panicking, especially with the comm silence.”
She scanned the room, her eyes widening.Here was her family, something she hadn’t considered before.“I won’t lie… There were some scary parts I won’t bore you with.”Her thoughts buzzed as if she couldn’t focus, and a warm lassitude had her sinking deeper under the covers.
“What did the doctor say?”
“All good,” she mumbled, gazing at her gown draped over the back of a chair.Oh, yes, the hot tea.She pushed herself onto her elbow and peered around Marco.Where’s Eli?“The leather protected me from third-degree scalds.”
“What’s that?”Petr tapped her fist.
She opened her fingers to reveal Barry.
“It’s beautiful.Did Eli give it to you?”Petr stroked the stone’s smooth surface.
