Stealing the Dragon’s Heart by Kiersten Fay

47

Onnika was still shivering deep in her bones, even after Aidan carried her back to Dragoon’s recreation room, all the while growling at fans attempting to crowd them, wanting to see if she was all right, or to congratulate her, or to catch a quick snapshot. After helping her peel off her icy wet dress, he wrapped her in a thick comforter and guided her to the couch. His own clothes were still wet as well, but he hadn’t been trapped in icy water like she and Caryn had been, so it didn’t seem to bother him.

He assured her that Caryn had been resuscitated, though she was still unconscious, tucked into her bunk with Asher and Lear watching over her, and that, yes, they would not let her out of their sight.

The ship’s engine must still be in somewhat working order, because Aidan set the heat to a scalding degree. He brought her a mug of warm tea for her to sip, which she clasped with both hands, drawing in the warmth through her fingers while she waited for the explosion of his simmering wrath. His body shook from the strength of it, she could tell. But he kept quiet as he tended to her. When he was finished fussing, he took a seat in a chair across from her and watched her in brooding silence.

Tentatively, she took a sip from her tea, letting the dazzling heat coat her insides, then worked up the courage to meet his gaze. “Aren’t you going to scream at me?”

Expression dark, he didn’t speak for a long time. Then he dropped his arm. “I’m trying to calm down. It isn’t easy.” His hand fisted. “But, no, I’m not going to scream at you. I know, or at least I can guess, why you went in there. It wasn’t because you wanted to.”

She shook her head. “I saw Caryn. I wanted to stop her. But it was too late.” A latent shiver raked through her. “C-Couldn’t get out.”

“I have to keep reminding myself that you’re all right. You’re safe now. I…” he bent forward, digging his fingers into his hair. “I can’t go through that again. I can’t keep watching you nearly die and keep my sanity. You can’t understand how helpless I felt.”

Setting her tea down, she pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders and then pushed up from the couch to stand before him. When he sat back to regard her, she settled herself into his lap. He instantly welcomed her, his arms going around to pull her close and then adjusted the blanket around them both.

Now she realized why he hadn’t removed his clothes. Nothing generated heat like an impassioned dragon. She relaxed against him. They sat like that for a long while, neither speaking. Eventually his shaking eased, her shivers abated, and still they held one another. She may have dozed off, but she couldn’t say for how long. When she roused, she asked, “Why did you bring me here instead of your quarters?”

“This room is closest to the entrance and is easier to heat. I wanted you out of your wet clothes and wrapped up as soon as possible. And, if I’m being honest, the next time I let you in my bed, I won’t be letting you out again for weeks.”

She chuckled at that.

“I’m not kidding,” he added in a gravel-rough tone.

She nuzzled into the crook of his neck and kissed his pulse point.

He exhaled an unsteady breath. “Keep that up and that’s just what I’ll do.”

She sighed. “I would love nothing more than to spend the next few weeks in bed with you, but we still have work to do.”

His head fell back onto the headrest. “I know. By the way, I never thought I’d say this, but Caryn might be more insane than you. What made her believe she could conquer The Gauntlet alone?”

“As I told you, her magic guides her toward a path that leads to the most optimal chance at survival. I believe she thought it would help her navigate The Gauntlet. And maybe it would have, if the poison wasn’t affecting her.”

“I doubt she could have contended with that creature if you hadn’t been there.”

Onnika had thought the same thing. She shuddered at the memory.

Aidan tugged her closer. “I’m sorry. Let’s change the sub—”

“I was there, though…and I’m convinced that had everything to do with Caryn’s magic as well.

“How so?”

The timing of it all. Shortly after we split up, I saw her, and just barely made it inside before the doors locked her in alone. Of course, I can’t really say for sure, but you can’t deny it worked out in the end.”

“It barely worked out in the end,” he growled. “Caryn…they had to perform chest compressions. She’d swallowed a lot of water. We weren’t sure if she was going to make it.”

Onnika flinched, but managed to quell her shiver.

“Interestingly enough, the number of vouchers the two of you acquired means if we had a working ship we could leave immediately.”

She shot upright. “Have we found the old man?”

Aidan shook his head. “No. We’ll have to—”

Zeek entered the room brandishing a huge smile. “Never fear, Zeek is here…to save the day, that is.”

“I sympathize with your predicament,” the old man whose name they’d learned was Jedar said sorrowfully, “but I cannot lend you my ship. It’s all I own in the world.” He’d removed his dusty brown hat and set it in front of him on the mess hall table where he, Onnika, Zeek, and Aidan were seated.

She had changed into a simple sweaterdress and tall black boots. She was finally warm, but Jedar’s response sent a renewed splash of ice through her system. Asher and Lear were still watching over Caryn, a good thing, because if they were here, they’d have brought a counterproductive level of aggression. Priya and Vin were out scouring the station for alternative transport in the event the old man refused them…which was proving to be the case.

“We promise to return it to you as soon as we can,” Onnika assured with a note of desperation. “You have my word.”

Jedar shook his head, “I have no doubt of your integrity, Miss Onnika, but I’m afraid I simply cannot trust your word with something so important to me. My ship is my home. And as ships are quite often destroyed in this race, you can understand why I cannot leave my home in the hands of Phase Nine racers,” he gave her a sympathetic look, “as much as I might like them.”

Unsure how to persuade him, she shot Aidan an imploring glance.

Aidan met Jedar’s gaze and stabbed his finger into the table. “I personally guarantee that any damage incurred in this last leg of the race will be repaired,” he declared. “Furthermore, we will pay you for the time we use your ship. What will it cost?”

Jedar scrubbed a hand along the scruff of his jaw, contemplating Aidan’s offer. Onnika’s heart flirted with hope.

“I would require enough credits deposited to my account today so that, if needed, I could purchase myself a new ship.”

The entire room seemed to deflate. Aidan finally broke the silence. “If we had a couple days to get the money together we could do that…but with such short notice it’s impossible.”

Jedar palmed his hat but didn’t pick it up. His eyes closed with regret, causing little wrinkles to fan out along the corners. “I’m sorry, but I have to insist on receiving payment up front. If you cannot do that, then…” He set his hat atop his head, signaling the end of negotiations.

Not above begging, Onnika made a desperate plea. “My sister will die I we don’t get her to the end of the race. Please, Jedar, please. Will you help us?”

Jedar regarded her with compassion. “The little lassie who ran The Gauntlet with you?”

Onnika nodded, feeling her bottom lip quiver.

“Surely she has recovered, as you have?”

Aidan’s warm hand covered her shoulder, his thumb rubbing the bare flesh in a comforting gesture. “She was poisoned.”

“Is there no antidote?” Jedar inquired.

“None that we are aware of. She hasn’t much time.”

“If there is no antidote, how will getting to the end of the race help?”

“We’ve been told there is a mystical healer at the end of the race. A Serakian.”

The old man’s eyes went wide. “Serakian? They’ve never shown an interest in this race. How did you come across this information?”

“The doctor who examined Caryn mentioned it.”

“And this doctor is somehow in the know when no one else is? No one is meant to have information on any phase until after the first racer has left each phase. Not even the staff. Even then, all any of us gets are simple schematics with a destination. And as no ships have left this phase yet, we cannot be sure what will be found at the finale.”

Aidan slid her an uncertain look. Jedar was right, of course. No one should know what awaited contestants at the end. Could the doctor have given them false hope? For what purpose? The odds of them getting to the end in time were nearly insurmountable. He must have known that. Had he been instructed to keep them in the race at any cost? It seemed an exceedingly cruel thing to do.

“I have to believe it’s true,” Onnika said, still gazing at Aidan.

Though she saw her own awful doubt reflected in his eyes, he returned a curt nod. “Aye, we have to keep going. If there’s even the slimmest chance, we have to take it.”

Jedar’s expression pinched in grief. “It’s an indisputable fact that this race is brutal. Y’all came into it knowing that. I wish I could help you, sweetheart. I really do, but without my ship and no money to procure another, I might die on this godforsaken station, destitute and forgotten. You can promise me everything under the sun, but I’ll not leave myself so vulnerable. I can’t. I’m sorry, but I just can’t put myself in such a precarious position.” He tipped his hat and stood. “You have my deepest sympathies.”

Zeek slammed his fist on the table. It was the largest show of violence he’d ever displayed. “You heartless bastard! A girl’s life is at stake.”

“I’ve said my piece, young man.”

“You have no idea what these girls have gone through to get this far.”

Zeek didn’t know the half of it. All their trials and tribulations? Their struggles? Onnika had begun to believe it all was meant to lead them here, like some divine hand had been guiding them so they could find Aidan and this wonderful crew of misfits who would keep them safe. Protected. Who would take them home. Finally. Would a single deviation in their path still have led them here? To this moment? With Caryn dying, ripped from life by a random series of unfortunate events?

Or might an alternate path have changed things? If they’d stayed on Vaga, how different might their journey have been? Perhaps Ethanule might have come for them…eventually. If they hadn’t taken up with Ziggy, would they have simply been betrayed in the same manner by the next crew they endeavored to trust? Would they have still encountered Aidan some way, somehow, down the line? Or would she have never known him at all? If Caryn hadn’t been seduced into confiding in Rice, would they ever have set foot on that never-ending wasteland of a planet—

Onnika gasped at her own stupidity.

Preparing to leave, Jedar tipped his hat once more. “Good luck to you.”

She jumped out of her seat. “Wait!”

At the suddenness of her outburst, three sets of curious eyes turned her way.

She turned to Aidan. “I have to go get something. “Don’t let him leave.”

“Well, now, Miss Onnika, I really don’t—hey, wait a darn second!”

Without hearing him out, she darted out the door and raced to her room, where her damp dress hung on a wire to dry. Asher and Lear were there keeping an eye on Caryn, both looking solemn, but as soon as she entered, they perked up a little and demanded to know if the old man had agreed to help.

She dug into the hidden pocket, searching…searching…

Please don’t let me have lost it.

Then her hand wrapped around the cool object she sought. She smiled at the two gruff males and replied, “He will.”

Hurrying back to the mess hall, she was happy to see Jedar had reclaimed his seat. She crossed to take hers as well and then set the Tranzinite in the center of the table between them. The rare and priceless gemstone sparkled blue and violet in the light. All sound seemed to have been sucked from the room as all three males gazed disbelievingly at the stone.

“Will you accept this as payment?”