Stealing the Dragon’s Heart by Kiersten Fay

31

“Good news,” Zeek announced the instant Aidan entered the bridge.

Barely paying attention to his surroundings, he took the controls as Zeek relayed that they had passed a competitor’s broken-down ship and were now in fifth place.

That would be good news if Aidan didn’t feel so damn broken inside. If only Onnika would trust him…open herself up to him. She said she only showed him the parts of herself he would like, but how would she know that he wouldn’t like all the other parts as well? Again he wondered just what that holo-gear hid.

He’d never know. She’d be leaving soon, and he’d have to find a way to let her go, both from his ship…and his heart.

It took him a moment to realize only Zeek was with him on the bridge. “Have we been running on auto pilot? Where is everyone?”

“Ash is getting some sleep. Lear is probably somewhere making sure Ash doesn’t sneak into Caryn’s room. Good job pitting those two against each other, by the way. Our entertainment has been seriously lacking as of late. It’s not like we’re involved in a deadly competition filled with drama or anything.” His tone dripped with so much sarcasm, Aidan could have drowned in it.

Needing a distraction, he turned on the Phase Nine live feed, hoping for updates on the race. They were interviewing a fan who was holding up an image of him and Onnika embracing after the gilded egg race. “They’re my favorite couple in the race,” the woman declared. “I hope they go all the way!” Other fans held handwritten signs in the background: I WANT MY OWN DRAGON, ONNIKA+AIDAN, and I LOVE YOU ONNIKA were just a few.

The announcers switched to clips from Roukii, noting that the gilded egg competition was extremely popular with fans. It was also proving to be one of the deadliest. Only one other team had successfully brought back the egg: two burly men who had waited together at the bridge to take out their competition—literally. Aidan looked closer at their faces, recognizing one of them as the man who had approached Onnika on Roukii. When they showed his stats, he noted the man’s name: Tag.

So he was in this race, too. Had he and Onnika originally planned to enter Phase Nine together and then had a falling out? A row, much like the one he and Onnika just had?

When the feed showed yet another clip of Onnika flying with him in dragon form, he rolled his eyes and stifled a groan of annoyance, but didn’t turn it off. Like an addict, he soaked up the exhilaration in her features, the glee when she snatched the egg and later, when she’d held it high in triumph. The way she’d thrown herself off the cliff with no fear, trusting him to catch her, had been one of the most frightening and electrifying experiences of his life. And when she had brazenly kissed his snout and told him he was magnificent, his heart had soared in that moment, higher than any dragon’s ever could.

Now it tore in half.

Shutting the screen off, he took in a harsh breath, then banged his fist on his console.

Zeek uttered cautiously, “Uh, Captain? Everything all right?”

“No.” He shot to his feet. “No, it’s not. But it will be. She is going to tell me every goddam thing I want to know.”

As he marched out, fueling his own fury with each step, Zeek called after him. “Um, okay then. I’ll just stay here and make sure we don’t die or anything.”

Onnika sat slumped at the mess hall table, alone and feeling sorry for herself, when she felt Aidan coming to find her. She hurriedly swiped at her tears just as he burst through the hatch, more determined and angrier than ever. But when he caught her still patting at her face, his anger deflated like a popped balloon. He stood for a moment, awkward and unsure. She watched him warily.

Moments ago, he’d had every intention of browbeating her until he got what he wanted, but apparently the sight of her misery had discombobulated him. Instead, he crossed to sit down opposite her and didn’t say a word for a long while. She almost preferred him hollering in anger. At least then, she’d know how to react. The silence between them was a tangled web of strained nerves.

His thumb lightly tapped the table. She picked at her sleeve, refusing to be the first to speak. Truthfully, she wasn’t sure if she could trust her voice. The lump in her throat was still too tight.

Meanwhile, he was eyeing her like he wanted to say something, but the words kept tripping up in his mind.

She knew she should mediate the situation. Apologize, or something. This was her opportunity to humble herself and throw herself on the altar of his forgiveness…to maybe guide them back to a place where she could tease him again, and he would give her that sexy, smoldering look with that heart-stopping half-grin of his. What if…what if she allowed herself to trust him? What if Caryn was right? What if he was the one person in this universe, aside from Caryn, who she could trust?

She reached up to gingerly finger the holo-gear that cupped her ear, debating her next move.

His gaze followed the action with interest.

Then Zeek’s voice blasted over the intercom. “Uh, Captain. I’m going to need your services. Now!”

“What’s happening?” Aidan called out, looking disappointed when Onnika’s hand dropped to the table.

“Two ships coming up behind us and a new wormhole up ahead. I smell trouble with a capital T.”

“Dammit!” Aidan gave Onnika a look mixed with longing and frustration before he jumped up and headed toward the bridge.

Onnika followed, suddenly sensing the trouble as well. On the way, Lear, Asher, and Caryn joined them.

In the bridge, Aidan claimed the main controls. “How far to the wormhole?”

Asher and Lear took their stations while Caryn moved to stand beside Onnika. A tension in Caryn’s eyes drew Onnika’s notice, but she didn’t comment.

“Not far,” Zeek replied, “But these ships are coming up fast on our ass. They must be using some pretty hefty boosters, because I had the auto pilot on full throttle.”

Onnika gazed through the viewport, trying to see the wormhole, but there was only blackness. Zeek typed a sequence of keys then and brought a closeup image on screen. She saw a rounded warping of space, like the bottom of a beveled glass if one were to look straight through the top.

“Does this wormhole have a countdown like the last one?” Aidan asked.

“Looks like it. There’s a number two displayed this time.”

Aidan grumbled. “So that could mean only two ships can enter…and there are three of us.”

Just then, Zeek barked out, “Shit! They’re attacking. Brace for impact.”

A great boom rocked the ship.

Over the intercom, Aidan ordered, “Priya, to your station. Lex, those shields had better be working.”

“Affirmative, Captain.” Priya called back.

“Like clockwork,” Lex confirmed.

Onnika watched them work, still feeling uneasy for a bevy of reasons. Not only were they under attack again, but earlier, she had almost revealed everything to Aidan. Everything! After warning Caryn to remain vigilant. Gods, what sort of insanity had overcome her?

Aidan was all business, his gaze intent as he guided them toward the wormhole. At this speed, they would make it through, but so would the attacking ship that was close on their heels. But there was something else spurring her anxiety, something she couldn’t quite pinpoint.

Suddenly Caryn gripped her arm, nails digging into her skin.

“Caryn, what—”

Uh-oh.

Her eyes were blank, gazing at nothing, yet wide as saucers. And when she spoke, her tone was so daunted, Onnika barely heard her mutter, “We can’t go in there.”

Onnika gazed out at the wormhole, which was growing larger and larger as they approached. She called on her magic, pushing it as far as she could, straining to reach the wormhole and farther still. Her stomach dropped. She sensed something…malice. And it was concentrated from within.

“We can’t go in there!” Caryn cried out louder, her grip on Onnika growing painful. Four heads swung around to stare at them as the ship steadily glided toward the wormhole. They had almost reached it. A few more seconds and they’d be through! Onnika realized there was no time to explain. She wouldn’t even know where to begin.

Shoving herself in front of Aidan, she yanked on the controls, and the ship banked hard to the left.

“What the hell?” Aidan grappled with her for a moment, wrestling control away and rushing to right their trajectory.

No, no, no! Panicked and desperate, Onnika wrenched her arm back, smashing the hard edge of her elbow into his nose. His head snapped back, blood oozing from one nostril. Shocked and dumbfounded, he could only gape at her. Taking advantage of his stunned state, she yanked on the controls again. The ship rolled.

Quickly recovering, Aidan roared and shoved her aside with a swipe of his mighty forearm, and she toppled to the ground. But he was too late. They missed the target by mere inches.

Seconds later, the two other ships blasted through the wormhole, and then the whole thing blinked out of existence in a brief flash of light.

Wild-eyed, Aidan shot to his feet and railed, “Are you fucking mad!”

She rose as well, taking several steps away from him, sensing more than just his violent outrage around the room. “I…I…” She didn’t know what to say. She’d just acted. Now she had to explain. She racked her brain for something, anything. Anything but the truth. Hey guys, our magical powers warned us not to go in there. You understand.

Looking betrayed, Lear grated, “You could have just cost us the race.”

“I’m sorry, but…well…we don’t know where that wormhole goes, right? You said yourself, they could lead anywhere.”

Aidan didn’t seem to be listening. His expression only grew more irate with every word she spoke. “I get it now. This is why you’re on this ship. To sabotage us.”

“What?No!” Her gaze darted around the room, meeting four angry faces. Even the usually whimsical, jesting Zeek appeared ferocious. But Aidan? Aidan’s expression was murderous. “Aidan, I can explain.”

Through gritted teeth he snarled, “I’ve had enough of your games!” He took an aggressive step toward her. “Give me those ear-cuffs. I’ll wait no longer!”

She darted away from him and ran to Caryn’s side. “No! Don’t.”

“When you stoop to sabotage, you lose the right to keep secrets.” He came at her again.

“Don’t you dare!”

“Oh, I dare.”

She managed to dodge his reach again.

At the same time, Asher caught Caryn by the arm. “Is this true? Did you come here to sabotage us?”

Eyes stark, Caryn vigorously shook her head, but said nothing.

He, too, reached for Caryn’s ear-cuff.

“Ash,” she said softly, her eyes watery and pleading. “Please don’t.”

Their eyes locked. Onnika held her breath.

Then, amazingly, Asher released his grip on her and lowered his hand, though his expression remained grave.

Aidan wasn’t so easily dissuaded. He snagged Onnika’s arm, but didn’t try to tear off her holo-gear. Instead, he hauled her out of the bridge and through the passageway. She stumbled to keep up. At the entrance to her bunk, he shoved her in and blocked the door with his body. He opened his mouth to say something, but his gaze was drawn to something on her shelf and he did a double take, picking up her inventory list.

“What is this?” he demanded.

“It’s just the—”

He grabbed the sheets of paper in his fist, crumpling them. “You’re a spy, too? Listing out our supplies? For who?”

“No one. I’m not a spy, and I didn’t sabotage anything.”

His gaze flashed green, and she knew he was fighting with everything in him not to change into his beastly form. Between clenched teeth, he seethed, “Here’s a shocker. I don’t believe you. You’re confined to your quarters until we land. Then your ass is out of here for good.”